Curt's Best Shots Slideshow

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

THE WEDNESDAY EVENING POST FOR NOVEMBER 13, 2013

Hey All!

I survived my oral surgery and even have a couple of cards to post.  For those of you who want the details on how I survived, I've posted it at the bottom of this post.  I just want to thank you all for the kind and positive comments you left me.  They meant a lot and helped me get through this ordeal.  I can't thank you enough.

For Halloween, my good blogging friend Mark who owns Deadbeat Designs, sent me a gift of some of his latest stamps.  So I thought I'd make a couple of cards showing some of them off.  Take a look:

These glasses are so fun and retro.  The timing of these two stamps was perfect.  Jay had his yearly eye exam last week.  They are so kind to him when he is there and take good care of him.  They go out of their way to accommodate his big power chair and try to make him as comfortable as possible.  So I wanted to send them a card thanking them for their kindness.  I stamped the little glasses at various angles to create the background then colored in the "spots" on the rim with red marker.  The big glasses are stamped with Versamark then embossed with clear ep for the shine of plastic rims.  I added jewels for sparkle.  I came up with the sentiment and it is computer generated.

 One of the many things I love about Mark is his sense of humor.  This sentiment stamp of his is a great example of his humor.  You can't tell in the photo, but both the sentiment box and "Leaning Thelma" are popped up with dimensionals and I fussy cut her out.  The background is just designer paper.  I have a friend in mine for this birthday card.

Now please don't look too close at either card. . .I've been on pain medication on and off for a week, so things look a little crooked. . .have mercy.

Pic of the Week

This is a view from the back yard of our 30+ foot sweet gum tree in our front yard.  It is massive and so beautiful in the fall.  It has reds, oranges, yellows, and greens.  I actually see this beauty from my bedroom window.  It is so vividly colored that my bedroom walls appear yellow/orange when the sun hits it.

OK . . .for those interested in my dental ordeal:

I ended up having 14 teeth extracted as well as some bony areas filed down.  I was in the chair for almost 2 hours.  What most people find appalling is that I was awake through the whole procedure.  Really, I was. . .of course they completely numbed me and I asked for "laughing gas" to relax me, but I was completely aware of what was going on.  Believe me, I heard every crack and pop as the teeth came out.  My only real complication was excessive bleeding.  If any of you are familiar with the show "The Walking Dead" on AMC, that is what I felt like.  Since my mouth was completely numb, I didn't realize that I was bleeding profusely as I was driving home.  At a stop light, I looked in the rear view mirror and realized with horror that blood had been oozing down both sides of my mouth.  It had dripped all over my leather coat, the front of my shirt, and the seat belt!  LOL  I seriously looked like one of the "walkers" from that show.  The bleeding didn't slow down much for the first 12 hours, but finally got to a "trickle".  I took pain pills a lot for the first 24 hours, and now sporadically for the last week.  The only real pain I have now is in the hinges of my jaws.  That pain is from my jaw muscles trying to adjust to a new position since I have no upper teeth to keep them at the level they are used to being.  But that too is getting better.  I had my follow up today and he said that it looked great and was healing nicely.  I've been spitting out stitches for the last couple of days (which is supposed to happen).  I go for my impressions on December 30th and should have my new smile by the second week of January.  I swear, I'm so tired of eating mashed potatoes, apple sauce, scrambled eggs, etc.  I am craving meat so badly!!!  LOL  But I can't even eat macaroni yet without mashing it into paste! 

Thanks again for your support.  It really meant a lot.  Even though I had to deal with all that I was going through, I still had to take care of Jay and the boys, and I can't lie, at times I just wanted to scream.  There is nothing like throbbing mouth pain that just makes you want to crawl into bed and die.  But I'd read your comments and knew I had friends out there thinking about me.  I love you guys!

Hugs,

Curt

"God, please help me be the person that my dogs think I am."

34 comments:

Mark said...

Great job on the cards - looks like the effort you normally waste chewing was focussed on your cards! Glad you were able to use them!
I'm having such a hard time trying to type this and eat potato chips at the same time! Crunch!

ursula Uphof said...

Pleased that the worst is over Curt. You take care and I am sure the next few weeks will race by. Love your glasses card, and your beautiful tree. Hugs, Ursula

Unknown said...

So glad you made it through the tough part. I Love both cards. Can't wait to see your new Smile.

Unknown said...

So glad you made it through the tough part. I love the retro glasses and funny sayings. You do such great work. Can't wait to see your new smile.

tilly said...

