This is my 3rd check in for March for Babies, Run for Dimes. I am sad to admit that I slacked off last week and gave in to bad weather and a very busy schedule and ended up taking a week off :(. I got back on track today though and went for two miles. I decided that to help me keep motivated, each week I will set a goal for miles to run. I added Martha's Slacker ticker underneath my running ticker to the right and will be accountable for miles I don't run. For every mile I don't run of my week's goal, I will contribute what you guys would have donated.
This week's goal: 6 miles
So that we don't forget what we're running for, each week I will post one picture of Campbell in the NICU and one fact about the March of Dimes. Please consider supporting us in our effort to raise money for the March of Dimes.
March of Dimes fact: President Franklin Roosevelt's personal struggle with polio led him to create the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis at a time when polio was on the rise. Better known as the March of Dimes, the foundation established a polio patient aid program and funded research for vaccines developed by Jonas Salk, MD and Albert Sabin, MD. These vaccines effectively ended epidemic polio in the United States.
Campbell right after birth. We didn't realize until we saw Campbell's NICU bill that she had to be resuscitated.
As always, here are 5 reasons I'm loving my girls this week:
1. We were driving home from church Wednesday night (we're taking the class Financial Peace...love it!). Campbell started talking to Maggie and this was how the conversation went:
Campbell: "Hey Maggie!"
Robbie (in a high-pitched voice): "Hey Campbell"
Campbell: "No, Daddy. Hey Maggie!"
Robbie (in a high-pitched voice): "Hey Campbell!"
Campbell: "NO, DADDY! HEY MAGGIE!"
Robbie (still in a high-pitched voice): "Hey Campbell. My name is Maggie."
Campbell: "No. Your name is ROBBIE!"
2. Last weekend Robbie was washing our cars to finally get all the salt and grime off from the snow. Campbell decided she needed to wash her car, too.
3. Tonight we were driving home and we were talking to Campbell. Maggie was squealing and having a good old time. Campbell started talking to Maggie, saying "Maaaagggiiieeeeeee". She did this a couple of times and then Maggie all of a sudden squealed again but this time it sounded exactly like she said "Whaaaat?!"
4. I'm almost scared to say it out loud in case I jinx it...but Miss Maggie has slept through the night every night this week! Hallelujah!
5. Campbell has really been testing her limits lately. I've done lots of fussing and sometimes I think she doesn't hear or understand me. Apparently she understands more than I give her credit for. This is the hilarious text I got one day from our babysitter, Abbie:
"Haha ok so this was Campbell and our conversation- "Campbell, eat your bananas." "Abbie, are you an adult?" I feel like I'm being threatened by a two yr old!"
This week I was too busy to sit down and do my 5 on Friday post, so this week it will be 6 on Saturday :)
Here are 6 reasons I'm loving my girls this week:
1. Campbell is not the most graceful child. Ok, let's be honest. She's a lot like her mother and a total klutz. It cracks us up when she falls or runs into something or trips then pops up and says (or yells when she's in another room) "I'm ok!" She must hear "Are you ok?" an awful lot.
2. Maggie really wants to make sure I get my money's worth out of my baby carriers. This week we've used the Baby K'tan (using the hip hold which is new for us) twice: once at the park and once while I was trying to clean the kitchen. We also used our Beco Butterfly so she could be on my back one night when I was trying to cook dinner and needed both hands and didn't want her in front of me because I was using a knife. She much prefers the hip hold with the k'tan...so sweet of her to make sure I didn't waste my money on it.
3. The girls now officially wear the same size diapers (even though Campbell has been in panties a lot of the time at home!). Who wants to take bets if they'll be in the same size clothes by the summer?
4. Out of the blue Campbell called me "Mom" the other day. I promptly informed her that she is to call me Mommy. I thought that was the end of it until she started calling Robbie "Dad". Doesn't she know she's not allowed to be that grown up yet?!
5. I tell Campbell that her daddy is "silly" an awful lot. If you know Robbie, you will not be surprised that he can be a silly Daddy. Yesterday evening Robbie had to go to a big gala for work so he dressed up in a nice suit and bow tie. Campbell took one look at that bow tie and said "Daddy, you're so silly!"
6. And last, but not least, Maggie SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT last night! Yippee! She slept from 7:30-6:00 then took a bottle and slept until 8:15! Wahooo! Please, please do it again, Maggie!
I wish you could hear the happy squeal that goes along with this face!
Maggie is 8 months old!
Weight: 20lbs, 11 oz
Maggie spent a good part of the last month sick with RSV (although the test was negative). She had her first breathing treatments and trip to the hospital for a lung x-ray. All of her sickness has taken a toll on her sleeping and she's back to waking up 2-3 times a night. Hopefully now that she's feeling better, she'll start sleeping better again.
