Thursday, December 10th, 2009

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/6d65940c296dd2ffac55c256affef830

Santa sent me a special video message. He says I have been very good!
There should be a lot waiting for me under the tree this year!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Mommy told me to prepare for a busy day since I had both a feeding therapy appointment and my 6 month audiology check up. I did well with the feeding therapy until it came time for Karen to brush my teeth. Karen got a quick taste of what it is like for my parents to brush my teeth every night and why it takes two to accomplish the task - one to hold me down and one to brush!

I didn't even get a chance to nap before we needed to leave to go to UC Davis for my audiology appointment. Rewind to 6 months ago when the test could not be completed. Mommy was a little apprehensive about today's appointment since I am not just a little bit 2 - I am a lot 2! I started out strong and when I would hear Audrey's voice I would look to the appropriate place in the room. Within just a few minutes, though, I was bored and just ignored all her instructions completely. Audrey tried a few more times and eventually I just started sobbing and asking Mommy to leave. It took Mommy a lot of reassurances and I agreed to stay but the rules would have to change! This time, I would get an item (like a block or a plastic animal) and hold it in my hand. Once I heard Audrey's voice or a buzzer or whistle then I could put the item in a jar and everyone would congratulate me for doing a good job. The waiting was sometimes hard and I would put the item in the jar even when I hadn't heard anything but what do you expect - I like the applause! The assistant mixed it up a little by changing the item I was placing in the jar but after about 1/2 hour I was over that too. Audrey asked if I was all done and I nodded my head yes.

While I played with the resident (he is a 2nd year ENT on an audiology rotation) Audrey explained to Mommy that the transition from the lights and sound to directing me to place toys is something they normally don't do until kids are closer to 3. She said most children don't even get the concept of putting the toys in the jar when they hear a noise and those that do understand the concept won't do it consistently at my age. Audrey was really impressed and she figures I will be a pro when she tests me again in six months. Today's appointment is giving Mommy hope that my cardiology appointment early next year will go more smoothly too.

Peyton Nicole Smith

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Often when Lucille leaves for the day and the dogs are let into the front room to play I am still taking a nap. Now that I am in a toddler bed without fail Chili comes over to check on me and give me a quick kiss. Many times, Chili ends up laying on the rug next to my bed until I wake up and play with him. As you can see, Henry has no need to be close to me, in fact he finds the highest ground to avoid me whenever possible!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Look how far I have come! When I got my Barney doll on my birthday I was terrified of it and now he is a favorite friend!

Tonight Mommy and I ran to the store to get some groceries. By the time we have walked up and down all the aisles I am itching to get out of the cart. So while we check out Mommy and I have an understanding - I can get out of the cart as long as I stay right next to her in the checkout line. I was doing really well standing next to Mommy and then wanted to stand on her feet and have her walk me around. A nice man in line behind us kept smiling and waving at me and then when I signed "cracker" he walked up to Mommy and I and started talking. He wanted to know how old I was and then commented how tiny I was for my age. He said he has a four year old granddaughter who is just now wearing size 2T. Then he hesitantly asked Mommy if I had microcephaly. (Microcephaly is a neurological disorder in which the circumference of the head is significantly smaller than average for the person's age and sex.) Mommy quickly explained that I don't have microcephaly but a different type of syndrome and that is part of why I am so small. He said his granddaughter doesn't speak but is very sharp and picks up everything. Mommy let him know that although I sign most of the time that I am definately starting to use my voice much more often. By then, Mommy's groceries were done being rung up and it was time to head to the car. Although Mommy knows people must wonder about my trach and hearing aids it's pretty rare that anyone ever asks Mommy anything directly about why I have them. Mommy thought it was great that because the man had a grandchild with a similar condition that he was willing to ask questions. I just like all the attention!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

So Mommy has posted in the past about her being just a little bit OCD. At times Daddy swears I have inherited this fun trait but Mommy is not so sure. Looking at this picture Mommy wants to quickly pick all these up while I thought it was great fun to throw the cards everywhere and then dance on them. As I am getting older (and having more tantrums) I react one of two ways - throw my body around or throw my toys around. At this point Mommy is not so sure which reaction is worse!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

Since the first night Henry came home with my parents from the rescue, he has been allowed to sleep in bed with my parents. So when Chili came along a short time later, he made it into bed as well. Henry was usually really good to get under the covers at my parents feet and was never heard from again the rest of the night. Chili, though, was in and out of the covers all night as he got too hot (out of the covers) and then too cold again (back under the covers). My parents got so good at holding up the covers that they barely remember even doing it the next morning (yes, Chili has them well trained). In addition to the many movements of Chili, these two are notorious for liking to sleep sideways in bed. So between two long dogs sleeping sideways and two adults the queen size bed always seemed a little cramped. Last night Mommy made the painful decision to kick the doggies out of bed starting today. She made them up a nice bed on the floor with lots of blankets and pillows so they would be warm as well as comfortable. And then Mommy removed the stairs that they (and I) use to get to on the bed. There was a lot of whining at previous attempts to get the dogs sleeping on their own but tonight there was barely a peep. Now I wish Mommy could say she slept a lot better but there is still one more issue to attend to - Daddy's snoring. So if you have any solutions besides kicking Daddy out of bed as well she'd love to hear them!

Peyton Nicole Smith

Friday, December 4th, 2009

I have recently realized that I have the power to get out of my toddler bed when I want. Most of the time I just want to get out of bed and laugh at Daddy or Lucille until they sternly order me back. Tonight Daddy had to work late so Mommy put me to bed. I am notoriously hard to go down for Mommy. It took me 1 1/2 hours of rolling around before finally falling asleep. Right before I did, though, Chili was lying on the rug in front of my bed. I like to hand one of my legs out the hole between the two rails on the front of the bed. He happened to be perfectly alinged with where my foot ended up and so I rubbed my foot along his back for the next 10 minutes or so and we were both happy with the arrangement.

Petyon Nicole Smith