Friday, November 6th, 2009

After getting the all clear on my feet - what better way to celebrate then with my first pair of high heels? Mommy and I spent about a 1/2 hour going up and down the hallway with me in my shoes shuffling along and Mommy holding my hands to keep me upright. Mommy's back is killing her but I had a great time!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

After having this appointment rescheduled on us twice and waiting 6+ months to get in, Mommy should have expected some drama from my orthopedic appointment at UC Davis. The doctor came highly recommended and we prepared for the appointment by having my medical records from Shriner's faxed over weeks ahead so the doctor would have some idea of what my other ortho docs were doing for me. This appointment was initially scheduled to check out my feet based on my PT's recommendation. When my OT found out about it, she also wanted the doctor to check out my arms and shoulders as well to give her an idea of what bony limitations I might have.

When we checked in the receptionist let us know the doctor was "running a little behind, maybe about 1/2 hour". Mommy is never surprised by this - she was actually more surprised that they admitted it! After 45 minutes we were all getting a little antsy because the waiting room wasn't that interesting. Now my appointment time was at 2:15 so Mommy figured we would have plenty of time to be seen and then drive back to Elk Grove by 4 pm when Lucille's shift was over and her ride would pick her up. As we headed towards 3 pm, Mommy started getting a little nervous. About that time we got called back so Mommy figured it would all be okay. But it was a false alarm - we just got moved to an "internal" waiting area since there wasn't a room available. A few minutes later the resident stopped by the receptionist's desk and got a talking to about how far behind the appointments were. He didn't seem to believe her so she turned to Mommy and asked, "What time was your appointment for?" When Mommy told her and he realized we weren't even in a room yet he looked a little nervous. By 3:15, Mommy had Lucille call her son to have him pick her up from UC Davis since there was no way we would be home by 4 pm. By the time Lucille left a little before 4 to meet him, we were still not in a room. We didn't get in a room and seen by the doctor until 4:30 - that's right 2 hours and 15 minutes after the original appointment time!!! So much for running 30 minutes behind!

After all the waiting, Mommy was a little surprised by the doctor's response after he watched me walk and move around. He doesn't think orthotics for my feet will do much for me so any type of shoes that are comfortable are fine as far as he is concerned. When it comes to my upper body he basically said that I might as well quit doing any type of therapy because it doesn't help all that much and I am going to use my body to the best of my ability without anyone teaching me how - kids just adapt that way. Mommy was left virtually speechless (which if you know Mommy that's nearly impossible). She wasn't quite sure what to say to that so she didn't say much of anything. The doctor would like to follow my lower body issues (hips, feet and ankles) by seeing me once a year for a follow up. There is a way to surgically make my overlapping toes a little more cosmetically appealing but it would need to happen when I am in my early teen years. Since most kids with overlapping toes don't complain of any pain or other problems with walking my parents don't think they will pursue it unless I choose to when I am older. So after months of waiting for an appointment and hours of waiting in the office the appointment was over. What a long day!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

So what do you think of my new blog design? Mommy wishes she could
take the credit for designing this but actually she found some templates
at the below link that she was able to have someone else customize for $15.
Cute, huh?

http://www.leeloublogs.blogspot.com/

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

After several requests, I have attached the video of some of my first dance class. Enjoy!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

You would think after all my Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer watching the last few days that my dental appointment today would go pretty smoothly - after all one of the main characters wants to be a dentist. Although I have a great dentist, I am not a fan of the dental process. When Mommy let me know I was going to the dentist I shook my head and said "No"! But despite my protests off we went. Daddy met us at the dental office and while I was playing in the waiting room life was great. As soon as I got called back to a room all bets were off. I saw the chair and the tears started to flow!

Mommy held down my legs, Daddy held down my arms, one assistant kept my head steady and that left one assistant to actually work in my mouth. I was crying so hard I started to turn a little blue around the mouth - Mommy thinks it was a little bit of hyperventilation going on. But I got those mean dental assistants back by coughing up all my trach goobers right into their faces (the masks only cover so much of their face you know!)

Once my (very quick) cleaning was complete and Dr Saladin took a look at my mouth Mommy got to pick me up and life was good again - espescially when I got to pick out a duck stuffed animal, a balloon, a sugar free sucker, stickers and a bag of dental goodies. After an initial sign of "pain" I quickly moved to signing "Lucille". She had been out in the waiting room and she was the only one I felt I could trust at that point! For those in the Sacramento area if you are looking for a great pediatric dentist you should check out Dr Saladin at http://www.mychildrenschoice.com/

As a sidenote, for those of you who think Yo Gabba Gabba is beneath you - check out the picture above as Brad Pitt dressed up as DJ Lance Rock from the show. It's pretty clear our household is not the only one hooked on Yo Gabba Gabba!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

I have two obsessions currently - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and swinging. At 6:30 am my day began with 45 minutes of watching every version of Rudolph YouTube offers - I have seen the Gene Autry version, the Regis Philbin claymation version, the Beyonce claymation version, the Barking Dogs version and so on and so on. Mommy is regretting ever pulling out the Christmas DVD's!

Mid-morning, it was time to head to the park to swing. Daddy made it extra special by going to two different parks - one that I had not been to before. That is the wonderful thing about California, lots of neighborhood parks that are within a few blocks of our house and the weather is perfect to enjoy them!

In the afternoon, it was more of the same - more YouTube Rudolph and another trip to the park to swing. My parents are starting to feel like their life is Groundhog Day! So please, if you see me, for the sake of my parents sanity please don't sign or say "swing" or "reindeer"!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

After months of waiting it was finally time for my first Me & My Shadow dance class. It is for 2 & 3 year old girls and boys and a parent to start learning about dancing. Since it was my first day both Mommy and Daddy went with me. There were about 10 other kids in class. We sat around in a circle and first we worked on stretching. Then we got to get up and move. We started with marching and then moved on to skipping and jumping. We also got to play with scarves and rhythm sticks while walking around in our circle. Now I am on the young end of the 2 year old's and most kids were on the older end of the 3's. I was much happier dancing in the middle of the circle then I was dancing in line and Mommy figures that has something to do with being younger then most of the other kids. It went by really fast for me but Mommy said it was one of the longest 1/2 hours of her life trying to keep me in line and out of everyone's way.

On the way home, we stopped at Kohl's to get me a Christmas dress so I can get pictures with the boys for our Christmas cards. Then I got a few minutes swinging at the park before it was home for my nap. Uncle Jeff had planned to come by to see me trick or treat but he wasn't feeling well. When it started to get dark tonight my parents asked if I was ready to put on my costume and I was raring to go! It only took a few minutes to get me dressed and then we were off. The first few houses were great, I got some candy and was feeling pretty good about trick or treating. But then we came to a house with a witch on the door and when I got close to it, it started screeching and after that trick or treating just wasn't the same. From then on, Mommy would have to carry me to the door and do the knocking and although I was happy to get the candy, I didn't really want to keep going. We went to about 10 houses and of all the items in my Elmo basket the best was the plastic spider ring I got at the last house. Walking home, though, I lost it in a flower bed so while Mommy got me home and undressed, Daddy went back with a flashlight to find it. Thanks Daddy! I didn't even get all the way undressed before I started digging in the basket for my suckers. I ended up with several open at the same time but kept signing "more candy". While I was eating my suckers, my parents traded out the rest of the candy for a few small toys. I kind of like this Halloween thing - I may want to go again next year too!

Peyton Nicole Smith