March for Babies

March for Dimes is an important organization for our family because of Tate's premature birth.  You can read about his birth and 56 days in the NICU here. Although we never met with a representative from the March of Dimes or received any assistance directly from them, the money they have spent in researching premature birth and neonatology has saved many baby's lives, including Tate.  I know he wouldn't be here today without God's grace and the medical technology that is available today.  The steroid shots I was given before he was even born that allowed him to breathe on his own from the first minute he was born, the incubators, the UV lights, the blood tests, the tube feeding, the bottle feeding and techniques, the neonatolgists and nurses who knew so much about pre-term babies and their needs - all of that came from research funded by the March of Dimes.

THE reason we March for Babies.

Despite a bit of a cold start and Tate waking up at 4 am with a fever - we Marched for Babies last Saturday.  The weather was actually a little nicer this year than last, and all the storms held off until later that evening, so although it was overcast, it was actually pretty nice for the walk.  Not sure Tate had that great of a time though....he woke up at 4 am with a fever and although he seemed to be feeling better by March time, I don't think he felt that great.  And by Monday he was pretty sick with a cold and hand, foot and mouth (Thanks a lot for sharing Cousin Ashley!).

So far we raised $950 to support March for Babies!  (I say so far cause a few of you have mentioned you will be donating, but have yet to do so, ahem, ahem....)  :)  

Here's some pics of the March:

The March is actually 2 miles long.  Last year we did the full 2 miles, but this year, with Tate not feeling well and Jamie saying "I don't have anything to prove"  we might have taken a little shortcut and cut a mile or so off!  The walk starts at Exploration Place and then walks down the river, over a bridge, down the other side, then back over another bridge and back to Exploration Place.  It's a pretty walk...well, as pretty as the Arkansas River can be, I guess...and we did see lots of ducks and a few fish.

Hudson was all into MARCHING for babies!

The whole group (minus my mom who is taking the picture.) I designed the tshirts that we all wore.  The front says "Sometimes the smallest things in life take up the most room in our hearts." Then it has Tate's name and birth weight and even his little handprints and footprints.

This year Papa and Binga were able to come march with us.  

Of course, in addition to not feeling great, it was nap time as well!  So Tate took a little rest.

Just hanging out!

And we got to meet Wu!  (This, I admit, was part of the motivation for cutting the walk short.  We saw Wu waiting for us across the river and couldn't risk that he might not be there by the time we made it all the way around. So we took a shortcut.  Hudson wasn't going to NOT let us at that point, he was so excited to see Wu!)

They make posters with a baby pic and a current pic of each baby and hang them up along the front.  Last year Tate's was wrong because it said "Christian" instead of Tate.  So I sent in more pics this year so this year he had 2 of them!  One for Christian and one for Tate!

Thank you to everyone who supported us in Marching for Babies!  Every penny counts!