Post Op - 1 Week Since Surgery

It's hard to believe that Rachel had her surgery 1 week ago today. One week of recovery under her belt and one week closer to things getting back to normal for her. 

She's pretty tired of protein shakes, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and yogurt at this point. She can have macaroni and cheese and really anything that doesn't involve chewing. Basically things she can squish on the roof of her mouth. This morning we tried chicken dinos, just for something different and for some substance in her stomach. I cut them up into the smallest of bites so that she could just squish them and then swallow. It worked out great, only problem is because she eats so slowly right now, the pieces got cold and hard before she could eat them all. Next time we will only cook a dino or two at a time. 

Around lunch time we went to Starbucks for a chocolate chip frrppacino and to Chick Fil A for french fries. We figured she could break the fries into the tiniest of pieces and eat those. I got chicken strips and was able to tear them into small pieces for her and she loved that.

Enjoying her frappacino with her baby spoon (NO straws allowed).

Her pain is starting to lesson. When I ask her what her pain is, today it's been a 2. She's more irritated and ready to have the splint removed. We're still giving over the counter Advil and Tylenol as needed for pain/major discomfort. She has some numbness to her lips, which they say could take a couple of weeks to come back. Swelling is starting to lesson as far as I can see. My parents saw her yesterday and said the swelling was down quite a bit since they saw her on Thursday.  When you see her everyday like we do, you aren't so quick to notice any difference. 

Before surgery and 1 week Post Op. 

It wasn't until I put these two pictures side by side that I could see just how different her face looks at this point - only 1 week out! There's still swelling. But what a difference in her nose, and the amount of space between her upper lip and her nose. It looks like Dr. Martin made her face longer, but I know he didn't. It's amazing just how much a jaw deformity can shape ones face. And how fixing it can redefine the face!