Metal Mouth (Part I)

So I've done it. I've gotten braces. At age 35. I'm finally correcting some speech problems that are a residual from a car wreck back when I was 20. You see, I was hit by a drunk driver in college and broke a bunch of my teeth. Over time, the "fake" teeth have shifted around due to the position of my "real" teeth. I've had oodles of dental work done to repair the damage and well, I've been living with the crooked teeth, no problems. I've been living with the overbite, no problems. But the lisp that's formed over the last 15 years, that has to go...

Doc says I'll have these on (and in 6 weeks, bottom ones too) for a minimum of 16 months, probably 2 years. And my speech (and smile!) will definitely improve. Frankly, that doesn't seem all THAT long when I consider that my son is nearly 3 years old and that time went by in a snap!

Day 1, a little dull pain and Day 2 is supposed to be the worst. We'll see, eh? At least I get to sport my Jayhawk colors for the next 6 weeks when showing off my new "metal mouth." So I present to you, a little TMI, my new braces:
(And for the next shot, maybe I'll take the time to put on some make-up or something...)

Wish me luck with these atrocious things!
~kerrie