A SMASHING Day!!

Lainey had a "Smashing" Good time at her birthday party! About 4 dozen of our friends and family came out to the park to help Lainey celebrate her first birthday. We were fortunate to have really nice weather ~ not too hot, not too cold, and NOT raining!


Lainey sported her new birthday dress I made her and enjoyed being passed from one guest to another! Everyone enjoyed a meal of BBQ sandwiches, chips, salsa, and birthday cake. Lainey just REALLY enjoyed the cake!!

Although I am still working on getting all of the birthday donations in, so far Lainey has raised $475 for her Great Strides walk in October. Everyone was very generous with their donations and the cute gifts they gave her. All I can say is that she will be one "stylin" chick this summer!!

Presents and donations galore! Thank you everyone for being so generous!

Lainey's friend Reagan.

Campbell and her mommy, Josie!

Dawson

Josie and Campbell, Lainey and I ~ I am not feeling too well in this picture since I had a 103 temperature!!

Lainey opening presents.

Lainey wearing her new Life is Good hat! Thanks Aunt Dayna, Uncle Brad, and Lilly Anne!

Lainey playing with her new little baby doll!

We had a great time and are thankful for the many friends and family that came out to celebrate with our sweet princess. A year ago we were unsure what this year may bring in relation to Lainey's Cystic Fibrosis. We are happy to report that this year, aside from the "normal" milestones, has been quite an uneventful year with Lainey's health. Although having a child with CF is a never ending job that requires a lot of demanding routines and practices, we are appreciative of everything she has taught us. We hope that she has many more uneventful years in relation to her health.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation! With your help, we are going to beat CF!! Your donations have added years to Lainey's life, and for that we are forever grateful!

Love,

DeAnn

PS ~ For anyone who wondered if I was going to live to see another day since I looked so awful at the party, I did live and I feel much better! Mom took me to the ER on Sunday....103.1 fever, Strep Throat, Urinary Tract Infection, IV fluids, IV Antibiotics, a couple hours of resting on the gurney, Prescription antibiotics 4 times per day for 10 days, and Wa La! I am feeling like a person again.......a person that will live to see another day!! I truly appreciate every one's help at the party since I wasn't quite myself!!

Baby Cakes

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY LAINEY!!!

We love you Lainey Bug!

Mostly FUN Times!!!

Well, prepare yourself for another long post......

This time of the year is always super busy for me as a teacher, mother, and monogrammer! I have started another blog that consists of pictures and prices of the things I make and monogram in my spare time!! Check it out here! I have had numerous orders lately for end of the year teacher, student, and graduate gifts, not to mention the gifts for all the babies being born!! Working until 1:00 every morning to finish these projects has left little to no time to post, read, or comment on my blog or anyone other blogs!

This is the last week of the 2008 - 2009 school year.....and boy am I glad! My class has been the best class I have ever had in the 7 years I have been teaching school, but I am tired! I didn't realize what having a third child would do to me, much less having a sick third child. I literally hit the ground running every morning around 5:30 and usually get in bed at midnight, 1:00 if I am working on a monogramming job! Making 3 different stops to get the kids where they need to be before I get to work each morning makes me tired before I truly begin my day. Teaching 21 first grade students, then picking up my own children, leaves a full day with children!!! Hopefully I can spend some quality time with my own children this summer.....and hopefully I won't be ready to go back to work before the month of June begins! :)

Field Day 2009 ~ in the pouring down rain!!


Eric, the Froot Loop Boy!
I think this is one of the most interesting field day games......shower cap on head, goggles on eyes, Cool Whip on head, sitting in a chair......a big bowl of Froot Loops......racing to see how many Froot Loops stick to the person's head....team with the most is the winning team!!

Logan, Liam, Lainey, and I went to Jack's second birthday, and boy was it interesting! It was already a crazy day....any time you try to get somewhere with 3 little kids, it is crazy! The party was a blast until Liam fell into the pool.....and it was NOT a swimming party! I was too far away, so another parent had to rescue him from the pool! Needless to say, he didn't get near it for the rest of the party!

Lainey at Jack's birthday party

Liam after his "dip."

