Seven days and Sunny

Time till the walk and the forecast for Saturday...I will keep you on a day to day update!

I am sure you are all getting a little tired of hearing about the March of Dimes and what they do and how I am trying to raise money for them, but I will be honest, I think that I have a lot more unresolved issues with Gunner's birth and NICU stay than I even realize. I most often don't really think about it. But, I say that, because all it takes is for me to see or meet someone who is fighting the same fight I am, raising money for the March of Dimes or telling their story of their little one born too soon.

For example, today I ran into Walmart and by the time I came out I see a familiar sight, a bright purple "family team" t-shirt that I know too well. This shirt is the uniform of someone who like me, rode that NICU rollercoaster, didn't get to take their baby home with them, fed their baby through a tube, pumped instead of nursed, maybe even lost a baby, and was also helped by the March of Dimes.

I chatted with her, made small talk, swapped GA's of our babies and said see you next weekend. She is walking for her 2lb 27 weeker next weekend. Truth be told, as soon as I got to my car I broke down in tears. Broke down because I know this is another family touched by prematurity. Touched to the point of action. I don't know this woman, but I know all to well her story.

So, do I apologize for getting on a soapbox on Gunner's Blog, that you may come to expecting to find amazing updates on this preemie miracle? Maybe, but I don't apologize fighting this fight for all those families who are in the trenches right now, not lucky enough to get their full nine months. So, bear with me...maybe next year I will have a blog dedicated to just that. But truth be told, although this is Gunner's Blog, this is also his story too. He was the 1 of 8 babies that is born prematurely...so he will always be a MOD baby.

He is why we walk...and probably always will.

MOD t-s are in!

Our Family Team shirts are in...Gunner is in charge of distribution

Here is my baby, who could be a model, modelling the smallest size available!

What does the March of Dimes do?

I have been asking everyone to support the March of Dimes, but I have never really gone into their mission and what they do with the funds they raise.

The MOD organizes many events that support these efforts to end prematurity, raise awareness and try to ensure every baby gets their full nine months. Brian and I are signing up for one of the more "ritzy" events later this year, the Signature Chef Auction, in which they have a lot of local reknowned chefs prepare their signature dishes, and the guests go from station to station sampling them. It is about $75 a plate, so we figured if we donate our time we could check out a cool event without the steep price tag.

Here are some examples to show you what good you are doing by supporting this amazing cause:

• They funded research for surfactant, which allows babies lungs to stay inflated and really helped survival rates in early preemies.



• March of Dimes volunteer efforts lead to increase in newborn screening. Nearly 90 percent of all babies born in the U.S. – more than double the percentage in 2005 – live in states that require screening for at least 21 of 29 life-threatening but treatable disorders.



• The March of Dimes promotion of folic acid fortification and awareness contributed to a 21 percent decline in the occurrence of neural tube birth defects between 1995 - 2000.



• March of Dimes volunteers developed key provisions and worked to enact The Children's Health Act of 2000. The law creates a National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and helps states to expand newborn screening
  


• They also offer support to families in the NICU and provide a support system for mothers that are in the antepartum unit, many on bedrest like I was for weeks or months.

So trust me, your funds will go to a great cause. A cause that I feel justified in supporting because of all of the support it lent to me in my time of need.

Marching for Babies...3 weeks to go!

Our family is forming a March for Babies Family Team to help the March of Dimes work towards the day when all babies are born healthy. We are writing today to ask you to join us!

We are forming our team in honor of our son, Gunner, who was born 2 month too soon. My water broke at 28 weeks and we held on until we hit 33 weeks. He spent 39 days in the NICU at Bronson. He was born unable to maintain his temperature, unable to eat (prior to the sucking reflex even developing), and had to have IV antibiotics and feeds. He had a very high billirubin count, requiring phototherapy and suffered from anemia, and still does. By sharing our story, we hope to remind everyone of the urgency of the mission of the March of Dimes and inspire our friends and family to join our team.

