1- Annabel got a palate expander. She has never been one to be particularly zen about discomfort (understatement) so . . . as one might imagine, this has not been a seamless transition for her. I pureed her dinner last night because being hangry was not helping things.
Apparently, it will be in for at least 6 months so survival tips are WELCOME! It’s on her upper jaw and I have to ‘expand’ it daily for the next 10 days. Let’s hope that goes well . . .
2- I am loving the Hobonichi 5-Year Journal! I’m only mad I didn’t buy one 5 years ago.
3- I have finally felt well enough to start doing the Another Mother Runner Many Happy Miles (MHM) workouts. It’s fun to have a training plan again. I run SO SLOWLY compared to my previous self that it’s almost comical. I am hoping that I will get some speed back.
I do however want to continue incorporating the LIIFT4 workouts. MHM has some strength and I like the sessions but they are not nearly the heavy lifting (but with efficiency!) that LIIFT4 contains. And I am vain and want to keep my arm muscles. What can I say.
4- I started reading Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano 2 days ago. OMG. I almost am not sure I can handle it. It’s really well done, but feels almost traumatizing to read (similar to how I felt about Station Eleven which I read at the inopportune time of Jan 2020!).
(Goal for this weekend: put up my 2021 reading list and archive 2020!).
5- I finally feel like I’m getting out of catchup mode though I feel like the ‘real’ 2021 for me has started this week. Josh is on call the next 2 weekends and then I am, so pretty sure things are going to keep moving at a brisk clip.
One of the goals I have for today is to finalize the rest of my work/life calendar (broad scale) for Quintile 1, including choosing one day to take entirely off and hopefully a date weekend in there somewhere (or even just a date overnight).
Okay! Off to run (with a teeeeeensy bit of speedwork thrown in there, wish me luck!)
19 Comments
We have had a couple of palate expanders in our house and expect to have at least one more. I bet by the end of the weekend she will have adjusted to it. They can be annoying because they can come out easily. Oh, and nne of my kids had theirs for a YEAR!!!
Anyway, my best tip is to invest in a water pik. They are super useful for getting out any gunk that gets trapped between it and the roof of her mouth (sorry for the early morning graphics). Also just be prepared for frequent orthodontist visits in the next month or two. Good Luck!
Second the water pik tip — can be messy but helps get everything out from between the expander and the palate. What also helped my daughter was sneezing but that is…um…disgusting. Do not recommend.
So glad to hear you are slowly feeling better. I feel such solidarity with Annabel – I had an expander and still remember it. It didn’t gradually get better (those first few days were the worst)! I read Dear Edward early on in the pandemic and had as similar experience – I think the book is well written overall but it was difficult to get through at times, kind of an emotionally draining experience? I’ve been trying to read more “light-hearted” things for the last few weeks. Modern Mrs. Darcy has some great lists (and great audio books) that I’ve added to my holds list! Have a great weekend.
A dose of Motrin an hour before you crank it is good and popsicles are good for any orthodonture woes!
You have probably written about this before but how do you handle food for later morning workouts? I can workout on an empty stomach only if I can get started within 15-20 minutes of waking up. That didn’t happen today (kids…) so now I have to eat some thing so I don’t get a headache and the timing is all messed up. Sounds like you do other stuff before exercise in the AM, do you have something small first?
Nope – just coffee, but I’m usually done my workout by 6:45-7!
H had an expander for about 6 months, too (top and bottom). I was armed and ready with soft foods and distractions, but within a day, she was adjusted to it, so A might adjust sooner than you think! A water pik (I bought a kids’ version on Amazon) has been really helpful to her as she has had to adjust to have lots of metal in her mouth!
I burned through Dear Edward! But it is a traumatizing read! Yay for feeling well enough to workout. I have my 6w PP appt today and should get cleared to workout. I am planning to stick to long walks this month to ease my body back into working out. And then in feb I plan to get a BB membership. I am looking forward to working out again. I just hope the baby lets me set him down long enough to work out!! He does not like to be set down!!
Babies never do, do they 😊😊 at least they are cute!!!
I loved Saints for All Occasions so to see that blurb from J Courtney Sullivan has me intrigued. Looking forward to seeing your book list.
I always love your book recommendations. Thank you!!
I’ll echo the comments to get her a Waterpik for her palate expander. I had an expander as an adult and am in my third round of orthodontia and the Waterpik is an absolute must for all of the metal. I have had the full size models, but I prefer the rechargeable travel model. I did see someone mention above that they make a children’s model, too.
I had a palate expander too as a kid; it sucked and I never really got used to it. 🙁 Having been given ibuprofen an hour or so before tightening would have made a huge positive difference to that experience!
OMG the expander-small comfort, I know, but I remember the initial stages of that being the worst part of the braces saga. I used to cry when she’d expand it with the key thing, but soon after, I was tackling it myself! It will pass!! Mom used to basically make very very soft foods-loads of soups and stews (we’re Indian, so it sort of worked out well), BUT, to this day, there are certain Indian dishes I refuse to eat because of how much I had to eat them during the braces period-so just be warned 🙂
I liked it when foods had lots of flavor, even if they were pureed. One of my favorite things was a yogurt bar, where we’d have yogurt and pureed fruits to mix in, plus honey. Made dinner wayyy less painful if we knew we had that for dessert 🙂
My daughter, who hates it when anyone comes near her teeth, has an expander. Hers is even fitted with a “goaly” so she can’t suck her thumb. Bottom line: they get used to it.
When you turn, make sure you turn all the way to the next slot and if you are having a hard time, sometimes it’s the tool they give you. I had one that wasn’t working well so they gave me a new one and it was great.
Good luck!
My 9 year old has an expander. The worst period was the first 36 hours. He got used to it quickly and was able to talk normally again within a day or so (without drool!). His advice to any friends who get one is always to talk as much as you can when you first get it . The key turns did bother him a little, but were not as bad as I’d anticipated.
The water flosser has been great for keeping it clean.
I just want to say I love your blog! I’ve been suffering from morning sickness (grand finale of 2020… surprise baby #3, My kids will be 6 and 4 when he/she arrives, I’ll be 40…) and your blog has been the best distraction! Thank you for putting in the time!
Awww thank you! Your age spacing will be somewhat similar to us!!! Congratulations on your wonderful surprise!
I’m so looking forward to your 2021 book list! I’m also impressed you seem to be able to stick to a plan so far in advance for your reading. Hope Annabel adjusts quickly and that you have a good weekend!