2 super funny cards, well done.....it all sounds horrific especially the drive home lol... It will be all so worthwhile in January when you have a wonderful smile, hope you can eat soon and the pain is getting better.At least you don't need to do it again now there are no teeth lol
Tilly x

Bonnie Weiss said...

Well, your friend MARK sounds like he is a piece of work just like you, judging by his comment ... go MARK!

Happy to hear that your surgery was successful and that your recovery and healing are progressing well. Just wondering ... how turkey tastes pureed???

Great cards ... maybe I should try some pain meds to see if they help MY creativity. The jewels are a great addition to the glasses and the birthday card is so cute (however, I'd better not get one with that sentiment on it!).

Well wishes for your continued healing ... can't wait to see your new smile!

Diane said...

What fun cards you have this week, and a good friend in Mark to send you those stamps!! Wow, I can feel your pain, and can relate to it...I too will be among all the dental procedures at some point, it is hell to get old as they say!! I can also understand about having to do all you had to and wanted to just crawl in bed and forget it, have been there many times. I am glad the worse is over for you, and it won't be long before you will look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Why didn't I do this sooner"!!!! Hang in there with your jello and it will all be so worth it!! Have a great day my friend!!

Sande said...

Super job on your cards. That you even managed the strength or energy to create is amazing.

You were in my thoughts during this surgery and glad to hear that it went well. I can't believe you were awake especially with having that many taken out. I would have been out for hours. I can't believe they let you drive yourself home after that, no doctors will here were I live even if you've taken a 5mg Valium to make it thru a MRI. Can you imagine the look on drivers faces when they saw you bleeding so profusely, wonder they didn't motion you to pull over or call 911 for help for you. I can't fathom having to take care of yourself, Jay or the dogs...you must be exhausted physically and mentally. Take care of yourself and before you know you'll be grilling a nice steak dinner.

Ted said...

Hey buddy! So happy to hear that the bleeding stopped... as I read that I was worried sick! Very much looking forward to photos of your new smile, my friend. May God give you the strength and tranquility to keep going day by day...and may He also give you creative recipes for mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs. ;)

Mary said...

Love the cards and your great sense of humor too! Glad to hear you are on the mend and as someone else said, you are on the road to a great smile and recovery too!

Gail said...

Ha, awesome cards!
You did just as good on pain meds, as you did drinking the bottle of wine!!
That "Deadbeat" makes me LOL!
Hope you're feeling 100% soon, even without teeth!
And Curt, taking pain meds/being sick and still looking after everyone & everything....that's what moms do!

Mary Ann said...

So glad you are feeling better,Love your cards,Very Pretty!!!!

Sonja said...

And good morning to you...wow sounds like you did great ~ tho I did not expect any thing different~ yes dentists and mouth pain are some of the worst but that new smile and loss of daily pain will make you feel like a new guy !
now for the cards... I love em both...I need to check out some of his stamps that sentiment and Leaning Thelma, is a hoot and at my age yep most of my friends can relate love that ...The glasses are so memorable...yep looks like my first pair at age 14... a few years ago : )

the picture is so pretty and what a treat to look at thru a window daily you are blessed... Good to hear Jay exam went well..woo hoo

in my days of Thanksgiving ...I am thankful to be led to your blog to be inspired by your abilities and humor and desire to make look easy yet it is amazing every time... I am thankful to have chatted with you and know you are an awesome guy ! I am truly blessed by cyber knowing you !

Glittered Paws said...

Loved your 2 cards this week - and I never see uneven even on my cards LOL. No teeth until Jan. - WOW - I have many patients in home care that have not had teeth for most of their adult lives and eat steak and corn on the cob - don't know how but...I'm just sayin,. Glad the bleeding was finally under control and you have not lost your imagination or your sense of humor.

Myrna said...

Absolutely great cards.
Mark's humour matches yours and I love his stamps and what you have done with them.
Your fabulous tree would be a treat to see everyday when it is in full color. Lucky you.
So glad you are almost over the ordeal. We all know what a trooper you are. :)
Myrna

Jackie said...

Your cards are great and I'm glad to see you have kept your sense of humor through this ordeal. If we can't laugh, we'd all go insane, right? I think you've made it through the worst of it and are on the downhill side now, thank goodness. You, sir, are awesome!

Rita said...

Love both of your cards Curt! The last one is something I need 'cause I'm still devastated 3 years after turning 60...I've decided that I WILL ALWAYS celebrate turning 50 every year from now on, hahahaha!!!

All that pain will be rewarded with a beautiful smile that will light up any room once you get your choppers!!! Good luck! Hugs from me!!!

mudmaven said...

