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WELCOME, GUEST |
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(1 member)
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niylnnrae @a…6 |
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MY PHAMILY
LilyGrace'sMom |
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TAKE FOUR: OUR PASSION FOR MARCH FOR BABIES
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Mar 09, 2009 02:55am (EST)
Every expectant parent looks forward to celebrating the birth of a healthy baby. Billy and I were no different. But each year in the United States, more than half a million babies are born too soon. Our Lily Grace helps make up this statistic.
The March of Dimes has made defeating prematurity a national priority, and Billy and I are excited to work along side them to help save the lives of babies. Babies like our daughter--born 6 weeks too early. This year, I am serving as a Family Team Partner...and will be volunteering at various walk events around the city. This year, March for Babies is on Sunday, April 26th at the University of Houston Robertson Stadium.
Most of you know our story. The following is a featured article that highlighted our story in the March of Dimes September 2008 eNewsletter.
With a two-and-a-half-year-old son as the love of our lives, we waited patiently and jumped for joy when those “you’re pregnant!” pink lines appeared in early 2005. We were thrilled yet very nervous and scared -- especially after having endured two previous miscarriages. However, things were going well and looking up for us.
Mid-July of 2005, diagnosed with placenta previa and preterm labor, I was placed on strict bed rest at home with around-the-clock medications to control the contractions. Then on August 2, while lying on the couch with my son, Mickey, I felt a strange sensation that warranted a trip to the bathroom. That strange sensation was caused by profuse hemorrhaging, which landed me on hospital bed rest for the duration of my pregnancy.
On the morning of September 19th, we welcomed our barely 34-week-gestation baby girl, Lily Grace, into this world by cesarean section. After a brief kiss, she was rushed to the NICU for more specialized care, while I needed some care of my own. Unfortunately, my placenta had adhered itself to my uterus, making it impossible to deliver, so an emergency hysterectomy was performed as well.
If not hitting the desired 36 weeks, having an unexpected c-section and an emergency hysterectomy, and seeing your baby girl rushed to the NICU were not enough, Hurricane Rita was heading for southeast Texas, adding to our stress. Nothing could have prepared my heart for the immense emotional and physical pain of evacuating the city two days later without my precious newborn. We had to leave our baby girl behind. Who could do such a thing? How could we do that to her? Would she know that we didn’t have a choice? How could we get through this?
After enduring six long days of heart-wrenching pain by being miles away, we were reunited with our sweet baby girl at last. The next few weeks found us next to her Isolette every day, holding and nurturing her until she became strong enough to come home on October 6.
Although Lily Grace came home with an apnea monitor and oxygen to use during feeds, she made tremendous progress in the NICU due to the research and medical advances accomplished by the March of Dimes. Without their emotional support and invention of surfactant therapy, Lily Grace would not be the happy, bouncy, healthy almost three-year-old she is today.
Without the March of Dimes, our lives with Lily Grace would not be possible. We know there are many, many worthwhile charities out there. In financial reality, we have to pick and choose the one or ones that are closest to our own hearts. This is the one closest to *my* heart. This is the one closest to *Billy's* heart. This is the one closest to *my families’* hearts. Prematurity does not just affect the baby - it affects the entire family! We all need to understand that placing resources with the March of Dimes...a time tested organization who's never failed a mission yet...will be an investment...not just in our families, but in our country's future.
Much love,
Billy, Jaclyn, Mickey & Lily Grace
Haynes Phamily Team
P.S. This year, a very good friend of mine delivered a son born 12 weeks too soon. Blake Joseph was born weighing 1 pound, 6 ounces – and is currently in the NICU. This year we walk not only for Lily Grace but also for baby Blake. We walk for Ava Marie who was blessed to be born healthy and full-term. We walk for a team walker, and a teacher’s unborn children and pray they get their full 40 weeks. We walk for friends who have yet to have babies…because EVERY baby deserves a healthy start.
M4B shirt front white LG edit
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (8) | Permalink
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TAKE THREE: WHY I MARCH FOR BABIES
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Feb 23, 2009 06:30pm (EST)
Three years ago when I first participated in WalkAmerica, my reasons for walking was quite clear…Lily Grace and her early arrival. It’s only been recently that I’ve come to realize that there were more reasons that I walked, but that I’ve always just pushed them aside. It’s only been recently that I’ve come to realize that I walk not just for prematurity, birth defects and infant deaths…but for the babies I’ve lost.
A recap…
Take One: Miscarriage
Take Two: Michael William born February 15, 2003
Take Three:
When Mickey was about 18 months old, Billy and I decided we were ready to try for another baby. Again, we were blessed and conceived right away.
