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EMILY'S STORY (IT HAS A HAPPY ENDING. . .)
girlyhurley |
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WE SURVIVED!!!
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Apr 19, 2008 08:03pm (EST)
Today was my big walk. . .. We have 5 walks in my division and today was our BIG one in my town. Last year was my first year and it was raining at the start of the walk and we had a small turn out. It was my first year and I was just there to walk for Emily. This year I was not only walking for Emily, but the media contact person, running the Family Team tent, and helping with the dove release. In addition to that my team this year was HUGE! We had about 30 people and I had that "I have the entertain them and spend time with each of them" thing going on. Needless to say I was pulled in about a dozen directions!
I had some of my high school girls come volunteer and they helped my tent in a big way. They handed out the arm bands, had teams sign our banner, and sold some MOD items. So nice to have them there! I had about 10 high schoolers there either walking or volunteering- I love that these girls are working for our cause and are committed to helping babies. It makes me emotional to think about it, because I hope when they have children they don't have to worry about prematurity. I know how I want to change my tent for next year and what I will do differently. But compared to last year we had a HUGE success!
The walk itself was great. . .we were quite the group with our blue "Marching for Emily" shirts. My MIL in her wheelchair, Emily in her wagon, babies in strollers, my brothers dogs- it felt like our group just went on and on!! Overall they counted about 1700 people walking! Amazing! Hopefully the financial amount will follow!!! I know that we met our goal of number of family teams that registered, but I know that several people told they had some trouble with the fundraising. . .
The hardest part of the day came when they needed me for the dove release. The ambassador family left early and so all of a sudden they were needing me! I literally ran about a mile and a half back to the stage since my group was near the end of the huge pack of people! I knew it would be hard, but I read the script and the names of our angels. I had written the name of the baby of my friend who lost her baby in August and is currently on bedrest at the hospital (today was 30 weeks!! WOOHOO!) at the top of the paper. It was hard to read her name first and then halfway down was the name of another family that I was close with while they were in the NICU, and then the last names I read were the names of my three angel nieces. It was so hard to go on after reading those names. . the poem about killed me. It was fun to have the Family teams help me release the doves, but when they started the song I knew I had to get off the stage! I bascially threw the mic to the emcee and ran into the crowd. The first person to get to me was Laura. Laura's daughter Sophia is a 26 weeker and was Emily's room-mate for about her ffirst 6 weeks. We always joked about how they were their first friends and we always checked on each other throughout our three month hospital stay. She was the perfect person for me to cry on and hug- we went through so many ups and downs together in the NICU and went home within days of each other. We still talk a few times a month and try to get together when we can. I'm crying again thinking about it. .. .it was such an honor to be able to be the person to do that. We almost didn't get to do the dove release, but i knew it was important for families that have lost little ones. I had a few families come up to me and thank me for doing it.
Now that my big walk is over, hopefully I will be able to give more time back to Share. I trully miss my Share family and I think about you all often. So strange how I miss people I have never physically met! OMG- I just realized I can't go to ShareUnion this year!!! Since I'm prego there is no way I'll be allowed to travel that far from home in my third trimester. Bummer! Pregnancy news- I'll officially be 8 weeks on Tuesday and my first ultrasound is scheduled for May 14. It sounds like my doctor is going to keep a super close eye on me- which is good. Only our family and a few close friends know. . .after the ultrasound we will tell others (gotta hear that heartbeat!). I'm so tempted to complain of something earlier so I can go hear the heartbeat a little sooner! I'm feeling great- just tired!
Love you all!
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (9) | Permalink
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MORE STRESS. . ..
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Apr 01, 2008 09:28am (EST)
We decided to go ahead and sell our house with the intention of moving in with my in-laws. We will build them a house on the back of their property and we will technically buy their house from them. It is a good situation for all of us and one that I definitely have prayed about a lot. It has taken a year for us to get here. . .. I just talked to our realtor who sold us our house and now I am worried. She knows our house will sell, but I don't know how much it will sell for. I am afraid that it will sell for less than we owe. I think it will appraise for higher, but since it is a buyers market it may be hard to get the appraised value. So stressed. . . I feel like we finally found a way to help my in-laws and help our own finances, but now here we are in this situation. . .. please be thinking of us. She is supposed to run the numbers and get back to us by the end of the week.
Love ya
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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I DIDN'T FALL!!!!
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Mar 30, 2008 08:55pm (EST)
Tonight was the hockey game that helped benefit the MOD. I got to do an honorary puck drop before the game . . .I was so scared of falling on the ice!!!! It was slick- even with the special red carpet!!! I got to keep the puck (not an easy thing to stick in the scrapbook!!!hehe). It was lots of fun and Emily actually was a very good girl and sat with us for much of the game. Only during the second period did we go roam the arena! Sadly I didn't see too many family teams and I don't know how busy the table was in the lobby. . . next year I will have to try to be out there to try to recruit more teams!
