Sunday, September 30, 2007

Saturday, September 29th, 2007




Daddy was feeling a little better today so Mommy brought him with her for a visit tonight. Mommy and Daddy gave me a sponge bath and then got me ready for my feeding. I am weighing in at just over 6 lbs 12 ozs now - getting bigger every day. In the last few nights they have started me on continuous feedings at night. So instead of getting 55 cc's every 3 hours (fed over 1 hour), I am getting 25 cc's per hour for 10 hours straight. Then I get my regular feedings during the day as well. They are supplementing Mommy's breast milk with a little formula to add some additional calories to keep me gaining weight. They say I am medically stable and my weight is the only concern they have right now.

Since I did so well last night with taking about 3-4 cc's of breast milk from a bottle, Mommy and Daddy tried it again tonight. I got around 4-5 cc's through the bottle in the first few minutes before I got sleepy and started to doze off. Because the nurses weren't sure if I would be able to suck hard enough and might dribble they had Mommy put a blankie below my chin and over my trach so I don't get milk in there. It wasn't a problem though, when I was awake enough to suck I got it right down without a problem - no dribbling! Mommy and Daddy are going to continue with the bottle feedings to give me practice building my jaw muscles and to hopefully prepare me to someday get rid of my g tube and take oral feedings like a regular baby.

Mommy and Daddy have set a tentative "rooming in" date at the hospital for next Saturday. Then, they can hopefully take my home on Sunday if all goes well. The nurse told Daddy that the room in the hospital is in the same area as the NICU. It is set up like a hotel room and that is where parents stay with their babies overnight or several nights so they can practice taking care of their babies while nurses are still close by. Mommy and Daddy have done so well with my trach care that the nurses are sure they will do just fine. It just so happens that my Aunt Kristin is coming to visit me that weekend so we'll have to see if they will let her stay as well or if she will have to stay home and take care of my furry brothers. I have changed so much since the last time she has seen me I hope she remembers me!

My Great-Grandpa Gil sends me cards he makes on his computer almost every day. Mommy has tried a few times to scan them so she could post them on the blog for you all to see but she keeps getting weird errors. I haven't even come home yet and I get mail almost every day from my Great Grandpa! Mommy tells me all about the cards and plans on putting them in my baby book so I can read them when I am older - just like her Mommy kept the poems Grandpa Gil wrote about Mommy when she was a baby!

While I was still getting my continuous feed, Daddy and Mommy put me back in my crib to watch the fishies. I love them! The mobile in my crib at home was not too interesting so Mommy found a place on the web called tinylove.com that has really cool mobiles and toys. She found a really interesting mobile that she thinks I will love just as much as the fishies if not more. Mommy already got it in the mail and it is in my crib just waiting for me to come home. I am going to be a little sad to leave all the nice nurses and doctors here at the hospital but I can't wait to go home with my parents. I am counting down the days now!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Friday, September 28th, 2007



Daddy is still not feeling well so Mommy came by in the morning and at night by herself today. At the evening visit while I was getting my feeding, Mommy put some breast milk in a bottle with a preemie nipple. She had tried to feed me with it several weeks ago with no success. Jeanette recommended trying it again now and turning me on my side to eat. So Mommy held me, turned me on my side and gave it a shot. There wasn't much milk in the bottle but I sucked it right down! Then, when Mommy pulled the empty bottle out of my mouth I kept trying to suck because I wanted some more. Mommy is going to keep working with me to see if I can get to the point that I take a bottle to get some or all of my milk. Jeanette said Mommy can try breastfeeding me soon too.
Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 28, 2007

Thursday, September 27th 2007


My Daddy has gotten sick and because he is running a fever he wasn't able to visit me today - doctors orders. My Mommy says that she had fluid leaking from her spine but she made it in to see me : ) It is not worth me getting sick so Daddy will have to wait to visit until he is feeling better. So Mommy came by in the morning and evening by herself. She held me at night during my feeding and I fell right to sleep. I was up to 6 lbs 11 ozs today so I am growing like a weed. Jeanette, the craniofacial nurse, really thinks my jaw has grown in the last few weeks. Because I wasn't able to suck the newborn pacifier a few weeks ago and now I can she said that shows that probably my jaw is growing and my muscles are getting better. She wants Mommy and Daddy to continue doing oral stimulation and try to feed me from a bottle again to see if it would be easier now. She said if my jaw is growing that potentially my surgery could happen sooner and I could get off my trach and g tube. Above, you can see a picture of a baby after having her jaw distraction surgery. I would be inpatient about two weeks after having the surgery and then be sent home for about a month with Mommy and Daddy turning the screws a few times a day. Then, they would remove the hardware and I would be a whole new baby!

