Just a quick note, first of all thanks you all who prayed for my recent jaw surgery. Today I went back for my follow up appointment; the test results show everything was benign. So praise God!

The Doctors still don’t know what it was though, and they are sending my test results to a pathologist at the University. So in other words, they are just confirming what my family already knew…”I am weird!”

Back in September I had major jaw surgery. Everything went perfect, and I healed well. Beginning Sunday night and most of Monday the left side of my lower jaw began to swell. I thought it was braces related so I did not think to much of it. Then it became necessary to live on Advil and I knew something was not right.

When I woke up Tuesday morning I was in extreme pain and crying to my husband. I called my regular dentist thinking it was something to do with a tooth. He saw me right away Tuesday morning, took some X-Rays and then I heard the words, “Oh Laurel” you either have a abscessed tooth, a tumor or a dead tooth back there. He said I should go see the Dr that did my surgery last September. But he gave me some antibiotics and pain medication. The pain medication was very much needed and I was taking it EVERY FOUR HOURS. My surgeon could not see me until Wednesday. I went in Wednesday morning, and he was looking at the X-Rays, he took more X-Rays, and he was “fluttering” about. I was getting more and more nervous. Finally he said, “Laurel I really don’t know what it is, I am going to have to have to put you under and clean the area out and looking inside.” Now I began to panic. My first question was, “my face is going to swell again, huh?” I know the important things in life. I came home totally shell shocked. What is going on? I even asked the Doctor in a kind of joking manner, it isn’t cancer or anything right? And with his face serious he said, “Laurel I don’t know what it is?” Ok, I am all for Doctor honesty, but this shook me up.

So I went home and cried, cleaned my house and fretted. Cried to Mom, cried to sister, cried to hubby, but as the night wore on I was feeling more at peace and I knew it was because of the people praying for me.

I was up early this morning praying for peace. Manly man took me this morning and on the way there ALL I FELT WAS PEACE. Manly man kept looking at me waiting for me to freak out or cry (because that would be my M.O.) But I was totally at peace, and I KNOW it was because of all the prayers.

The surgery went quickly. I have been sleeping most of the day. They believe what happened was that I had a small opening in my gums from the surgery, that finally closed up and in that “hole” I got some food caught and there was no where for stuff to drain out of, so it caused an infection. They did send some stuff off to be tested to make sure it is just an infection, but the Doctor is pretty sure.

My face is a little swollen on the left side; I can only have smooth food (mashed potatoes, puddings tonight) and then tomorrow “lumpy smooth food” like Mac & Cheese, etc. Then I should be good to go. I am up for a little bit and then take a nap, but as the hours go by I am feeling more clearer headed. The pain medication works wonderfully.

This is probably more than you want to know, but the support you poured on me was unbelievable and I FELT IT. Thank you so much.

I was laughing this morning because you know the Lord always makes you do things you are not so good at doing. For example, I am really bad about writing thank you notes when people do something very nice. I will call them, or email them but to put that pen to a card is sometimes difficult for me.Well since my surgery I have been blessed by so many people that everyday I have been writing thank you cards. There are some sweet wonderful ladies in my Sunday School group that have been making dinner for my family about once a week. My husband is about to leave me and move in with them, because he has never been feed so well. Well yesterday they made me dinner again, and I realized I still had not got the thank you card in the mail from the week before. (guilt. guilt.) I can see the Lord chuckling at me, saying “girl if there is something you are not good at, the best thing to do is do it a lot!”. HA!

Oh and also I am pouting a little bit (just a little) but tomorrow is my birthday and I can not eat any of my favorite cheesecake. I am officially over the half way mark of my 30′s and I can not begin to tell you how that depresses me. Can I please just stay this age? And this is the age I will be when I can offically say “I have a teenager” (early part of next year).

I told my sister I can not wrap my brain around the idea that at 36 I can say “I have a teenager too.” Wasn’t it just yesterday I was changing diapers, getting up in the middle of the night?

Well in honor of my birthday I will let you ask me up to 36 questions of anything you want to know about me or my walk with the Lord. Leave the questions in the comments section, or email me. I will keep you anonymous if you want (let me know by email). Nothing super personal, but anything goes. But hopefully some people will join in, so I don’t feel alone =) I will post the questions and answers sometime tomorrow. Oh and could you eat some cake tomorrow for me?

Blessings