Target Field: March of Dimes Day 2012

A year has come and gone already, I honestly can't believe this! If you aren't a regular follower of this blog, our family is HUGE supporter for the March of Dimes. Back in April a bunch of Harrison's supporters got together for the March for Babies walk to raise money for research for prematurity and health for babies.

Last August we participated in March of Dimes Day at the Minnesota Twins Target Field. Even though back at 18 months we never sat down that day, it was blast. This year was no exception, a blast. We couldn't of had a more well behaved 2.5 year old anyone could ask for (and we sat in our seats). The only thing more we could have asked for is claiming victory in the 10th inning which the Twins weren't successful doing so.

Win, no win didn't spoil this day and neither did the unusual 66 degree August day and a little rain.

Before the game we got to walk around the field and watch the first pitch being thrown out.

 He liked mascot TC from a distance.

Love this next shot. Love.

 I think (know) this was his the highlight of the game.

 

And I put away the camera, but I think an i-phone pic will do for how we were feeling in the last inning, right before the loss of the game.

We are looking forward to Target Field March of Dimes Day 2013!



Team Baby Harrison 2012

Wow...where has this month gone? We are already half way through April! I feel like I need to dust off the keys of the lap top and type this entry! I am WAY behind...I don't know when or if I will get to posting Easter Egg dying and some of those every day shots I just love and could post every single one of them...Yep, your correct in thinking I am very photo obsessed. I deal with this addiction everyday. :)

Baby Bee has got me down a little bit, but not in spirits, but energy... Rather than being the rabbit at the race and I am more of a tortoise during this first trimester. (I slept for two days straight after this walk, apparently the preparation of bringing this walk and team together wore on me).

Check out Saturday's March for Babies event. We couldn't have asked for better weather or a better turn out or better success!

Team Baby Harrison raised just over $1,500 dollars! This was spectacular being we had some set backs with fundraising early on. All together Winona raised $28,000 this year, that's almost $4,000 more than last year.

This is something to definitely smile about:

 This little girl was a preemie and so was her big brother who is an angel watching over her. And how sweet is her shirt? Her mom is AMAZING!

 Hugs with my two of my favorite ladies!

Today is Harrison's Day!

I am emotional wreck today. If you already know us/know our story (if you don't click here). We are parents to amazing little boy that made a very early entrance in the world to meet us nearly two an half years ago. This year I get to watch my little boy walk for the first time for a cause that helped saved his life. While I get to see Harrison walk I get to carry baby Bee knowing I am doing the best thing I can do---EVERYONE is fighting for healthy babies.

Today is Harrison's day! He has a strong team behind him! But please take a couple minutes out to pray and remember babies that aren't with us today.

"One day all babies will be born healthy, we just have to walk to get there."


Below is the first video of the March of Dimes walk from 2010.

Never lose hope---team Baby Harrison 2012

If you want to donate it's not too late click here! Online donations are collected through May!

Avoiding nap time...

So it's one of those days that nothing seems like it has gone right...

To rewind and relax this evening, I decided to sit down on the couch and veg out after a girl's night out grocery shopping only to find nothing on t.v., not even "House Hunters" on HGTV, which is almost ALWAYS on. I flipped to TLC, nothing worth watching so a blog entry is what you get.


Nap time was so interrupted by having to pick Whitney Dog up at the groomers today. I was sure this kid could hold out long enough while I showered and threw my sweats on to pick her up...Nope, he was out cold when I stepped out of the shower. I had to wake him to get dressed (we are naked potty training with the exception of a long tee). It was a quick trip to the groomers, we only live a few miles away, so I thought I could plop him right back down when we got home. This was obviously not the case. I read him a story, that didn't work...I told him I would be right back---30 minutes later he came walking down the stairs. So off to his bedroom we went together....after an hour of flip flopping and I said to him..."OK, do you want to try to take a nap or take photos?" (both which he equally dislikes). He shot up in his little bed and headed to the studio. No way has this EVER, EVER, EVER happened.

He was an angel! He did almost everything I asked him to do (like he read this morning's linked 52 post or something). I only wish I would have had more prepared or set-up, but every time I do that all, it back fires!

I can not WAIT for summer...I am beginning to think I mention that in every single post...but for a studio session, this will do!

