We Went, We Marched

This past Saturday we headed down down for March for Babies. I just didn't have it in me for all the work that comes with getting a big team together, fundraisers, etc. But we did go walk, we did get some donations and we went to be part. We ran into some of the nurses from Bergan that remembered us. We saw one of the kids' teachers who was there walking for her own preemie. Lots to see and do, lots of puppies to pet, it was a good time.

We made sure to check out the entire area before the walk actually started. The twins thought they should carb load to be ready.

They did a great job on the walk. So proud of them!

And just for a well rounded reminder of all the preemie stuff...we had to hit the ER Saturday evening with Parker. He lost his balance on the stairs and slid backwards down them on his tummy. For most kids, no big deal. For kids with g-button, that's a bad combo. He told me his button hurt. When I looked at it it was half pulled out. I couldn't get it out to change it and put a new one in and he was screaming like he never does. So him and I went to the ER for a little help.Since I had an extra button already and just needed some help getting the button out, we didn't go to Children's this time and went to Mercy which is much closer.  I'm pretty sure we made the doctor's night. He kept saying "I don't ever get to do this" and "I don't usually get to see this kind of stuff". He also looked like he could have sat there all night as I told him the very brief version of Parker's history. We were home pretty quick...all better and a brand new button.

Catching Up

So there's a few random things to keep you in the loop on, and then I promise some twin cuteness.

MARCH FOR BABIES...
We are marching in 2 weeks! If you'd like to donate to Team Awesome Twosome click here. We're marching for these little monkeys who came so fast and too soon and to try to help all babies have a healthy start.

One Week Old...

3.5 years later...

I read the blog on Runner's World called Mile Markers religiously. It's written by Kristen Armstrong and I am compeltely convinced I want to be her when I grow up. Her post this week quoted a story heard at a fundraiser for a special school. Perfection. So fitting for so many reasons. Hoping you'll take a minute to read, an maybe click the link above and check her out. 

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by
 Emily Perl Kingsley.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

 We stopped at the playground last week to burn off some energy and enjoy a little of the spring we've managed to have. I promise the giggles as the keep falling down are worth it.