Guess what I am a month old today!!!! Mommy says it has gone by way too fast. Mommy and Daddy say that I am going to have two dates to celebrate every year - one will be my birthday but the other will be the date I got to come home from the hospital - since that really will be a celebration!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007



Today was another busy day. Mommy and Daddy met with the geneticist to talk about Nager's. Nager's is not like other types of syndromes where they know the exact gene that causes it. Therefore, they can't test me, Mommy or Daddy to know for sure how I got it. But, they think it is one of two ways. The first, is that Mommy and Daddy are both carriers (recessive). If that is the case, then they have a 25% chance of having another baby with Nager's. The second, more likely scenario, is that it was a genetic mutation after I was conceived. If that is the case, then it would be next to zero that my parents would have that happen again. The geneticist thinks that in the next two years they will find the gene that causes Nager's. Until then, Mommy is considered high risk so if she gets pregnant again they will have her go for a high resolution ultrasound at 12 weeks. Since the jaw develops around 6-11 weeks, by then they could see the small jaw that is symptomatic of Nager's.

I also had my hearing screening yesterday and referred on both ears both times they tested me. You can see the picture above of me with my headphones on. While I was sleeping they tested my brain waves in response to quiet talking. I didn't pass the test so they are sending me on to an audiologist in the next few months to have more extensive testing. Referring on the test could be an indication that I just had fluid in my ears and couldn't hear or it could be more serious and I may need to have surgery, hearing aids, etc.

Mommy and Daddy also heard that I may be coming home as soon as Monday! I guess there is some discussion back and forth about that amoungst the doctors, nurses, discharge planners and social workers. My parents will just have to wait and let them fight it out. Until then, Mommy is going to meet with Jeanette tomorrow morning, the craniofacial nurse, and check off on training on trach and g tube care. If Monday is looking good then this weekend Mommy and Daddy will "room in" at the hospital to take care of me all on their own (with nurses close by). Daddy is coming down with a cold so they will have to ask the doctors if that will present a problem and maybe delay my discharge if I can't be exposed to him.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007


Today was all about me and my bink. The night nurse last night worked with me to get me to take the small binkie (I have moved up from the preemie one). I fought her a little but eventually I got the hang of it. When Mommy and Daddy showed up for their visit tonight I was chilling in my crib, watching the nurses and sucking my bink. Aren't I cute! Daddy took some video of me with my bink so you could all see how good I am at it. The night nurse also pulled out a swing and put me in it. She said I liked it for a little while but then because of sitting up my secretions got really thick and I got fussy. What do you expect - I have been flat on my back for four weeks now! I will have to start spending more time sitting up and then I will love the swing. Mommy brought some wrist rattles with animals on them so I have something to do while the nurses are helping the other babies that are more sick then I am. She stuck them to my crib so I can look at them when I am not wearing them. They are really cute.

Mommy and Daddy got all excited because there was a discharge planning meeting today and the respiratory therapist said she thought I was going to be sent home on Friday. My night nurse, though, said that she thought she had heard that all of the arrangements for my supplies and medical equipment hasn't been worked out yet so it probably won't be as soon as that. Mommy and Daddy are going to try to find out for sure.

Peyton Nicole Smith


Monday, September 24, 2007

Monday, September 24th, 2007



This is me on Monday morning when Mommy came for a visit. Look how chubby I am getting!
The tape is back on my face because of the humidifer over the trach. Someone stopped by my bed this morning and told my Mommy I get to go home soon but didn't tell her when.
Daddy and Mommy came by at night to see me. The baby next to me also has problems breathing and is hooked up to a ventilator like I used to be. About 1/2 hour after my parents showed up there was a problem with the ventilator and they had to "bag" her, basically use a bag to give her oxygen while they were trying to figure out why the ventilator wasn't working. This went on for about an hour and there were lots of people around her crib. Since it was around my feeding time I was getting kind of upset so Mommy and Daddy rocked me in my crib and tried to keep me calm until they were able to get her hooked back up to the ventilator. It was kind of scary but the nurses had it under control.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday & Sunday, September 22nd & 23rd, 2007



Mommy and Daddy came by after the night shift change on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, I was up to my full feeding. Mommy held me while Daddy held the tube that went to my g tube that had my milk in it. Unfortunately, about 20 minutes into the feeding they realized that it had gotten backed up and I wasn't getting any food! Daddy worked out the kink and in a flash I got most of my feeding all at once. You should have seen my eyes pop open when I suddenly got that much food in my tummy! Then, as quickly as I opened my eyes I closed them again and was zonked out for the rest of the night.

