Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

I am a little inconsistent on my afternoon nap - which means if I get one I am in a good mood until it is time to go to bed. Unfortunately, today was one of the days I didn't get my nap so I was a grump for an hour or so before my bath and bedtime. You can see me above rocking with Daddy while we waited for it to get late enough. Once I got into my crib for bedtime it took my about 1/2 hour to fall asleep - I wasn't crying - just rolling from side to side trying to get comfortable.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

This would be me protesting having to go to sleep. Now that I am falling asleep in my crib most of the time, as soon as Mommy puts me down I get a little huffy because I know the drill. Within a few minutes I settle down and start playing. Mommy thinks my unhappy face is kind of cute so even though I am upset and want her to pay attention she is often trying to capture my moment of misery on film : )

Peyton Nicole Smith

Monday, January 28th, 2008

Today I watched President Bush in his last State of the Union address. With having both a Democrat and a Republican parent it can make for some heated discussions! I have chosen not to declare my party until I am old enough to live on my own.

I love my bear - Mommy calls it my lovie - and since I have started falling asleep in my crib I like to bring it with me even when I am not sleeping. Since I don't suck on a bottle or a pacifier, I hold my lovie up to my mouth instead and suck a little on it before I fall asleep. Not much, just a little.

In case you haven't heard yet, I am going to come for a visit to Salt Lake from March 14th-March 20th. Hope to see you all soon!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

I had more naps in my crib today - including one that was three hours long!

In addition, I discovered my tongue! When Mommy stuck out her tongue to make me laugh I decided to stick mine back out at her - she was very surprised. The rest of the day I played around with it - moving it all around. It was very cute. Mommy has loaded a video so you can see it in action.

By the way, I am five months old today. Mommy can't believe I am so big!

Since it was an adventurous weekend already, my parents decided to try out my speaking valve. It is a one way valve so I can breathe in when it is over my trach but I can't breathe back out. Instead, it requires me to push the air out through my mouth and over my vocal cords so I can make sound. The first few times Mommy didn't get the valve on tight enough and it just popped off when I exhaled. The next few times, I would start to get a little upset when I couldn't exhale out of my trach. I haven't figured out just yet that I can breathe out of my nose and mouth. I got a few little noises out but more by accident then on purpose. My parents are going to keep trying a few seconds at a time until I feel more comfortable. They didn't want to scare me.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

I kept on being a big girl today. I took four naps in my crib as well as falling asleep at night in it again. Mommy even removed the blankets that made a bed within my bed so that I was sleeping on the mattress. I did really well and there was only a few times that Mommy had to pat my back to help me get to sleep.

Mommy and Daddy work on tummy time with me. Because of my trach and g-tube instead of putting me straight down on my belly they modify it a little so that I am at an angle. You can see me above doing my "tummy time" and holding my head up really well. Daddy took a picture of my bum since he thinks it is so cute!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, January 25th, 2008

When Mommy tried to rock me to sleep tonight I kept kicking and fighting her. So, Mommy decided it was time to try to get me to fall asleep in my crib - instead of rocking me to sleep and moving me later. It took about 20 minutes (only about 5 of that with me crying) but I fell asleep in my crib like a big girl! Mommy was so proud!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 & Thursday, January 24th, 2008

I had a couple of really good days playing with my parents, the dogs and Lucille. I am having a hard time getting to sleep at night - there are so many exciting things to do and see now that I would much rather be awake.

Today the DME company dropped off my speaking valve. You can find out more about it at the website below. Basically it makes me breathe a little differently so I can "speak" through the valve. Mommy and Daddy are going to experiment a little this weekend with me. If it goes well they will gradually increase the time. If I don't tolerate it well, then they will wait and have a specialist from the agency come out and work with us.

http://www.passy-muir.com/

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

Today Mommy posed me for a few pictures in my "Valentine's outfit". Keep a watch out in your mail for a Care Bear valentine from me with a picture!

Mommy had to go to the doctor's today for a check-up and while she was out she ran a few errands. While she was gone, Lucille put me on the floor and let me play like my parents do in the morning and night. Mommy thinks it is so funny to see Lucille in her skirt and nylons laying on the floor playing with me! She is still trying to talk her into letting her take a picture of us together so she can post it to the blog but Lucille is pretty stubborn!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Monday, January 21st, 2008

Happy Birthday Grandma Smith!

