Thursday, July 31, 2008

Cheese!!!

Lilyann in the pool for the 1st time
Lilyann and Dakota
Dakota at the park--he loves the tunnels and ladders
Lilyann--swinging at the park
Lilyann--She is looking good..she is liking this sitting up stuff

You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing!


The kids have been keeping me busy this summer. If we aren't playing in the kid's pool, then we are going for a walk, or driving to a new park in the area. I think we have been to almost every park in the surrounding area. So life has been busy, yet fun.

Dakota and Lilyann are changing everyday. And seeing all the things they do and say makes the long summer days worth while.

The kids probably think that mommy is a paparazzi with all the pictures i have been taking of them. I'm training Lilyann well, she now is starting to smile and pay attention when she sees the camera out.


I had to take Lilyann to the doctor on Wednesday. She has had a runny nose for 2 weeks now. We thought it was associated with teething, but it should have gone away by now. The Dr now has Lilyann on a nasal spray--she said that it will help if the runny nose is due to allergies or just the common cold. Thankfully, the nasal spray is the only medicine that Lilyann is on. Lilyann was weighed again...and she is now up to 14 lbs 10 oz. She is just climbing up the chart now.

We are going on Monday for Lilyann's 3 month followup appointment with the cardiologist. We should get an all clear with this checkup...and not have to see the cardiologist but once a year. YAY!!! I'm eager for the Dr. Penn to see all the improvements in Lilyann..and I'm wondering how they are going to do an echo on Lily's heart with her newest milestone...rolling to wherever she pleases. It should be fun!


I was thinking back today to all that we have been through with Lilyann. It all came as a shock so many months ago (Jan 2008). But it all worked out for the good. Lily's story has been a help to many a mother's going through similar heart conditions with their child. To be able to talk to someone who has been through all that they are going through means alot. It is such a support to these mothers with the weight of the world on their shoulders. So, I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a help and a blessing to other CHD mommies. Everything happens for a reason.

Blueberry weekend

Being out in the cool morning air and picking blueberries is such a refreshing activity. Thanks to http://www.freecycle.org/ we were able to find out about **free blueberries: you pick them, all you can carry**
An older couple, the Wheats, had 20 acres of blueberry bushes. They are both disabled and cant get out and do what they used to do with the blueberry bushes (which are now more like trees, since they cant keep them cut back) So Mr. Wheat made the post on Freecycle, and we planned for the weekend to go pick some blueberries. Here are some pictures of the kids picking blueberries...Dakota and Lily both love them...

Dakota picking blueberries
Dakota eating blueberries
Lilyann picking some blueberries--though you can't tell by her face, she really does like them
Lilyann helping herself to some of Daddy's blueberries
Boo (Jed's grandmother) coming through the blueberry "jungle" (as Dakota called it)
See the blueberries above her head...these blueberries were huge!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Summer is here and almost gone....

My Lilyann..almost 8 months old
Dakota~jumping on the trampoline at Samantha's house
Blowing bubbles
On the grass
what a look!!

Summer seems to be flying by. It's hot, hot, hot!! We have been spending our days playing outside (during the morning time): Dakota in the his pool, and Lily on a blanket in the shade. Dakota is getting better at his "Shamu splashes"...he can run and jump into his pool for time on end. Lilyann is starting to army crawl(just backwards)...she can turn in a complete circle and when she cant seem to get to where she wants to go, she rolls. Determination should have been her middle name. She no longer stays on the blanket, she is always off in the grass the minute a turn away.

Jed is still working hard, but his days are shorter since school is out. I know he is dreading when school starts back up (getting up early and delivering all the milk to the schools on his route).

Lilyann is still teething...i think she is going to teeth forever..i know, I'm being dramatic, but no teeth, yet. She is getting pretty good at gumming everything though. She LOVES table food...and guess what???



She has put on more weight!! At her last appointment (7-14-08), she weighed 14 lbs and 3 oz. She is getting a little chunk on her thighs...Her color looks great! Just by looking at her, you would have never thought that she had open heart surgery a little over 3 months ago. What a blessing Lilyann is--to all!



Dakota is loving the fact that Lilyann is getting more mobile. He likes to play with her and he is starting to "mother" her. Everyday he has something to tell Lily to stop at whatever she is doing...I'm always hearing: "No, Lily Lu" and it is even worse to hear: "No, ma'am, Lily Lu."

He cracks me up!! As you can tell, there is never a dull moment in the Smith house!


Wednesday, July 9, 2008

A lil' update...

It has been a little while since i last posted here. I pray this post finds all our friends and family well. We, the Smiths, are all doing well. Lily is definitely teething!! and she gets her feelings hurt when you don't share your food with her...i should do of video of her eating, but it always slips my mind. Dakota is just being Dakota...and growing up so fast. He got a haircut on Sunday and he looks so handsome. And i swear, that haircut makes him look and act like a big boy. He is getting better on saying "yes/no, sir". And lately his favorite part of the day (besides when daddy comes home) is going to jump on our bed and say good morning to Lily (i think Lily enjoys and looks forward to it as well).

Dakota is starting to share more, and he wants Lily to play with him more. We got him a slip n slide (He loves it) Yes! it was fun, at first...i had to show him how to do the slip n slide...needless to say, slip n slides are for kids...I was so sore the next day. He loves playing outside in his pool...he likes to do "Shamu splashes".




Lily is trying to sit up. I actually got some pictures of her sitting up for a few seconds (i hope you enjoy them) and she is loving tummy time (as long as she can play with Dakota's dinosaurs).




Lily has gained 1 lb and 4 oz in the last month. We took the kids for their WIC appointments on Tuesday. Dakota for a re certification; and Lilyann for a followup.
Lily is still a little below average, but given the circumstances, she is doing excellent. She is now 13 lbs 4 oz and 24 inches long. Dakota is doing good also. He is now 27 1/2 lbs and 35 3/4 inches tall. He did really good when they did the finger prick to check his iron. He is such a big boy. Makes me wonder where the time went.
We had a wonderful holiday weekend. Dakota enjoyed the fireworks displays and spending time with friends and family. Definitely a week to appreciate our freedom and those who fought and continue to fight for it. (Kenny...thanks!!)
Happy 4th of July and God Bless!!