On Sunday, my PIC line in my arm had been removed so for the first time since I was admitted I had the use of my right hand. Although my thumb looks like a regular thumb it doesn't really work like one. The doctors at UC Davis say they are going to have Dr James from Shriner's come take a look at me to see what they can do to fix my right hand thumb and my fused fingers on my left hand. Daddy and Mommy changed my trach again tonight. Mommy went to put it in after Daddy pulled out the old one, at the same time I started coughing. So, instead of it going in, the air pushed it back out. That scared her for a minute but she took a big breath and tried again and it went right it. I got kind of agitated after my trach being changed but since my PIC line had been removed they weren't able to give me any morphine and gave me some Tylenol through my G tube instead. Mommy kept telling me if I would just tell her what was wrong she would try to fix it for me but I was really upset and wasn't in any mood to have a conversation. To try to calm me down, Mommy picked me up in the crib and held me close to my fishies and rocked me a for a while until I fell asleep. A few times she set me down thinking I was asleep but I would get upset again so the process started all over. It took a few times but I did finally get to sleep.

You can see above a picture of my furry brothers Henry and Chili enjoying the rest of Daddy's Carl's Jr. shake. Aren't they cute!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 21, 2007

Friday, September 21st, 2007










Mommy came by this morning to check on me. I am a hungry girl because I haven't eaten since Wednesday night but I have to wait until later this afternoon to start eating again. In the third picture you can see my g tube surgery site. I got some pain medication a little before 7 this morning so I slept most of the time. At one point I did wake up for a little while and I watched the fishies go around my crib and made my fishie face for Mommy. She thinks that is the cutest! As usual my hair is really wild and Mommy says that my cousin Traiton is going to have a run for his money in the wild hair department! There is a big joke in my Mommy's family about who wins the ugliest feet prize. In the top picture you can see my overlapping toe. Mommy thinks I win hands down!


Daddy and Mommy came back at night and brought my Uncle Steve (Daddy's brother) and his girlfriend Devon and Devon's friend for a visit. I was still on my morphine and had gotten a feeding so I was pretty sleepy and didn't really open my eyes much. Sometimes I would open one just a little and peek out at my Uncle Steve. Maybe it is the morphine but he looks an awful lot like Daddy! With Daddy on one side and Uncle Steve on the other it was a little confusing for me!


The other baby in my room got discharged yesterday but another baby came in right as all my visitors were leaving last night. Good thing I had gotten my feeding and was so sleepy so my nurse could take care of that baby. I hope the baby is quiet so I can get some beauty sleep tonight.


Peyton Nicole Smith










Thursday, September 20th, 2007





Mommy and Daddy toured the day care facility this morning. They told me it looked like a nice place and all the kids seemed very happy. They are going to find out more about whether they can qualify for help to send me there since it is pretty expensive. The nurses at the day care couldn't believe Mommy just had me three weeks ago. They said she looked really good for a new mommy.

Meanwhile, I was going into surgery to have my G tube placed. About an hour after surgery the surgeon called Mommy and let her know that I was a big girl and did very well and was now back in my crib in the Koala room. Mommy called a few times during the day to check to see how I was doing and then Daddy and Mommy came by for a visit at night.
They were so happy to see me sleeping peacefully. I tried to open my eyes a few times but I was so tired. They took lots of pictures of me since this was the first time either of them had seen me without some tube or tape or something else on my face!
Peyton Nicole Smith

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

Today I took it easy since I am scheduled for surgery at 7:30 tomorrow morning. They have to stop my feedings after midnight tonight so I am going to be a hungry girl! Mommy stopped by in the morning to hold me and then my parents came by in the evening too. Mommy got really sad when she left me tonight. That's okay, I cried too when she left. Even though the surgery is pretty quick Mommy is still scared. The nurse said they will call her as soon as the surgery is over to let her know how I did. Everyone keep me in their prayers!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007



Mommy stopped by this morning and held me for a long time before my feeding. Then, Mommy and Daddy came back before by 9 pm feeding. Daddy held me for a really long time. You can see me in his arms above. Daddy tried to see if I would take the preemie pacifier. I went to town on that bink! Mommy and Daddy are going to try to get a video taken to post to the blog so you can see how cute I am sucking on the pacifier.

