Thursday, September 29, 2011

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

I was just all tuckered out tonight!  I missed my nap because I had an appointment at the dysphagia clinic today.  Mommy looks forward to these appointments because it is an opportunity to get accurate height and weight measurements and discuss my growth.  My parents and grandparents have all been saying that it seems like I have gotten bigger and they were right!  I weighed in at 28 lbs. 7 ozs. and I am 37 1/2 inches tall.  In the grand scheme of things I am still pretty small - only about the 7th percentile for girls my age - but I am keeping right on my growth curve so everyone was happy.  Dr O'Gorman recalled the first time she saw me about a year ago and I was super skinny and now she is pleased to see that I am filling out - so it is not just my family's imagination.  To try to keep up with my activity level I need to have my day feeds bumped up 10 cc's but no big changes to my care plan which is good.

Because I am on the petite side, my Mommy wondered how long before I would meet the 40 lb requirement to move to a booster seat in the car.  My dietician, Marie, checked against my growth curve and it looks like somewhere around 6-7 years of age.  Until then I am stuck with a car seat!

As a special treat, Mommy and I stopped by the Halloween store on our way home today.  Although I am dead set on wearing Jackson's elephant costume from last year, I still wanted to go look at costumes.  I had a lot of fun roaming the aisles and I am convinced Halloween is just days away, with Christmas close on it's heels!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Saturday, September 24th, 2011



It was time for the HopeKids Wasatch Adventure.  Team Princess Peyton was me, Mommy, Grandma and Jackson.  Mommy was there right at 9 am when registration opened but the race did not begin until 10:30 so that left plenty of time for Mommy and Grandma to keep Jackson and I entertained.  Shortly before the race Leo the Real lion and Swoops the Ute eagle showed up.  I am not a big fan of mascots and insisted that Mommy keep them in sight at all times - I didn't want them sneaking up on me! 

When race time began, Jackson decided he wasn't in the mood so Mommy and I went by ourselves.  We decided to do the 1 mile adventure walk rather than the 5 K.  It was designed just for the kids because every few hundred feet there would be games set up we could play and win prizes.  It was a great walk as far as I was concerned, but since Mommy carried me pretty much the whole way I'm not sure she agrees.

After we finished the race, Jackson and I had some time to play on the bounce houses before it was time to head home for a nap.


After a good nap we got into the car to drive to Lindon for Lily's Fundraiser for CCA.  I had such a great time playing with Lily and all the other children with craniofacial conditions and my parents had a great BBQ dinner. We are going to make this an annual event.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Monday, September 19th, 2011



Thanks for all who have donated to HopeKids for the Wasatch Adventure 5K.  My team has raised $306 towards my $500 goal.  The race is on Saturday so time is running short to donate. Please help me reach my goal!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/princesspeyton/3rdannualhopekidswasatchadventure2011

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

Last night, my parents dropped me and my furry brothers off at Grandma and Papa Smith's.  This morning they left early to head to the airport.  Mommy is presented at a work conference and Daddy decided to join her. They will be gone until the end of the week.  Although my Daddy has spent the occasional night away and Mommy traveled a few years ago, they have only spent a night away from me together a few times in the last year.  To have them both gone for almost a week is a new experience for all of us.  Tonight Grandma and Papa gave me a bath and a trach change and sent my parents the picture to assure them I was doing just fine!  Although I have asked my parents a few times on the phone to come pick me up they know I am having a great time.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 16th, 2011











HopeKids had a night at the Utah State Fair tonight.  Despite rain, my parents had gotten me all excited to see the animals and so they crossed their fingers it would all work out.  Uncle Jeff came with us, too.  (He doesn't mind going on all the rides with me so he is a great guy to have around!)  The drizzly rain soon turned into pouring rain so we waited in the car until it was time to meet up outside the gates.  With the weather and the traffic it took almost 1/2 hour before we were able to make it in but by then the rain was starting to slow down.  The first stop was a pony ride - my favorite!  Then it was on to the animals - chickens, bunnies, goats, cows and pigs.  We probably could have stopped there and I would have been happy but then Uncle Jeff talked my parents into letting me go on the rides.  First up - the Tilt O Whirl!  While Jeff and I twirled my parents caught glimpses of me laughing hysterically.  Despite the wet rides, I rode the hot air balloons, helicopters and cars and I loved them all.  Daddy hadn't brought a jacket and Uncle Jeff was wearing shorts and we all started to get cold so we left a few hours in.  So glad we braved the rain!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Saturday, September 10th, 2011






It was such a busy day and I went from one fun event to another. The morning started with a trip to Hollywood Connection with Hope Kids.  We were a little early so we stopped by Decker Lake to feed the ducks.  When we got there it took a few minutes for everything to open up so I had a chance to check out everything we would be able to do.  We started off playing minature golf and as we were finishing up, cousin Jackson and Aunt Kristin showed up.  So they joined Mommy and I on the dragon roller coaster.  It was fast but I loved it - Jackson not so much.  He decided he didn't want to go back on about 1/2 way through the ride.  Over the next hour we got on the carousel, the bus ride, and the hot air balloon ride.  Then we headed up stairs to the arcade and played skee ball and other arcade games until we had almost 500 tickets to spend.  We went back down stairs to hit the hot air balloon and bus rides before it was time to go.  After Jackson left I snuck back on the dragon rollercoaster for a final ride!   Hollywood Connection opened early just for Hope Kids and we had such a great time.  Thanks Hollywood Connection!

