gettin’ my smile back
As you might’ve picked up by my silence throughout The Internets this past week, I’ve been out of commission.
Last Tuesday I had a freak snow-tubing accident that involved my teeth and the back of someone’s head.
The head made out with mild injuries. Like a nasty goose-egg and a headache that didn’t let up for days. Which makes it mild only by comparison.
My teeth, on the other hand, got “jacked up” (to quote my friend).
My top front teeth bent so far backwards that I couldn’t even close my mouth.
After a trip to the ER and two emergency dentist visits, my teeth are back to normal.
The dentist described my treatment as though I had a broken bone—which had to be set twice—and it’s now being held in place with a split. I’m on a diet of soft foods and pain relievers till it heals. Maybe a month.
God’s hand has definitely been evident. Things could’ve been a lot worse. I could’ve broken my nose or lost my teeth entirely. He surrounded me with friends’ loving care and His provision was so clear in the free dental work I received. (Which, by the way, made me cry more than the pain did.)
I’m slowly starting to try to catch up on all I’ve missed. The only thing rivaling my overflowing inbox is my growing to-do list.
So my plan this week is simple: Be more productive than last week.
Shouldn’t be too hard.
Especially since I can already cross write a blog post off my list.
@coloraturajoy says:
man, oh man, alece! all i can think is how much God looks out for you in the craziest situations!!! He is so faithful. hope there’s little pain still…
You are lovely – jacked up teeth and all. And please feel free to cross off “Hang out with crazy DC friends” from your list if you are just not up to it. I would totally totally understand!
Moenie worrie nie!
Ouchie mama, I’m funny about teeth & things happening to them.
I’ll be praying for the restoration of your smile, and the hope that your joy spreads to every other area of your life too.
Oh my goodness Alece! I wondered what the story was behind your trips to the dentist. Also, are you still in DC? Kev and I are back for the next month. Maybe I can take you out for a soft serve icecream? :) Let me know…..would love to see you and your jacked up teeth again. :)
@gritandglory says:
i’m back in the ATL, but thank you for the offer of soft-serve! ;) i would’ve loved that!
I wish I could make you some of my world-famous soft scrambled eggs (aka “scrambies”). They’d fit the soft food requirement, and they are known to have magical properties. :) They’ve been proven over and over to make the worst day better — even ones that involve jacked-up teeth, I have no doubt! So sorry this happened to you. But it makes a good story, especially in regards to how God showed His protection and providence to you yet again. You know He was like, “Woah, Daughter, that was a blow-out! Here, let Me take care of that.”
@gritandglory says:
haha! i’d love to try your scrambies! AND i got a card in the mail from you today — felt like a hug! thank you, friend!
That was fast! Maybe I should have sent some Sensodyne instead? :) I really do wish I could make you some of my scrambled eggs. I’d bring my favorite fleece blanket for you, too. Yup, scrambled eggs and a fleece blanket can help just about anything feel better. Get better soon, friend. (((big hug)))
@gritandglory says:
love me some fleece blankets! that sounds perfect!
…SOOOO glad the worst is behind you with all of this…
@bernardshuford says:
Daggum, woman. Look whur yur goin!
:)
Hope you get, well, straightened out soon.
@Nomadstacey says:
Does this mean ice cream diet? Because when I read ‘soft foods’ I think ice cream and THAT makes me happy! Well, not that you have to be on a soft foods diet, but that it could mean lots of ice cream for you. Also, I was all chuckles at ‘jacked up’ when I read it. Also, I did not know the cause of this was someone’s head! Nice team work. Glad you got it all fixed and can now start the healing process.
Also, seriously praising going on that everything was free! God is so good and faithful. Thanking Him for this reminder to me in your life.
@gritandglory says:
i’d be all over a strawberry sorbet diet. but so far it’s mostly been chicken soup, yogurt, and applesauce. i’m so over all three already.
thank you for rejoicing with me over His provision!
I’m sitting here with my jaw hanging wide open in horror thinking about your teeth, while also running my tongue across the back of my own! This is when I shiver and say “hibbidy” over and over again really fast. It’s my “ew that’s gross” phrase. :o\ Don’t ask. HA!
Love you and so happy about your FREE dental work! Must elaborate on that one!
Jake’s Aunt gave me a free cleaning once when we were first married…. everytime I brush my teeth I think back on that and smile knowing that she overhead me complaining about NOT seeing a dentist in forever to get a cleaning and how I still didn’t know how to navigate the military spouses dental program…. her free cleaning bought me another 6 months to figure it out. I really should tell her that I remember that each time……
@gritandglory says:
hibbidy?! ha! i love that i know that about you now.
and you should definitely tell jake’s aunt that!
usually a variation of hibbidy or humina. Sounds like “huh-mina” Say it super fast over and over again and shake like you’re getting a spider off you. Like that. haha!
I laughed the other day when I heard a friend say it….cracks me up how we swap oddities like that.
Maybe I will send her a card. Cards are fun to get. ;o)
@PrudyChick says:
Good Lord lady be careful out there. So glad you’re okay though. I’ve missed you on here. Love ya.
Aw I was hoping you were on another vacation. Glad your beautiful smile is still shining. Feel better soon and make sure to relax this week too. Love you.
Ouch! Sorry to hear you were out of commission. The dentist just reminds me of getting numbed up and then end up slurring like a drunk for hours afterward.