The nurse weighed me tonight and I am up to 6 lbs 7 ozs! I have almost gained a whole pound in the last three weeks.

The pediatric surgeon stopped by and it sounds like I will be scheduled for my G tube surgery on Thursday afternoon. Mommy and Daddy got to ask him some questions. The surgery will take about an hour. Within about 24 hours they will try to start feeding me through the tube. Then the plan is to get me up to full feedings before they send me home. The resident thought another two weeks in the hospital so it looks like I might be home just in time for my Aunt Kristin to come for a visit.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Monday, September 17th, 2007

I am three weeks old today and weigh 6 lbs. 4 ozs! It was a busy day for me today. In prep for my G tube surgery they took me away to do two GI xrays on me. I guess the first pictures didn't turn out so well so they had to do it again.

My nurse tonight was Colleen. When Mommy and Daddy came in she told them I am such a sweetie. I just love being held and talked to. She said she spent time holding me today and so did the respiratory therapist. I guess a really sick baby came in today, so my feedings got off a little bit so they are an hour later now then they used to be. That's okay, I didn't mind waiting a little longer to eat while they helped some other baby get better.

Mommy had the doctor check on my cleft palate. I guess it is considered incomplete which means it doesn't go all the way through from the back to the front of the roof of my mouth. It still makes it difficult to eat though so at some point they will probably have to do surgery to fix it.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Sunday, September 16th, 2007




It was another trach change day for Mommy and Daddy. The nurse made sure to give them some space so they had to do it all on their own - including setting up all the supplies they needed. It was scary for them, but they did a good job. The nurse said my parents work really well together.

Check out the booties, hat and blanket. The nurse said these were made by some girls who are part of the local LDS church. Very cute! I was kicking so hard when I got mad that I kept kicking the booties off though.

The day nurse, Janice, said that my night nurse the last few nights has a son with Nager's who is attending Stanford. She wanted to talk with my parents about Nager's since it is so rare.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, September 15th, 2007






Mommy and Daddy came by before my 5 pm feeding. They had planned on changing my trach but my nurse Janice started my feeding about an hour earlier because she said I get really hungry now and don't want to wait to eat.

Mommy held me during my feeding and then after she put me back in my crib so I could watch the fishies. If you click on the video above you can see me watch my mobile. I like the yellow fishie the best and follow that one as it moves around my crib.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Friday, September 14th, 2007



Mommy came in this morning for my 8 am feeding. She worked with me with a preemie nipple in a bottle and I sucked a little bit. It is so hard to stay awake when I am getting a feeding because as soon as my tummy gets full I fall asleep!

Mommy and Daddy came in together for my 8 pm feeding and worked with me a little with the bottle again. When they put me back in bed they turned on the fish mobile that a nurse put in my crib yesterday. I really like watching the fishies and follow them as they move above my crib.

Mommy also taped a picture of my furry brothers, Henry and Chili, to the end of my crib so I can see them every time I am awake.

Mommy found out about a day care facility that takes babies with special needs or who are medically fragile like me and it is in Elk Grove where they live. It is staffed by nurses who have the skills to take care of my trach and g tube. Daddy and Mommy are going to go tour the facility on Thursday to see if it will work for me. Here is the link to the site: http://www.myfriendsonline.org/index.html Doesn't it look like a cool place! I think I could have a lot of fun there!

The resident checked on the genetic testing results last night and she said it came back that there were no chromosomal problems. The genetic counselor had told Daddy if that was the case then that would mean the diagnosis is Nager's rather then something else. They are going to try to find a time to talk to the genetic counselor later to ask some other questions about what that means. Since Nager's is so rare I really am a special baby (as if there was ever any doubt!)

Besides commenting on all my dark hair and my feet the nurses have told Mommy many times that they really like my name. They think it is really cute. Mommy tells them with a last name like Smith she had to come up with something a little unique. And no, I wasn't named Peyton because of Peyton Manning. Mommy didn't even know who he was until after they decided to name me that. Mommy says she heard the name when she was little because of an old soap opera called Peyton Place and ever since then she really liked the name. Of course, the Nicole is after my aunt Kristin Nicole (who is also a Smith because she married uncle Lonnie).

