And what’s left behind are a couple big holes!
So the whole procedure took about an hour. I only remember the first 15-20 minutes, once that IV went it everything pretty much goes black. The next think I vaguely remember is Nicole helping me climb the steps to our apartment. I have a couple friends from college who would have had flashbacks to a few of the $5 all you can drink nights down on Alexander St.
Have I told you how cool Nicole is? She took yesterday off to help me out with the appointment. Just helping me get around in that state was enough, but then she went off to the store and bought me a ton of pudding, jello, and sorbet. This sure makes up for having band practice on my Birthday! 
I have to say I’m a bit surprised at how little pain I am in, considering all of the horror stories I have heard over the years. Maybe it’s just the drugs have gotten better, but I haven’t been taking the Vicodin as much as was prescribed and still feel pretty darn good.
Now maybe that’s due to all of the pain I went though as a kid with braces, or maybe my doctor did a pretty damn good job. It’s been less that 24 hours, so I suppose the whole back of my mouth could still collapse. But, I’m hoping that will not be the case.