THE EXTRACTION!

Okay, so this past month, I went to my friendly dentist and what to my horror, I had an absessed tooth! It was tender, but, as far as pain goes it didn't feel all that bad. It was a baby tooth I never got to trade for some cash. I'm sure the tooth fairy was quite disapointed at the time. What she didn't realize was she'd be paying big bucks for it later.

My dentist, Scott, was very kind and told me that he was learning how to extract teeth and put in implants and that he was willing to give me a good price if I'd be willing to let him practice on me. HA! That's that last thing you want to hear from your dentist. Images of jawbreaking pliers and loud drills just sort of cloud out the better judgment of getting it done for a deal. So I called around, too cowardly to let him practice on me. The cost of the average extraction and implant? 4,500 DOLLARS!! Um hello?? I said extraction not extortion! So I went back to Scott and asked him how much he was going to charge. $2,000. I didn't even have that kind of money and so I basically just left it at that. Living on a fixed income is hard, and unfortunately I couldn't pay him off 25 dollars a month. But then my parents stepped in to my rescue and said they were willing to pay for the proceedure. By that time the tooth had become pretty sore and I was ready to pull it out myself and make an implant out of paper mache'. I mean they probably had a RS lesson on it at one point in my life and .... well, I can't remember how to do it . Maybe it wasn't paper mache' but recycled lace table cloths ... that actually sounds more familiar! ;)

You have to understand, Scott is the Hubbie of one of my YW leaders and they've known me for a long time! He is an angel and his wife is serioulsy a walking celestial being. Nearly up there with my parents and family. Can you get higher than celestial? Hmmm ... I'll have to think about that later.

Thurday arrived. I went to Scott's office and he numbed me up. I think that was the most painful part of the entire thing. The drilling wasn't all that bad and pulling the tooth, well, it seemed to just pop right out. And the tooth fairy had prepaid!

My cute little baby tooth which turned out to be not all so cute!

Then Scott was looking in my mouth and he turned the reigns over to the supervising Dr. That dr was nice and he seemed to have no problem doing what he was doing. Then all of a sudden he says, "this is a LOT worse that I thought." then Scott starts looking in my mouth and says something like, wow that infection goes a lot deeper than it looked on the x-ray. So they started asking each other what size ... 10mm? 11mm? 11.5mm? No, 12mm! I think they were debating the size of drill to use. I honestly have no clue. But suddenly they both lean back and tell me, "whatever you do, don't close your mouth!" I was thinking ok, whatever. They wanted to get another x-ray taken. So, I got up and on my way to the x-ray room I glanced in the mirror and stopped short. I had a drill bit stuck in my jaw where my tooth had been!

drill bit!

I just started at it in disbelief because it looked horrifically painful, but I wasn't in the slightest bit of discomfort! Weird! so after they took the drill bit out, they let me take a picture of just how big the metal bit was:

the drill bit salvaged from my jaw

  Anyway, the tooth is gone. It's interesting because I am really working on keeping my mouth washed out and using the rinse that they gave me. Gratefully it really doesn't hurt. It tastes awful, and I'm sure that the people sitting around me at church today were leaning as far away from me as possible because my breath is so bad, but the pain is gone and I am happy. Honestly it looks like the Dentist used my mouth as a quilting project.

I'm still on soft foods. I've been eating a lot of soups, yougurts and smoothies. If anyone else has a good idea for a little one like me, please pass it along.

August 23, 2010
The other part of the story is that I popped those carefully placed stitches that weekend and then went back into see Scott to have them replaced.

He stitched me up even better than before and we talked for a bit afterwards while I was still reclined. Everything was GREAT until he sat the chair up. Suddenly it was as though the chair was spinning on hyper warp speed. I told Scott I wasn't feeling good. In a moment I felt like I was sinking into a heavy darkness. It was like I could hear all the around me, but couldn't respond. (Scott said I was repeating over and over again, "I'm fine. I'm Fine" I'm sure he would have loved to smack some sense into me, gratefully he didn't. Instead he ran and got smelling salts.