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 14, 2007

Thursday, September 13th, 2007

Mommy had some meetings this morning so she wasn't able to come in for my 8 am feeding. Daddy came by early though to drop off milk since I am eating so much now and the hospital was running out.

Mommy and Daddy came by to meet with Jeanette this evening. They went over infant CPR and emergency procedures. Mommy went and bought a smaller nipple to try another feeding. It was still hard for me so they are going to go ahead and give approval for the g tube surgery.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007



Mommy stopped by again this morning to work on my oral stimulation during my 8 am feeding. Before she got ready to leave Jeanette stopped by and told Mommy that at my 5 am feeding she tried to have me take my milk from a bottle but that I didn't do very well. She is recommending that I have a surgery to put a tube in my tummy so I don't have to work hard to eat by mouth. Mommy and Daddy talked about it and decided that before agreeing to have the surgery done they want to watch a feeding with me so they understand exactly what is going on so that is going to be scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
Mommy and Daddy came by for my 8 pm feeding. Mommy was kind of surprised because my roommate Elliott (he was born the same day as me, an hour after I was) was gone. He had been moved during the afternoon to another room. Now I am all by myself with my nurse so I will probably get lots of extra attention like I deserve! Mommy and Daddy did all the things they have been learning to do - took my temperature, changed my clothes, changed my dirty diaper, suctioned my trach and had me take the pacifier during my feeding. They are getting really good at all of this!
I was up to 6 lbs 3 ozs today - so I am growing bigger every day!
Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007


It is so fun to see Mommy twice a day. She comes in the morning to work with me on sucking a pacifier while I have my feeding. Then, she comes back with Daddy at night.

This afternoon was a big day for Mommy and Daddy. They practiced changing a trach on a doll with my nurse Jim. Then, the big moment arrived and they had to change my trach for the first time all by themselves. They survived and so did I! Jim says that changing a trach is a two person job - so Mommy and Daddy have to coordinate who does what. Daddy was in charge of taking the old trach out and Mommy had to put the new trach in. Jim said they did a really good job. They are going to change my trach again on Thursday for additional practice even though it is something that they will only do at home about once a week.

The picture above is of me with my new trach.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Monday, September 10th, 2007



Now that Mommy is off her pain meds and cleared to drive, she is going to start coming to see me in the mornings. We have work to do now each time she comes. She started with changing my diaper and outfit. Then, she suctioned my trach like she had been taught. Then, while I had my 8 am feeding she did some oral stimulation with me. I would suck for a few seconds on the preemie pacifier but kept falling asleep. Mommy kept at it though so I would start to get used to the feel of something in my mouth and develop those muscles.
Mommy and Daddy then came back in the evening after Daddy got off work. They got to give me a sponge bath with my nurse Kelly supervising. I was so good for them - I didn't even cry although I don't usually like having my clothes off. I was wide awake and looking around during my bath. Kelly told my parents they are doing really well with all of my care. Then, during my 8 pm feeding Daddy did some oral stimulation with me with the pacifier. Just like in the morning I would suck for a little while but kept falling asleep. They are going to have to find a way to keep me awake!
Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Sunday, September 9th, 2007



Mommy and Daddy got to meet with Jeannette today to learn about how to take care of my trach. Mommy suctioned my trach for the first time. It wasn't too scary and she must have done a good job because I felt much better afterwards. Jim had her change my diaper, too. It was pretty funny though, as soon as she got done changing my wet diaper I started coughing and I created a messy one for her. She is going to be an expert soon!

They change my trach once a week right now so Daddy and Mommy have an appointment scheduled Tuesday afternoon to change it for the first time. First, they will have them practice on a doll and then they will have them change mine.

One thing Mommy and Daddy didn't realize about me is that like most babies I have periods of apnea - when I stop breathing. Not sure when other babies do it, but when I get really upset (usually during clothing and diaper changes) I start crying and then will stop breathing for just a few seconds. It scared my parents a little when they saw me do that a few times today. Jim told them that it is very common and I have never stopped breathing long enough to be considered in distress so they shouldn't worry.

Jeannette tried to see if I am going to take to oral feedings. So, she dipped a pacifier in breast milk and had me smell it and then tried to have me suck on it. The pacifier was too big for me so then she stuck her finger in my mouth instead. I was a big girl and sucked a few times which is what they were hoping for. Later, they found a smaller pacifier and Daddy put it in my mouth while he was holding me and I sucked just a little. They said right now they want to make sure I will accept things in my mouth and then eventually they will try to get me to eat with a special nipple. If I can start eating then they won't need to put a tube in my tummy to eat which would require another surgery.

