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March for Babies 2012 - Team His Middle Name!

4/30/2012

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Good evening His Middle Name family, friends and followers. Yesterday was our local March of Dimes "March for Babies" and the city was painted purple! I had to give myself the day after the festivities to just let it all soak in before I wrote this blog post, as it was such an amazing and uplifting event. I just wanted to be in the moment and enjoy the high that the morning had left me with, which seemed to last all day and well into the night. With that said, yesterday could not have been a more perfect day to reflect, honor and celebrate all of the babies born too soon. To see my community rally the way it did - with family teams connecting and sharing and strangers becoming friends - was so humbling it brought me to tears on more than one occasion. Everyone at the march was connected in this deeply personal way, even though our experiences with prematurity and how it has affected our lives may be different. Whether we were marching in remembrance of a child passed or a child that beat the odds, we were there to march together for the same goal - for stronger, healthier babies. Can you imagine that kind of energy in the air? It was electric and contagious!
We started our day like any other .... with breakfast! I love to host get togethers and parties, so I was happy to host a Team His Middle Name breakfast with all the trimmings before the march!

                                   
PictureThe city in the morning sunlight - beautiful!


Then it was off to the art museum for a morning of fun: team registration, incentives and give aways, music and meeting up with friends before the four mile march down the avenue!

F.Y.I. Team His Middle Name raised $700 - which was astounding given our team goal of $1000. That was 70% of our goal!!! I am so proud of our family, friends and coworkers for donating and sponsoring us in this year's march. It was incredibly generous of each and every individual that donated, and Team His Middle Name is so thankful! The money raised will go to funding important research, programs and education, and most importantly, help other mothers have healthy, full term pregnancies.
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Needless to say, we had a blast (especially Sutton - I don't think he's ever seen more babies in one place)! As we started the march, we kept getting stopped and smiled at because of our son's big personality and festive stroller. It was pretty hard to miss because I had decorated it with signs, quotes and a banner that had our team logo and Sutton's birth weight: 2 pounds, 5 ounces. His weight was even printed on the back of our team shirts - behind us, but an ever present reminder of how far he had come. How far we had come as a family. As we marched down the avenue, I had a moment to stop and look out at all the people that had come together to march. I couldn't even see where the march began or ended, as the crowd spanned further than the eye could see. I looked on, awestruck. I had a moment to thank God for giving me and my family the opportunity to be apart of something so special. I thanked God for giving us Sutton. And for a moment, I thought I could hear my own heart pounding out a song of gratitude, only to look over and see a small band marching along, drumming out a beat. It wasn't my heart beating loudly, but I sent my thoughts of gratitude and my hopes for the future out with those drum beats and into the wind ..... who knows where they'll end up.


In memory of what will never be again ...                                      
                                                                          ... and in honor of Sutton Matthew.
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A Little Bird Told Me – Day 5 of Fibroid Awareness Week!

4/26/2012

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Get to your twitter accounts and Facebook accounts and spread the word! It’s time to take control and talk about uterine fibroids so that other women can hear your voice and learn from your experience. The last day of Fibroid Awareness Week will be open to interpretation, but I encourage you to get out there and make your voice heard!  Talk to your partner, your closest girlfriends, seek a support group and most importantly, talk to your doctor about fibroids and your treatment options. It’s important to remember while many fibroids are small and won’t need treatment, others can grow and spread aggressively. And although it is not common that a woman would have complications during pregnancy due to fibroids, it’s certainly not unheard of. My pregnancy is a shining example of that. That’s one of the reasons why I always encourage the women in my life to see their OBGYNs before planning a pregnancy and to keep healthy in general. That’s also why the mission of His Middle Name has grown in many ways to be not only a resource for preemie parents, but advocate women and mothers as well. I’m very proud of what His Middle Name is becoming, and I hope you are enjoying the journey as well.

P.S. If you are not sure how to start the conversation on fibroids and you have a twitter account, you can always ask questions and get advice here.

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Fibroids and Hysterectomy –Day 4 of Fibroid Awareness Week!

4/25/2012

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This week has been very special to me posting these online initiatives for all women and mothers that suffer from uterine fibroids. I hope in some way, each of you has been able to learn more about your body, your health goals and any treatment options you may be considering. I want you to know that I have been there and you are not alone in your quest for freedom from fibroid tumors. One of the treatment options that I have gently touched on in the past is the option of hysterectomy. For some women, hysterectomy is a personal choice after years of dealing with fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse or heavy menstrual cycles. For other women, like me, it is not a choice at all but a necessary surgery to maintain a quality of life and move forward in health without further complications. For other women, hysterectomy is a life saving surgery, especially for those that suffer from gynecologic malignancies. Whatever avenue you find yourself at a cross roads with, learning more about the different types of hysterectomy and what to expect before and after surgery will help you feel less overwhelmed and more confident.
One of my very favorite websites (and a go to tool for my own questions and concerns) is the website Hyster Sisters. Hyster Sisters (http://www.hystersisters.com/) is a premier woman to woman support community, offering up to date hysterectomy information, support forums, recovery assistance and news articles. Reading the patient stories and step by step guides really helped me prepare mentally for my surgery, and after my surgery, it was a great way to chart my progress and ask questions. I have to admit that even though I felt supported by my wonderful husband, family and friends, it was a different type of support that I received from Hyster Sisters. The support I received was from women who had been there first hand, and it seemed to me all the women were cheerleaders for one another.
If you are considering hysterectomy as a surgery option, I encourage you to visit Hyster Sisters, browse their user friendly website, and sign up to join. Without taking the place of your doctor, the website offers good advice and a comforting community. It’s free to become a member and believe me, once you start visiting the website you will be addicted! They also have a Facebook page for quick questions and discreet online support. I don’t know what I would have done without such a wonderful resource, and I hope if you are faced with hysterectomy that it will offer the same to you.

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One Woman’s Journey – Day 3 of Fibroid Awareness Week!

4/24/2012

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For women suffering from uterine fibroids, it is important for them to know that they are not alone. Tomorrow evening will be a great opportunity to connect with another woman who also suffers from fibroids, and learn about her journey and ask questions. That’s really what this week is all about – encouraging women to ask questions and take the reins when it comes to their health! I consider it a gift that another woman is willing to share her personal struggles with uterine fibroids – from diagnosis to treatment – and share it with the world. The following information should come in handy if you are interested in learning more:

  • “15 Minutes with a Patient" – A personal question and answer session on Facebook with a fibroid patient. Q&A session starting at 4pm PDT (7pm EDT). Listen, learn and share your own story! Sign up on Facebook to RSVP here.

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Learning in your PJs – Day 2 of Fibroid Awareness Week!

4/23/2012

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Got the Monday blues? Shake them off tomorrow night with some hot chocolate and your lap top in bed! Tomorrow’s event will be an intimate, engaging way to learn about fibroids and receive new information on treatment options. This featured webinar is free, will connect you to women around the globe and you can even chat with a doctor and get some answers to any questions you may have. It’s time to forge that conversation …. guidance and peace of mind is only a few clicks away. You can register online here.

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    I’m a southern gal to the core who lives for my family, has a serious weakness for chocolate, a penchant for anything that can be monogrammed and loves to craft and sew. Thank you for your interest and welcome to His Middle Name!

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