March of Dimes Update

Wow! We have been so incredibly busy lately. It's been so much fun, such an honor, and exhausting all in one, but mostly I can describe it as a blessing. Part of me is looking forward to a little bit slower pace and less busy-ness, but part of me is really going to miss all this.

The highlight of last week (or at least what I remember tonight at 9:00) was on Thursday when I had a radio interview with KTOK and KXY. I had to arrive at the studio at 6:45 a.m. You know...that's before the rooster gets up! I usually take Ryan with me to all of the March of Dimes events unless it is not appropriate. I felt this was one of those "not appropriate times", so Ryan stayed with Daddy and Nana until I got home. I could just picture it...Sweet little two year old...cranky because he had to wake up 3 hours earlier than normal...wanting to run around...pulling on microphones...unplugging cords...the station goes dead...all because a 2-year-old somehow found, and unplugged the main power supply. Ohhhh that thought scares me. I have to stop with my imaginary travels now. Anyway...Courtney (March of Dimes) and I were interviewed by two different stations regarding the March of Dimes and March for Babies. I got to talk about Ryan and our story with each interview, which, as you know I can't think of very many things better to talk about. I have a copy of the KTOK interview that I would love to post on the blog, but I can't figure out how to post a single Mp3. Does anyone know how to do that?

On Monday of this week I presented our story to the elementary and middle-school kids at our local school. I love talking to the kids. Ryan ran around the entire time. A funny story: I was presenting Ryan's story while he was running around. He found a little girl that, for some reason, he took a liking too. He promptly turned around and sat in her lap like he belonged and began to just listen. The little girl didn't know what to think about that, but her teacher reassured her that he would get up in just a minute. She kept saying she didn't want him in her lap, so some of the other kids nearby starting saying they wanted him to sit in their laps. (The little girl was in the 4-year-old class). Ryan doesn't know a stranger and has this incredible ability to love all people and enjoy all people. He repeated this scenario when the middle-school classes entered the gym for the presentations. He found someone and immediately became their friend and lap buddy.

Monday evening my brother and I went to the March of Dimes Sports Headliner Banquet. It was amazing! And by far the fanciest place/event I've ever been too...black ties, formal dresses, steak dinner and wine. Oh my! It was an incredible experience. Sports heroes such as Sam Bradford (OU quaterback, Heismann trophy winner), Jonathan Horton (Olympic silver and bronze medalist), Courtney Paris (OU basketball), Anthony Kim (golf), Matt Fodge (OSU punter), and others were in attendance and were presented awards and recognition. I think may favorite was when the Empire Elite Cheerleading Squad was recognized and awarded. It is a cheerleading squad of children with handicaps, neurological or physical, and many of them were preemies. This is one of the March of Dimes big fundraising events. I don't know how much money was raised, but it would be interesting to find out.

Tuesday...we stayed home....awww...breathe.

Wednesday was the March of Dimes Lobby Day at the the State Capitol.

Since I had never been inside our State Capitol it was a very neat experience, and, you know me...I had to take some pictures. Ryan also went to the Capitol although his unfit mother neglected to get him in any good pictures. It was so busy at the Capitol that day that it would have been impossible for me to let him run around in order to capture a good picture. He would have been lost in the crowd immediately.
Here we are with the National Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes. They are from Virginia and their little girl was born at 25 weeks, but was a victim of IUGR, so when she was born she only measured at about 21 weeks gestation. She is such a little miracle...and such a little fighter.

There were several other groups at the Capitol that day including this very large group. If you heard anything about the Boston Tea Party protests happening around the nation then you now know what this group is. There was an amazing turn out for the event (protest...whatever you want to call it) of over 5000! I stopped and listened for a while, so now I guess I can say that, "yes" I have been to a protest. Hmmmm.

On Thursday morning Ryan and I went to a breakfast at the Renaissance Women's Hospital. They are one of the presenting sponsors for the March for Babies this year. Basically that means they are one of the top-dollar contributors. The National Ambassador family was also at the breakfast. Kaitlyn and Ryan became instant friends.


The Oklahoman came during the end of the breakfast and both the National Ambassador family and our family were interviewed. We ended up on the 2nd page of the paper this morning: **READ THE ARTICLE HERE** Woo Hoo!

After breakfast Ryan and I went to visit Rebecca in the hospital and her Ryan was there too. Our two Ryans played together nicely at the hospital although my Ryan was so crazy and wild that Rebecca and I didn't get to visit that much. Rebecca will be 35 weeks pregnant on Monday and her doctor has said he will induce/c-sect. at week 36. She's just about to make it! Hooray for Rebecca!

After our visit to the hospital Ryan and I went to lunch with the March of Dimes staff and the National Ambassador family. I was able to sit down with the family and really listen to their story and get to know them a little more personally. I just love their little girl. I wish we lived closer together. We could be really good friends. The National Ambassador family flew out of Oklahoma that evening.

Like I said this week has been really busy. Our busy days seem to be coming to an end though. Thursday was our last scheduled event with the March of Dimes. Our last big event is the March for Babies walk on May 2nd. Congratulations to our team...we've already raised $4,717. That's amazing!! Good job team!