@gritandglory says:
you should’ve seen how huge my lip was after dentist #2. and you could’ve seen it if i’d let my friend tracee take a picture like she wanted to. but there was NO CHANCE of that happening, i assure you! i was looking rough!
Wowsers, Alece. I saw your tweets about the accident but had no idea the extent of it. I’ve been amazed, over and over and over again, at how God shows himself through provision.
Here’s to soft foods (ice cream! pudding!) and hopefully lots of nitrous oxide. I’m all about emergency dental procedures when accompanied by mucho laughing gas.
@gritandglory says:
i’m overwhelmed by His provision, too. it’s amazing.
and no laughing gas. but at dentist #2 i got the heavy duty numbing stuff they use for pulling wisdom teeth. SO MUCH BETTER than the novocaine i got at dentist #1.
awww, I feel bad for you… I hope you feel better soon and that your teeth are as good as new soon.
HUGS
yikes! glad you are back to normal!
oh friend! I am so thankful though that God has his hand on everything! I think my teeth were pounding a little bit as i read your post. :-) love you!
@rachieannie says:
Sorry to hear that! Yikes yikes yikes! But hey, at least you got to go snow tubing! That’s fun :-)
@gritandglory says:
i got in two hours of tubing before this happened on our last run of the night! i AM glad i got to enjoy it all first!
Glad you are back! Mostly because I missed reading what was going on with you but also because when your quiet I kind of worry about you.
I am TRYING to not get too excited about the possibility of an Alece visit this weekend!
@gritandglory says:
you worry about me?! that is sweeter than you know!
and you can get excited now! ;)
@dubdynomite says:
It’s good to hear you are starting to get back into the swing of things.
Might I suggest considering to wear a helmet on your next snow-tubing adventure? That is, if there were another snow-tubing adventure.
After such a traumatic experience, I would probably give up snow-tubing.
Ok… I had to run my tongue across my own front teeth when I sat here thinking about your post. I am just so incredibly thankful to God that the accident didn’t involve more serious injuries although it sounds like they were serious enough. Ugh. Ouch. Ugh again. I will pray the month moves along relatively quickly, your teeth heal perfectly and you’re back to snow-tubing again soon (if you choose to – I’d probably give that up for life but then I’m a big chicken who probably wouldn’t have been out there in the first place. I’m wimpy that way.)!!!!
Good to see you back. Glad to see your wit isn’t impaired and can’t wait to read more. Blessings!
@gritandglory says:
oh i’ll definitely tube again if i have the chance. granted, it’ll probably be with some fear and trembling at first!
thank you for praying the month passes quickly!
@traceepersiko says:
I wonder how many people touched their front teeth having read your post! haha!! i know i did when you told me. i think my words were, “OH DANG!!!!”
snow tubing is a contact sport!
@gritandglory says:
it’s ’cause i said “bashed” isn’t it?!
and “thank you” doesn’t begin to cut it. but… thank you, mo’z. LMDbuz.
I gritted in pain of sympathy and let out a gasp. Ouch!
Ouch. I’m so sorry you had to go through that!
@chrystieecole says:
Oh no! I am so sorry! I will be praying for a speedy recovery!
@jclayville says:
That BITES!!! (yeah… of course i had to do that!)
I’m sorry you’re all about blended foods right now… but what I really want to know is where are the photos?
@gritandglory says:
not a chance, girl! R-O-U-G-H!
@coloraturajoy says:
DANG. i kinda wanted to ask you but didn’t wanna look like a jerk.
jenni took care of it. :)
Teeth and jacked up are words we should never have to use in the same sentence.
I think if you soak oreos in whatever your favorite beverage is long enough they qualify as soft food.
@gritandglory says:
would you believe that i’m not a fan of oreos!? i hope tam will still be my friend!
@cassgirl says:
Woah friend….
I know about painful dental as they have pulled every single one out of my head because of a virus.
Let me tell you what’s good and soft.
Sushi, pudding, DAIRY QUEEN, slurpees (I lived on them), bananas, and rice.
Hey, I know you wanted to lose a little weight FF, but this is a little drastic, LOL!!
Been prayin and won’t stop!!
Love you!
I just want to say I’m sorry for laughing until tears were in my eyes. =)
I just keep picturing your teeth and someones head…
Also WOW about the free dentistry! Amazing! You are one blessed women!!
@gritandglory says:
ha ha ha! i’m all chuckles knowing you were laughing so much! (i miss your laugh)
Which is why you should move back to Africa. Stuff like that never happens where we live. Seriously. Come back home.
@gritandglory says:
HA! your comment made me burst out laughing! thanks for that!
@moweezle says:
oh my goodness!!! That is just insane! Soooo glad you are ok though, and I’ll be praying for those toofers of yours!
Oh my word! I’ve been gone and missed this! I’m so glad you are okay!! OUCH…doesn’t seem like enough. Praying for you!
Oh, ‘Lece!!! I’m so sorry!! Stephanie’s little girl had that same thing happen to her … I had never heard of such a thing before. Praise God for the free care!! :D SO glad you are loved.
Wow – someone had a hard head!! So next time you’ll be wearing a helmet AND a mouth guard? Ouch…
BTW – your smile still looks lovely, even with the pseudo braces.