Everything was smooth sailing until October 2004 at just 11 weeks along, I started cramping and spotting. This time Billy was with me as we watched the ultrasound confirm yet another still, quiet heart…another heart break...the loss of our third baby.
“At least it was early on. Better now then later.”
“It wasn’t meant to be. There’s a reason for everything.”
“At least you know you can get pregnant again.”
“At least you have Mickey.”
A loss is a loss early or later. Is it really in God’s plan for us to suffer and hurt so much? Who could think of having another pregnancy after this lost? And yes, we had Mickey. We should be thankful and feel totally fortunate that we had a sweet baby boy to love, but it didn’t make the desire to want another one and the pain for the loss of another one any easier and less intense.
In years past, I walked for Lily Grace and her early arrival, and all the babies born too soon. This year, I will continue to walk for her and others. But this year, I walk with a greater passion…a new found perspective of loss and understanding. This year I walk for all the rainbows and butterflies who fill our skies. This year I walk for my two babies that I lost…actually they aren’t lost at all…I know exactly where they are…in Heaven waiting for me.
To participate, visit: www.marchforbabies.org.
Jac
Marchforbabies.org/lilygrace
Haynes Phamily Team
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (11) | Permalink
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TAKE TWO
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Feb 14, 2009 05:59pm (EST)
Saturday, February 15, 2003
It was about 9 AM. Billy had left for work just 30 minutes before. I was lying around in bed flipping and flopping. Suddenly, I heard this little pop. The sensation of a trip to the bathroom overcame me so I waddled to the hallway restroom. I sat down. SWOOSH and more SWOOSH and more SWOOSH! My water just broke!
I called Billy and told him to come home. I called the nurse and waited for her office to call back. I called my sister to ask her to come. I was actually quite calm.
I jumped in the tub to wash off. As I got out…SWOOSH! I got back in for the second time. As I got out…SWOOSH again! Back in the tub again for the third time and as I got out…you got! SWOOSH! So I gave up and just sat on a towel on the floor and proceeded to put my make-up on and do my hair.
My sister barges in frantically.
“What are you doing? Do you have your bag? Isn’t Billy here yet? Oh my gosh! Put your clothes on. Let’s go!” All the while running around acting like a chicken without her head on! She was quite the sight given that she’s had 3 kids of her own, but I guess this was the first time for her to be “on the other side”. LOL
I assured her that Billy was on his way and that the hospital is expecting us as soon as well get there. Like a big sister though, she still rushed me out the door. LOL
After a few hours of relaxing and watching golf on tv while listening to Billy tell jokes to my OB, the Pitocin and Epidural did their jobs and I was ready to see my son. However, my desire to push was much greater than my body was ready for. After only 25 minutes of pushing, he came out kicking, punching, and tearing at my cervix…and more. It took the doctor twice as long to sew me up and stop the bleeding then it took for me to push him out.
The physical pain took another 3 months and weeks upon weeks of pain meds before I would fully recover and could return to work. But, that day was one of the happiest days of my life after having to endure that first miscarriage. I was more than beyond thrilled to see him, hold him, and love on him. I was in love.
I was totally blessed to have had this easy road and this perfect baby. I do know how fortunate I am…truly I do…now…but not then.
Take Three…more heartache to come.
*********************
Michael William aka Mickey
Feburary 15, 2003 @ 4:17 PM
6 lbs 7 oz, 18 ¾ in.
37 weeks exactly
PS. Yes, pictures of him in the attic...don't ask. LOL
Mick polarized edit
Mick color edit
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (9) | Permalink
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TAKE ONE
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Feb 03, 2009 06:21pm (EST)
When Billy and I started our family planning, we had no idea how easy yet heartbreaking it would be. January 2002 found us in our “magic” month. I wanted a Christmas baby so I thought we’d “try” for a few months in hopes for a winter baby. Fortunately, we were totally blessed and conceived on our first attempt that January.
All was well until one morning while at school, I started having the brown patchy spotting. I called my nurse, but they assured me that it was just residual discharge which was normal. It wasn’t until a few hours later that I noticed an increase with more pinkish tints. I called the nurse back and headed in to my OB’s office. Since they weren’t alarmed but just wanted to check things out, I drove myself especially since Billy was busying working giving golf lessons. (He was still in the golf business back then.)
I laid on the ultrasound table and diligently watched as my doctor scanned and scanned. After several minutes, I’ll never forget those words…”Jaclyn, I’m so so sorry. I can’t find a heartbeat. I don’t see a heartbeat. I’m so sorry. You’ve lost the baby.”
I sat in the parking garage and cried to Billy on the phone before I drove myself home.
