March for Babies 2011

Hi everyone

It's me, McKenna

I've come to hijack my Grandma's blog again!

I hope you had a great Christmas, and that the New Year is off to a great start!

It's that time of year ... My grandma has just finished working on her personal page for "Team McKenna Faith" (that's me, dazzling you with my cuteness) for the March of Dimes walk coming up on May 1st.

My mommy did the March of Dimes walk for a few years before she even thought of having a baby. She didn't have any idea at the time that she and Daddy would plan to start their family, and that I would be one of the babies born prematurely. I was one of the babies that she was walking for and didn't even know it.

Since then, the March of Dimes has become even more important to Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa, and our whole entire family and circle of friends. That's why last year there were about 40 people on Team McKenna Faith who walked during a rainy weekend in April and raised more than $6,000.00 for the March of Dimes. This amount was the 5th highest fundraising effort for the whole Metro Detroit area, and we were 11th for the entire state of Michigan! YAY TEAM! But we are setting our sights even higher this year. We want to raise $10,000.00 for this very worthy cause.

You know, when I think back to my time in the hospital, I realize how lucky I am. Some of those babies in the NICU with me were not doing as well as I was. I wish every one of them could be as strong and healthy as I am now. I wish all of us could have stayed in our mommy's wombs a little longer so we could grow inside and not in the NICU. It was not a fun place to be for any of us, but those wonderful angels (nurses and doctors) helped me get bigger and stronger so I could go home to be with my mommy and daddy.

Look at me now! I have not been sick one single time in my whole life! Yee haw!

My mommy and daddy, and all the adults in our huge family are trying to get an even bigger team of local friends and family to walk with us. I will be in my stroller, which will be all decorated with balloons and signs. It's going to be a fun walk. Better than last year.... more people, more money raised (and please, MORE SUN NO RAIN!) But even if it rains again, we will march on for the cause.

I know you can't come walk with us, but please consider a donation for our team, for a very worthy cause, in honor and celebration of ME! Just click on the banner below for my grandma's donation page. Easy-peasy!

Thanks a bunch!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
McKenna

(my grandma, the Bloomin' Knitiot, thanks you too!) Mwah!

Just a little reminder of what I looked like when I was born. I weighed only 2 lb. 5 oz. Babies this small (and even way smaller) are born every day and they need our help!

March For Babies

It's finally here, the Weekend of Walking! Please consider a donation (large or small, every dollar helps the babies!) in honor and celebration of McKenna, born 10 weeks early at 2 lb. 5 oz. You can donate by clicking on the banner below. There is more information in the post below.

With many thanks to all of my readers, and a huge thank you to all donations to Team McKenna Faith. We are closing in on $6,000 for our team, and hope to surpass it by day's end. Can you help?

They are still forecasting rain for both days (BOO! HISS!) but we are still planning on having a powerful (and I'm sure emotional) experience. Here's hoping for a miracle that keeps the rain away! (Many families of premature babies have experienced miracles already... let's help many more with our donations)

Hugs,
Trish

(update: I will walk part of the time and be pushed in a wheel chair when I've had enough... thankfully physical therapy over the past month has done wonders for my sciatica and I am feeling 97% better! I don't want to overdo it and have a relapse. That would not be good)

Another message from McKenna

Hi everyone, it's me again. I asked Grandma to put up another post on her blog to remind everyone that we could still use a some help if you are able.... Please help us help the little babies! The March of Dimes March for Babies walk is coming up in 2 weeks. Grandma is very sad that she is not going to be able to walk for the babies, because of that dumb sciatica stuff... it makes her leg hurt a LOT when she is on her feet for very long at all. It would make her feel a little better though, if she could get a few more donations for the M.O.D.

To remind you, my mommy, Kim, has done the March of Dimes walk the last few years. She had no way of knowing then that I, her very own baby, would be one of the babies born prematurely... one of the babies that she was walking for and didn't even realize it.

