Say Cheese!

I had focused the majority of this blog on Invisalign updates but a lot has changed since then. My husband and I have been trying for a family ever since we were married back in 2007. As much as it was a desire, it just hasn't happened the way we planned. For the past few years we've talked about adoption but never took the proper steps to know more. Until a year ago My husbands friend gave the number to a foster/adoption agency and we just jumped in. We did look up domestic adoptions, private, international.....going through Foster agency just seemed like the best fit for us, it gave us the most peace. So back in October 2015 we started classes and training and certifications and homestudy process to be licensed to adopt. In January 2016 we were approved and in Feb we heard of a sibling set, two boys, who needed a home. So we threw our hat in and in March/April we found out that we were picked! The boys came home at the end of April and our lives have been turned upside down. We are praying that adoption with be final by Thanksgiving! It's so much information, lots of tears, joys, and crazy excitement! But it has been worth it!

Ukraine: 0487-327715

So the bottom pic is when I first started Invisalign, it was 1/18; the top pic is aligners 30/33 for the upper and 18/18 for bottom. I am almost done with refinement trays and I'm pretty excited about that. I do notice that after the frenectomy I had to remove the skin between my front two that there was a tiny gap left behind. I'm hoping these last remaining aligners will take care of that. All in all I am happy and excited for the results. It's been a long and crazy journey, but so worth it.

Teeth pic time! I am on tray 17 out of 33 for the top row and 17/18 for bottom. These trays are refinement. After closing front gap (see earlier posts) it caused gaps to form between my back teeth, and since the back teeth are harder to move it needs more trays :-/ but since I know what to expect this time, I am having an easier time. My whole Invisalign experience has been amazing and a lot less painful as I had expected. Everyone's case is different and their experiences are different as well. However, in the end, it is all worth it. I have a confidence that I never knew I'd have when talking with people. I no longer cover my mouth when I laugh or shy away from conversations. It's been an amazing year :-)

So I am done with my trays finally 18/18!!! I knew I would need refinement trays....no prob....what happens!!?? I need 33 trays for top and 18 more on bottom!!!! I mean....good---ness!!! Well it is so much because thy want to try and move my back teeth forward which is hard and would take a while. Let's see how this goes. Oh and even better, they added two more buttons to my front tooth....ugh this is going to be a looooong year.

So sorry it took me so long to post this picture. But here they are! 18/18!!!!! I love the results! Now, I can be done and order retainers but the flesh or skin between my front two needs to be removed and because of the spacing in the front being closed it cause a gap on my side teeth so I will be adding some refinement trays to correct that spacing. But what do y’all think?! Looks great right!

17/18 top and 16/16 bottom.....I have one last tray and I will keep that one on for three weeks instead of two. Then I go to the dentist to see if I will need any extra trays for refinement or take the buttons off and get started with retainers. I am thrilled with the results :-) hope you all are having a great week!

Last tray for bottom teeth, 2 more for the top.....hopefully haha certainly have come a long way, proud of the results. I understand I might need refinement trays after, but I won't know till I'm done with these trays. Have school Tuesdays and Thursdays with no time to get lunch, so I take these out eat a granola bar and put them back on after rinsing with water. Guess what happened? Nothing haha, I had to get something in my belly or the whole class would hear my stomach growling like crazy. I am so adamant on brushing and flossing after meals but, when you have no time you got to make best of the time you have. As soon as I get home I make sure and brush and floss. No biggie. Don't sweat the small stuff peeps if you don't have to. :-) take care and have a great weekend!

14/18 top aligners 14/16 bottom aligners getting close to the end, hopefully I won't need too many refinement trays after, but if I do oh well, it's worth it :-D

Can teeth be sore? Maybe it's my gums that are sore? I don't know but my teeth are sore...because that's what it feels like. I usually change my aligners before I go to bed, that way they will have a good 5-6 hours to make the initial adjustment without me having to take them out to eat and brush. I'm on tray 14/18!! I'll post a teeth pic later :-) I love that I can smile and not be insecure about it. I guess I should stop being an introvert and flash these baby's around, buuuut that's not my style haha I like being in my own space haha it's freaking freezing and I didn't study because the meteorologists were predicting snow and I was hoping school would be canceled.....I guess God heard my plan and laughed....ugh oh well it's my own genius fault for not taking the first test seriously. Anyways, I'm rambling which means I am stalling....have a good day people :-D

Man Chewies help so much especially now with these aligners....they help to get the aligners on and set....with each set it gets tighter. Ask your dentist if you don't have them! If they don't then check out eBay or amazon.

Oy, soreness was a little more intense with this set but after a few minutes it would go away, until it was time to take them off and there it was again! Hahaha oh it didn't last long, takes a day or so for my teeth to adjust and for me to get used to it. Nothing to go home and cry to momma about. Overjoyed with the results as always :-D love that I am drinking more water and staying away from so much soda, it's been so much better for me and I feel better because of it. I thought this would be so difficult (I am the biggest opposer of change, incredibly stubborn) it's had it's challenges but not as bad as I had expected. Whatever hurdles I have been met with, it's all worth it because I have something incredible to show for it ! Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

11/18 !!! Soreness first day of new set but after that I just get used to it. Not a problem. The holidays were hard...so many different foods and deserts and drinks and so little time hahaha but it was wonderful spending time with family. Hope you all had a great Holiday season. Take care!!!

10/18 !!! Woohoo! Dentist says everything’s is moving along just fine. Each set my teeth are a little sore but by this time I am used to it so it doesn’t bother me as much. Going great so far :-)

9 / 18 !!! I get so excited to see such a big improvement with every set! I started to get lazy with the last set, but I'm back on track and being diligent in keeping my teeth brushed and flossed after meals and drinking water with aligners on. I mean, these babies aren't cheap, and my insurance isn't covering it all. Hahaha

Ahh turkey day is fast approaching and I will fully take responsibility for my sore teeth I will have that night after a full day of eating/napping/eating hahahaha On my 8th set out of 18, well 8/18 on top 8/16 on bottom. Wondering if I will need refinement trays after, I guess I will know more towards the last couple of weeks. Take care! Give thanks :-D