A lot of heartache and triumph brought me here.

[emily0709]

Ok, so that sounds like a strange title.

I'm not going to bore you with a lot of details ... but here, in a nutshell, is why I got braces on my teeth yesterday.

I am 37 years old, and a single mom of a 8 and 6 year old. I have been divorced for 5 years. I was in an abusive marriage, and thought very little of myself. I did not take care of myself and in the years I was married I "let myself go." Finally, I got up the courage to leave. Life has been good these past 5 years. I went from being a stay at home mom to a writer for a local paper. Then out of the blue, my best friend was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She was 35. Two kids. She was my soulmate in a friend. She lived for 17 months after she was diagnosed. 12/13/14 was a year. In the year she has been gone, I have learned that a healthy body is a blessing. I started going to the gym. Eating better. I have lost over 50 pounds. She did not have the "luxury" of being healthy - I did. So I worked my butt off.

My teeth have always bothered me. I have a crooked smile - a really crooked smile. I had braces for 3 years as a teen and then did not get my wisdom teeth out until it was too late and they had shifted everything. Badly. I got them out when they became infected because insurance covered it. My ex-husband never let me get braces, even with a reasonable payment plan.

Now, after coming up from "rock bottom" I am stable enough to pay for them myself. Yesterday I had a tooth pulled and braces put on. I am in pain (normal?) yet couldn't be happier.

[44yobraceface]

Wow, what a turbulent time you have survived through. Your fighting spirit and perspective on life is inspirational xx

[emily0709]

Thank you.

[Len]

This was inspiring. You're still so young, you're taking care of your kids by yourself and deserve that second chance more than anyone else. Good luck on your journey

[emily0709]

Thank you! I am so happy I finally did it. And I am so happy for Motrin.

[littlething]

Wow, you are inspiring! Good for you! Good luck on your journey - hope to follow along with your progress!

[Lovelyteeth]

Good on you. Your story is inspirational. I wish you all the best for your journey ahead. You possess strength and courage and determination - what a wonderful example you are for your children.

[emily0709]

Thanks, all. She inspired me. She really did. I feel her with me all the time. Even though I lost her, I feel better about myself than I ever have. Getting in shape and getting my smile fixed were two of the biggest things I wanted to do for ME. It feels good to be doing them. My daughter (8) thinks the braces are cute. That's good, because she will need them herself in a few years.

[emily0709]

Day 3 (ouch!)

[Lovelyteeth]

Hang in there. They are the words I tell you and myself. I'm coming up to 6 weeks and they hurt still. I though by now things would have settled. Arghhhh. It's not all teeth I suppose. They take it in turns. Your 8 year old's response to your braces was a lot sweeter than my 8 year old son who upon seeing them on my first day said that I look scary. Lol. Lucky my sensitive 10 year old son came home from school and said 'oh I didn't even notice them'. Most likely they'll need braces too in a few years.

[emily0709]

Hang in there. They are the words I tell you and myself. I'm coming up to 6 weeks and they hurt still. I though by now things would have settled. Arghhhh. It's not all teeth I suppose. They take it in turns. Your 8 year old's response to your braces was a lot sweeter than my 8 year old son who upon seeing them on my first day said that I look scary. Lol. Lucky my sensitive 10 year old son came home from school and said 'oh I didn't even notice them'. Most likely they'll need braces too in a few years.

Ha ha - my 6 year old last night said "Mommy, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you look kinda weird."

[Lovelyteeth]

lol

[emily0709]

One week in today! Pain free after days 3 and 4 were really kinda rough ... just a pressure now. The only thing that are bugging me are the "speed bumps" that I have cemented in my back molars to keep me from biting on the bottom brackets. I have a 75% overbite.

Still def not eating like I used to, with Easter yesterday I was all about the mac and cheese, not feeling like chewing meat or even salad yet. I miss salad.

Something positive - I had a wire poking a tiny bit out of the molar tube that wasn't there before. I was able to bend it to so it didn't irritate my cheek but it's evidence of my teeth already shifting.

[kazinka]

What a inspiring and jaw dropping post! Glad that your life is really mending itself quickly!! Having braces and going to the gym will seriously change your whole appearance from the outside, a nice gleaming smile and great figure is the goal right now

If the poking wire still persists you should have some dental wax given to you by the orthodontist that will temporarily reduce the irritation, its works really well at night-time!

[testimony777]

Congratulations on getting through your first week! I am a little over one week in and am pretty much able to eat without pain now (still can't bite anything with my front teeth though). Your story is so inspiring! I am so glad that on the other end of what sounds like a lot of heartache you have learned the importance of loving and caring for yourself. Thank you for sharing and congrats again