I have plenty more practice shots lately that I need to edit. I got this new wood floor drop last weekend and a minty green back drop that I needed to see how each photographs for upcoming client sessions.

He had a ton of enthusiasm during this little take...but the sucker helped him focus on camera and he even shared a few licks with me.

A nap wasn't accomplished, but showing off this 2012 team Baby Harrison tee was.

FYI: He went to bed at 7:15 tonight.

It's A Preemie Thing GIVEAWAY!

Have you had a preemie or know someone that has? It's A Preemie Thing is having a GIVEAWAY for tons of stuff! And I mean TONS! The only requirement is that you have to have had a preemie.

It's A Preemie Thing is a site devoted to PREEMIES! Yeah for the love of preemies!  The website you can visit is http://www.itsapreemiething.com/  The family that started It's A Preemie Thing had a preterm baby boy at 29 weeks the day before Harrison was born. Their little boy Spencer has has some other obsticles, but is doing well. Our boys are flourishing and share the similarity of sleeping rarely through the night.

This year I am taking part in the It's A Preemie Thing GIVEAWAY giving a photography session to a family. My good friend and photographer Jenna Sefkow is also taking part in the GIVEAWAY.

Now...all you do is need to do is get signed up by clicking HERE. Good luck!


Speaking of preemies---have you signed up for Team Baby Harrison yet? Less than 60 days until the walk! Click TEAM BABY HARRISON to join us! We are excited to be putting together a raffle for the March for Babies for the Winona community March for Babies walk this year, you won't want to miss that!

Speech

Frustration.

Comparison...something we all shouldn't do, but we all do whether we admit it or not.

Today was one of those days you take a step back and ask yourself if you are doing as much as you can as a parent?

Over the past several months I have blogged several times about Harrison's language development. The answer we always get is to give it more time. Well, time ran out tonight. Honestly we are so frustrated, obviously not at Harrison, but at this whole system. It's just like when MA denied giving us assistance with Harrison's medical bills because he weighed too much at birth. Apparently 3lbs, 52 day NICU stay wasn't sick enough.

We think it's all backwards. The reason Harrison didn't qualify for speech therapy several months ago is because he wasn't old enough for therapy to be billed. Yep, it's all about the money. So, here we have been waiting and waiting and waiting. And like I mentioned in the paragraph above, we wait. Harrison was assessed by a Birth to 3 language specialist in November, he was currently 3 months behind, not enough to qualify for therapy again. So we wait, AGAIN. Harrison is due to be reassessed in February again.

Today I had a moment. A moment that has been replaying all day. It probably sounds silly to you, but hit me hard. I met a mom and another little boy (in Harrison's class) outside the door and put their coats away. The little boy turns to Harrison and says, "Hi Harrison," and he turns to his Mommy and says, "Harrison shirt is yellow." That little boy is 4 months younger than Harrison. In reality there has been several moments in the last few weeks that I just brushed off. Here is another example; Late last week I was later dropping off Harrison to his class and almost all his classmates simultaneously said, "Hi Harrison and hi Harrison's mommy," when we entered the room.

I still have a lot of people asked me how old he is, and when I tell them 2, they greet him and there is maybe a smile from Harrison, but nothing else. And to clarify, he isn't a shy child. I get the impression that everyone is looking for him to say something back to them---maybe that is just me overreacting, I don't know anymore.

What I would give to hear Harrison greet his peers, what I would give to end his/our frustration with communicating...and what I would give most is to hear him say he loves me."

Doug and I will be looking into therapy through Gundersen this week, something has to be done. I am no longer accepting a 15 word vocabulary for a 2 year old, nor am I accepting "maybe he is just quiet," and we are no longer excepting the "wait and see approach." I would much rather tackle a smaller problem than wait until that problem gets bigger and then try to tackle that then.

We are also looking into teaching additional signs. Hearing loss has been ruled out 3 times.

On happier note---check out the March for Babies tab at the top of this page (right under the blog header). I finally updated it, YEAH. This is my second year on the committee for Winona County March for Babies walk. Great things are happenings this year, we have a few new teams already and donations are coming in for the day's event, it's fun to be part of the behind the scenes of a very good program.

Have you been a part of Team Baby Harrison in the past? Come back and help us make 2012 the best year yet! Click HERE to join us!


Oh and if you haven't checked out last night's post, scroll down, you won't be disappointed!