Walkin' on Sunshine

*Thank you Katie!!*

It finally came and went: the dreaded wisdom teeth extraction that I have been anticipating for weeks now...

And to tell you the truth, it really wasn't that bad! Dr. DeDecker surprised us all with a surgery-well-done and barely any pain or swelling after the matter. In fact, I only took four of the Hydrocodone tablets that were prescribed for me then switched to plain old Ibuprofen as soon as possible.

It's funny looking back to Friday to see what I can remember. I remember getting to the clinic and having a nurse escort me back to the operating room as she asked if I had taken my Valium. Soon she had me laying down on a table and she and another nurse began work on me immediately! First they put something over my nose (they said it was oxygen but I swear there was something else in there that mad me a little loopy), then they put hear monitors over my stomach and chest. All the while she was explaining what she was doing to me but for some reason I had no intent on paying attention. Next she prepared my arm for an IV and told me I would feel a little sting as she stuck the needle in. Then she began strapping my arms and chest to the table (this really confused me, I didn't know why they had to strap me down, heaven knows I couldn't go anywhere) and the last thing I remember was Dr. DeDecker coming in and telling me good morning as he tapped a needle to stick into the IV.

I woke up as they wheeled me into a room where another girl was laying down- I think she got her wisdom teeth out before me. I was out again until the nurse came and wrapped ice packs around my numb face. After laying there awhile I decided I wanted to leave, but with a mouth full of cotton I didn't really know how to call for a nurse so I just sat there dazed as I stared at the ceiling. Soon a nurse came in and said I was ready to go home so she walked me out to the car. The ride home didn't even happen as far as I'm concerned, but when I finally did get home, I remember seeing Jenny and Jason as I stumbled down to my room. I gave them a thumbs up and bawled as I continued downstairs.

This is where the past few days of my life have been spent.

The rest of that day is pretty off and on in my mind. There wasn't much pain thank heaven and the bleeding stopped really quickly. The funniest thing about that day though was the effect that the painkillers had on me; they made me SUPER emotional to the point of bawling at every little thing- no matter what it was (which explains my crying upon seeing Jenny and Jason)! I cried when Katie came to say hi, I cried when my mom came in to check on me, I cried as I watched a million episodes of Cosby Show... hahahahahaha it worried my mom a little at first.

I'd like to say that my awesome family genes account for my smooth recovery. Or that I just have a fantastic immune system... but if those are factors in how my recovery process played out, they are minimal compared to what really helped me heal: my mom who was right by my side watching hours of the Cosby Show, giving me medicine and feeding me peach flavored Jello (the BEST Jello in the world), my dad opening my blinds so I could see the sun through my window, my sweet nephew holding my hand as I was still coming out of that rough hour under anesthesia and talking to me as I sobbed, my niece with her sweet smile and giggle after seeing my chipmunk cheeks,  Jamie bringing me concretes, Shehan's good tips for healing, Jenny's willingness to cook whatever I want/could eat, Lise's kind words of sympathy and encouragement, my best friend Katie bringing me a sunshine balloon and chatting to me as I cried for no reason... I could go on.

I have the best family and friends. Ever.

With all that love (and with the help of a few pain killers and a sunshine balloon), who wouldn't feel like walking on sunshine??