Sounds like you are progressing nicely - keep up the good work! DH is struggling with his new teeth - just can't seem to get them right, but he keeps going back to get them adjusted. Eating only soft, gooey foods is not a fun thing - hope you get that steak real soon! All the best to Jay and hugz to those darling boys! ~chris

lisa808 said...

The eye glasses stamp is super cute and fun. Love the retro look. I'm sure Jay's eye doctor and staff will get a kick out of the card and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

OMGosh--you were awake?!?!? And drove yourself home?!?!? I guess anyone seeing you in the car with all that blood thought you were a left-over from Halloween! My husband was knocked out and he only had five teeth pulled. You certainly are a very strong person.

Here's to your new upcoming smile!

Anonymous said...

I love your cards and glad you are on the road to recovery. I worked with a lady once that didn't have any teeth and she ate anything she wanted. Just like one of the other comments she ate steak, chips, etc. Have been checking your cards for months but didn't know how to leave a message. Shirley

mauihumv@gmail.com said...

As always your cards are absolutely gorgeous!!!

Elaine M said...

Even on pain meds, your cards are great. Hang in there kiddo - it'll be worth it. Sending hugs and kind gentle thoughts your way.

Anonymous said...

Your cards are great! Would have never guessed they were under the influence. So happy you are on the mend. As I read about your drive home, I just cringed that you were alone and sputtered that the Doctor's office didn't realize your blood was flowing. Wishing you better eats and a gorgeous smile in the weeks to come. nise

Lorraine said...

Poor you Curt it sounds awful what you had done. Hope you are soon back to normal. The cards are great love the stamps - funny. Take care. Hugs from Jersey Channel Islands. x

Beth Norman said...

Just getting caught up with my blog reading. I hope you're feeling better. You managed to create some wonderful cards.

hugs,

Macpurp said...

love the cards, they are such fun.

Poor you, I am glad you are on the mend, I can't believe you drove home after that!!!

get well soon, much love to you, Jay and your boys xx

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Hi Curt, I've thought of you a lot and am so glad to see that you've posted. What a relief to have that behind you! My goodness, not something I would wish on anyone! Your cards are funny! I absolutely love the photo of the gum tree - what warm color! That would be a sight outside the window, for sure.

Hugs, dear friend. May you heal quickly and completely! May there be lots of hard food in your future.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Curt, what a fine card display within your surgery week! Crafting does a body good, opps, that's milk.
Love my glasses in ep! How did you know? They were favs for over a decade! Now, you have recaptured them. Way to be retro, such a grand thank you card for Jay's medical appt peeps.
Praise FATHER for numbing and laughing gas! I dig that stuff,too. Thankful for your rear view mirror and pain meds. Now, for the Dec impression and Jan. smile. . . and lots of poes, sauce
and scrbled eggs laced with crushed ice and pureed fruit smoothies, yummie.
Great Deadbeat stamps! Thanks for showing off humor and appreciations.
Blessings on your week of blender experimentations. Keep Looking UP! mt23stamper

Anonymous said...

Hey, Curt! Sweet gum tree photo entices some gardening in the spring. What a beauty in your photographic yard! Thanks for the showcased photo. It is a keeper.
Sweet gum? Was that a frontrunner to a commercial gum tree? I'll have to Google that one. How well does it do with watering/ irrigating?
Keep Looking UP!

Brenda in IN said...

So good to hear from you since your dental visit. I can't imagine having all those teeth pulled at once but I'm so happy it is over. It will be well worth it come January. Hope you are healing quickly. Great cards, I love You're old, get over it. Hope you are safe and sound from the storms that rolled through Sunday.

Patti J said...

What a terrible time for you! I'm so sorry I've been MIA, and didn't know about this. Just think of that handsome smile you are going to have in January! Your story scares me silly, as I am terrified of dentists! Hope you are soon feeling very good, and that you find some wonderful new recipes for soft foods. We had a student at school one time with a broken jaw. His mother came in daily with blended, pureed, tacos, burgers, etc., as he got to the point where he couldn't stand milk shakes - he had to use a straw. I always felt so bad for him, but like you, he had a great sense of humor through it all. Take care! See you next week, I promise!

Linda said...

Oh my goodness you poor man. Someone should have drove you. That was way too much to go through and drive after.
Your glasses look like the ones I wear. I love my cat eye glasses as I call them. If you have to wear glasses they should be fun is what I think.
I am really behind on blog visits. I hope you are feeling much better.
Hugs,
Linda

Celeste said...

Miss you my friend. Hope all is well.

Gina Wrona said...

OMG, I could not even imagine surviving that ordeal. I only had 1 tooth pulled because the 20yr root cannel had failed and I remember hearing the cracking as well, yikes. You are one brave soldier!