March of Dimes March for Babies

So this Sunday my husband and I will be doing the March of Dimes March for Babies. I'll be pushing my monstrosity of a triplet stroller for five miles. FIVE MILES, people. This wouldn't be such a big deal except that without the babies the stupid thing weighs like a hundred pounds. Add the babies, the diaper bag, the water bottles... well, heck, I'm going to be pushing 150+ pounds. For FIVE MILES. Did I mention I'm incredibly fat? Serves me right, I could use the exercise. Good news is that we go for a nice walk nearly every weekend. Not five miles, mind you, but a nice walk in our hilly neighborhood, and we'll be fine and we'll have lots of company.

I set a lofty goal of $500 and hit that goal in my first weekend after signing up to walk without really trying, so I doubled my goal to $1000. I still didn't do much advertising beyond putting up a badge in my sidebar and sending out a few emails. I know you're all inundated with requests like these, and I know you all donate to worthy causes throughout the year. Amazingly, I'm still really close to reaching my goal despite not even really trying... because you guys are truly amazing. So far, I've raised $807.

The March of Dimes has touched so many lives... I have little doubt that without the research that the MoD has promoted my babies would not have arrived here safely. They were born prematurely, at 33weeks, and while they were relatively healthy, that was an incredible gift that I was given thanks to the careful education from the MoD, my doctors, and many others. Each of my babies had their own set of issues in and out of the NICU. Sam needed some help breathing at first (nothing major, and few people knew about it, but he had what the NICU nurses called WWBD...Wimpy White Boy Disorder, which quickly cleared up). Abby, an IUGR baby born just 2 pounds 11 ounces, needed a blood transfusion after a sudden drop in her hematocrit. Ellie came home on a heart monitor due to bradycardia of prematurity and later became a failure to thrive baby (and has now outgrown even that diagnosis!). Compared to other stories, these are all minor issues, but without the help of the MoD... each of these problems could have been MAJOR issues a decade ago.

Even if you can't donate, please think of us on Sunday. Think of all the babies that aren't as lucky as our three. I will be thinking of all of the babies that were lost this year with each step I take on that five mile walk, grateful for every ounce of that 150 pounds I'm pushing. Some people aren't so lucky to have such a large load to push, and I'm painfully aware of that.

Thanks to all of you who have already donated... you really are an amazing bunch of women (and men!). And thanks to all of you for all of your support through one of the shittiest pregnancies I would have wanted to have endured (and I know mine paled in comparison to some others!), and one of the most amazing parenting experiences I could have asked for. I'm walking on Sunday for my three premature babies, for many babies who were lost last year, for the hope that no more babies will have to be lost to prematurity in the future... and I'm also walking in celebration of all of you wonderful women in the blogosphere. You are incredible.

Comments

[Diana]

I will be thinking of you on Sunday!! Have a wonderful walk!!

[Jody]

Have a great walk, Karen. The MoD is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reminder. I have been meaning to make a donation

[Brandy]

I will definitely be thinking of you and the March of Dimes on Sunday. I wish the walk was on a Saturday though, Sunday is our church day and there's no way I can participate. Luckily Aiden was full term (and then some!) but this organization most definitely deserves all the support it can get.

[Jessica]

you're not fat.

[Kelly]

Yay for your walk. Ours was great, but I was surprised at how LOOOONG five miles really was. We were all pretty exhausted by the end, but it was totally worth it. You're gonna do great.

[Lea Bee]

will be thinking of you this sunday, pushing that heavy stroller 5 miles!!!