Maggie continues to develop a very sweet personality and she continues to really like to be around other people. You don't dare leave her alone in a room to go somewhere else..even for a second! :) She is still eating lots of new foods and has tried most table foods. She hasn't rolled from back to belly yet but we don't think it's because she CAN'T do it...it's because she doesn't WANT to do it. She reminds me so much of Campbell...in no hurry to move.
This is my 2nd check in for March for Babies, Run for Dimes. The weather conspired against us this week with snow and ice that still hasn't melted. But, I did another 4 miles (2 on Thursday and 2 today) so I'm pretty happy with that. I am excited that I've scheduled in my runs for the future which I think will really help me stick with it. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I work for a few hours and we have a babysitter come to the house to watch the girls. I have arranged my schedule so that I can go for my run while she is still here and then I'll go for a 3rd run on the weekends.
Robbie is still struggling with getting his runs in but has been very supportive of me in mine.
We have a new runner joining us. Kathy Dorton, Campbell's physical therapist, has been inspired to return to running by us. As well as donating to each of us for running, she has committed to donating for every mile SHE runs during the March for Babies, Run for Dimes time period. If anyone else wants to start running and join us, please let me know!
So that we don't forget what we're running for, each week I will post one picture of Campbell in the NICU and one fact about the March of Dimes. Please consider supporting us in our effort to raise money for the March of Dimes.
March of Dimes fact: research funded by the March of Dimes developed the drug Surfactent. Campbell received this drug in the first day of her life and we credit it with both saving her life and enabling her to live without long term lung issues.
As always, here are 5 reasons I'm loving my girls this week:
1. One day we were in our car and we heard Campbell trying to get our attention from the backseat. When we turned around, she had one of her socks on her hand. She proceeded to use it as a puppet and talk to us with her hand. It was hilarious because she still didn't REALLY understand that a puppet is supposed to be separate from her...so we'd ask the puppet a question and she would answer and she would talk to the puppet while moving her hand. It was so cute and really out of the blue because we have never used a sock like a puppet...maybe they have at school?
2. Maggie has been really sick this week. She's gotten much better at tolerating her breathing treatments though. Her daddy figured out that if we put her Baby Babble DVD on the computer and turn the volume way up, then she'd be entertained long enough for the treatment.
3. So, Campbell has recently been taking all her pajamas off (including diaper) every once in a while at night. When we'd go check on her one last time before going to bed, we'd find her completely naked. We tried to figure out what was going on...was it the fleece pajamas she was wearing? Maybe she got too hot? Maybe her new blanket is too much? Last night we figured it out...when we found her wet diaper on the floor next to her pj's and a clean diaper next to her on the bed. Apparently she doesn't like to have a wet diaper and has been trying to change herself! I wish she was as concerned about wet diapers during the day when we're working on potty training...
4. So, Maggie is a people baby. She likes to be on the go. She's a people watcher and much prefers to be out and about rather than sitting at home. (She gets that from her Daddy. I am perfectly happy laying around the house...) I think that's one reason she's been so cranky since she's been sick: she's tired of us! Every time we go somewhere, even to the doctor's office, she is so happy to see other people! Poor kid, apparently her family bores her :)
5. My girls are both good eaters. With Campbell, I was very careful and went strictly by the suggested age ranges for foods. With Maggie, I've done some reading on a more natural approach and exposing her to more foods. Well, the girl LOVES solid food. This week I made Campbell some homemade chicken nuggets. She shared one with Maggie and Maggie tore.it.up.
What's this? Looks yummy!
It IS yummy!
Funny thing about my girls...I was telling someone about how "advanced" they both were in eating, but that both of them were kind of slow with gross motor skills. For example, Maggie can't roll back to belly but she can sit well unsupported and has for quite some time. So this person I was talking to said "so, your kids like to sit and eat" and I my response was "Yeah, just like their mama." :) So true.
We just had our 3rd snow day in a row! We surely do live in the South when 6 inches of snow equals 3 days off school and a 3 hour delay for the 4th!
Yesterday afternoon we were all going a little stir crazy, so despite the iciness, we bundled everyone up and went outside. Even sick little Maggie went, I figured the fresh air would be good for her. She was happier out there than she'd been all day so I think it was a good idea.
We've done a couple of cute activities (made snow cream and did some snow painting) that I will post about on Monday in a rare, special edition of Crafty Mommy Monday.
Campbell was fascinated in the ice on this tree
She loves to be on the go! Who needs a sled when you have a wagon?
