Living the Toddler Life: Another healing update

In many ways, I have accomplished the sorts of things we praise toddlers for: I’m eating solid foods! I’m using a fork! I’m getting new teeth (coming soon), and sleeping through the night! Oh, and I had to get one of those ear tubes, also known as” tympanostomy tubes or grommets,” due to a case of airplane ear. My kids had their share of ear infections when they were little, but never had to get an ear tube. Lucky for them–it really hurt! Apparently, many folks who have my kind of surgery need to get one of these things to help keep the eustaschian tubes clear. Just one more bump in this long and winding road to recovery!

So I have graduated to soft foods, which has been a source of great joy. While soup is still my fallback, the world has opened a little wider in the area of Foods I Can Eat Comfortably. And speaking of things opening a little wider, my challenging tongue-depressor jaw exercises have apparently been working, so in the next couple of weeks (drum roll…) I will be getting a temporary obturator that features replicas of my very own departed molars. Instead of the retainer-with-a-sidecar (and oh! how I wish I could drink a sidecar these days…), I will have a retainer with some teeth attached, which will probably remind me of the ghastly dentures my grandmother used to soak in a glass. Maybe I can get one with some embellishments or glitter. Doubtful.

The red circle of numbness is a lot smaller, as you can see in this highly filtered picture from a couple of years ago when I went for bangs:

red circle bangs

As my doctor told me this week, the numbness can last a very long time. It may never completely go away, but I am encouraged by the changes in just the last few weeks.

Times being the way they are, I wish this video wasn’t live from Red Square, but it’s the best one I could find. So, as Sir Paul says:

My doctor refers to my newly missing parts as “the defect.” I guess it’s one way to describe this void I have in place of a section of jaw and those departed teeth, but I like to think of my healing process as fixing a hole.

I was always such a Paul girl… some things never change.

And this is a sidecar. Have one for me, if you like. Traditionally: Cointreau, cognac, lemon juice, sugar rim. Cheers!

sidecar

19 Responses to Living the Toddler Life: Another healing update

  1. Marcia Cohen says:

    Wow, Risa…you always hit the nail on the head, so to speak, with your beautiful words & wry sense of humor. As the Virginia Slims girl said, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” You really have done a remarkable job of taking each step as it comes…I hope the next steps aren’t too difficult …thinking of you, sending love, Marcia

  2. Christine Bertko says:

    I’ll definitely have one for you, Risa! So glad you are “developmentally” advancing to soft foods.

  3. Cathy Sweetman says:

    I look forward to a future post telling us Ms. Barstool is back in business! You’re doing great, so keep up the good work.

  4. What a fun and delightful post! I can tell your spirits are lifting, and one day soon you too will lift another Sidecar. Keep on keeping on, you’re doing a great job (no surprise there). xx

  5. Risa, am so happy to hear of your progress. You’ve been amazingly strong through this.

  6. Phyllis Crakow says:

    Great, great news. And delivered with such style and grace. Keep on keepin’ on beautiful friend.

  7. Dan Kevin says:

    I hope your wonderful mind never stops its wandering. Glad to hear things are getting better!

  8. Go get em champ! Wish the progress were faster, but I’m glad it isn’t slower. Thanks for these bulletins.

  9. Kathy Selleck says:

    Admire your grit and humorous spins on what has obviously been a difficult journey. Hang in there!
    Warmly,
    Kathy

  10. Linda Carucci says:

    Ready for a pastina party yet? I’ll have some shipped in.
    Thanks for the beautiful writing.
    In solidarity.

    Linda

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