Jenna Wisdom Teeth

Wednesday, June 25: This morning Jenna had her appointment with Red Rock Oral to get her wisdom teeth out. (Last kid to have to go through this ordeal!) Her procedure was a lot more expensive than it was with Josh or Jaiden. I had theirs done at Simply Wisdom Teeth, with Dr. Ivan Hendrickson (DDS), which was a lot cheaper. But our dentist recommended an oral surgeon for Jenna. He also recommended an oral surgeon for Janelle and Janika, because of their age (they were both 15). Jenna's was about $2000.00, with insurance paying half. So we ended up paying just over $1000.00 out of pocket. (But we ended up getting a check in the mail later for about half of this and so apparently insurance covered more than we thought. That was a nice surprise!) With Simply Wisdom Teeth we only paid about $350.00 after insurance.  

The oral surgeon for Jenna's wisdom teeth was Dr. Jared Mack. Jenna was freaking out over getting her blood pressure taken (not yelling or anything, but making faces and acting like she was going to die.) It was pretty embarrassing. The doctor said that he had never seen anyone react like that to getting their blood pressure taken! They had asked us if we wanted to have Platelet Rich Fibrin (PDF Therapy) done to aid in a quicker healing process. I had never heard of it before. It was an extra $200.00 and not covered by insurance, but I figured anything that will help with healing and help prevent complications is worth it! (It did seem to help and so I was glad that we opted for it.)

After they got her ready they had me go to the waiting room. I read my Pioneer Trails Workshop book for about thirty minutes and then they came out and said that she was finished and that everything went well with the surgery. They said that I could move my car around to the back entrance to pick her up. When they wheeled her out she was totally crying. We got her into the car and she couldn't really talk since her mouth was filled with gauze and she was trying to sign to me. I leaned her seat back all the way and told her to try and relax. 

On the way home she tried to sit up and said, "the world is so beautiful!" I got her into the house and got her settled on the couch. Some of our other kids threw up after getting their wisdom teeth out, but she didn't. I asked her some questions and took some videos of her. Some of them were hilarious! I will put a link here: 

Jenna chilled out the rest of the day, just watching TV. Ethan worked in the morning and also in the evening, but came over during the day in between his two shifts. I had Jenna take her medication (alternating between extra-strength tylenol and extra-strength ibuprophin) every four hours. I had gotten her a bunch of soft foods (yogurt, oatmeal, rice cereal, smoothie stuff, creamies) and kept trying to get her to eat. She finally did a couple of hours after she got home. A bit later she even got up and made herself some mashed potatoes. She used the ice packs they gave her the first couple of days and was still in pain and on the medication for pretty much a whole week. She basically just watched TV all day. She watched a movie with Ethan when he came over and I watched a movie with her that night.

Thursday she basically just watched TV all day too. I think she did a little homework for her online summer Health class too. She decided that she wanted to go a craft project while watching TV so that is wasn't so boring and so that she could feel productive. She got one of my old t-shirts and found some material and decorated it with stars and a cowboy boot on the back for the Fourth of July. It turned out really cute! She really is creative and crafty! 

Even though she was still in pain, and on medication, she still went to her work inservice Friday morning for a couple of hours. She even went out with friends that night -- hot-tubbing and playing night games. Saturday she worked a full shift at the city pool. I had told her to take work off for five days. I thought she had gotten Saturday off, but I guess she couldn't find someone to take her shift. I  worried that she was doing too much, too soon, especially since they say that day three and four are often the worst. She made it though her shift and was exhausted and came home and went straight to bed. She didn't really swell up though, which surprised me. Some of my kids really swelled up and others didn't. She stayed home the rest of the day and worked on her patriotic shirt while watching re-runs of Hannah Montana.

Sunday she went to church with us. She brought her ice packs. They say that the ice is only beneficial for the first 36 hours, but she found them soothing and said they felt good on her cheeks and so she kept using them on and off for a few days. Sunday night we all went to the free Patriotic Concert at Tuacahn that was put on by United We Pledge and Liberty Village. Ellen was very busy all weekend preparing for it. They came and put up flags all throughout the entire entryway. It looked really cool! I really enjoyed the concert, but Jenna was tired and not feeling well and so I wished we had left her home to rest. Here is the shirt she decorated the past few days. 

