Last turn of my adult expander!

Today I went back to the ortho and he yet again told me that my results are great and more than we could have hoped for. Besides the whole left top molars being tender I have to admit it hasn't been an absolutely horrible experience, I've learned how to chew, speak, and swallow differently. And the best part.... No awful gap was created!!!! Hoorah!!!'
I think my left side is tender because of my last turn of my expander and the fact that I have been clenching my mouth so hard at night. It's basically like I'm trying to prevent one breath of air from escaping my mouth, that's how locked in my jaw is at night. Sooo every morning I have to consciously open my mouth bc it just wants to be held together still. So yeah that's probably part of the reason I have soreness.
He turned my expander with the key for the very last time ever today (I hope) woohoo!!
My next news is what I ended up smiling at. He told me that next time he will be able to remove the other right front band(my other bling) and then.... I'll be getting on my top set of braces!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! This will be December 18th at 10am. I'll have to keep my expander in my mouth for another term and then it can be removed but it has to stay because of my sensitivity and to make sure nothing shifts. That shouldn't be so bad considering I've been with it for this long. Maybe I'll get to keep it, hahaha gross!!! Any way I guess smiling at the news of my next appointment becoming a brace face snapped me into reality and there's no turning back now! I, Michelle Black will have braces for Christmas and will embrace all the food that gets stuck in them. More waiting around but I bet this 6 weeks goes by quickly.