Friday night is Bowling for Babies (also a CitiBank event- not Family Teams). .. . most of my family is going so it should be lots of fun! Then it is only three short weeks until our walk!!! Scary!
Our first walk in CA was actually yesterday- it was in a small town near where I live (in my same region). This was the first year we have held a walk there. .. only 16 people! Kind of sad- it was a family team and one corporate team. Next year we will try to get more going there!
Hope you are all doing well!
Love ya!
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (1) | Permalink
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SO SCARY!!!
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Mar 29, 2008 11:06pm (EST)
I just found out the my neighbor across the street had his home broken into last friday night. . ..that's not the worst part- HE WAS HOME!!! I live in a fairly nice neighborhood- the homes are older (from the 70s), but it is in a good part of town and I have always felt extremely safe here!!! We don't even double check to make sure our doors are locked most of the time!!!
He heard the guy and went out to confront him telling him he wa going to call the police. The guy ended up leaving and I believe the cops got him!!! So scary! I'm home alone with Emily at least half the week!!! Needless to say we have made some changes in locking all our doors and where we keep some other home protection items!!! I've been jumping everytime our dogs start barking at night. . .hopefully our two big dogs will scare anyone away that gets close to our home! It is great being married to a cop, but he is never home when we need protection! He protecting others at night when we need him!
Now I really can't wait to move. . .we are buying my in-laws home. The first set of plans have already been sent to the county since we are building them a small house on the back of the property. We are hoping to put our home on the market in May and move during the summer. The market is a mess, but our home is (was. . . .hehe) in a good neighborhood, feeds into great schools, and is at the lower end of the market since it is small. This is a great starter home for a young married couple or someone with only one child. I love this house, but we are starting to outgrown it. If and when we have another child we will definitely be cramped here. My in-laws home will feel safer since they will be close, it is in the same beat where my husband works, has an alarm, etc. Plus it is double the size of my home now. . .. I don't know what I will do with all that room!!! hehe Once we move we will be in walking distance (2 miles or less) to my parents, my brother, and my sister!!! That will be so nice! My two SILs will also be within walking distance. That will be good for Emily.
I haven't heard an update on my friend in the hospital. . .. I didn't make it over to that side of town today and I won't tomorrow. I'm going to try to make it on Monday. . .hopefully I will have heard the latest by then. I just know that everyday helps increase her odds of a healthy baby!!!
Tomorrow we are having March for Babies at the Rink!! Our local hockey team is having a fundraiser that is benefitting the MOD and family teams. Half the cost of my tickets is going back to my own family team, our past ambassador family is going to be the home town hero of the game (they were our family team that brought in the most $ last year). AND I GET TO DROP THE PUCK!!!! Crazy! I have never done anything like this before. .. it should be interesting. Last night I went with my family to a local bar where they were donating half of the profits back to MOD. It was hosted by CITIbank- my dad works for them so we are going to a lot of their fundraisers as well. . .. it doesn't go back to Family Teams, but it still helps the MOD!
Sorry this got so long. . . I guess this is what happens when I have been off of Share for nearly a month!! hehe
Enjoy your Sunday!
Love ya!
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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QUICK UPDATE. ...
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Mar 27, 2008 08:24pm (EST)
Just to let you know, my friend is still in the hospital. Since she is funneling they are not going to release her until the baby is born. They were able to stop the contractions last night! So that is good news. I'm really hoping that they get to 30 weeks. . . of course 36 weeks would be awesome, but we will take whatever we get.
I'm planning on going by this weekend to drop off a card and some food. They are a very close family and haven't reached out much to my school for support. . . .not many even know what is going on. Please keep them in your prayers!!!
Love ya!
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. . ..
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Mar 26, 2008 12:58pm (EST)
I don't what to do. . .. I don't know how many of you remember me talking about my coworker losing baby Addy in August. Just to refresh your mind- She was born in late July at 27 weeks weighing 2 pounds. She was doing AMAZING! Way better than Emily ever did her first month. .. . I was gone for a few days to Disneyland and talked to the family right before I left. They were having surgery to close her PDA and I knew that that would help her to grow and get stronger. The morning we came back, I got a frantic call from her grandmother (my coworker) that the baby was not doing well and they had called the family. I ended up going down to the NICU with another coworker where we sat all day praying for her. She died from pseudomonas infection (the second that summer)- and the NICU is now in the process of investigating where this infection is coming from.
Her mom became pregnant again and is due in June. I just got a call that they are again in the hospital. The mom is having contractions that she can't feel and her cervix is "beaking" (i have never heard that term. . .is that like funnelling?) The ffn test came back positive and they are going to keep her in the hospital until she delivers. She is about 27 weeks pregnant. I feel so bad for them. . .I don't know what to do to help them along. The good news is my neo is consulting on the case- I love this woman and she is the best in town. The bad news is I don't like the hospital they are at- they do not have the best ability to care for a preemie. I hope that they call the transport team from our Children's Hospital as soon as possible to make sure the baby gets the treatment needed.
I'm so devastated by this news. . .I was so hoping that she would have a great long boring pregnancy.
