Thursday, August 7th, 2008

Today was another adventure in eating for me. Karen, my feeding therapist came today and was very impressed with my progress. She watched me eat frozen mango in my feeding bag. When Mommy told her how much I like to eat - and how frustrated I get when Mommy doesn't share food off her plate - she had some suggestions. Karen said I can now start getting "swipes" of food from my parents plates - spaghetti sauce, chili, soup, mashed potatoes, etc.

We also tried a few new things today. Karen mashed up some Gerber "puffs" (kind of like flavored Cheerios) until it was like fine breadcrumbs. Then, I got to play with it with my hands and then Mommy fed me some on a spoon. Right into my mouth - no feeding bag or anything! I did very well! Since I am not taking to the pigeon bottle, Karen says our next step is to move on to drinking through a straw. First, she wants my parents to introduce the straw to me with just something on it I can lick off. Over time, my parents will allow some liquid to drain into my mouth through the straw using gravity and then eventually I will learn to suck through the straw myself - at least that is the plan!

Mommy was very excited so after Lucille left this afternoon, she got out my high chair and let me have some fun. (Thanks Grandma and Papa Smith - I know it has been a long time coming but I am finally using the high chair!) Mommy put some applesauce on my tray so I could play with it with my fingers. She also put some more of the crushed up puffs on the tray. I put some in my mouth with my fingers, but Mommy also helped me put some in my mouth with the spoon. Although it was just tiny amounts, for the first time I think Mommy felt like she was really feeding me - and I was eating! Mommy's head is spinning with all the food possibilities she wants to try with me. She is very hopeful that when I am given a cupcake on my birthday in a few weeks - I might actually try to eat it!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

It was my first time trying banana yogurt tonight. A few little tastes and I was done. I decided it would be much more fun to play in the yogurt then to eat it. The cold sticky yogurt felt great on my fingers and I kept dipping my hands in the carton for more. Some made it to my mouth but most of it ended up on my face, my hands, my clothes and Mommy!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

For all of you out there that think I am happy most of the time, here is proof that I get grumpy just like any other baby! It all started with a 2 hour appointment with the nursing agency smack dab in the middle of my nap time. I was happy to play initially, but as I got more tired Lucille tried to put me down for a nap. I wasn't happy though, so she rocked me instead. After being asleep in her arms for about 30 minutes it was time for the next appointment. This time Terry and Wendy came to go over my IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) since it has already been six months since they first came out. Here is more information on what an IFSP is:

Your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be your roadmap through the system. It will show you where you are starting from and where you plan to go. You and your service coordinator will check it every so often to make sure that you and your child are still on course. You have valuable information and insight about your child's strengths, needs, likes and dislikes. That, along with information from the assessment and medical information from your child's doctor, will define the starting point. Where you want to go and how you want to get there will depend on your family's priorities, concerns, lifestyles, and routines. Be prepared to write down some "outcomes". Outcomes are the changes you want to work toward for your child and family and can relate to any area of your child's development and daily or weekly routines (such as eating, dressing, making friends) or your family's life (such as training a baby-sitter or making time for play activities). The services of the IFSP will describe who will be providing any of these services, where, how often, and for how long. The IFSP will be reviewed every six months (or sooner, if you request it) to evaluate your child's progress and continued need for services.

It was fun for Mommy to see how far I have come and how many goals I have already met. I was being so good during this visit as well but was not willing to take another nap so by 6:30 I was so tired and didn't care who knew it! Rather then try to keep me awake for a normal bedtime, my parents got me ready for bed early tonight and I was asleep within about 15 minutes.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Looking at the pictures, you might think I was just demonstrating my ability to take off my HME. Actually, I am showing Lucille that I can put my HME back on my trach - well, okay, I haven't quite mastered that but I am trying. Although my parents thought it was really fun that I became much more aware of my trach once my jaw was distracted - now I think they are a little worried that I might get into some trouble!

