Pain in the Bite

Its been over a month since I got my wisdom teeth out, and I can honestly say this is the first week that my mouth feels completely better. (not even really normal, but no pain). Right at the end of August, I decided to quickly get my wisdom teeth out (after years of being told to) since my insurance changed Sept 1st, and under my old insurance, I could get the surgery done for free. Not even a co pay. (Now THAT is good insurance). So in less than a week's time, I made arrangements to make it happen. Now before going into surgery, I heard a lot of people's experiences--good and bad. Some people were eating steak 2 days later, and others didn't quite feel back to normal for a couple weeks. Well, let's just say that after my experience, I probably won't be sharing my story with people. Because if they heard it, they would probably let their wisdom teeth take up permanent residence in their mouth. Mine was not a normal experience. And after the weeks of a puffy cheek (yep, just one side--which, in my opinion, is even more awkward), endless pain, no real food, gross sockets, popping Vicodin and Tylenol like candy, smoothies and ice cream (which I could honestly do without for a while), I finally feel better. I can finally take a bite into a sandwich and chew. What's funny is that I still can't have a full, extended bite--yes, this sounds weird. After not using muscles for a while and the fact that my jaw was even considered "sprained" (what the heck, right?!), its still hard to fit a normal bite in my mouth.( I am thinking about taking up jaw yoga to help this). BUT after not being able to bite at all for weeks, any bite is good for me.
So after this fun little adventure, I couldn't help but think, Wow, that was annoying. And wonder (as I do often when things happen in life) why did I go through that? While I realize it wasn't a life changing event, or for that matter, anything huge in the scope of things, it did affect my everyday life for over a month. It changed work, being a mom, being a wife, my comfort, my attitude... therefore, I can't help but wonder why God allowed it to happen. So in pondering this, here is my little list of learnings from all of this (some deep, some practical, and some not either of those things).

• Don't take my health for granted--its amazing when you are in extreme pain how much it affects your life. And how you just want that pain free state back. While my pain was minor in what so many people deal with, it makes me grateful for each day I wake up pain free and can function normally.
• My comfort greatly affects my attitude. I found myself snappy and impatient and realized it was because I was uncomfortable. I had to keep having an attitude check and remind myself this was no ones fault. Not Jon's, not the Drs (ok maybe a little bit of hers), and certainly not Caden or Tessa's. It just was what is was and it sucked. And my attitude could either worsen things, or make it tolerable. One of my supervisors at work reminded me the other week that God often takes us through the same test over and over in order to shape us and teach us--over and over, especially if we don't get what God is trying to teach us. Well, this was another pop quiz. And I failed. So a month later, I realized that I don't want to keep taking this test over and over...I want to look at the bigger picture of things and realize that I am called to be joyful in all things, and again, is this really that bad? No. Could it be worse? Certainly. But more importantly, no matter what physical state I am in, what financial situation we are in, what house we are living in, what comforts I do or don't have, I am called to be thankful and joyful. This learning applies to so much more than my physical comfort...but my emotional comfort, my spiritual comfort, what I think I "deserve" to be comfortable...so I am choosing to strive for change and joy. I realize the quizzes might not be over, but I pray that my heart is changed so with each situation that I encounter, my attitude reflects that change.
  
• Don't open your 2 year olds fruit snacks with your teeth. Just a good rule for life.
• I have an amazing husband. He takes care of me. He takes care of the kids. I often focus on the things he doesn't do, and forget about the many things he does do. And does so well. And appreciates what I do without making me feel bad if I don't do them. He never asks me (or complains about) to clean the house, to do laundry, to make meals...but is grateful when I do them.
  
• I have amazing friends and family. I have so many family members and friends that jumped in to help me with life during all of this. My mom who left her first week back at work to take care of the kids so I could rest. My friends who took Caden for me so I wouldn't have to chase a 2 year old in my extreme pain. All that asked how I was and was concerned for all my "mouth drama". In the scheme of life, it wasn't that big of a deal. But it was hard. And painful. And annoying. And those around me showed genuine concern. I love community like that.
• Don't put your daughters pacifier in your mouth (the ring, plastic part) and bite down on it to hold it because both your hands are occupied. Carry your daughter, then go back and get it. Trying to carry it in your mouth and biting down (bite being the operative term) probably isn't a good idea when you haven't bit on anything for almost 3 weeks. Apparently jaws can be sprained. And it hurts. A lot.
  
• It really nice when dr's offices come to know you by first name and have gotten to know a lot about you. Its not nice when its because you have to go there every day for 2 weeks to get a piece of gauze stuffed in the back of your mouth that tastes like clove--a mix of ginger and medicine tasting flavor. I hate ginger flavor by the way. While it helps a lot of people with nausea, it makes me want to barf. Gagging daily due to the flavor and huge hands in your mouth really bonds you to a group of people. But I can honestly say I don't miss Dr Jui, Rob or Julian. And I think they are doing just fine without me.
  

So that's been my month or so...and I am happy to be moving on and functioning normally, rarely thinking twice about all that happened. And I am thankful that its over and all that I can appreciate more because of it. And even more thankful God only gave us one set of wisdom teeth. Because I will NEVER have to do that again.