Meet Tessa

The app Instagram has become a huge support system for me. Who would have thought an app where you upload pictures would be a social site? I follow many kids with CP along with a few adults that have CP. I can actually call them "friends". I have emailed with some, become Facebook friends and sent medical supplies to another. Our CP circle grows all the time. It's so nice seeing others who are going through the same challenges. I don't feel so alone.

I "met" Tessa's Mom on Instagram. I saw a picture of Tessa trying to walk on her own at therapy. She reminded me very much of my Ailyn. Blonde hair and all. Tessa is 4 years old. I have had many phone conversations with her Mom. She has been a great source of information for me. I hope one day we can get our miracle babies together!  Here is Tessa's amazing story!

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Why we walk

It's that time of the year again! This will be our fourth year walking for the March Of Dimes! We always welcome new walkers, so if you are interested let me know. The walk is on April 22nd in Harford County.

I'll be honest, I thought about not doing the walk this year. My life is crazy. My days are filled to the max. I had guilt over the thought. In the end I realized I was being selfish. I could find the time to help raise awareness to something that has deeply affected my family. I am proud to share Ailyn and her story. I want the world to know how awesome she is. So here's to bright sunny skies on April 21st!!! (please)

March Of Dimes helps fund research that find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. For me the March Of Dimes helped get the 17P shot (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) It's a synthetic form of a hormone produced during pregnancy.  During both of my pregnancies a nurse would come out to my house at week 16 to give me the weekly shot. It's the first ever drug known to prevent some preterm births. 

I know what your thinking.... "She had two preterm births, how could this shot have helped?"

For some reason my body would start preterm labor very early. 18 weeks with Camden and 14 with Ailyn. I would be contracting throughout the day, then get the 17P shot and my uterus would calm down almost immediately. I looked forward to those shots! So yes, I had to early babies, but I truly believe the shot held off preterm labor as long as it could. 

In the next few weeks I will be doing posts on how prematurity has affected my family. I will also be doing posts on some of our amazing preemie friends!

I have not figured how to put the March Of Dimes badge on here. For now here is the link to donate. A donation of $10 goes a long way!  

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=3582980&ct=4&w=6093942&u=StrawberryAilyn

THANK YOU to all who have donated this year already!!!!!

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Leprechaun fun

Last year our leprechaun traps were a huge hit. Camden would bring it up several times about how we didn't catch him. He wanted to make sure we caught him this year!

Ailyn is always a challenge with any art project. She changes her mind every 2 seconds on what she wants to do. Then if your not paying attention to her, things go flying across the room. 

Cash was a big "help". He was so funny. He would take what Camden had in his hands and run. I think he tried eating 5 popsicle sticks. Between him and Ailyn I was wondering why I do this to myself.

Camden's imagination is so great. He has so much fun talking about what he would do if  he caught the leprechaun. The best was he was going to make him show us his pot of gold. I was all for that! 

And, then Ailyn got paint on her hands. It was all over for her. She sat and cried. No matter how many times I wiped her hands. Lately, she has this OCD thing going on. It's a whole other blog post coming soon! Poor thing couldn't calm herself down and decided she was done.

Cash finally fell asleep and Cam and I had some peace. 

Camden planned on staying up all night. He had a plastic bag all ready to put this leprechaun in. He lasted till 12:00AM. 

We didn't catch him. But, that didn't get Camden down. He ran up to my room early morning to tell me that he left M&M's and peed green again. 

I'm glad we started this tradition. It's fun to see their imaginations run wild! Camden is already planning next years trap.

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Paper towel lovey

Growing up I had a blanket I named "blankey". It had the best silk on it for thumb sucking. I carried my blankey everywhere. My Grandmother would try and throw it away, my my Mom always saved it from the trash bin. It was well loved. Then one day the Easter bunny took it away forever. I got blankey back when I was an adult. It now sits in a bin in my closet. 

Ailyn's "blankey" is much different. She loves wet paper towels. This started when she was very young, around 1 years old. I remember the first few times I gave her one. She sat for over an hour playing with one. 

Over the years her obsession has gotten worse. She will ask for a paper towel a few times a day. There is a ritual with it. She sits very content. It calms her down when she's overstimulated. If she is having a bad day, hand her a paper towel. If she is crying, hand her a paper towel. 

Ailyn will chew it, then take it out of her mouth and roll it over and over. She does the same thing over and  over.

This freaks most people out. I have to tell everyone she will not swallow or choke on it. I'm sure some think it's dangerous. But, honestly, it keeps her quiet and still for more than 10 minutes. I like that she found something to calm herself down. Ailyn never stops. Her mind is always working in fast forward mode. 

(don't mind the booger, she's sick....again)

I wanted to blog about it so I remember this habit forever. I'm hoping she will move on to something else self soothing and not chew paper towels at 10 years old. I can recall laying on the couch with my blanket, thumb in my mouth. It was a calming feeling. 

Cash is loving this habit too. It's been a struggle keeping him away from Ailyn. He will steal it right from her hands. Pooping out paper towels is not easy for Cash. He is getting better, but it's still an issue. 

So when Ailyn rubs her hands together that means she would like you to wet a paper towel. It's nice being able to throw it away and get a new one each time. Less germs!

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