Hello, jaw surgery.

The biggest event on our horizon is the long awaited orthognatic (double jaw and chin) surgery to correct my obstructed airway and TMJ disorder. We hope it will lead to better sleep and health, as well as less pain and fatigue both now and in the long term.

Braces are a necessary step for proper teeth alignment prior to orthognatic surgery.
My resemblance to the Incredibles' babysitter is uncanny. #iamKari

The procedure has been scheduled for March 7th (seven weeks away!). I'm meeting with my dentist, orthodontist, and maxillofacial surgeon in a few weeks for my final checks before surgery. Then it's Go Time.

(This video below is a great explanation of the procedure, and includes a patient testimonial if you are curious or interested in learning more.)



Something about having a set procedure date made things feel a lot more real this week. In an effort to quell anxiety (nervousness = busyness), I've started making preparations for post-op care.

Here a list of the recovery supplies I've collected so far:

- Wedge Pillow to stay elevated after surgery
- Nutri Ninja blender
- Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer
- Homegeek Water Pik (for keeping braces/teeth clean since flossing will be impossible)
- Essential oil diffuser/humidifier (interesting article by Mayo Clinic on EOs and post-op recovery)
- Ice packs and heating pad
- Dry erase board/markers (to communicate for first couple of weeks)
- DVDs and comfy pajamas

One of the trickiest considerations with jaw surgery recovery is nutrition: the jaws are banded shut for 4-6 weeks while the bones heal, which means everything going in must be in liquid/pureed form. I've begun experimenting with various recipes for soups, smoothies, juices, and basically anything that can be consumed through a condiment squeeze bottle. I hope to write another post soon with some of the best recipes I've gleaned from cookbooks, YouTube, and the interwebs.

EDITED 2/13/19: I was told at my pre-op appt last week that I will NOT be wired/banded shut after surgery (YAY) but will still be on a liquid diet for about a month (BOO).

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

Rinse. Repeat.

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Some may be wondering if this procedure is medically necessary to correct my issues, or if more conservative and holistic treatments have been tried first to help improve my airway and long list of medical issues. The answer is yes and yes.

I've been battling poor health for several years now, and it has been gradually worsening over time. Over the last four years, I've been treated by several great chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, and doctors with only limited success. Manual manipulations, daily physical therapy exercises, dry needling, craniosacral and therapeutic massage, splints, essential oils, supplements, eliminating huge categories of inflammatory foods from my diet - you name it, I've tried it. All with little/no lasting relief, I'm sorry to say. It is now clear that there are no other viable alternatives left, and so we can proceed with confidence knowing that this is the best option for my long term health. (I will also be having a small outpatient procedure later to correct a tongue tie, but the tie is minimal and the recovery will be much, much easier.) 

If you believe you are suffering with significant jaw issues, contact a dentist or orthodontist who specializes in airway/TMJ disorders for a consult. They are the best place to start in getting an assessment, and they will likely have several conservative and effective treatments to try first before considering surgery (according to my orthodontist, 85% of people he treats with TMJ/jaw issues can resolve their problems without surgical intervention).

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Thank you all for your support, prayers, and encouragement as we take this crucial and necessary step. I will try to share details as I'm able throughout the process in case it is helpful to others who are considering or needing orthognatic surgery.

Goodbye, 2018.

2018, I'm glad to see the back of you.

We survived a crazy year, folks. I shared most of the weightiest Gains and Losses of 2018 in a previous blog, and the ripples from those changes have continued to reshape many aspects of our lives. It has been a rather intense season of rebuilding and adapting to the new normal with all of its ups and downs, to say the least.

But we've been thankful for so many beautiful moments this year as well, and they are worth mentioning here.


For G-bug's 11th birthday, she asked to do two of Papaw's favorite things to celebrate: have a family fishing day and eat at Golden Corral. I can't think of a better way to remember Dad and to celebrate life. He would have been so touched to know how much G-bug wanted to honor him on her birthday. That girl never ceases to amaze me.

"I got another one!"

We took Dad with us. It seemed right to have him there.

This fall, we finally got around to getting family photos for the first time in 5+ years. (Thanks, Kristen Williams for the amazing photos!)  It's crazy how much the kids have grown up and what amazing human beings they are and are still becoming.

Hand in hand, heart to heart

The whole gang!💗

We also welcomed a new nephew into the world, and his sweet adorableness is off the charts.

Baby Jack Jack. 

His cuteness knows no bounds.

My younger brother also graduated with his masters degree in computer science this December, and I couldn't be prouder. Congrats, Ken!

Mom, sister in law, and the graduate 💓

This was also a year of all of the firsts without Dad: first birthdays, first Thanksgiving (he taught me how to cook a turkey as a teenager, and we prepared Thanksgiving together most years through college). This was the first Christmas without him. He loved Christmas.

My brother and I did go visit Dad's place at the Kentucky Veteran Cemetery in Fort Knox, and were so touched to see all of the beautiful wreaths laid on every grave for Christmas. It was such a beautiful tribute to all of the veterans who were there, and a tremendous gift of love for the families who were missing them during the holidays.

Merry Christmas, Dad

Joy and sorrow, tears and laughter. A tapestry of trials and triumphs, woven together into an intricate display of life in all of its shades, shadows, and textures. There was enough sorrow and tears to drown us this year, but enough moments of beauty and joy to sustain us as well. Those moments were not by chance, but tangible gifts of grace from a loving God.

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'

'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

- 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Death is not the final word. Christ will one day triumph over death once and for all. And in that we can remain steadfast, sturdy in the hope He provides.