Mommy is going to start trying to go visit me in the morning around my 8 am feeding so she can work with me on taking a pacifier. Then, she and Daddy will come back together to visit at night after he gets off of work. We have a lot of work ahead of us so that I can go home but we will get there.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, September 8th, 2007




Mommy and Daddy came by for a visit this evening. My day nurse for the last few days was Jim. He was very nice. He loves my wild hair - he said he was the one that washed it yesterday and he thought it was funny how crazy it can get! He also commented on what a good kicker I am. Mommy and Daddy now wonder if they should sign me up for soccer since so many of the nurses talk about my strong kicks!

Mommy thought it was pretty funny when she saw the booties I had on tonight. They were pink bunny slippers - aren't they cute! Mommy and Daddy both got to hold me tonight. I love it when Daddy holds me - he can put me right to sleep. Mommy got to change another diaper tonight. She's getting a little better at it. I don't really like getting my diaper or my clothes changed, I can get kind of fussy. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow when Mommy and Daddy start getting trained on how to take care of my trach.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Friday, September 7th, 2007



It was another good day for me today. Mommy and Daddy came by at night for a visit and they both got to hold me. I cried the whole time for Mommy but as soon as Daddy took me I calmed right down - you can see above he got me back to sleep. Daddy told Mommy not to feel bad - I am a daddy's girl after all. I was up to 25 cc's on my feeding tonight. Mommy got scared when she saw me spit up the first time - mostly out my nose! The nurse got the suction tube out to clean me up. Every time they stick the suction tube up my nose to clean it out I have to sneeze a lot after. Mommy thinks that is pretty cute! The nurse I have had the last few nights is really nice - she likes to talk to me. She told my parents I have a really cute personality.
Mommy and Daddy are meeting another nurse Jeanette on Sunday to go over cleaning my trach, suctioning and oral stimulation. Jeanette said if the doctors are okay with it they will let them try to feed me with a special bottle. I'm going to get my beauty sleep tonight so I will be ready for my visit from my parents tomorrow.
Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 7, 2007

Thursday, September 6th, 2007




Daddy had to go back to work today, and Grandma and Papa Smith went on to Yosemite for the rest of their trip. That meant that Daddy and Mommy came by pretty late for a visit tonight. I was sleeping at first, but not long after they arrived I made sure to wake up to spend time with them. The nurses told them I am .5 ozs away from being 6 lbs now. The nurses also let them know that I am up to 20 cc's at each feeding and they continue to increase it each day. Mommy got to change my diaper for the first time tonight. She just missed getting the messy one by a few hours. She said she didn't think she did a very good job but she'll have plenty of opportunities in the future to get better at it.


Since I was so active tonight, Mommy and Daddy got the chance to see my eyes up close. They are looking like they might end up being blue! Mommy and Daddy talked about this the whole pregnancy - they figured I would have brown eyes like Mommy. They tell me that a baby's eye color may not be known for a few months but check out these pics - they look blue to them!


Now that Daddy is back to work Mommy and Daddy are going to find out from the nurses when they can set up training to learn how to suction and clean my trach. The sooner the better, because then I can go home with them.


Peyton Nicole Smith


Thursday, September 6, 2007

Wednesday, September 5th, 2007





It was such an exciting day today. So much has happened!


First, when Mommy, Daddy and Grandma and Papa Smith came to visit they found out I wasn't in my crib - some other baby was there. One of the nurses told them they had moved me to the Koala room. When they got there the nurses told them I wasn't taking pain medicine anymore and they had removed the ventilator too. That means I am even closer to going home!

They have also been feeding me Mommy's breast milk for the last few days to see how I do with feeding. Right now it is in a tube but they are going to have Mommy and Daddy start working with me to see if I can drink it from a bottle instead. Since they got me on the milk I am starting to put on some weight. I look huge compared to most of the babies around me because most of them were born too early. I really am a big girl!


Mommy and Daddy finally got to hold me today. I tried to be really good so they could hold me a long time. Now that I am in a regular bed without a bunch of lights I get kind of cold but they held me really tight in a blanket and I warmed up. I liked being held so much that I pretty much slept the whole time. Mommy and Daddy took a whole bunch of pictures since this was such an important day. The nurses say that starting tomorrow Mommy and Daddy have to start learning how to take care of my trach but today got to be all about just holding me which was fine by me.


Peyton Nicole Smith