Ours is not the only story of frightening, touch-and-go days in neonatal intensive care with our baby. In fact, I know that many babies are born much earlier and have a much more treacherous rollercoaster ride in the NICU, and of course, there are the angel babies who are born way too soon and earn their wings before they bless their parents with their first cry. We are thankful for each day of hellish and uncertain bedrest that I endured at Spectrum and Bronson, because each day was equivilent to 3 days longer Gunner would have been in the NICU. This is why we walk.

Premature birth touches half a million babies and their families every year. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. Birth defects pose another serious threat – taking the lives of many babies and cause lifelong disabilities for thousands more. So it’s important for us to help the March of Dimes help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.We are doing just that by participating in March for Babies as a Family Team. No one is working harder than the March of Dimes to understand the causes of prematurity and birth defects. March for Babies offers hope by raising funds for lifesaving research, education and innovative programs that offer hope for preventions and solutions for babies born too soon or with birth defects.

Won’t you join our Family Team at this wonderful event? Call me for further details, or go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/ register online. Our team name is affectionately named TeamGunner. If you can’t join us, please consider sponsoring our team with your donation. Just log on to my personal web page www.marchforbabies.org/teamgunner or send a check payable to the March of Dimes to me. Every dollar makes a difference!

One day all babies will be born healthy. But we’ll have to walk to get there! Thank you for your help.

22 days till we March!

I am very excited and so blessed to have a reason to celebrate this march! I am blown away by the generosity and support from all of my family and friends!

We will be looking stylish in our new t-shirts ordered and coordinated by my unofficial co-captain Karen!

Here are a few words from our sponsors:

Here's to Gunner Young - a happy, healthy, BIG BOY! Here's to all preemies and their parents - we wish you all long-term health and happiness :)The McCauley's- From Stacy McCauley

Christi I as so sorry I can't walk with you. If you walk again I would like the opportunity to walk. Good luck. Angie- From angela barber

To Team Gunner; AKA Little Man!- From PaPa Young

I hope this helps a little!- From Margie Waird

Oh what Gunner can do...

I have had a lot of time this weekend to watch the boys and all the cool things they can do!

Greyson has amazed me with his very creative toy sorting, building and imaginative play. I have to attach pictures to demonstrate...working hard on his fine motor skills.

Gunner on the other hand is all about the gross motor skills. He is officially able to sit unassisted. Greyson and Gunner sat and played for about an hour with Gunner's toys (the stage and dinosaur)

We also got our shipment from Old Navy...thank you Uncle Marty...now here are the boys modeling their new beach gear!

He rolls to where ever he wants to go, getting ready to crawl...he tripods and lifts to the plank position. He is almost 17 lbs and 27 inches long!

8 Months...

Eight months ago, at this very moment, I noticed that there was something concerning that I had to report to the docs. They checked me out and less than an hour later I was on my way to delivery. It's is Gunner's 8 month birthday today. He seemed to celebrate with some new skills..

TRIPOD

He actually has been doing this for awhile now. He props himself up on his hands and you can see actual clearance between his belly and the floor. This is quite a feat as the boy doesn't miss a meal. He loves to eat and it shows. He is 17lbs today, down to a dry diaper. His favorite foods are anything that I make, won't touch the commercial stuff. If I sneak a bite in, he gives me the ughhh face!

SITTING (not quite unassisted)

With mommy hands on, I let him go. He balances and can sit for about 5-10 second before he leans one way or the other.

ARMY CRAWL

The boy is trying to crawl...he scoots backwards and rolls and moves to whatever he is looking for.

BROTHERLY LOVE...

I was disappointed at first that I didn't have a girl to be a big sister/helper to me when bringing Gunner home (I have always wanted boys, but upon his homecoming, I just thought that would be easier)...but Greyson is the best big helper I could ask for. He is the diaper getter, paci/toy retriever, and anything else that is preceeded by "bighelper"