So a little background. The last few mornings, Mommy has been waking up feeling like she is on the verge of getting a cold and last night after soccer she felt so crappy she finally took some allergy meds which helped a lot. She still wasn't convinced it was a cold until....
10 pm last night my parents hooked me up to my pulse oximeter machine and noticed my heart rate was elevated. Normally during sleeping it runs in the 80's or 90's but it was close to 120 - a sure sign something was brewing. Sure enough, the coughing started up around 11 pm - an URI was on it's way. The night was long and painful with lots of coughing from me and little sleep from my parents. Early this morning, I started to run a fever and my parents started up a feeding of Pedialite to prevent dehydration. Around 6 am I was up for the morning and started vomiting up some of the Pedialite I had just been given. Mommy got me changed and Daddy headed off to work. I went upstairs to hang with Grandma in the morning so Mommy could try to take some conference calls from home. By 7:30 I was feeling a little perkier and having some crackers and milk and a few hours later Grandma added some formula to my Pedialite since I seemed to be holding it down okay. By mid-morning Mommy was feeling a little better but that all changed at nap time. My oxygen saturations were terrible at some points (80's) and my heart rate was in the 160's. The worst, though, was my respirations. Although Mommy doesn't count them normally she could tell I was breathing REALLY fast and doing a lot of "belly breathing". So at 2 pm she called the pediatrician's office. Tonight was going to be my first appointment with Dr Norlin so she was hoping I might be able to get in a little early. Unfortunately, Dr Norlin didn't come on shift until 5 pm and all the other pediatricians were booked. The nurse listened to my symptoms and requested that Mommy hook me up to oxygen ASAP and head to the ER at Primary Children's. So off we went. Mommy tried to concentrate on the drive while Grandma tried to entertain me.
Once at the ER, Mommy got the receptionist what she needed. She told Mommy that her sister was a preemie and had a trach until she was 6. It's a good reminder to Mommy that trachs aren't completely unheard of out in the community. Just after getting all the paperwork completed, I got called right back to triage where a nurse and a respiratory therapist (RT) were waiting. As usual a trach patient who is SOB (short of breath) catches people's attention. They immeadiately hooked me up to oxygen and it only took about 15 minutes to get into my own room in the ER. Luckily, my saturations jumped right up with the oxygen so I was nice and stable while we waited for the chest xray to rule out pneumonia. Not surprisingly, there was no pneumonia which meant either a viral or bacterial infection. To rule out one or the other, I had to get a culture from the secretions in my nose and mouth. This was new for Mommy and I since UC Davis never took cultures and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I did okay while getting suctioned from my trach but when it came time to suction out of my nose I was a fighter and it took everything Mommy had to hold me down. Shortly afterward, though, I decided to "call" Papa on Mommy's cell phone and tell him how badly I had been treated as you can see in photos above. I started to dose a little but got woken up by a finger poke but that wasn't too bad and I kind of liked the cute band aid.
After the xrays, culture and finger poke, the ER doc let Mommy know I was going to be admitted and they were just getting all the paperwork completed. Since Dr Norlin hadn't yet established care with me they were going to have a hospitalist quickly take a look at me and get me admitted. Around 5 pm we were good to go and we all headed up to the 3rd flood and my waiting room. Because I seemed manageable, instead of going to the PICU I went to the Children's Medical Unit where I have a private room. But because of the trach, I have a tech that sits right outside my door 24/7 to monitor me - as far as Mommy is concerned that is the best of both worlds - a little privacy but someone close by to make sure I am doing okay. In addition, because of waiting for the cultures, I am on transmission precautions. That means that anyone from the medical team that comes into the room is required to be gowned, gloved and masked. However, my family and I don't need to be while in the room. But I can't leave the room myself for the time being.
For the first time, I am in a big girl hospital bed instead of a crib which Mommy appreciates. This is one hospital stay where she won't be climbing the crib rails to get into bed with me. I was starting to perk up a little so Mommy started up the TV and her and grandma waited as medical folks came in and out to ask questions and get me stabilized. I was still on oxygen and hadn't had a feeding for several hours and my fever was returning. I got a dose of Tylenol and the IV team came by to get my IV in place for fluids. Now, if you have read my blog over the years the IV is usually a very dramatic process - usually taking hours and multiple candidates to try to get it placed. I had just fallen off to sleep when they arrived and I kid you not that I just about slept through getting my IV had it not been for the stick itself. The nurse whipped out the light, found a vein immeadiately, washed my arm with alcohol and got the IV in on one try. Mommy swears it was about 30 seconds but no more than a minute for the entire process. She was ecstatic! With the IV in, I finally got some fluids and was starting to feel a lot better. About that time, Daddy and Papa showed up so Daddy stayed with me while Grandma, Mommy and Papa went to the cafeteria to eat. On the way, Mommy ran into someone she worked with several years ago - she is still amazed she was recognized since she hadn't showered in 24 hours and looked pretty ragged.
