March for Babies Walk

The three of us with Olivia's March of Dimes sign

Olivia was a little apprehensive about all of the noise. She just needed her mama.

Shelley, Donnie and Izzy in our giraffe wagon that Shelley and I decorated.

Olivia's cousin Julia

Becky and Aunt Laura

Olivia with Uncle Joel

Olivia's cousin Katie

Olivia's cousin Alex

Carol, Grandpa Sailing and Lindsay

Steve, Holli and Logan

Kerry and Andrew

Rebekah giving Wu Shock a big hug!

Olivia's cousin Aidan

Olivia's cousin's Julia and Kaleb

It's important to stretch before the big walk!

And we're off!

It was a gorgeous day!

Olivia enjoying her big day!

Part of our team

Olivia and me

Olivia's cousin Izzy

Tippy toes, tippy toes

Olivia

My sweet girl

Me, Olivia and Grandpa Sailing finishing up the walk.

Olivia and Logan Team - March For Babies

More pics to come. . . .

One Year In Glasses

Olivia has now been wearing glasses for one whole year. Looking back, she has really grown into them. They went from being a bit awkward to a beautiful accessory. And when did she go from being a baby to a little girl?

Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Update

Olivia is one of the most friendliest children. She is very sweet and usually has a smile on her face and a "hi!" for everyone she sees. She'll talk to people, sing for people and anything else to make people fall in love with her. But sometimes. . .sometimes out of nowhere, she will break into big tears at the snap of your fingers. She did it last week the second we walked into church. She did it again today as soon as we walked into the March of Dimes office. The lady said hello to her and she just lost it. I don't know what triggered it, but she cried the entire time we were there. There went our chances of becoming an ambassador family. Just kidding. :) I just wish I knew what caused these outbursts. Other than that, we had a good day. We moved Izzy's carseat into our car. . .next to Olivia and the four of us (Olivia, me, Shelley and Izzy) ran some errands today. The girls thought it was a lot of fun to sit next to each other and sang the entire time. Those two are so cute and just the best of friends. I wish I would have had my camera. . .

March for Babies

I'd better trade these sandals in for my running shoes.

I have not only met, but exceeded my goal and raised over $1200. As a team, we've raised around $1800. That speaks volumes about the kind of family and friends that I have. Thank you for so generously giving of your heart and your money to help so many babies and families that need your support. Truth is, you don't know when or how or why a baby might benefit from the March of Dimes. I am indebted to the people who raised the money for the research and treatments that saved my daughter's life. My children's premature birth and the loss of Logan showed me that we still have a long way to go. We are getting closer because of you. Thank you. Can't wait to see many of you on Saturday!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Update

Today is a special day. It is my niece's 10th birthday. Happy Birthday Julia! I hope you have had an amazing day! It was also three years ago on this day that I found out I was pregnant. It was one of the greatest days of my life. It is now a little bittersweet knowing that I probably won't receive that news ever again and if I did. . .it would be dampened by the worry of what's to come. Today, I treated myself to a haircut and highlight and it was wonderful. I feel lighter and brighter than ever! Even more wonderful, was listening to Olivia sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and try to accompany herself on piano. What a joyous sound!

You can see my new haircut in this picture.

Here's a "before" picture from Easter.

Monday, April 12, 2010 - Update

Hope you are all having a great week. Thanks to all of you who have given to the March of Dimes for the March for Babies. I look forward to seeing some of you this Saturday! Please note that I will be turning in all checks and cash this Thursday (the 15th) so if you wish to donate by this method, please make sure you get it to me before then. Thanks again for all of your help. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make my goal this year!!

Here are just a few pics of me and my favorite girl:

Saturday, April 10, 2010 - Update

I have felt a little under the weather today, so I stayed home while Ryan and Olivia met up with his family at Botanica. I guess it was gorgeous. . .looks like the tulips were in full bloom. Olivia had a great time and I hear she was an angel. Enjoy the pics!

Olivia and Grandpa Glunt

They smell pretty, grandma!

Julia and Olivia

These ones smell pretty too!

I had a great time!!

Friday, April 9, 2010 - Update

Fill 'er up.

If there's a slide. . .Olivia is not far.

Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Thursday, April 8, 2010 - Update

Olivia and I had lunch with Nurse Holli and her little boy, Logan. It was great to see them! Our two kids had never met and it was nice to get them together. I'm so excited that they will be walking at the March for Babies with us again this year. Logan was there last time, but he was still in his mama's tummy. Thanks for coming all the way out to meet us! We had a great time!

Me with Logan and Olivia

Also, I will be turning in all of the March for Babies money on April 15th, so you still have time to donate. Sadly, I don't think I'm going to meet my goal. We have sponsored 75 days of Olivia's hospital stay, but she didn't go home until she was 105 days old. So, if you've thought about donating. . .I would love you to. It goes to a great cause to help ALL babies. Just click on the link to the right to donate or sign up on our team. Thanks to everyone for your support.

Happy Birthday Grandma Mary!

First time Grandma Mary held Olivia. Dec 2007
Her birthday is tomorrow April 8th!!! Leave your well wishes here. :)

My Thoughts on Prayer

Over the last few years, I have struggled a lot with the reasons for prayer. I'm sure I have shared this once before. I know WHY we pray, but I don't know why we pray for specific things. If those things aren't God's will, why do we pray for them? I grew up always believing that you only have to ask and you shall receive. After the premature birth of my children and the death of my son. . . how can that be true? I don't know how many times I prayed for my children both before and after I got pregnant. Is praying going to change God's mind? And if it can. . .what did I do wrong when I prayed on my children's behalf? Did I not get enough people to pray? Did I not pray correctly? Did I pray right for Olivia, but not for Logan? It is our human nature to rely on God to "take away" our hardships. Anyone who has been through an excrutiatingly painful time knows that isn't true. HE doesn't take away difficult times. . .but HE does help you through it. Does HE give you more than you can handle? YES. But, HE doesn't give you more than HE can handle.

Why am I talking about this tonight? I don't know. A few weeks ago, I realized something. I was getting so frustrated with Olivia's lack of eating and her struggles with oral sensitivity. It seemed no one could help me and I didn't know what to do. I realized that never once had I prayed about it. Now, don't get me wrong. I pray. I pray prayers of thanksgiving. . .I pray for strength. . .I pray for peace, I pray for others, but I still struggle when praying for specific things. I put that aside and I just asked God to help Olivia eat better so that she can grow big and strong. I asked God to help me know how to help her and to relieve the stress that it causes me. Then, while sick. . .she didn't eat for 5 days. :) However, after that. . .it's as if something clicked and she learned that food is okay to eat and swallow. And, not just every once in awhile with pizza or ice cream cake. (Sometimes she didn't even want to eat that.) Now, she is eating on a fairly consistent basis. She may never be a great eater, but she is coming such a long way. Is it because of my prayer? I don't know. Maybe that unknown is why we pray for specific things. It doesn't hurt to let God know what you feel that you need. Don't we want our children to let us know what they want even though there is no possible way that you could give it to them? They may not understand it, but you know what is best. So does our Father. . .no matter how painful that may be at times. But still. . . .pray.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Update

Monday, April 5, 2010 - Update

This past week has been amazing! Why? Olivia is eating. . .actually eating. I don't know what has changed, but she's eating better than she has in her entire life. Please pray that this isn't short lived. I can't tell you what a relief it brings to our whole family. What a change! What an answer to prayer!