Love you all. . .thank you for your support.
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (8) | Permalink
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ALL KIDS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. . .. .
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Mar 23, 2008 09:06pm (EST)
I think this is the new slogan for my life! I'm so tired of having people (and family) compare Emily to other kids. I'm so tired of hearing "she's so little!" I really think I might scream next time I hear that!!
She is actually now 18.5 pounds!!! Amazing! She has had a huge growth spurt the last two months and now I am hoping to get her to 20 pounds for her 2 year birthday! So in my world, she is huge! Her doctor is thrilled with her. .. her teachers are happy with her. .. . I'm thrilled with her. .. . .it is just so hard emotionally to hear what the rest of the general public says.
I realize that she is going to be the size of an average 1 year old when she is two, but she has come so far!
Since I've been off for the last week because of Spring Break I have spent a ton of time with my sister. I love her to death, but man do I hate her at times! Her daughter is sooooo different from Emily- you really can't compare them. Makenna is so tall, very vocal and articulate, and scared of everything! Emily is small, quiet, and a daredevil! My sister constantly tells me what I should do with Emily or what she did with Makenna. Sometimes I welcome the advice, but then I also realize that they are two very different kids. Even two siblings can't be expected to do the same things since they have different personalities.
My sister is pregnant and has had a good pregnancy. .. .no troubles and she is only 5 weeks away from her due date! She is getting very uncomfortable and has back issues. I'm so happy for her and I think it is great that she has gotten this far. It is awkward sometimes because I know she wants to complain since I wish I was in her situation. I don't care how uncomfortable she must be. . ..it is still better than being in the NICU for months and then dealing with preemie issues for years.
My BIL made the comment that I missed this part of the pregnancy. .. I don't remember if he said I was lucky or not because of that. I know that I would trade anything to have been able to carry Emily even for two more weeks! I hope that our next pregnancy lasts a full forty weeks- I'll take it swollen ankles, weight gain, back aches, and all!!!
In other news. .. . I've been off of Share for the past few weeks. . .I've really needed some time to myself and my home. Several times I have logged on and read stories, or started writing a blog to just erase it. I just needed space.
I've been doing a lot for Family Teams (and sadly have neglected my own team!). I am hoping to be able to get onto Share more often now that I have some areas of my life back into order.
Emily is doing well. . .she has a huge weight gain this month. She does have asthma and we now have daily neb treatments and an inhaler for when she is playing. The doctor says it is the same type her dad had when he was little (yes she uses his old ped!). So she had genetics and prematurity working against her! I'm hoping that she will do better now that we have meds to help her out.
Love you all!
Happy Easter!
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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ASTHMA?
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Mar 06, 2008 04:36pm (EST)
I'm sure there are several of you who have dealt with asthma or are dealing with asthma. I am beginning to believe that Emily may have either seasonal asthma related to allergies or just asthma in general. . .. my husband had severe asthma growing up, both his sister's still struggle with it, our nephews are all affected by it, my dad has exercise induced asthma, and we live in a part of California that over 25% of the population has asthma. . .so I'm really not going to be shocked if she does have asthma. I'm a little sad though. . . .
Most people that live in the valley develop asthma at some time in their life. For my dad it was when he was training for marathons about 5 years ago. . .. I am a lucky one. I was born in a town that regularly makes the top five for worst air in the nation (if not number 1!) and now live in a town where we are consistently in the top 10! I'm hoping that my mom's good genes keep holding out for me and I never develop it! I was warned when Emily was in the NICU that she may develop it, but I was really hoping it was another thing that they were wrong about.
How do you know if they have asthma? Anyone have advice? Of course I will talk to her doctor, but unless she gets sick she won't see her doctor again until May for her two year appointment. I really do not want to take her in just for this, unless she has a serious attack. She just wheezes when she has been playing rough and at times has a dry cough while playing.
Hope you all are doing well. .. .
Love ya!
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (4) | Permalink
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QUICK UPDATE. ...
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Feb 28, 2008 09:26pm (EST)
Emily is doing SO much better. Back to her normal self! My hubby picked her up today from daycare at noon and surprised me by coming to work with her and lunch from one of our favorite restaurants!!! So yummy and so sweet of him!
Here is our BIG news. . . Emily has made it a month without seeing the doctor!!! That is right- the entire month of February without seeing the doctor (we talked on the phone but that doesn't count!). I think she has only done this once before in her 21 month life!!! Crazy! Hopefully we can stay away from him until her 2 year appointment in May! I can hope right???
By the way- my leadership kids at school are going to do a Fashion Show to raise money for MOD. They are so excited and want to get the whole district involved. . .we have almost 40,000 kids in our district!! How cool if we could tap into all those families. . . the girls came up with this whole idea on their own and are so motivated. I almost started crying while talking to them! I hope that it goes well and that we can use this as a time to recruit for our Family Teams!
Love you all! Enjoy your Feb. 29th . .. you won't have another for 4 more years! hehe
Lori
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Posted by girlyhurley | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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