Today Michael came to play with me. He was very impressed with my new skills at pulling up and standing up from sitting on Mommy's lap. I also showed him how I plop down from Mommy's lap to the floor while still sitting. Since I don't really like using my arms or hands to protect myself from falling or to lean on it is a little scary, so that is what Michael wants my parents to encourage me to do.

In case they are reading this, I want to say "hi" to Kelly and Sophia. They live in Elk Grove like I do, and Sophia has a g tube just like me! I hope to get to meet them soon because I think Sophia and I will be great friends. I might even share my favorite lovie with her! Can't wait!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

Just like yesterday, Mommy and I started out the morning with a nice walk in the stoller. It was about 8 am so there weren't many people at the park - so Mommy decided it was a great time to try me out on the baby swing. I was on my feeding, so Mommy just hooked the backpack to the swing and away I went. You can tell from my expression that I wasn't quite sure about the swing - but I wasn't crying so Mommy figures it must not have been too bad!

Daddy made it home from Tahoe around 3 pm. I guess he got something called altitute sickness so he was fighting a bad headache but he still let Mommy go catch a nap since she was pretty tired. In the evening Daddy fixed the lawn mower and I watched while he mowed the front yard. Mommy showed me a potato bug and I was intent on holding it myself. It got scared, though, and would roll into a little ball and roll off my hand onto the ground. I was getting pretty frustrated but Mommy tried to help me understand that I had to be careful or I was going to hurt it. While Daddy worked on the back yard it was time for one more walk in my stroller and a quick stop at the park to get on the baby swing. Again, I wasn't very impressed but over time Mommy thinks I will love the swing.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

This morning my Daddy was busy getting ready to go to Lake Tahoe with his friend, Jeff, so my Mommy and I were pretty much on our own. We went for a quick walk to the park in the stroller. As you can see, I still love my HME's!

Today was my Aunt Kristin's birthday. Sure wish we could have been there but she promised me she will be here for my birthday in a few weeks. The two Nicole's can have a party together!

On Saturday mornings, we watch the Today Show and I like to listen to the Second Cup Cafe - a segment with different bands. The one this morning was great - I was enthralled with the music. Mommy says I am the bands youngest groupie because I danced a little to the music and sat watching with my mouth wide open!

By noon, Daddy had left for Tahoe so Mommy, the dogs and I spent some time getting chores done around the house. I got a few short naps in as did my brothers - but alas no nap for Mommy today. She tried to have me take a nap with her on the bed but I wasn't having any of it - I like my crib better.

By 6:30, I was getting tired and ready for my bath. Mommy was getting hungry and since she didn't have a chance to do her weekly grocery shopping today there wasn't much in the house to eat. After a quick post to the trach website asking other mommies about travelling alone with trach kids - she got up the courage to take me through the Carl's Jr. drive through all by herself - no nurses or Daddy in the back to suction me. It was only a few minutes away and I cried all the way there (Mommy could see me in the mirror she rigged up). When I cry, I produce more secretions so after getting her food, she pulled over in the parking lot and suctioned me and we were back on the road. Within seconds I was asleep - but since I still needed to have my bath, Mommy started singing my favorite song - "Wheels on the Bus". That startled me awake so I cried the rest of the way home, too. Before bath time, Mommy, the doggies and I all sat down on the rug and had something to eat - Mommy had chicken strips, the doggies got some fries and I got some of the whipped cream from Mommy's chocolate shake.

After all the excitement it was definately time for sleep. It took three attempts of rocking and a few hours but by the time Lucille came at 10 pm I was asleep for good and Mommy was off to sleep with the doggies - without Daddy.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, August 1st, 2008

No doctor's appointments today - just another day playing with Lucille, my parents and my brothers. I am still working on my pulling up skills and my oral feedings. I definately like frozen fruit and cookies better than pureed baby food and crackers - got my Mommy's sweet tooth.

Peyton Nicole Smith