Jenna worked at Tuacahn Monday night. Tuesday night she left for Lake Powell with Ethan and a huge group of friends. They were meeting up with Ethan's family who were already there with their houseboat, ski boat, and jet skiis. I hope that her mouth is healed well enough that she won't have any problems while she is there! Click HERE for the posts of the other kids getting their wisdom teeth out! 

Josh, Wisdom Teeth (add videos later)

Thursday 15: Today Josh got his wisdom teeth out! I went with him. He was pretty out of it when he came out and slept most of the way home. When we got home I tried to get him to get out of the car and he started to fall over. I was trying to hold him up -- he was halfway in and halfway out and then proceeded to throw up on the garage floor. (At least it wasn't in my car!) But I wasn't sure when to do, because he couldn't stand up and I didn't want him to fall over. I thought dad was on his way home and so I tried to call him to come help me, but he didn't answer. Finally he was able to stand up and walk with support and I helped him get inside to the couch. We got some pretty funny videos! A little later he called Bridget and talked for a while. When dad got home he sort of interviewed him and got some funny footage. Later Bridget came over and brought him a smoothie. I sure hope he recovers quickly! 

Jaiden Wisdom Teeth

Jaiden got all four of her wisdom teeth out this morning. I think Jase only had two wisdom teeth. Why is it that we even have wisdom teeth if it is just something that needs to be removed later on? 

Anyway, Jaiden and I were the only ones in town. Rick was interpreting on a cruise, Josh was at Lake Powell with the Young Men, and Jenna was at FSY.  Jaiden had her procedure done at a place called, "Simply Wisdom Teeth." Janika and Janelle had gotten theirs out at the office of Dr. Shawn Davis, but I guess they are not contracted with our insurance company any more and so I did some shopping around and this place had really good reviews and the price was very reasonable. It cost $899.00 total and insurance covered a good part of that and so we only had to pay around $350.00. I barely had time to go through the paper-work when she was finished and they were wheeling her out. She was pretty entertaining and we got some funny videos. Her friend, Lizzie Bryner, got her wisdom teeth out also at the exact same time (different office) and so those two were sending videos to each other and they were hilarious! I will have to see if I can piece together some of the videos and add it to this post. I think it is funny that she is trying to "pose" in this picture. 

I remembered that Janelle had gotten sick and thrown up in the car and so I mentioned that to the nurse who was going through instructions with me and she gave me an emesis bag just in case. I was glad that I had it, because Jaiden did throw up on the way home and luckily it all went in the bag. It wasn't a lot since she hadn't eaten anything, but enough that I was grateful for the bag! 

On the way home she asked for her phone and called Maddox. We passed the freeway sign for Vegas and she said in her loopy, slurred voice, "We're going to Vegas?" This was while on the phone with Maddox and he was telling her how there is an M & M store in Vegas and so she kept talking about that the next couple of hours... "We are going to Vegas and going to the M & M store!" She was also sending Marco Polo videos on the way home to our family chat and texting her friends. Why is it that someone who is loopy from anesthesia can still master technology perfectly? 

When we got home Emily and Audrey came over. They talked with Jaiden and took some funny videos of Jaiden talking and singing and they watched Phineas and Ferb. Then they left to go see Lizzie and Maddox came over to spend the day with Jaiden. I was glad that he was there since she wasn't supposed to be left unsupervised and I had to run to the store to pick up her prescriptions. I picked up some applesauce and yogurt and made her mashed potatoes and gravy.

I didn't end up filling the Tramadal, because I remember how sick it made Janelle and there are risks with narcotics, and so we just stuck with the Ibuprophin and Extra Strength Tylenol, alternating every three hours. She also was prescribed an antibiotic. I had to write everything down in a notebook -- which medicine she took at what time and set timers for the next dose so that I could keep track! She and Maddox watched movies and even went swimming. She wasn't supposed to do any exercise, but it wasn't really exercise -- just lounging around in the pool. 

She took it easy the next few days and then we headed up north for the Father's Day party and Father's Day Flee. Her teeth were still bothering her, but at least she was able to keep the pain at bay with the medication and enjoy time with family. We came home from that on Tuesday, stopping to do Baptisms in the Cedar City temple on the way home. She ended up getting someone to cover her shift on Tuesday night. We would have made it home in time, but her teeth were still bothering her and so she was glad she didn't have to go to work. She went to work Thursday night but came home early saying that the next five shows were cancelled due to a Covid outbreak in the cast. 