That night as I laid in bed sobbing, Billy came in and said, “It’s okay, Baby. Do you know that if we never ever have another baby, I’m still the luckiest guy alive? I have you as my wife. You are the most important thing to me and no baby will ever change that.”
Take Two: The birth of Mickey coming soon.
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (8) | Permalink
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HANDWRITING FUN
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Jan 13, 2009 02:45am (EST)
Kelly (Katelyn's mom) posted a good question in the cafe about handwriting, and my name was thrown in there like I really know something about handwriting. LOL Numbers are more my speed though I did spend my first 2 years teaching students with dyslexia and do have some knowledge about those characteristics, reversals, and reading fluency delays.
I started to post a comment in the cafe, but it was getting a little too lengthy so I thought I'd post it in my blog here for those of you who are interested. Please, I'm not an expert and would never think that my suggestions are the best, but ...well, it's all I gots. LOL
Okay, here's my take on handwriting...
Letter and number reversals are very common even throughout first grade and some of second grade. However, if your child has some reading fluency concerns on top of reversals, there may be other issues at hand that has played in his poor handwriting skills. Handwriting and reading fluency do go hand in hand...pardon the pun. With that said though, let's just focus on handwriting and what we as parents can do to assist them.
First, let the teachers at school do the paper and pen practice while we do the fun "handwriting practice." There should never be any tears over handwriting. And if you insist on paper and pen practice, I recommend limiting Kindergarteners to 5 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for each grade level thereafter.
Here are some fun handwriting activities that I've recommended to my parents in the past...
1. Spray a fistful of shaving cream on your table and let the kids practice tracing letters with it (like fingerpainting), smooth it over and do the next letter. When you finish, let them wipe the table off...it's now clean and smells nice too.
2. (One of Shonda's favorite activities to do with her kiddos.)Water painting the letters with a brush on the fence...of course, when the weather is appropriate. When it's too cold for being outside, let them water paint with a brush in the tub on the walls.
3. Next time when you make a peanut butter sandwich, let them use a popsicle stick to spread a letter on their bread. While this only lets you practice one or two letters at at time, that's fun practice and it's not "homework".
4. While you do your elliptical machine, have them air write with their entire arm. This practices big motor skills, letter formation and spatial concepts. Y'all jam out to some fun 80's music and make it a family event. Okay, I haven't done this one with Mickey yet...not the jamming part anyways. LOL
5. Battleship Play Dough...put a barrier between the two of you, mold an object and describe it to your child. He in turn has to mold the beginning letter for that object. Then check together. ex. "My object is rectangular in shape. It has doors and windows and people live there." Answer: h for house
6. Letter Stick People...let them draw a letter and let you illustrate stick people out of them. Kids love to watch adults draw.
Okay, this was totally off the top of my head so that's all I have for y'all.  While I know that most of you know and have probably participated in some of the above activities, I hope it gives others of you a starting point. I'm sure your child's teacher can offer much more.
Jac
Here's a picture of Mickey water painting his name on the fence.
Chalking_&_painting
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (10) | Permalink
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CHRISTMAS 2008
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Dec 27, 2008 08:01am (EST)
Christmas 2008 found Lily Grace and me a little under the weather; however, we did muster up some strength to enjoy it with our families. Then, I fell asleep at the dinner table after I ate my meal, and woke up to the table being completely cleared off and to the hoopla of Billy, my BIL and niece skiing on the Wii. (edited: ...at my sister's house)
Santa didn’t stay away even with all our germs though. Instead, he was quite good to us all.
He brought Mickey a much desired Nintendo DS, a flat car train carrying an airplane, a conductor’s pocket watch and tickets to the Monster Truck Jam. Mickey was just beside himself when he saw them under his tree.
Lily Grace never waivered when asked what she wanted Santa to bring her. Her answer each time was “ballet boots”. So, Santa left her ballet shoes, a leotard and a horse and pony stuffed animal set. He also brought her a bike, but he forgot the helmet. LOL
Santa teased Billy a little and brought him a helmet, but no bike. I think he got confused between their gifts. LOL He did venture out with all the crazies and scored himself a cool bike today. 
Lastly, Santa was quite generous to me as well. A few years ago, he gave me four Jane Wooster Scott prints that I just love. He also gave me money to have them framed, but I pocketed the money and they were just stored away. This year, he decided he would have them framed for me instead. Now, the question is where to hang them. Hmmm…I have no decorating sense in me. Help?
I hope Santa was good to y’all all as well.