Sunday, January 20th, 2008

Daddy and I hung out on the couch for a little while today watching the Giants vs. Packers football game. When I wasn't on a continous feed I was down on the floor watching t.v. and playing with my toys.

My parents changed out my trach tonight - they are getting very good at it!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

Today Mommy went and got me a baby chair for me to practice sitting in. Mommy let me check it out a few times at just a few minutes each time and I thought it was pretty fun and can't wait to try it out again. I have also started practicing holding something on both hands at the same time like Terry recommended. I am pretty good at it as you can see in the picture above.

I decided to take a 2 1/2 hour nap late in the afternoon while I was in my swing. In fact, my parents finally had to wake me up. Then, when it was time to go to sleep at 8 pm I was not very cooperative. Twice, Mommy got me to sleep and into my crib and twice I slept for a few minutes and woke back up. Imagine Lucille's surprise when she came to watch me at 10 pm and I was wide awake! Mommy told Lucille that I wanted to play with her and that must be why my schedule was so out of whack!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, January 18th, 2008

Today I had another visit with Terry from Sacramento County School District. She came to play with me and teach my mommy how to do infant massage on me. I was really good for Mommy while she practiced on me and Terry and Lucille practiced on a doll. Mommy is going to try to use it during our nightly bath time ritual.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Mommy thinks these set of pictures look like I am flashing gang signs but really I am just showing you all how good I am with my hands!

Today was my monthly Synagis shot to keep RSV at bay. Good thing, too, Mommy read on KSL.com that Primary Children's is at a level 1 this winter because of so many RSV cases. Not quite as bad here in Sacramento but it's a good thing I am getting my shots just in case.

Although I definately don't like getting shots, Mommy always looks forward to the opportunity to get me weighed. On the 7th I was 10 lbs. 6 ozs. and today I was up to 11 lbs. 1 oz. Yeah!
I am making such good progress that at this point my pediatrician, Dr. Scott doesn't see any need to have me come in monthly for weight checks any more - I can just start coming in for regular baby appointments. Dr. Scott thinks I am doing really well.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, January 15th & Wednesday, January 15th, 2008

It was a couple quiet days for me and my family. No doctor's appointments or visits from any agencies. I am sleeping through the nights most of the time now and also getting several good naps during the day. My parents continue to "play" with me at night and in the mornings - making sure to get some of the exercise recommendations in each time. Some are more successful than others. Mommy has learned that the best way to get me to comply with tummy time is to do it while I am busy watching the doggies play together. That way I want to hold my head up so I can see what they are up to.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Monday, January 14th, 2008

It was a much better day for me today, I was back to my happy self. This afternoon I had a physical therapy appointment with my PT, Michael. There were some fun times like when he took off my socks and had me play with my toes but there were some other times I didn't like - when he set me on top of a yoga ball to get me to practice my tummy time. I don't really like tummy time and I am really not sure what all the fuss is all about with it. I would much rather be looking up then down!

I also learned today that if I get my leg really high up in the air I can kick the animals hanging from my mobile. It's kind of hard but Michael says it is great for my abdominals : )

As you can see from the picture above, I really love my Daddy. He and I like to spent time together at night when he gets home. A lot of times when he leaves in the morning I am still asleep so sometimes he doesn't see me until he gets home from work at night. I think I am just a much smaller version of him!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Although I am smiling in the top picture, it must have been one of the only times today that I smiled. My parents aren't sure why but I was such a grouch today! I slept quite a bit but when I wasn't sleeping I was whiny or crying or kicking my feet in anger - or a combo of all three at once! Mommy thought I might be teething, Daddy thought she was crazy - I am still so young. Whatever it was, it made for a not so fun family day together. Towards the end of the night Mommy put me on the rug to hang out with the doggies and Chili and I spent some quality time together. He loves to lick me and you can see that any part of my body is lickable - from my face to my fingers to my neck. Chili just adores me and I think he is pretty cute too!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, January 12th, 2008

