Tomorrow We March

Well, we did it! I am so happy to announce that we hit our goal. To be fair, it was a small goal as we only realized that the Pittsburgh walk was one that we could attend just a little over two weeks ago. In fact, we went over our goal. We are currently, as of Friday morning, sitting at $170 when we had just hoped and dreamed to raise $100. We hit that because of the kindness of internet friends. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Quite honestly, I’m pleased to be getting back into the yearly fundraiser for March of Dimes. We knew that when we went to conceive BigBrother (and were successful) that he ran the risk of being premature. In fact, due to my kidney disorder, all of my children faced that risk. As such, I felt that it was important to be involved with the March of Dimes walk. (Back then it was called WalkAmerica. Now it’s called the March for Babies.) And so, in 2005, I walked for the first time, just a few months pregnant with BigBrother.

See BigBrother? Kind of?

The following year, ecstatic that BigBrother had made it to full-term (38w4d), we knew we had to walk again. Of course, that full-term badge was hard fought. I was put on bed rest at 30 weeks during that pregnancy. In the end, my kidney was not very cooperative and I went toxemic, resulting in an induction and a difficult labor and delivery. However, BigBrother was born at a healthy 8 pounds, 8 ounces and was as healthy as healthy could be. I was very grateful for the knowledge and procedures that had helped us keep him in my womb and healthy until he needed to be delivered and so, we walked again. In fact, in 2006, I was the #3 fundraiser in our local county walk. (I have a plaque on my wall!) BigBrother walked with me and actually made it on the news. (It didn’t hurt that, at the time, I was still working for our local news station.)

In 2007, I wasn’t allowed to walk. The pregnancy with LittleBrother started out complicated, eased up for a little bit and went back to being complicated until the end. Thankfully, once again thanks to the types of research that the March of Dimes does, he was born full-term (38w6d) and weighed a healthy 7 pounds, 7 ounces. I was so grateful. But we couldn’t walk in 2008 either. Due to my battle with post-partum depression, I couldn’t motivate myself to walk around the block, let alone raise money or walk three miles. (But that’s a different cause and a different post.) And so, we sat. And I felt horrible about it.

This year, I didn’t think we would be able to get involved either. When our local county’s walk took place, I was speaking in Cleveland at the National Adoption Conference. When I realized this conflict of time, I decided we would go another year without walking. I was upset about it but figured we’d donate our normal amount to someone else’s walk and all would be well with the world.

And then the word of Maddie spread like wildfire.

While we made appropriate donations, we still felt kind of helpless. The other bloggers started to band together. As March for Babies teams walking in Maddie’s honor and memory started to pop up all over the country, >another blogger made that information readily accessible. It was at that point that I learned my hometown (Pittsburgh) walk was on a weekend during which I was 100% free. I immediately signed up (even before I noticed that one of my favorite bloggers was also walking in that particular group). We made a goal and posted about it.

And here we are, on the eve of the walk. Walking not only for the healthy children I know and love but for the beautiful, amazing little girl taken far too soon.

We’ll be leaving for The Farm this evening to stay with my parents so as to have a shorter drive in the morning. We’ll be meeting the Burgh Moms and Dads at 9:15 to get our purple shirts. Someone donated the money to purchase said shirts. I even purchased another two for TheBrothers even though LittleBrother will be swimming in his extra small. Our goal is to take a picture with the river in the background and send it as a thank you to our sponsors. I can assure you that one or both boys will be crying. That’s how these things go, of course.

It’s bittersweet, really. Getting to be involved with an organization we love so dearly is wonderful. Finally meeting someone I’ve known for years, someone who has sent me gifts, is totally awesome. Raising money to help mothers and babies is something I simply love doing. But thinking of the loss of Maddie, especially this weekend, is something I think we can all agree is difficult for any mother to imagine. My heart breaks when I think of Heather this weekend. I want to snuggle all of my children a little bit closer.

Sunday is actually my least favorite day of the year. However, starting tomorrow, I’ve decided to put a different spin on the day/weekend. I’ll tell you all about it on the (offending) day but know that I want all of you to have a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend. Even if you aren’t participating in a March for Babies walk this weekend, consider doing something for another mother, for another child.

And always keep marching on.

[If you're still interested in donating, you can do so at my page. Burgh Moms and Dads have raised a cumulative total, as of writing, of $4369 while our goal was $4500. Just a little bit of help? Yes?]