March of Dimes - why walk?

This morning in the Chamber Diplomat meeting my very wonderful friend who is involved with the March of Dimes, Kim Kersey, was kind enough to mention the MOD walk and my team. For some reason, when was talking about the mission of MOD and how our premature niece had affected our lives I got very emotional. For those of you who know me, this isn't a new thing, but to get emotional about the walk is. I mean- it's a WALK! I believe it’s because I have been so focused on getting team members, raising awareness & money, and hadn't really taken the time to think about WHY I want to have a team to WALK FOR HEALTHY BABIES. I just knew that I said I would the minute she was born. This also can be credited to the fact that I've spent the past year "going through" many events in our life without taking time to really let them sink in.

So, here goes it. My story of why I want to walk for healthy babies. Be prepared - it's long, but totally worth a read.

You see, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for kiddos. I have babysat since I was 11 and spent my college years working full time taking care of other people’s children. I loved them like family and learned so much during that time. With 3 families in particular(1 being my brother, sister in law & sweet niece Cora Beth) I was with them during their first days at home. And what an eye opener that was! Not only did I learn so much about babies, but I saw the emotional stress that the families went through, especially moms who already had other children, the eggshell feeling that one wrong move and the baby will break, etc. Luckily, I was with families whose pregnancies and births were very “normal”, very by the book. For this I am very thankful. Along the way, however, I did have friends who suffered miscarriages, had babies that passed away not long after birth, and too many other circumstances to write about. One especially hit home when around the same time as Ellie Grace's birth my stepdad's niece gave birth to triplets, with only one surviving.

In November of 2009 we found out that Chris’ sister, Shannon, was pregnant. She was due in June 2010. A June baby - how fun! Visions of birthday parties by the pool and a month that didn't already have 3 birthdays was more than exciting. Spring arrived quickly and the showers were planned. 3 cute shower invitations were on the fridge for 1 for late April, 1 for the beginning of May and then another for June - all given by wonderful family friends. We were all looking forward to celebrating the upcoming birth of Miss Ellie Grace & couldn't wait to see all the cute little girly clothes, accessories, etc.

That all quickly changed when April 27th I got a phone call mid morning that Shannon had experienced really bad back pains the night before and woke up that morning certain she was having major labor pains. Shelly rushed her to the hospital and counted the whole time - realizing the pains were 2 minutes or less apart. Shannon was not dilated at all, and was not prepared to have a baby. Shannon was checked into Stonecrest and was told the pains were definitely contractions and they needed to stop them. After a day with really no progress she was quickly sent to Centennial via Ambulance(Stonecrest does not have a NICU, so knowing that Shannon would end up delivering during this time with a preemie they had to transfer her). During the week she was in the hospital before she had Ellie Grace Chris and I tried to make it down as much as we could as well as many other family members, but with full time jobs and many responsibilities it was not always easy.

The emotional stress on our family was very present. Shannon’s husband Michael was by her side the entire time, but they had animals at home that needed to be taken care of , gas was not cheap going back and forth(getting clothes, taking care of the animals, just taking a breather for Michael), and hospital food gets really old – but eating out every meal is expensive, too. None of us knew what each day would hold – would it be the day they would decide to deliver? Would Ellie Grace go into some kind of distress and they would have to deliver right away with none of us having enough time to get down there? It was hard. OH and let's not forget that the weekend after Shannon was transferred was the weekend of the Nashville flood. I know, right?! As if there wasn't enough going on! Thankfully, the day they decided to deliver Ellie Grace I was about to walk out the door for work and just had this feeling that it was the day. Sure enough, as I was getting ready to leave we got the call that it was go time. Chris and I got in the car and went to Centennial – nervous and excited about what awaited us.

On May 6, 2010 Shannon gave birth to Ellie Grace 6-ish weeks early by emergency c-section after a week in the hospital & constant ups and downs with Ellie Grace. That girl was ready to come on out! She and God had big plans :) Ellie Grace was 3lbs 8oz, so tiny and so fragile. It was not the same birth experience that we had with Cora Beth - everyone crowded around in the room after she was born passing her around oooing and aahhhing, waiting all day for the moment when we could see her, hold her, touch her – not the case at all(read more at http://daypartyof2.blogspot.com/2010/05/ellie-grace-is-here-aunt-emily-and.html). Ellie Grace was in the tiniest incubator and was rolled down the hall right after birth and taken immediately to the NICU all wrapped up like a tiny burrito. Shannon was healing and resting, not even getting to be a part of all the action.