We took Maggie back to the pediatrician (visit #4 in the past 2 weeks) today for continued concerns with coughing, wheezing, and fever. The doctor said she is continuing to wheeze badly and was concerned that she is not getting better faster. There was some discussion of a trip to the hospital but it was decided that we could do what the hospital would do (breathing/nebulizer treatments, alternating tylenol/ibuprofen, and steroids)...that is unless she gets worse and we may have to re-consider. He didn't want to give her any more antibiotics since she already had the Rocephin shot and because her lung x-ray was clear on Sunday.
So, for right now we will have to be extra vigilant about her breathing treatments which is hard because she hates them and screams and fights. We'll go back to the pediatrician Friday morning unless she gets worse before then.
Thanks for continued prayers...she needs them. She clearly doesn't feel well and it's taking a toll on all of us.
Looks pretty happy, doesn't she? I'm sad we haven't seen more of that smile recently
Poor baby...passed out and getting a breathing treatment at the doctor's office
To see what this post is all about, please read here.
Week 1 Check In:
Martha- 4 miles
Robbie- 1 mile
I am so happy to say that I am up to 14 dimes per mile. Poor Robbie is lagging behind at only 7 dimes per mile. I am more of a recruiter than he is, though... Anyway, my goal is to get to 20 dimes per mile so I've got some more work to do! I was hoping to get 6 miles in this past week, but life and a sick baby interfered. I am concerned about the weather for this coming week...I need to invest in some cold weather running gear!
Maggie has been fighting a cough and runny nose for over a week but she never got a fever and acted like she felt fine. We went to the pediatrician twice and found out she was wheezing but it wasn't too bad. They did a RSV test and it was negative. We started nebulizer treatments and she seemed to be on the road to recovery. Until Saturday when she took a very sudden turn for the worse. That morning, Campbell and I had met my friend, Adrienne, and her daughter, Emily, at the new Children's Museum in Rock Hill. Maggie was coughing a good bit but I didn't think too much about it. We all went out to lunch and I thought all was fine. Until we got home. As I changed Maggie's diaper, I realized she felt very hot. She also seemed like she was having a hard time catching her breath. I gave her some Ibuprofen and did a breathing treatment and she was very lethargic...but it was nap time so it was hard to tell if she was just tired.
We are very blessed to have Nurse Nana and Dr. Aunt Julie, and to be friends with one of our pediatrician's nurses. We were talking with all three most of the evening with lots of debate about going to the ER since the pediatrician's office was closed. Maggie's fever peaked at 103.8 and her breathing was very rapid and shallow. We made it through the night and headed to the pediatrician 1st thing this morning.
He listened and said the "air wasn't moving well" in her lungs and we were all worried about pneumonia. Thankfully the x-ray showed that her lungs were clear and we are hopeful the steroids prescribed will help clear the inflammation. Her current diagnosis is viral bronchiolitis and we will be headed back to the pediatrician in the morning (through the snow which will be interesting).
I have to be honest, this has taken a toll with "mommy guilt". With Campbell we were hyper-vigilant about germs and with Maggie we are much more relaxed. Campbell didn't get a fever until she was a year old and didn't have a breathing treatment (aside from the NICU of course) until she was 2. Maybe if we had been more careful, this wouldn't have happened. Also, I stopped pumping last week, so this is Maggie's 1st week on 100% formula so I feel guilty that she's not getting the germ-fighting benefits of breastmilk. I did have a few ounces in the freezer that we gave her today, but it's not enough to really make a difference. **sigh**
We'll keep you posted. Oh, and now Campbell is coughing :( Thanks for your prayers!
Check out this link to the "teaser" pictures from the photographer at Sara and John's wedding. They are beautiful and I can't wait to see all of the professional pictures!
I haven't been able to do this post for the past few weeks. Friday before last was Christmas and last Friday was my sister's wedding day so I have a few extras this week...
Here are 5+ reasons I'm loving my girls this week:
1. One night we heard Campbell calling from her room "Mommy! Daddy! I need help!" Since she tends to try to get our attention some nights, we didn't immediately respond. When the calls for help continued (but without the shrill sounds of fear or pain), we debated giving her the attention we thought she was seeking. Finally, after one last "Help me please", we decided to grab the camera and go check out the situation. This is what we found...