My grandparents and Mommy had an nice (short) meal while Daddy rocked me and then when they got back my grandparents went home for the night. Daddy had brought some items for Mommy and I to keep us entertained and he went home as well. Mommy got settled into bed with me and it didn't take me long to fall asleep. Although Mommy knew the day would come that I would have an admission in Utah she wasn't quite planning on it happening so soon. But she has to admit that Primary Children's is head and shoulders above any other hospital experience we have had to this point so if you got to be sick this is a great place to be!
Peyton Nicole Smith
It was cousin Jackson's second birthday and I couldn't wait to get to the party! There was a bounce house and a pinata and I am not sure which I loved more. Jackson loves Thomas the Train so that was the theme of the party and he scored on the presents with tons of Thomas the Train. His best (and biggest) present though is a cool swing set that his Daddy will be putting together tomorrow and I will get to spend plenty of time on!
It was time for my yearly haircut. Seriously, I turn 3 in August and this is only my second haircut. My first one was Mother's Day 2009 so I was definately long past due for another. Mommy and I headed to a haircutting place espesically for kids. When we walked in the place was empty except for four employees standing around. They asked Mommy, "do you have an appointment?" and when Mommy said "no" one of the employees had the nerve to ask another "do you still want to take her?" Apparently, they weren't expecting to cut hair when they came to work today???? 
Mommy, Grandma and I met with Emilie from the Utah Schools for The Deaf and Blind today to get some more questions answered about the programs. Daddy, Grandma and I will visit each preschool on Tuesday to help determine which path I should take - ASL or spoken language/listening skills. If I go the ASL route I will probably stay in a school specifically for kids who use ASL until I graduate from high school. If I go the spoken language/listening route I will probably attend a school to learn these skills until it is time for middle school and then I will be mainstreamed if I am doing well. Whichever decision my parents make it will be after lots of thought and discussion. They have no doubt I will do well whichever path I choose.
Two days ago was my Grandma Mower's 60th birthday. Because she was working we got together tonight at Aunt Kristin's to celebrate the big day. The 60's aren't anything to be afraid of:
Today was my first step in transitioning to preschool in Utah. It was my evaluation with Early Intervention. I like to make things a little difficult for everyone so as of tomorrow I am officially in the 90 day transition from Early Intervention to preschool. To complicate things further, the school district is getting ready to go out on summer break and I turn 3 right as school is starting for the next year. So basically that means everyone needs to work a little harder and faster to get all this worked out - but everyone is willing to help.
After missing my pediatrician's appointment last week because I got hospitalized for an URI, I finally made it back today. For those not familiar with Utah, Primary Children's Hospital (where I was admitted last week) is right next door to University Hospital. Most of the doctors who practice at Primary Children's are employed by University Hospital. So we headed to University Hospital tonight to see Dr Norlin. Dr Norlin is my cousin Jackson's pediatrician too. Dr Norlin was running about an hour behind but I was in a good mood and kept myself entertained pretty well in the exam room. When he came in to the room, Mommy quickly gave him a general overview of my medical history (okay maybe not so quickly) and then she had a list of things she wanted to discuss. Dr Norlin was a trooper and spent as long with Mommy as she needed even though his day was long since over. 
Nothing better than having a Lil Drum and watching my favorite show - Caillou!
Despite a nose that is still healing, I had a nice day hanging out with my parents, my grandparents and all the animals. Congratulations to Grandma who put my trach in for the first time tonight during my weekly trach change. I am sure she was nervous but she did a great job!
Seriously folks, learning to crawl is an important developmental step! While out on a short walk with Papa tonight I fell on my face again! Because I never crawled, I never learned to use my arms to catch my fall and this is the result. Mommy is just amazed I haven't knocked out my "big tooth" by now. If any girl deserves rhinoplasty it will be me!
After an okay night's sleep it was back to the grind. Mommy returned back to work in the office while Grandma and I hung out at home. Papa is still fighting his own cold, so he stayed home as well.
My night went pretty well - just a tiny bit of O2 for a few hours to bring me up from the mid 80's on my sats to mid 90's. Then it was back to room air and I was in the low 90's which the doctor's were happy with.
The photo says it all, I am on the mend! I had a great sleep - from 10 pm to 6 am. Mommy didn't sleep quite so well with the nurses coming in and out all night. During the night they continued to reduce my oxygen levels and I kept getting the IV fluids. At 7 am, Aunt Kristin stopped by with coffee and cookies for Mommy and two new Tinkerbell movies for me. I wasn't quite in the mood to play with her. She stayed about an hour before heading off to work. I talked to Daddy on the phone before he went to work and then Grandma called to say she was on her way. Meanwhile, lots of doctors and nurses were coming by to check on me. Although I am doing a lot better, it's pretty clear I am not going to be discharged this morning. The goal today is to get me up to full feeds and get me back to room air.