Man, I don't know if you've ever smelled those fragrant salts before but it is a JOLT of smell --- worse than having your nose stuck in a bottle of bleach!

When I came to (if you could call it that because I was still unable to really respond appropriately) I could hear the ambulance coming to get me.

Imagine my confusion when I realized I couldn't move the left side of my body. People were wondering if it had anything to do with the dental procedure, but Scott had worked on my right side, not left. I was rushed to Grossmont Hospital where they immediately sent me through the CAT scan before even checking me into the ER.

It was an odd feeling to be half paralyzed. But what was even odder was that I wasn't panicked, scared, anxious or anything of that nature. For whatever reason I caught myself kind of joking about it. I think joking must have been a natural instinct of some sort, because it really wasn't anything to joke about. I could talk better out of the right side of my mouth that was all shot up with Novocaine!

Slowly I regained my feeling and ability to move the left side of my body. My eyes lined up again.

My dad and Grandpa came to give me a priesthood blessing, during which I was promised that I would be healed completely and there would be no residual side-effects.

They ran a whole bunch of tests and couldn't find anything to explain what happened. They finally said it had to be a TIA, or mini stroke.

I was transferred to Kaiser Hospital and placed in a room. The Dr came in and did some things to test muscle strength. I couldn't walk on my own so he said that I would have to stay over night.

That night, Scott and his wife came in to visit me and see if I was aright. He said there had been a little boy in the waiting room who completely freaked when the fire engine and ambulance pulled up and dragged me out on the stretcher. His mom rescheduled the appointment. Going to the dentist will never be the same for that kid!

When I woke up the next day I was perfectly fine, and VERY tired! I was sent home.

I talked to my parents about it after I was released. The Dr's had determined it wasn't a side-effect of the dental proceedure or a conflict of meds. Basically they said they didn't know why it happened, what caused it or even what to call it. There was no indication of a stroke or TIA on any of the charts. I had normal blood tests including sugar levels, cholesterol, liver, you name it! My parents and I decided it was truely a blessing that it had happened while I was in the office and not on my bike somewhere, at work or on a bus or trolley. That could have been disasterous! Instead Scott had swung into action, even calling over the MD in the office next door and emergency crews were able to get to me within 10 minutes of dialing 911. It is a miracle I was not permanently effected. Man! I am grateful for fast acting dentists, priesthood blessings and prayers!

Love you guys! -MOPS

Holy Cow! It's July!

So here it is the third week of July and I honestly can’t remember anything that I’ve done in the past couple of months … so I’ll try to stick to the basics.

I was officially called to serve in the San Diego Deaf Branch. (Otherwise known as the University City 3rd Branch.) I am an assistant interpreter. I been interpreting in the branch since February I think. I do it for sacrament mtg and Young women’s almost every single Sunday. I got to interpret for Stake conference last month. It’s a pleasure to work with these faithful people and I really enjoy the education I’m receiving from the experience.

I've interpreted for two brethren who are Deaf and Blind. It is an amazing experience to be someone’s eyes and ears. It takes a lot of physical strength because they have to rest their hands on yours as you are signing. It can become quite heavy, but I hope my arms and shoulders are working up to it.

Last month I interpreted for a High Council member who only spoke Spanish. It was a LOT of fun! For once the deaf knew what was going on before all the Hearing people and I loved that experience! Who would have thought serving a Spanish Speaking/ASL mission would have such practical application!

My Aunt Sid, Uncle Bill and Grandma Mueller when they came for a visit this past month! They are looking great and I sure had a great time being with them.

I have also been trying to relearn how to cook. I’ve been making desserts once in a while and sharing them with my grandparents. They don’t seem to mind that I am practicing on them. ;) I've moved so many times that I have lots a lot of things in the process. I seem to have lost any cookbooks I once had (Including my Aunt Lorraine’s!) and with the ECT I am effectively starting over.  The one cookbook I have, my mainstay is a recipe book I was given by my friend Judy. If any of you have any good recipes I would love to have them. Just email them to me!The more the merrier!

