A Little Over a Month....

So I went to see my orthodontist on September 14th, and not only was she shocked by how quickly my teeth had spread apart, but so was everyone else there! Goes to show how well and quick everything was working. She said I was ready for braces, but she didn't have anything available on her clinic days for three more weeks. I was disappointed and obviously so was she, because she asked If I could hang around and she would get at least the front braces on, because if she were me she wouldn't want to walk around with the huge gap that I had either. Below is the last pictures of the gap before the braces were put on....

I rescheduled and moved some of my customers around so I could stay and hopefully get the front braces put on. My orthodontist I got assigned to is awesome, funny, stylish and great at what she does. I am so lucky to have been able to do this journey with her because she has been there through everything. She worked her tail off in between other patients to make sure all of my braces were put on. I was so ecstatic, the process of getting that gap closed had begun. It took a little adjusting, but compared to surgery and widening my palate, this was nothing. They put a special band on the front teeth to brng the gap together within a few weeks, it is moving slowly but definitely making progress. And now that I have braces on people are thinking less of having lost a tooth in the front!! Hahaha!

In the past 2 weeks I have been able to eat more solid food by cutting it up and chewing with my back teeth. Gosh how I have missed food that isn't mushy :) This past week I was asked if I was ready to try to sing again at church, I was hesitant at first but was very eager to at least try. Not only would I be singing, but 3 songs, one of them which was new and I had to learn. I got the cd on Sunday and practiced as much as I could. Practice was last night and it couldn't have gone better! I was worried about the lisp I still have because of the gap and palate expander and braces but God must want me back up there, so I am hoping and praying Sunday goes as well as practice did. It may be hard being in front of that many people with the gap not yet closed but I am as ready as ever to get my sing on!

So all in all things are going great and I couldn't be more thankful....for family, friends, work, and life in general. I am so blessed and happy right where I am at this moment. Below is the most current picture of me with braces....