Jack ~ the birthday boy!

Logan James playing with the bubbles.

On Mother's Day, my niece Lilly was baptized. Luckily I had bought several christening dresses when I was pregnant, in hopes that I would have a baby girl! Unfortunately, I soon found out that I was pregnant with a boy ~ Liam! So, when I had Lainey baptized I used one dress and had one extra....perfect for Lilly Anne! I also made her a cute bow with a cross in the middle to match her beautiful dress! Everyone at church just loved her contagious smile!

Lilly Anne and Dr. Walton

Miss Lilly Anne

Overall, Mother's Day was great. Sid had to work, so I spent my day with my sister and her family, my parents, and my kids. After church we had a yummy lunch at my parents and just enjoyed having another Mother's Day with my mom.

The following Monday was not so lovely! Lainey caught a cold from my mom. She was not drinking and barely urinating. She was quickly dehydrating and coughing a very deep, wet cough. The doctors in town told us to take her to the ER at Egleston, and Dr. Caplan agreed. After 3 hours in the waiting room, several assessments, a chest x-ray, a popsicle, and a wet diaper, 5 hours after we arrived and many germs later, we were released to go home. Lainey is now on antibiotics and she is doing much better!

The Hospital BUG!

On Friday, Logan James Smithson "Love" graduated from pre-k! All of the kids were so cute, but I don't think I could ever teach pre-k kids.....too much energy!

Graduation Rocks!

Logan and his girlfriend, Leigh!

Nolan and Logan

Logan's Pre-k class!

Woo Hoo!! He has made it through his first year of "Big Kid" school!

My love......looking more like his daddy everyday!

Monday was Lainey's monthly CF appointment. Although she has not been drinking much of her formula, or anything for that matter, she still managed to gain 9 oz. She now weighs 20 lbs 9.2 oz. She grew an inch, now measuring in at 29 1/2 inches! Due to her growth spurt in height, she continues to be in the green zone! YEA!

She has some congestion and the nurse could hear it in her chest. She told us to do more "pats" throughout the day as we felt necessary. Lainey was really good and only cried when the nurses and Dr. Caplan held her down on the table!

Now she is able to drink whole milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast....which helps to pack on the weight like the formula did! Since Lainey is doing so well, Dr. Caplan said we do not need to come back for another 6 weeks! We are now going from monthly visits to 6 week visits!!!

Miss Lainey

The new Lainey "look"!

Unbelievably enough, today one year ago, my princess was born! Today Lainey Bug is 1! Little did we know that God had a special plan for our baby and our family.

Check back for pictures......Hope you can come to Lainey's party on Saturday! Click here to see the invitation! :) Instead of gifts, we are asking that you make a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Click here to donate!

DeAnn

You Are INVITED!!!

HOLDING!!!!!

Yesterday was my 29th birthday and I am holding on! I am not sure what this last year of my 20's will bring, but I think I am ready! There are too many awesome things I have accomplished, participated in, tried, experienced, and lived in my lifetime to list them all.....but here are a few of my favorite things and people!

Mexican Food

Margaritas

Family

My Children

My Friends

Mexican Food (did I say that already?)

El Sombrero

Me, after a LARGE frozen Texas margarita!!

Lainey was so hungry, she was eating the spoon!
(yes, this is Rudolph......she fell off the bed and got a carpet burned nose.....she was under her daddy's care!)

My silly mom (aka: Gigi)!

Dawson, Logan, and my dad (aka: Papa) eating!

Lilly Anne watching everyone eat!

Logan James celebrating Cinco de Mayo and his mommy's birthday!

Liam Scott with a spoon on his head?? You never know what this kid is thinking!!

Lainey was a little self-conscious about her nose, so she covered up the carpet burn with a little piece of cheese quesadilla!

I had an awesome birthday! Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes and wonderful gifts!!

DeAnn

Trying Three

WoW! We have been so busy that every time I begin to Blog, I never get to a point where I am able to publish my post! Here is a post that should catch you up to speed on our CRAZY lives! This post will update the past two weeks and numerous adventures of The Smithson Family!