Jac
Pictures: I’m addicted to Photoshop so humor me as I frame all my pictures. LOL Kind of ironic...framing pictures...lol
chimney frame edit
LG JOY edit
kids posing frame edit
LG & Jac frame
wii skiing edit
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (7) | Permalink
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5 YEAR OLD'S ANTICS
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Dec 23, 2008 10:48pm (EST)
Thursday, as I was walking back to class after lunch, I saw Mickey walking barefooted while his teacher was holding his pair of muddy tennis shoes. Apparently after their “Fun Run” activities, he decided to swoosh in the mud after being asked repeatedly to stop. Instead, he continued to play and got his shoes caked in mud.
I proceeded to take him into an empty classroom and chewed him out. Then, he had to wash all the mud off. It took him 20 minutes to get it spotless as well as cleaning the counter and sink. Given that the rest of his class was now watching some Christmas cartoons, I decided to take him to my classroom and had him sit in the corner desk and put his head down. Next thing I know, he was fast asleep. That little stinker! I almost woke him up just so he could suffer through the pain of sitting with his head down and not napping, but I couldn’t. He went to bed at 7:30pm, but apparently he was tired.
School was ending shortly and his shoes were soaked from being washed so I had to call a teacher friend, who only works half day and who was on her way back up to school to pick up her son, and asked her to let us borrow a pair of shoes. Had it not been that I had a conference at the school next door, otherwise, I would have made him go barefooted home. The silver lining in this story was that my friend brought us a pair of boots and a practically brand new pair of Sketchers that her son outgrew.
However, as if the above antic was not enough, two minutes before we were to walk across the street to the neighbor’s for dinner, Mickey decided to trim his hair. UGH!!! Billy asked, “Why did you do that, son?” His reply was that he didn’t like his hair in the front so long (mind you, he just had a haircut 2 weeks ago). Geez, you think we were poor and couldn’t afford the $5 it cost to take him to the hairdresser for a cut! Or at least ask me, I can cut a straight line. UGH!!!
As if I didn’t already have gray coming out of my head…
Then, there are times that he cracks us up with the things that come out of his mouth.
• As his teacher was reading the story, The Lady the Swallow the Fly, Mickey leaned over to his classmate and said, “She better be careful about swallowing so many flies, she’ll get fat.”
• He’s been writing love notes to his girlfriend Josie almost every day. He’ll go through my recycling bin and find envelopes and paper to use. He was sealing up one envelope when I asked what he wrote. He said, “I love you”. I asked to see it and he said, “No, you cannot. It’s not for you. Only the person you write to can read it. Come on, Mom, you know that.”
• I was IMing with Carissa about picking out a name for the Cookie Bean. Billy chimed in that he always wanted a son named Jason Paul (news to me). Mickey overheard us talking and said that he wants to name his son “Jose”. LOL
• Mickey received a bag of hot chocolate mix in his Penny Gift bag from a classmate and being that he hates chocolate…he said to Billy, “Daddy, if you were wanting to get some hot chocolate for Christmas, you got some coming.”
Isn’t he a hoot?
Jac
Pictures: kids goofing around, hayride and laughing with Mimi, and LG’s new throne from Mimi.
goofing edit
hayride collage edit
hanging with Mimi
LG Throne edit
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (9) | Permalink
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MICKEY’S LETTER
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Nov 18, 2008 02:26am (EST)
Reading Champions is a reading program through the March of Dimes. It is designed to encourage elementary students to read while raising money to help save babies. This is our school’s 3rd year to participate. For the last 2 years, our school has raised a total of over $22,000 and ranked 1st amongst all participating schools in the Houston and surrounding areas. I’m hoping to retain that honor, but more importantly, that we raise money for research and development. With Texas receiving an F on the report card, we need all the funding we can get to score higher in the near future. To see how your state scored, check it out here.
However, this year not only am I still involved as a teacher, but I get to participate as a parent of a kindergarten student who will be reading, recruiting sponsors and fundraising to get the word out about how the March of Dimes helps babies born too soon.
Here’s an interview I did with Mickey when he came home after hearing about the Reading Champions campaign from his librarian and teacher.
Me: So, Mickey, what is Reading Champions?
Mickey: I read books and people give me money.
Me: Do you get the money?
Mickey: No, silly. The March of Dimes does.
Me: Why does the March of Dimes need our money?
Mickey: To help sick babies and babies born early.
Me: Who was born early that you know of?
Mickey: Woogie Woo!
Me: That’s right. So why are you reading again?
Mickey: To help the March of Dimes save babies, plus I get a medal too!
Me: You are too smart, Boo.
Mickey: I know, Mommy.
LOL
Here’s his letter that he wrote to his Honey and Joe. Check out his beautiful handwriting. I’m a proud mama!
Jac
P.S. Want to be one of his sponsors? Couldn’t hurt to ask, now could it? LOL
RC letter edit
RC letter back
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Posted by LilyGrace'sMom | Comments: (8) | Permalink
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