So she ended up with lots of time with friends. She and Emily and Lizzie decorated their matching backpacks (that Rick had gotten them for the cruise) and went shopping. We also watched the Nationals for Distinguished Young Women Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to cheer Isabel on. I had to pay $25.00 for the steaming link and so I was really disappointed when the technology wasn't working for the first 30 minutes or so, but they finally fixed it. 

I was worried when Jaiden left for FSY on June 27th because her mouth was still bothering her, but she was able to go and have an amazing time and didn't mention being bothered by it at all. She got back home on Saturday July 2nd and I had her go back into the office on July 5th to check out a bump that was growing on her gums. Jaiden said it felt like there was something hard in there. Sure enough, there was a piece of bone, which they removed with tweezers, so I was glad that she went in. She also asked for a syringe to wash out the holes. They had said that she couldn't rinse, or spit, or drink with a straw for fear of pulling out the scabs that were supposed to heal over the holes, but maybe she can do that now that it has been a couple of weeks? I don't know, she has been rinsing them out now to remove food particles, but now says that her teeth have started hurting again. So the whole thing has been a bit of a stressful process. I will be grateful when her mouth is completely healed! 

 

Jase Wisdom Teeth

Jase only had two wisdom teeth and got them out after his mission (and after Janika's wedding). We had them checked before his mission, but his dentist, Dr. Utley, said that they weren't ready to come out yet and said he could get them out after his mission (unlike Janika and Janelle who needed them out when they were just 15 years old). It must have been fairly uneventful because I neglected to do a blog post about it (until now) and the only documentation I could find was an appointment on my google calendar that said "Jase wisdom teeth out" on June 27, 2018. He had them out at Dr. Utley's office. He said "They didn't really put me under that much so I wasn't even drugged when I came out. I honestly probably could have driven home." We told him to go take a nap in the studio and he just sat there lying awake for an hour and a half and then came back upstairs. We told him that was a short nap and he said that he didn't even sleep. He didn't swell up (as I remember) and recovered really quickly. I can't find any photos -- I will have to check Rick's google photos for that day and see if he has any! 

Janelle Wisdom Teeth

Friday 16: Janelle and I woke up early and headed to the oral surgeon for her 8:00 appointment. The dentist had referred us to the oral surgeon (Dr. Shawn Davis) because of Janelle's age. (She is 15). I had brought my laptop thinking I would have all of this time to get some work done, but the procedure itself was only about 40 minutes and so I just read scriptures instead.

They called me back and said that everything went great. She looked SO awful though! Her cheeks were swollen, she had an ice pack around her chin and tied up on the top of her head, gauze in her mouth and her eyes were red like she had been crying. She was out of it and saying something about pictures on the walls and how everything was blurry and that she was seeing double vision. Only it was really difficult to understand her!  It was a little disconcerting seeing her that way! I drove the car around the back and they helped her into the car. I remember doing that when I got mine done. I remember mom saying that they must bring the patients out the back so that those in the front office don't see them and get scared off! 

I could see that Janelle was nauseous and so right after we left I dumped out the contents of the goody bag they gave us and handed it to her before she threw up. I hurried her home and she threw up a few more times. At home we talked with her and took a couple of videos and then put her to bed. She slept a couple of hours and then seemed much more like herself! One of her friends brought her over a bunch of mini tubs of ice-cream, which was nice. I had to run to the pharmacy to get her medicine and put Jared in charge of her while I went to my interpreting appointment. I gave her some of the pain medication but it made her really dizzy and sick and she threw up again. We decided that was not a good medication for her and so the next time she needed some I tried the  Ibuprofen instead along with some food and she threw up right after. I called the after hours number and they sent in a prescription for some anti-nausea medicine. Rick picked it up on his way back from Vegas. That helped a lot and she was finally able to get some food down.

Saturday 17: Happy St. Patrick's Day! Janelle had swollen cheeks today but other than that she was feeling a lot better and didn't need any more of the anti-nausea medicine -- just the ibuprofen and did fine with it. She just watched TV and texted friends.