2. I am a multi-sneezer. When I sneeze, it's always a series of at least 3. Maggie definitely inherited that gene and it is so cute to hear her sneeze just like me :)
3. During Sara's wedding, Campbell got a little antsy. Robbie let her play with our camera and this is the result:
4. Maggie's favorite part of the day is bath time. She loves to splash and her grin never leaves her face.
5. We have recently been reading Campbell's first chapter book, which is about Ariel, one of Campbell's favorite Disney princesses. We've had one little problem though...she doesn't really get the concept of reading one chapter per night and then reading the next chapter the next night and so on. On the 2nd night when I tried to read the 2nd chapter, she was not happy about skipping the 1st. Needless to say, we've read the 1st chapter several times this week :)
6. Some of Campbell's new favorite phrases and words that never fail to crack us up:
-"I LOVE IT!"...which can be applied to a new book, a special place, or a marker. You just never know what will earn her love.
-"You guys"...which, when directed at me and Robbie, just seems hilarious.
-words like "cayandy" and "bayack" (translated to candy and back)...she definitely has a Southern accent
7. Maggie is finally starting to sleep a little bit better. Despite having a yucky cough this week that landed her at the doctor for her first breathing treatment, she has been getting up only 1 time per night on average which is a big improvement and we feel like she'll be back to sleeping through the night soon!
8. Did you know we have an alligator living in our house? Specifically, living in our hallway? What? You didn't know that? Well, according to Campbell (and her recently very active imagination), we have an alligator living in our hallway. He occasionally comes out to try and bite us at dinner which immediately requires us all to put our feet up in our chairs so he doesn't eat our feet. He's also been known to chase our car or try to get us on the couch. We did catch the alligator in a cardboard box this week but he shook that box fiercely and then escaped! Campbell has been feeding the alligator so he won't be hungry enough to eat us and apparently he really, really likes her to cook eggs. Next time you see Campbell, be sure to ask her about the alligator. I'm sure she'll tell you all about how he lives in our hallway :)
9. In my ongoing attempt to tame Maggie's hair, I tried her first real pigtail. I think it turned out pretty cute!
This year we were so excited to celebrate New Year's Eve with my sister, Sara, and her new husband, John as they got married! It was a unique and beautiful celebration. They had a small wedding ceremony and reception at my parents' house and then a big party later that night at the Marriott hotel in Columbia. I was a Bridesmaid and Campbell was a flowergirl. Here are just some of our favorite pictures:
The Comptons with the beautiful bride
Mommy and her baby girl
Daddy and his baby girl
Love Maggie's grin in this one!
the happy couple with all the children (Potter- ring bearer, Campbell and Macy- flowergirls, Ethan- junior usher)
they had a sparkly send off
dancing to a Norah Jones song...we both thought it was our wedding song and then realized we were wrong. oops
will Nancy (aka Nanny and my other mother) catch the flowers?
Check out our sweet flower girls, Campbell and her cousin, Macy
To celebrate the New Year and continue both our pursuit of better health and our support for the March of Dimes, Robbie and I are starting a new endeavor called March for Babies, Run for Dimes.
March for Babies, Run for Dimes is a take off on the old bike-a-thons we used to do as kids where people would sponsor you so much for every mile you could ride in a given time. MARCH FOR BABIES, RUN FOR DIMES is similar in that you can sponsor me and/or Robbie for every mile we run between January 1st and April 15th.
Our March for Babies in Rock Hill will be April 30th. In the past 3 years, Team Campbell has donated over $5,000. Our goal this year is $1500. Once again, Team Campbell will be walking to support the March of Dimes. (We will have another post soon about how you can join us in the walk.) One little change this year is that Robbie and I will be running to celebrate the end of March for Babies, Run for Dimes. We will also be running in our first 10k in April. On April 2nd, we will be running the annual Cooper River Bridge Run. I chose April 15th as our end date because it's halfway between the two races and so that we will have time to get the totals and everything submitted to the March of Dimes in time.
To train for these races, we will have to run regularly. Through this plan you can support us by both keeping us accountable for running and raise money for the March of Dimes. You simply choose an amount of dimes per mile that you would like to donate. For example, if you choose to commit to donate 1 dime per mile for me and I run 100 miles between 1/1 and 4/15, you would donate $10. Or you could choose to support both me and Robbie for 5 dimes per mile. Say I run 150 miles and Robbie runs 160 miles. You would then donate $155 (150 x .50 + 160 x .50 = 155). Our training program estimates we will run about 150 miles but we will cap the miles at 200 for each of us so that when you make your pledge, you know what your max may be.
We will check in each week on the blog so you can keep track and will have tickers on the right of the screen. We will also post each run on Facebook so you can follow us there.
So, please consider making a New Year's resolution to support us and the March of Dimes. Just leave a comment and tell us if you want to support me and/or Robbie and how many dimes per mile you would like to pledge. Thank you so much for your support!
I have to give credit to my friend, Rhonda, who is a fellow new runner and preemie mom. We both had very similar ideas and she created the title and logo.
