March of Dimes - March for Babies 2014

I had the privilege of attending the March of Dimes March for Babies Kick-off brunch this morning. It was way more emotional than I expected but also so inspiring.

Many of the speakers shared their own personal experiences with their own babies in the NICU (one of which was in my first preschool class, small world right?!). They shared stories of their children being too excited to join this world, eager to meet their siblings and impatient to know what this world would be like.

My story is a little different in that Griffin was happy in my belly. It was my body that wasn't happy. And although he was still early, earlier than anyone wanted, he was still so much later than MANY babies end up being. My story isn't one of months in the NICU with lots of intervention, but today I recognized our story is no less touching, or beautiful, or worthy of sharing to inspire others to work together for stronger, healthier babies.

I am thankful for the beautiful anti-partum nurse who peeled me off my bed and let me sneak out on bedrest, 31 weeks pregnant after just finishing the conversation with my husband of what we would do if he had to choose, mommy or baby. Ya know, the conversation you should never have to have with your husband. Because she knew if I sat in that bed a second longer I would literally lose it.

I am so thankful for the research that made my son's arrival less of an emergency even in the emergency that resulted in the 3rd rescheduled c-section. Without the research and the babies who came before him, Griffin's chance may not have been as great and NOTHING about the NICU is easy.

I am so thankful for the journal the March of Dimes gave us in the NICU that got me through those first few emotional days. The one that did more than ask our baby's first smile and leave a place for his first lock of hair. But one that asked about who was present during delivery, including the neonatolgists and NICU nurses, the day he was able to have drops of breastmilk, eat without a feeding tube and the day he got off oxygen, making it feel okay and comforted that we were not the first to live through this.

Celebrating my Griffin's Birthday

Today I am feeling more charged than ever to be an Ambassador family for the March of Dimes. Us moms, start out thinking pregnancy will have its ups and downs but no one envisions going through the trials and tribulations that come with days, weeks and months of the NICU. I am excited to share our story, to show how important it is to support this cause and help many who come after our Griffin. I hope you will join me and my little Rice family. Walk with us, donate money or simply spread the word of why the March of Dimes is so important.

Love conquers ALL.

One year ago today, Rick and I received the scariest news of our lives. One year ago today, our love and faith were challenged in a way we never expected. One year ago today, we came out on the other side knowing the plan for us and our family was beautiful and of God's amazing plan. In the face of uncertainty, this year has been the best of our life. Today I affirm today's MRI will just be a box to check and this too shall pass. We are so blessed to have an amazing and large support system comprised of all levels of relationships and I ask that you affirm the same.

That was yesterday.

Shortly after posting this on facebook, I realized how big our support group truly is.

I come from an amazing support system. I have a wonderful family, filled with siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends that are more like family and family friends I haven't seen in ages but still are on my daily prayer list. I come from and amazing work family, I had an amazing staff, with wonderful bosses, coworkers and a great set of families. Families that cared about me and families that also cared about my husband and children. Coworkers who texted daily and sought out my progress. My wonderful support system went through all of this with me. They sent baskets, made dinner for my family and sent more prayers and positive vibes than I could ever fathom. Not just to me but to my husband who had to be strong for us, to my children both the big brother and my unborn son who could've ended up without a mother had this not gone the way we had prayed it would.

Phew! Sometimes it takes me reading my old posts to remember how heavy all of this weighed last year, a year ago yesterday.

I never thought at the time that I could possibly replicate all of that amazing support in a new environment. But I left Wyndham in hopes to make an impact on a new program. I never dreamed that I would find another nurse, like that of the ones I had at Wyndham that could possibly care for Cooper without having been through our peanut and pneumonia drama. I never expected to find a staff that would rejoice when I walked in after my neurosurgeon appointment and that they would cheers, hug and high five me.

But I did.

I haven't replaced my old support system, I have doubled it. I now have double the amazing mentors, doubled the families that care not only about me, but also about my strong husband and beautiful children and doubled the employees that are going to worry when I am not there and take the time to ask how my appointments go. Even though they didn't go through the scary part with me.

Today, my neurosurgeon informed me that he and the radiologist are leaning on the side that this "spot" on my brain is more likely a hematoma, something I was born with and will have the rest of my life. They said it could possibly still be a low grade brain tumor but being that it hasn't changed at all, they don't need to see me for 12 months and if it continues to stay stagnant, I wont have to return after that.

To walk through my school today, having only been there for 2 months and get hugs, high fives and pure joy was so wonderful. To see likes and comments on facebook from people I have lost touch with was astonishing. I am so thankful that each moment has led me to this one. I now know the amazing power a group can have striving toward one goal and this is no different. I am so proud of the family I come from, both that of non-blood and of blood and the beautiful love you all, every single one of you, has shown my little Rice family. I know the faith II carry plays a role in how all of this has panned out, but there is not a second that goes by that I don't recognize, I could not have done this without  ALL OF YOU. 

So thank you. For loving me. For loving my husband. For loving my kids. For caring enough to focus a second, or a minute, or an hour, or the entire day on a positive outcome. For supporting us in every way you could. I know I would not be sitting here, rejoicing in our positive news with out all of you. You are the village that we needed to turn such an awful thing into this amazing year.

One year ago today, I learned that love is thicker than blood and work life and church life. Love connects us and can truly conquer all. I hope you will ALL feel the power of the love we have felt and will continue to pass on.