Friday a week ago (April 24th), Liam turned 3! He wanted to eat, “steak meat, chips, and cheese” for his birthday, so we went to El Sombrero for dinner. That is one of two places where he will actually EAT! The other place is Chick-fil-A, therefore that is where he had his party! Monday night, Liam and several of his friends, as well as some of our friends and family, gathered at Chick-fil-A for an eventful birthday party! It was so CRAZY that we waited until we got home to have Liam open his presents. He got so many cool toys! Thank you to everyone that attended Liam’s party. We really appreciate all of the awesome gifts! Now that Liam has seen the number 3 on his birthday cake, he believes us when we tell him he is no longer 2!

Liam and the Chick-fil-A cow!

Logan and the cow

Elizabeth and the cow!

Lainey checking out the cow!

Liam and his friend Brett ~ they are the reason why Brett's mom and I work!

Kaylah

Lanie ~ Lainey's friend who also has CF (read this previous blog)

Lanie's brother Landon

Last Saturday (April 25th) was Chris and Kelly’s wedding (Chris is my sister’s brother-in-law). The boys stayed with Papa Dan and Rachel, while my friend Jenn, Lainey, and I went to the wedding. Sid had to work and was unable to take off to go to the wedding. They got married at a beautiful house in Greensboro, Georgia. It took about one hour and forty-five minutes to get there, but we didn’t mind! The wedding was beautiful, Lainey was well-behaved, the food was yummy, the cupcakes were to die for, and the dancing was too funny to miss! Kelly was a beautiful bride.....and Chris looked cute, too (can’t leave him out)! Kelly had some wonderful smelling candles as favors......thank you for helping to mask the stinky CF diaper smell at my house!

Kelly and Chris

Lainey Bug

Tuesday (April 28th) we were scheduled to have our pictures taken for the Littlest Heroes Project. Everyone was home early from work and school, clothes were ironed, and all were dressed and off we went to the park to meet the photographer. Problem: The photographer wasn’t there. We waited for over half an hour, went to several parks incase she got lost, called her (no answer), emailed her, text messaged her, and still no photographer. As bummed as we were, we left and will wait to see if she contacts us again! I really wanted to have her pictures ready before her first birthday. As of now, we have yet to have our emails or phone calls returned!

Wednesday (April 29th) we went to Liam’s 3 year check-up! His weight was in the 75th percentile and his height was in the 50th percentile. He checked out well in all areas! Dr. Onal reminded us that SAFETY is the most important thing when caring for a 3 year old child! He can say that again because Liam is in to EVERYTHING! We have only called the poison control a few times (he took birth control, vitamin D, and an iron pill as well as drinking 1/3 of a bottle of Mucinex), there are a at least half a dozen bruises adorning his legs, he very rarely goes one day without a bump or cut on his face, and he is always sporting bite marks on his hand…..Don’t you bite yourself when you are mad?

Thursday (April 30th) began our series of birthday parties! Liam was invited to a party at Monkey Joe's. Sid and Liam went to the party while I attended a meeting at school. Yesterday I took the kids to 3 birthday parties!! We began at 10:00 with Brett’s party at the INK museum (Interactive Neighborhood for Kids), then Katelynn’s birthday party at 11:00 at the Hall County Humane Society, and finishing with Ajay’s birthday party at 2:00 at his house with the Bus Fair! Three birthdays, three cakes, three presents, three plates of food, and three tired children….and one worn out mommy!

Brett's 3rd birthday!

Katelynn's birthday party!

Katelynn turning 2!

Jenn, Ed, and Katelynn

Got cake?

Kaylah enjoying birthday cake!

Logan, Liam, and Dawson

Ajay's 4th birthday!

Lainey

Liam jumping on Ajay and Avery's jumper!

This next week will be just as crazy as the past! I will try to post, even if it is just pictures of our adventures! My birthday is on Tuesday, cinco de mayo! We have a birthday party to attend on Saturday, and then Mother’s Day and Lilly’s baptism on Sunday! We are also planning for Lainey’s First Birthday Bash! She has 17 days until her 1st birthday!! Oh yeah, She just began crawling this past week!! Enjoy the pictures and look for more from our week ahead!

DeAnn