So a little background. The last few mornings, Mommy has been waking up feeling like she is on the verge of getting a cold and last night after soccer she felt so crappy she finally took some allergy meds which helped a lot. She still wasn't convinced it was a cold until....
It was a pretty busy day today what with Mommy going back to work in the office, a doctor's appointment and soccer in the evening. So Mommy worked a little in the morning and then Grandma, Mommy and I went out to the Primary Children's Outpatient Clinic at Riverton Hospital for my audiology appointment. I think the audiologist was a little surprised when we said my BAHA was broken and we were needing to get it repaired. The process was new for her since my BAHA's weren't purchased locally through Primary Children's Hospital. So after a few calls to UC Davis Audiology (Mommy had all the records with her) it was determined that the BAHA that was no longer working was no longer under warranty. That will be $450 to repair it please! Yes, $450! Mommy tried not to wince as she handed it over but the good news is that it should only take about a week to get it fixed and then I will be back to a two hearing aid girl - yeah!
I had lots of fun visiting today. First we made a stop at cousin Jackson's and I got to play with his trains and cars. He was very good at sharing with me. Later, Uncle Jeff came by to say "hi" and then he followed Mommy and I back to Grandma and Papa's so he could catch up with them as well. I got to sit outside with Papa and have crackers while cousin Skyler mowed the lawn. I didn't get a nap in but I was still in a great mood when Mommy and I went to Karen's for dinner. We had fun taking pictures of each other with our dueling camers. I took a good one didn't I!
It's got to be a good day when you get to eat a Lil Drum! Although it was messy, Mommy convinced me to wear a disposable bib to try to keep my clothes (and my chair) clean. The three doggies gathered around me in hopes of getting a lick.
I am happy to report that Henry is recovering well and almost back to his old self. I am continuing to enjoy playing with Grandma during the day and we have a good routine going. I watch Caillou at noon and then off to the bedroom to read three books and then I take my nap - no fights!
Tonight was my first soccer class at the Eccles Field House on the U campus. Daddy had to work late, so Mommy and I headed out on our own. Cousin Jackson had signed up too but as he is recovering from an ear infection he stayed home tonight. Mommy was not expecting how difficult it would be to find close parking and then the door to get in the building was like looking for a secret passageway. Eventually she and a few other mom's who were running late found their way in. Mommy wasn't entirely sure what to expect - basically there are eight "stations" set up - 4 of the same station on two sides of the field. Then we get to rotate through 3 stations (one is an extra) in the course of 45 minutes. Good thing the field is huge because there were probably 100+ kids between the ages of 2-4. I missed the first station which was kicking so I joined in on the second station which involved me and another kid kicking the ball back and forth. It sounds simple but give 2 year old's a ball and the instruction to kick back and forth to each other and you have mass chaos! At station 3 we were instructed to kick the ball with "baby kicks" around some cones. For the 4 year olds it was a much easier task for the 2 year olds it was a lesson in patience as the "baby kick" instruction was taken literally! As wtih the other classes Mommy has participated in with me, 45 minutes seems like a really long time when trying to keep a 2 year old following instructions and waiting her turn. But all that matters is I had a good time and was able to run around inside where it was dry and warm while the weather outside was not so nice. 
With Henry in recovery, Pandy is generously allowing me to "walk" her around the house and outside. 
OK so don't freak out. This is not Henry. But this very well could have been Henry. The day started out with Henry jumping off the bed and as he did he must have tweaked his back because as he headed up the stairs he was crying. When Mommy came down to help him up he lost his footing and his feet came out from under him and he started howling in pain. The next 20 minutes he shook as he had spasms in his back. Now we are all too familiar with back problems because Henry was hospitalized a few years ago when he did something similar. It can be very serious and if not treated immeadiately with surgery dachshunds can have permanent damage to their backs/spines and lose the use of their back legs. Knowing all this, Mommy started bawling and Daddy told her to let Henry rest for an hour and see how he was doing. After an hour, Henry was walking gingerly around the house so Daddy said he would make an appointment for him at the vet in the evening to get him checked out.
Skyler, me, Pandy and Dylan
Papa Smith
Grandma Smith
Now that I've finally caught you up on what has been going on in our lives, I can share a picture with you of the house my parents are in the process of purchasing. It is plenty big for us and really close to both sets of grandparents. It was empty for over a year and the yard needs a lot of TLC. The process of buying has been a little bumpy but if all goes well they should close on 6/1. Coming from a rambler in California (no basement) I am loving all the stairs but this is not so good for the backs of my furry brothers. My parents will be investing in baby gates to keep them (and me) on the main level most of the time. 