I am still working at H&R Block until the end of Aug, when school starts. My hours have been severely cut though, so I have also been cycling and bus riding up to the Bishop’s storehouse to help out up there. It’s been so rewarding to see the people and watch the Lord’s Humanitarian process at work. There are so many people who need our support. Plus, it has air conditioning, something I don't have at my house! :)

We’ve been having a lot of earthquakes in these parts. A couple of days ago, while I was at work, we had a 5. 4 or 5.9 something. It really shook hard. I was on the phone at the time and it jolted the person I was talking with. I guess the increase of earthquakes is only natural since we’re approaching the final chapters of the earth . . . but we’ve had more in San Diego, and larger then I can ever remember having in my entire life. But I guess given my faulty memory that’s not saying much! Ha! ;)

Things are pretty calm around here and I am so grateful for the peace it brings. I have a new goal. At the last stake conference my leaders asked us to have a personal daily devotional at a specific time. They promised us that doing so would increase our abilities in all facets of our life. I thought that was an awesome promise and I am working to bring it to pass.

I have been able to hit the LDS singles scene a bit this past month. It was easier because my friend let me borrow her car while she was out of town. So I went to a fireside, a dance and couple activities. It was a lot of fun to meet a whole bunch of new people.

I wrote an article about my Grandma Price and her needling pursuits for The Seagull (a local LDS newspaper). I got a copy of it this week and loved seeing grandma and grandpa’s smiling faces in it. It was fun to interview Grandma and it was also fun to have something published. I have to live up to my name and email right??

I had fun celebrating my Aunt Chris’ 60 birthday with her, the family and a whole bunch of friends! And it was great to finally meet Katheryn! I am so blessed to have such a great family!

My Aunt Lorraine is here and I've been having a blast with her! Yesterday she taught me how to make 2 pies. I learned how to make a no-roll pie crust and then I we made a coconut creme pie and an apple one with a crumbly crust and caramel all over it! Look at that beauty!She even taught me how to make the crust and everything. When all was said and done, I had a blast and then never even got a piece!

Like I've told you, I make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. But, get this ... I've started selling my jewelry! Yay! I have sold quite a few. Aunt Sid bought a couple when she was in town. I’ve also been able to sell them to people at work. My boss even went to my supplier and bought the beads she wanted and then she paid me to make two necklaces. I just love to test out different color combinations and bead sizes. I have a great source to buy my beads and right now I’m just enjoying the creative process. I'm way excited because My friend, Heidi is making a light box. She is a photographer. I've taken pictures of some of my necklaces with my phone, but they don't really look like anything great. I'm excited to have her take some pictures. If any of you have any requests, or if you’d like to see what I have, just email me.

When I was a kid, one summer my parents took us on a ride out East San Diego County. It was our vacation for the summer. A day vacation. My parents said that we could go and stop anywhere we wanted, we did. We stopped at a HUGE bridge. We wanted out pictures taken at it and so my dad lifted us up onto the bottom rung. We sat down in the hot sun on the metal, burning our butts! The bridge was dubbed Burning Butt Bridge. My parents weren't all that fond of us using the word Butt over and over again so we called it BBB.

Over the July fourth weekend my parents and I went for a drive. (thus the picture of the back of my dad's head!) It was quite a long drive in the same direction we went when I was a kid.

We stopped at BBB and at other places, including a place called "Desert View Tower" It was so much fun.  Evidently the Tower was built in the early 1900's by a man who really liked to carve, if I understand correctly. Do we stopped and climbed the tower and then explored all these carvings made into the rocky mountain.

Mom and Dad (above)

Well, I am working on writing more often. Writing in general that is. I've actually been in the mood to write and I have to take advantage of that, right? I shelved the "thorn in my side" novel and have taken to writing little tid bits of information about my past life, yes, I'm reincarnated from a duck. (Thus all the dreams about flying, right???) too funny!