Sunday 18: Janelle was even more swollen than yesterday but still went to church today. She is such a trooper!! She also went to school on Monday armed with a fruit smoothie and yogurt for lunch and a syringe to wash her mouth out after meals.

The Oral Surgeon/Dentist office had flowers delivered to Janelle!!  

Janelle with her chipmunk cheeks!! 

Jared Wisdom Teeth

Jared got his wisdom teeth out today -- the first day of Spring Break! Dr. Utley did a great job and even gave us a missionary discount so that we only had to pay whatever insurance didn't cover. What an unexpected blessing! We are grateful! They told us that he wouldn't be completely out but wouldn't care what was going on and wouldn't be able to remember it afterwards. Rick had brought him this morning -- along with Jaiden and Janelle who had dental appointments at the same time. Jared wasn't too loopy afterwards and acted pretty normal (normal for him) but they were right -- he can't remember the procedure or the conversations afterwards! So it was weird for him to watch the videos. Dr. Utley said that Janelle would need her wisdom teeth out ASAP too since they were pushing on her other teeth. He referred us to an oral surgeon because of her age. So we scheduled her appointment for this Friday!!  

Wisdom Teeth Out

Janika (age 15) got her wisdom teeth out last Friday morning at 7:00 a.m.  Not a fun way to spend her Spring Break, but at least it would allow her a few days to recover before school started again.  Her friend had told her that when she had her own wisdom teeth out she was irrational afterwards and said the funniest things.  She said, "And we got it all on video!"  So Janika wanted me to videotape her surgery but I really did not want to do that.  I am sure she is glad that we didn't because instead of making her loopy, the anesthesia made made her really weepy and emotional -- not something you want to get on video.  Rick volunteered to take her and I was grateful because that way I could sleep in (or try to anyway).

The surgery went well (according to the Oral Surgeon anyway) and as soon as she got home we put her straight to bed.  She was emotional for awhile until the aesthesia totally wore off. She was also in pain the rest of the day. The pain medication made her sleepy and dizzy. She didn't swell up too bad until the next day and then her poor cheeks were SO swollen! She looked so different! 

Her friend who had gone through this brought her some ice-cream from Krave the next day.  Her other friends helped her pass the time by chatting with her on facebook or gmail. Janika said that her guy friends were more sweet and empathetic than her girl friends were.  A couple of her friends (girls) stopped by and took one look at her round chipmunk cheeks and burst into laughter.  Poor Janika!  She was a good sport about it though.  She was still swollen and in pain on Sunday and so she missed church.

Monday she had to go help with a Jr. National Honor Society Fund-Raiser for a couple of hours in the afternoon.  She made it through it but went straight to bed when she got home.  In their National Honor Society meetings, they had divided up the students into groups of four.  Each group was supposed to come up with a way to earn $100.00 for an organization that helps give small loans to women in Asia who need help.  Many of them have been able to start their own businesses and break the cycle of poverty.  Janika and her friends had decided to put together a babysitting kids' camp for today (the last day of Spring Break) for a couple of hours.  Of course we wanted to be supportive and help with this endeavor and so I brought our four youngest to the camp and they all had a great time.

Tuesday morning Janika went to school early for her NJHS meeting but then called me and asked if I could come pick her up.  She was still swollen and sore and not feeling well.  She was finally able to go back to school on Wednesday and has been recovering well ever since!

The Dentist

My first grader's teacher posted the question "What are you doing for Spring Break?" in her students' dialogue journals and Jaiden wrote back, "We are going to the dentist!" Such a lucky girl to have such wonderful exciting plans for Spring Break, don't you think?

So this morning I brought the six oldest children to the dentist.  The good news?  NO cavities!!! Yeah!!!  We have had past dental visits which have not been quite so optimistic. The kids all got their new toothbrushes, toothpaste, and prizes, and everyone was happy.

The bad news? Janika needs her wisdom teeth out -- ASAP.  Well, not exactly an exciting Spring Break activity, but I decided that now this week would actually be a perfect time since she would have a few days of recovery before she was back in school. I called the oral surgeon and they said we could get her in Friday morning. So Friday morning it is!

Janika said, "I am not really worried about getting my wisdom teeth out -- I just don't want to miss the Stake Dance on Saturday night!"  Funny girl -- going in for surgery and all she is worried about is possibly missing out on a little boy/girl social time!