After all the fun we stopped by the Cracker Barrel for breakfast since Daddy had never eaten there.  Mommy and I could have spent forever browsing the shop with all the knick knacks - espescially since they already had their Halloween and Christmas stuff out. 

We had a little breather at home before heading out once again to a nearby park for the Children's Craniofacial Association picnic.  Despite falling and reskinning my nose I wanted to ride my bike and play on the playground.  We met up with several families we had met before and some new ones as well.

We had a little bit of time to get the blood cleaned off me from the fall before leaving once more to go to Ava's third birthday party.  It was a Little Mermaid theme and not only was there a princess bounce house but Ariel even made an appearance!  I was willing to make a crown with her but refused to have any pictures taken with her!

It was such a fun day I think I am going to have to take it easy tomorrow!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 9, 2011

Thursday, September 8th, 2011




On our way to the grocery store tonight, Mommy saw that The Healing Fields were set up in Sandy.  Every year on the anniversary of 9/11, flags have been set up for every person that lost their life as well as those who lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11.  The years that Mommy has lived in Utah she has always come by and as with every year it never fails to make her a little weepy.  I think it took on a little different meaning this year since it was the first time she has brought me to see the flags.  Because they had just been set up, it was very quiet and only a few other people were there.  It was a peaceful place with the sounds of thousands of flags flapping in the breeze.  I decided I kind of liked it and asked Mommy if we could come back with my bike when Daddy got home.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Monday, September 5th, 2011

That bean bag chair I got for my birthday was just so comfortable I fell asleep in it tonight!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, September 4th, 2011




It was a beautiful day for a visit to the zoo!  It was short notice but Jackson, Traiton and I met up at Hogle Zoo and had a great time visiting the animals, riding the train and taking a spin on the carousel.  I was briefly devastated when the dolphin I chose for the carousel was taken but it only took me a few moments to decide the lady bug was just as good!






In the afternoon my Daddy's side of the family headed to Brighton Ski Resort where we had a picnic to celebrate Dylan's birthday.  Mommy, Daddy, Skyler, Dylan and I took a nice hike around the water.  It was a great day!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 2nd, 2011


Children's Craniofacial Association is a organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with craniofacial differences.  Nager Syndrome is just one of many that result in craniofacial differences.  Each year more than 10,000 babies are born with a craniofacial difference in the United States.  I am definately not alone!

September is Craniofacial Acceptance month.  This year marks the seventh year CCA will observe September as Craniofacial Acceptance Month across the nation. CCA families, friends, volunteers and related support groups will be widening the circle of acceptance for individuals with facial differences. The goal is to create awareness that beyond the face is a heart and the true person within.


Mommy found out through CCA that the Walker family was holding their third annual Lily's Craniofacial Awareness Dinner and Silent Auction.  You can find out more about Lily be watching this clip from KSL.com about a surgery she had last year.


http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10261750&autostart=y

Mommy, Daddy and I will be attending Lily's fundraiser to help support CCA and other families whose children have craniofacial differences like me.  If you would like to support us, here is more information:

Date: Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Time: 6-9 pm
Location:  Pioneer Park
                  150 South 500 East 
                  Lindon, UT 84042

Tickets are $25 per adult and $10 for children under 10 years old.  All proceeds will benefit Children's Craniofacial Association.  Please buy tickets ahead of time so they have time to plan for food.  Dinner will be served at 6 pm and the silent auction will close promptly at 8 pm.

For more information you can contact Tosha at nursetosha@gmail.com

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, September 2, 2011

Monday, August 29th, 2011



It was my first day of preschool this year and there have been a lot of changes since last year.  I am going to a new school with a new teacher.  Instead of Grandma going with me I will be going with a nurse and I will be riding the bus.  WIth all the changes, I was a little nervous over the weekend and kept asking if Mommy or Grandma could go to school with me.  Mommy promised that if I was sad, Grandma could follow behind the school bus until I got to school.

I was so excited to get on the bus, though, that when it actually came time to leave I forgot all about being nervous and Grandma barely got a few photos in first!  But as she promised she was waiting for me when I got off the bus to get a photo of the end of my first day.  I had a great time, had a lot of fun with Nicki and was ready to go back again.  It was a great first day!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, August 27th, 2011

2007
2008

2009

2010
2011
Today she is four.  No longer a baby and not really a toddler.  I never could imagine her being four just as right now I can't imagine her at eight or fifteen or thirty.  If I close my eyes I can almost feel the weight of her the first time I held her in my arms but the sweet baby smell of her has already faded.  Some moments with her seem to last for an eternity (like trying to get her to sleep at night) but then I look back and it seems like time is rushing past me so quickly it's hard to catch my breath.

Happy birthday baby girl!