Tomorrow I am getting my hair trimmed at 6:30 am. Man, I am really grateful for my hairstylist who is willing to squeeze me in before her vacation 

So much for covering just the basics! Hope you're having a fabulous Summer! Take care! Love, MOPS

PS. Last week I think the temperature high in San Diego was 65 or 70. Today it got up to 110 in a community called Santee---pretty close to my house. So, my parents were kind enough to donate their house to me this afternoon as a place to rest while everything was melting outside. My house doesn't have an AC. AHHHH Thank goodness it hasn't really been all that hot until today. Love ya! 

The Spreadsheet Tells All . . .

In 1975 when Muriel Price, a native San Diegan and member of the La Mesa First Ward, followed her sister-in-law into a London tapestry shop, she was looking to create something beautiful. “I asked my sister-in-law if trammé needlepoint was hard to do and she said it’s a lot easier than the crewel embroidery I had been doing.” She picked out her first canvas, a 17 inch square reproduction of a lion. From there she worked on a large reproduction of Marie Antoinette’s portrait and she hasn’t stopped since.

On a tour of the Price’s home atop Mt. Helix the first thing you’ll notice is Sister Price’s infectious smile, sparkling eyes and then you’ll feel the spirit of testimony and love. Take one step farther and your eyes will be drawn to the masterpieces hanging from the walls.

When many people think of needlepoint they envision a painted canvas someone has stitched. However, trammé needlepoint is quite different, instead of painted canvases, the patterns are made with an underlay of colored yarn placed over the horizontal meshes of a double threaded canvas. The purpose is to indicate when the color and design changes. “Usually there are about five shades to each color in the tapestry,” she explains.

When looking at the finished pieces from afar they appear to be an actual oil painting. Reproductions of artwork by Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and many others dot her repertoire.

She picks pieces from a catalog and her husband of 67 years, David S. Price, a sealer in the San Diego temple, orders them. He’s kept careful track of her works on a spreadsheet. “She’s working on her 351st one right now,” he grins. When Brother Price began calculating the many inches Sister Price completed he realized she’s effectively stitched 2.008 acres. “At 100 inches per square inch, that’s 12,588,350 stitches,” he laughed. When she heard the number of stitches, Muriel’s eyes got big, “really?” she questioned. “And that’s not including her 351st” he smiled. Brother Price’s spreadsheet includes a list of each tapestry, location of purchase, cost, size, completion date and who she’s given it to. Sister Price gives needlepoints to family, friends and often one to San Diego temple matrons and mission president’s wives. Grandchildren are allowed to pick one out upon their marriage and/or when obtaining a graduate degree.

Watching Sister Price needle away has added to Brother Price’s knowledge that she is a “very patient lady. I’ve noticed when she does needle point she’s very happy.” When asked what Muriel has learned from her needlepointing she says, “it’s relaxing for me.” As her granddaughter, Sarah Price puts it, “watching her finish a reproduction of so many famous pieces one stitch at a time helps me see life from a different perspective. Our life tapestry requires the same patient and persistant effort. She’s been needlepointing for as long as I’ve been alive.”

The Prices are interwoven with the LDS San Diego heritage. As a child, Muriel remembers sitting on the lap of President Heber J. Grant. Other apostles visited her home as well because her father, William Arthur Tenney, Jr. was the branch president for 16 years. (At that time the branch included the entire San Diego County). Muriel’s sisters Louise Smith and Gwen Brown live in the University City tenth ward. David and Muriel’s children, beginning with the eldest, are William D. Price of North Salt Lake, John A. Price of La Mesa 1st Ward, Christine Sharp of San Diego 8th Ward, Lorraine Johnson of Dallas, TX and Marla Foulger of Potomac, MD. They have 23 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.

When Sister Price left that London tapestry shop 35 years ago, little did she know she’s be creating beauty for a long, long time to come.

(This article was first published in the July edition of "The Seagull", a Mormon San Diego newspaper.)