Today I had a nice, relaxing day with my parents and my brothers. I like to spend time on the floor when I am not having a feeding - rolling over, watching tv, trying to follow the antics of my brother and playing with my toys. Mommy loves this time with me because when I am not hooked up to anything I am really just like any other baby. Luckily, the suction machine is portable so she sets it next to me and if I need a suction she can do that quickly and I am back to doing whatever I was doing before. I still love my swing as you can see but I am getting so big now that I want to explore other places as well.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, January 11th, 2008

Today, the Sacramento County School District Infant Development program came for a visit. There was a nurse and also a special education teacher. In addition to the services I am receiving from an agency called Alta Regional, the school district can provide even more services to me and my parents. They are going to start coming weekly on Friday afternoons. In the beginning the special education teacher, Terry is going to teach my parents sign language so they can start communicating with me even more. Then she is going to teach them how to do infant massage. Because I will be in the hospital for surgeries at times it may be hard to hold me and comfort me so she says infant massage will be a tool my parents can use to help soothe me during those times. They are also going to make it part of my nightly bath ritual to calm me down after my trach care to help me fall asleep. They are going to send out a hearing aid specialist once I have my hearing aid, a speech therapist once I have my speaking valve, an occupational therapist to help me work with my hands and a feeding specialist once I am getting ready to eat solid foods. Mommy is a little overwhelmed at the thought of weekly visits but she is so grateful to have experts that will be helping me as I grow. As I get bigger they also have weekly play groups for their "kids" and it also allows parents to have someone to talk to who understand what they are going through. The nurse said that many of their "kids" have g tubes and a lot have trachs as well so I might actually meet some kids who look like me! The nurse had another mommy in the program that she thinks is just like my mommy that she wants to introduce to her. She thinks they will hit it off. Although Mommy has lots of support from family and friends out of state it is probably a good idea to have her meet people close by who she might be able to meet for coffee every now and again or provide back up for each other for date nights as I get bigger. I am so glad there are so many people who are out there to help me and my parents! I am such a lucky girl!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

A note from Mommy:

If you don't have your speakers on make sure and do that when you come into the blog. I found the sweetest song that I dare you to listen to without crying. Here are the words and as I write this I can't help but cry a little. The artist is Carolyn Dawn Johnson who I have on my iPod but never knew she sang this song.

A couple inches taller
Another size smaller
A little curl in my hair
Used to wish I was older
Now I wish I was younger
Back when I didn't have a care
Most of the time I am happy with what God gave me
Once in a while I wish that some miracle would change me

I'm ok with the way God made me
I have my days but doesn't everybody
It's not always easy for me to believe in myself
But I gotta remember
I'm always gonna be a better me than anyone else
And God doesn't make mistakes

Mama says I'm special
Calls me her little angel
I could almost do no wrong
But I trip and stumble
Guess that's what keeps you humble
But I pick myself up and I carry on
I'll never be a flawless model of perfection
Nobody's perfect and I admit I'm no exception

I'm ok with the way God made me
I have my days but doesn't everybody
It's not always easy for me to believe in myself
But I gotta remember
I'm always gonna be a better me than anyone else
And God doesn't make mistakes

I'm thankful for the rainy days
They only make the sunshine sweeter

I'm ok with the way God made me
I have my days but doesn't everybody
It's not always easy for me to believe in myself
But I gotta remember
I'm always gonna be a better me than anyone else
And God doesn't make mistakes
Not you, not me

Tracy

Wednesday, January 9th,

In case you are wondering what it sounds like to laugh with a trach - Mommy took a video of me to show you. The sound you hear first is Mommy sticking out her tongue at me and wiggling it around, then you'll hear me laugh. This is pretty funny!

Although my laugh doesn't sound like most other babies, it is still music to my Mommy's ears!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

The shots finally caught up with me today. From the minute I woke up this morning through most of the day I was not a happy girl! Mommy and Lucille gave me Tylenol every four hours to try to make me feel better but I was still fussy and slept when I wasn't crying. My afternoon nap ran long again so I had another late night before falling asleep. I made it to 9:45 tonight instead of my usual 8:00. By evening I was feeling a little better, though, and spent a long time on Daddy's lap just checking everything out.

By the way, my Great Grandpa Gil is feeling better and should be home in the next week or so. Good job Grandpa Gil!

Peyton Nicole Smith