Julia goes to Dr. Brandner today for a follow up visit. This is day 10 with her jaws wired and the wires, actually elastic bands, are stretched out. She showed me how she can seperate her upper and lower a little bit. It still wasn't enough to get my delicious cucumber soup in there, even though it was pureed and liquified to death. It still had particles that kept clogging up the spaces that the food goes in. Her appetite is finally picking up and she has hit upon a few things that she likes; Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup and jello, lately with whipped cream too. Of the jello we have made all flavors except lemon. The soups I have made so far are Potato, Garlic with Tomato Soup, Cream of Broccoli, Cream of Spinach, and last night's Cucumber soup. She turned her nose up at the Garlic soup. Michael and Aaron hated the cucumber soup. I mean - hated it. I have been going over recipes in Epicurious.com and calling out titles of soups to her. She mutters back "no" or gives me a look that says that to everything. I think she is being contrary. I have become very proficient at eye language in the past week and a half.
I am working a 2nd day today as an "extra" on a pilot shot in the French Quarter. I had never done this before Monday, which was a 16 hour day. It was an interesting process and the standing around waiting, visiting with other actors (which reminded me of jury duty), being fed and paid (which won't come for weeks), and watching how a film is made is going to forever change my viewing habits. It will have to be a very good movie or t.v. show for me to not think of what went into making a short scene. I ran away from gunshots many times, watched a one-minute parade scene bunches of times, and witnessed a fist fight breaking out a million times. Tonight the setting is a Bourbon Street bar, Razoo's. I guess I shouldn't say anything more about it since I might interject my opinion of the pilot which probably wouldn't be prudent.
I have a page-turner, "Secret Life Of Bees", so off I go.
Hope it goes well. Good Luck, Julia! You too, Mom (Janine)!
I neglected to mention all the other soups and foods we have been pureeing. They are too numerous to mention. I tried a packaged hot and sour soup on her last night that she didn't like. I will be giving that to a friend today since nobody around here cared for it.
Julia is going on her school field trip today to the Otis house in Madisonville. Couldn't be talked out of it. I am to chaperone and I don't want to. Sigh. We went to her class yesterday to get her assignments for the week and that has pulled her out of her funk and made her want to join the living, with or without the use of her jaws. I guess that's good.
The doctor said she will probably need the wires on for a fourth week because of how bad the break was. He made a grimace and air-sucking noise through his teeth when he said it.
Finished "The Secret Life of Bees". It was an excellent read. By Sue Monk Kidd
Sorry to hear the wires have to be on another week. I had a friend who had her jaw wired after some surgery and she, too, pureed all kinds of food to keep her diet varied and healthy. She pureed Chef Boyardee spaghetti, ravioli etc. and could get it down with a spoon. Are you planning on keeping Julia out of school until she's unwired? I imagine she can talk a bit tho' it probably sounds funny and some words just can't be made unless you open your mouth. Good luck to all. It's good you can be home with her.