{EGB as she was brought out to her awaiting fan club}

{little burrito all wrapped up}

{Enjoying a nice family moment waiting our turns to see EGB right after she was born}

In the NICU Ellie Grace could only have 2 visitors at a time, so no big family moment filled with lots of pictures and smiles all around – nope, this was different. Chris and I waited to go last so that everyone else could have a turn to see her. We were very fortunate that Michael had no siblings and Chris was Shannon's only sibling, so we could visit her. And let me tell you - they did NOT mess around! There was a limit of 6 visitors on the list and you had to present your id when you signed in and out. You took off all jewelry, put on scrubs, and washed up at the sink that was timed for a 3 minute wash with sponges and fingernail cleaners. There was also a very extensive sheet you had to sign stating all medical issues you had or were experiencing before you could enter – which made me thankful neither Chris or myself had a cold or anything else because we would not have been able to see EGB.

{sporting the scrubs with the timed 3 minute sink in the background!}

So we suited up and got to go in and…look at her. No holding, no touching, just looking. Admiring the work of our Savior and knowing that He had wonderful plans for this sweet little bundle who thankfully didn’t need oxygen and was doing fairly well with the NICU tests. To see some of the other babies around her – some as little as 1 and 2 pounds - made us very thankful for that sweet little miracle baby. We prayed over her, talked to her, and just took it all in.

{Uncle Chris checking out Ellie Grace's new digs - she even had a window view!}

{us hanging out with Ellie Grace for the first time!}

Ellie Grace stayed in the NICU for 4 weeks, and thankfully Shannon got to stay in the hospital a few nights and then the Ronald McDonald house had a room available when they needed it most. We all continued to come as we could and visit with Shannon as well as get our time in with Ellie Grace during visiting hours. It was so sweet to see families leaving with their babies from the NICU and hear their stories(some had been in the NICU for months!).

{Shannon feeding EG from the tiniest bottle you have ever seen!}

{Michael holding EGB - she was SO little!}

{sweet little thing!}

{EG holding my finger for the first time a few days after she was born}

{Shelly holding EG's paci in the hospital}

{me holding EGB for the first time about a week after she was born}

What a wonderful day it was when Shannon & Michael FINALLY got to take Ellie Grace home! That little bitty baby in her carseat - so, so tiny & cute!

{heading home!}

{Family picture - finally all home together!}

{Chris holding Ellie Grace for the first time a few days after they came home}

To say the Lord provided would be a mighty understatement. So many times we just ”go through” without really stopping to think about every little detail and how the Lord provided for everyone the entire time - but HE did, in a mighty way, meet all of our needs according to HIS glorious riches. Shannon actually had 2 showers during that time – 1 (the one our sweet friends the Rowland’s were throwing) was when she was in the hospital and we didn’t know what was going on, so it was cancelled. The other was church friends of Shelly’s and we had it after Ellie Grace had arrived. It was such a sweet blessing to be there and celebrate with the guests, but was very difficult since Shannon wasn't able to come. It was pretty entertaining to take the gifts to the hospital where Shannon was re-cooperating so she could open them.

{some of the shower gifts from Shelly's friends at WOC}

The one that was planned for June went on as planned and ending up being a sip and see of sorts. Due to her preemie state Ellie Grace was VERY limited on visitor's and Shannon was greatly encouraged to keep her homebound for quite some time. So, Ellie Grace hung out upstairs with her Papa(Don) while we all showered her with wonderful gifts. It was a sweet time of celebration and then as the crowd died down a select few were left that could and visit with her. Nothing sweeter!

From there, everything has gone well and it is crazy to think that Ellie Grace will be one in a few weeks! She has remained healthy and is a VERY active little girl! She was dedicated in November at World Outreach with all of her family present and it was a sweet time for our family to celebrate the gift that she is to all of us. Such a little girl with such a wonderful spirit & happy personality!

{Ellie Grace being dedicated back to her Lord & Savior at 6 months old}

{Ellie Grace in February(9 months) when we were visiting her for Valentine's Day}

{Looking all cute on Easter... ALMOST 12 months!}

SO - why do I walk? For babies like Ellie Grace. And Cora Beth. And my future niece or nephew that Jaime is cooking right now. For those who ARE born healthy, who aren't born healthy, and for mamas who experience difficult pregnancies. TN was among 13 states that received an “F” on the Premature Birth Report Card with a preterm birth rate of 13.5 percent – nearly double the national target of 7.6 percent or less. The need in our community is evident. March for Babies helps raise funds to support research, awareness, education & local community

grants for programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies & babies to begin healthy lives. Because every baby deserves a chance!

**If you would like to donate to my walk or learn more, check out http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1526992

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

you formed me in my mother's womb.

I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside & out, you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day."

Psalm 139:13-16(The Message)