Hello everyone!
I started a blog separate form this site for my story but I decided I don't feel so comfortable with it being out there for the world to see... I'd rather it was here just for the AW community! I'll start at the beginning, and as a note for the future I'll try to keep this first entry updated as a table of contents of sorts so you can pop in here and see what's been added without having to slog through everything 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
*Page 1: Introduction, Consultation, Schedule, Before Photos
*Page 2: Spacers Appointment
*Page 4: Brace Day
*Page 6: Week 1 photos
*Page 7: Week 3 photos
*Page 8: Extraction photos
*Page 9: One month photos, Week 6 photos
*Page 10: 3 1/2 Month photos - added 10/1
INTRODUCTION: THE BACKSTORY
I introduced myself over on The Bracket Club but for those who haven't met me yet HI! *waves* My name is Nikki, I'm 21 and I finally made the decision to get braces. It's taken me a long time to get here.
Let me try to tell you what's going on in my mouth. When I was a kid my adult eye-teeth, or upper cuspids, came in above my baby ones. My dentist pulled the baby teeth to make room for the new ones but they are still pretty prominent. My upper left central overlaps my upper right central by a couple mm. My lower laterals are behind both my lower centrals and lower cuspids on both sides. I also have a Class II Malocclusion. I still have all of my wisdom teeth and once every few months my teeth start to ache from the crowding. (I'll put before photos in the next post.)
Needless to say, growing up my dentist always told me I needed braces but my parents just couldn't afford it. Fast forward to my last dentist visit before I was too old to be covered by my mom's insurance: he mentioned braces again and planted a little seed in my head. It was until a year later but that little seed started to whisper in my head maybe it's time to consider this. I'll be honest, that seed was whispering in my head because I'd just had a bad break-up and wanted to do something for myself. I had my records visit with the leading local orthodontist, Dr. Moore, scheduled my consult for two weeks later and then chickened out. That was July 2005.
Fast forward again to August 2007: time to elect my health insurance plan at my new job. Orthodontics, 50% coverage. Here came that seed whispering in my head again how about now? I talked to my co-workers, I talked to my parents, I talked to my (new and wonderful) boyfriend and everyone said to do it. So before I could back out I signed up for health insurance. The problem? I had from August 2007 to January 2008 to think about it. Oh, believe me I changed my mind a hundred times. What matters though is that come May I was back in Dr. Moore's chair and I had my mind made up. BRACES BRACES YAY!
THE CONSULTATION
June 2nd was my consultation with Dr. Moore. He was as chipper as ever, immediately putting me at ease and making me laugh even though I was so nervous. He reiterated that this is a difficult adult case. Technically speaking and to be on the safe side I should have jaw surgery (they would need to extend my lower jaw) and headgear 24/7 for the next two years. However he is a kind, wonderful man
and knows that I just couldn't go that route. My procedure will be full braces, extraction of the upper 1st bicuspids and the lower 2nd bicuspids, jasper jumpers and then possibly headgear at night when it's all done or forever retainer. I had never heard of a jasper jumper before so let me explain it the way I understand: when my teeth are pulled my braces will already be on so that they are in control and my mouth doesn't collapse. What needs to happen is my top front teeth need to move back but the wisdom teeth must stay where they are. The jasper jumpers will in effect be an anchor, pitting my lower teeth against my uppers. I was told it will be a little bulky in my cheeks - I'm picturing Marlon Brando in The Godfather.I tried to have good questions for him; will it take longer than usual, what kind of pain should I expect, am I sacrificing anything by not having the surgery and headgear, are you confident that this will work, etc. I came away from that visit just as confident, if not more so than I was before. I spoke at length with his receptionist/accountant about my options and they are going to be very flexible for me; basically, my payments will be $175-$200 for the next 18 months.
MY APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE: THE COMING ATTRACTIONS
June 2: consultation
June 10: seperators
June 18: BRACE DAY!
July 10: extractions @ 9:30am, adjustment @ 3:00pm
July 14: my birthday!
August 11: first adjustment
September ?: second adjustment
November 4: third adjustment
I've read a lot about extractions and am trying to prepare myself for that too. I knew some teeth would have to go so I had no trouble agreeing to that.
Oh, and if I miss it Happy Birthday!
June 18!!! It feels like time is just CREEPING along now... but only a couple more days until my spacers appointment!
Haha, good story...glad you "won"! 
Sorry to make you relive those unpleasant memories! At least you can say you toughed it out though - my dad was a big baby and had em taken off. Now if I could get a picture of his teeth you'd see exactly where mine come from - mom's are PERFECT! I am thankful that I get the relatively easy route compared to what you guys had to go through. We must work on a good joke then, for you working in a steel mill. Hm....