As you can imagine, the March of Dimes has now become even more important to Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa, and our whole entire family and circle of friends. My mommy has gathered a big team of family and friends to raise money and walk in the March for Babies. I will be in my stroller, which will be all decorated with balloons and signs. It's going to be a fun weekend (we will walk two different events in one weekend in 2 different locations) It's a lot of walking, but it will be great! Don'tcha think?

anyway.... since we all went through the experience of me being born before I was done cookin' in the oven, we definitely want to help prevent other families from going through the turmoil and emotional struggle that premature birth can cause, as well as the added financial burden, possible birth defects, etc. (Grandma put those words in... my vocabulary is not quite THAT good yet!)

Some of those babies in the NICU with me were not doing as well as I was. I wish every one of them could be as strong and healthy as I am now. I wish all of us could have stayed in our mommy's wombs a little longer so we could grow inside and not in the NICU. It was not a fun place to be for any of us, but those wonderful angels (nurses and doctors) helped me get bigger and stronger so I could go home to be with my mommy and daddy.

We have already had a team fundraiser, and everyone on the team has been working very hard on their own to raise as much money as possible for the preemies. Our team has raised well over $4,000.00 so far and I am not shy about asking for more! We only have 2 weeks left to get more donations and we are hoping to make that number grow even bigger! (for the babies! for the babies!)

I know you can't come walk with us, but please consider a donation for our team, for a very worthy cause, in honor and celebration of ME! Just click on the banner below. Easy-peasy!

Every donation, big or small, is appreciated SO much and I will be so happy that you helped us help the babies!
Thanks a bunch!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
McKenna
(my grandma, the Bloomin' Knitiot, thanks you too!) Mwah!

PS... just a little reminder....

this is me on the day I was born. I only weighed 2 lbs. 5 oz.

and me now, at 8 months, about 12 pounds, and doing great!

Message from McKenna

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by my grandma's blog!

I hope you had a great Christmas, and that the New Year is off to a good start!

My grandma has just finished working on her personal page for "Team McKenna Faith" (that's me) for the March of Dimes walk coming up soon. Well.... when it gets warmer, that's for sure! My mommy has done the March of Dimes walk the last few years. Who knew I would be one of the babies born prematurely... one of the babies that she was walking for and didn't even know it.

As you can imagine, this cause has become even more important to Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa, and our whole entire family and circle of friends (and there are a lot of them! Have you heard about those crazy parties in our family? Whew, I'm going to have to get used to all that commotion! So far I've led a very sheltered life!) .

anyway.... since we all had the experience of me being born before I was done cookin' in the oven, we definitely want to help prevent other families from going through the turmoil and emotional struggle that premature birth can cause, as well as the added financial burden, possible birth defects, etc. (Grandma put those words in... my vocabulary is not quite THAT good yet!)

Some of those babies in the NICU with me were not doing as well as I was. I wish every one of them could be as strong and healthy as I am now. I wish all of us could have stayed in our mommy's wombs a little longer so we could grow inside and not in the NICU. It was not a fun place to be for any of us, but those wonderful angels (nurses and doctors) helped me get bigger and stronger so I could go home to be with my mommy and daddy.

All the big people in the family are trying to get a really big team of local friends and family to walk with us. I will be in my stroller, which will be all decorated with balloons and signs. It's going to be a fun weekend (we will walk two different events in one weekend in 2 different locations) It's a lot of walking, but it will be great! Don'tcha think?

I know you can't come walk with us, but please consider a donation for our team, for a very worthy cause, in honor and celebration of ME! Just click on the banner. Easy-peasy!

Thanks a bunch!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
McKenna

(my grandma, the Bloomin' Knitiot, thanks you too!) Mwah!

PS... just a little reminder.... this is me on the day I was born. I only weighed 2 lbs. 5 oz.


and look at me now! 5 months old, almost 10 lbs. Yay!