March for Babies 2011

Our family at the March for Babies 2011!

MayBaby stayed put during the walk, but was still quite the center of attention. Nothing a large group of preemie parents to recognize how wonderful full-term is! It felt great to be walking, even though I really have a pregnant lady waddle now!


(I always forget how much taller Michael is until I see us in photos. I don't even come up to his shoulders! Makes me wonder how old Greyson will be before he is taller than me.)

30DBC - Day 11: another picture of you and your friends

This is my friend Stehpanie, her son Zachary, Greyson and me at the 2010 March for Babies! We will be walking together again this year!

Greyson was born at 29 weeks gestation weighing a hardy 3 pounds, 4 ounces. He is now a happy, healthy two year old and soon to be a BIG BROTHER!

This year we are expecting a baby girl - MAY BABY! We are praying for 40 weeks! On May 1st, the day of this year's March for Babies May Baby will officially be FULL TERM! While we still have a few weeks after the walk to keep baby cooking - we will be in the "Safe Zone".

Please help me celebrate the 40 weeks that we hope to give May Baby by helping us reach our $400.00 goal! That's just $10.00 for every week we hope to keep our sweet baby safe!

Please help me give thanks to the March of Dimes and Overland Park Regional Medical Center NICU, for helping Greyson survive and thrive. May Baby will also be delivered at OPR - but we hope to skip the NICU this time! So far it looks like we will!

November is Prematurity Awareness Month!

Before I had a preemie, I never thought that having a preemie could happen to me. I thought only women who do drugs, smoke, don't get pre-natal care, or women who are older, carrying multiples or are over-weight were at risk for having a preemie. It never crossed my mind that someone like me - someone who is in good health, who takes pre-natal vitamins, who has smoked less than 10 cigarettes in my whole life, who hardly ever drinks and certainly never while pregnant, and gets good pre-natal care - how could I give birth early.

Well, the sad truth is that ANYONE could give birth pre-term. Pre-term is anything before 37 weeks. And even some 37 weekers have issues. In fact 1 in 8 babies will be born pre-term. 1 in 8!

This is from the March of Dimes:

Why Women Deliver Early

In nearly 40 percent of premature births, the cause is unknown. However, researchers have made some progress in learning the causes of prematurity. Studies suggest that there may be four main routes leading to spontaneous premature labor.

Infections/Inflammation. Studies suggest that premature labor is often triggered by the body's natural immune response to certain bacterial infections, such as those involving the genital and urinary tracts and fetal membranes. Even infections far away from the reproductive organs, such as periodontal disease, may contribute to premature delivery.

Maternal or fetal stress. Chronic psychosocial stress in the mother or physical stress (such as insufficient blood flow from the placenta) in the fetus appears to result in production of a stress-related hormone called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH may stimulate production of a cascade of other hormones that trigger uterine contractions and premature delivery.

Bleeding. The uterus may bleed because of problems such as placental abruption (the placenta peels away, partially or almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery). Bleeding triggers the release of various proteins involved in blood clotting, which also appear to stimulate uterine contractions.

Stretching. The uterus may become overstretched by the presence of two or more babies, excessive amounts of amniotic fluid, or uterine or placental abnormalities, leading to the release of chemicals that stimulate uterine contractions.

These four routes are not the only things to consider. Other factors, such as multiple pregnancy, inductions and cesarean sections, can also play a role. But knowledge about these four routes may help scientists develop more effective interventions that can halt the various chemical cascades that lead to premature birth.

In our case is was cause #3 - bleeding. I bled huge amounts on and off for 11 days before it was determined that for the safety of both Greyson and myself he had to be delivered. It turned out that nearly 20% of our placenta had already sheered off. I developed Placenta Previa. I had none of the risk factors for PP - just bad luck. That's what it was, there was nothing I could have done to prevent what happened. It's taken a long time to let go of the guilt that goes along with having a preemie. But it just happens.

All that to say this. Anyone could have a preemie. Be thankful for every single day/week you are pregnant. 40 weeks - we all deserve 40 weeks. I'm praying I get all 40 this time.

March for Babies 2010

THANK YOU to our Donors!
Because of you we were able to raise $700.00 for Babies this year!
$700.00! This is AMAZING!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
(Scott & Tricia and Jeff - You should be on this sign too!)


We walked for Max too - You are already a SUPERBABY!
We can't wait to walk with you next year!



The SuperBabies, The NICU staff and another team of NICU grads!


Stephanie, Zach, Greyson and me.
I love that Zach and Grey are having a conversation!


Look at how much these boys have grown in a year!


I can't believe how far my SuperBaby has come!

An Eternity

I know I've written about getting to hold Greyson for the first time before. But it's a very profound moment in my life. It's the moment when I really became a mother. I know that I was his mother for those precious 29 weeks he was growing inside me. But it really clicked that I was responsible for this precious, tiny gift when he was placed in my arms.

I make it sound so sweet and magical when really it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. Holding your baby for the first time should be a joyous moment, not one marred by cords, wires and a ventilator. It shouldn't take two nurses to manage all those tubes and wires and to be there if something happens. (Knowing that 2 highly skilled NICU nurses were standing guard to protect my son in case my holding him in someway hurt him was both comforting and horrifying.)

(I had his tubes tucked under my arm, holding them for dear life.)

Luckily, it went smoothly, his stats remained steady, actually better than normal, and he really opened his eyes for the first time. I like to think he knew he was finally where he should be - in his momma's arms.

I know in the world of the NICU, 3 days isn't much, but as fellow preemie mom Kara McBurney said; "6 weeks is only longer than 36 hours on a calendar - any time you aren't able to hold your brand new baby is an eternity!"

This year we are walking not just for our son, but for every mom who has to wait an eternity before holding their own precious child.

WE HIT OUR GOAL!

Thanks to Alexa Jones, Heidi Gorman and Elly Richards
(and all our amazing supporters) we reached our goal!

As of Tuesday afternoon Wednesday morning we have raised
$585 $610.00! for March for Babies!

We have even topped our stretch goal of $600!!

THANK YOU!

I'm getting so excited about the Walk this weekend!


How high can it go? Just because we hit our goal doesn't mean you can't donate.
Every dollar we raise is one more dollar that helps a great cause!

THANK-YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!

We've raised $422.00 $527.00 for the March for Babies so far
thanks to our wonderful, amazing donors!

Thank You:

• Callie Amick
• Jennifer Robinson (& Max)
  
• Vicki Jones
  
• Claire and Meredith Ackerman
• Grandma Stormy
  
• Sandra Blackwood
• Amy Christensen
• Kyle Coleman Manuel
• Stacy Neff
• Becky Nutt (& Isaac)
  
• Christena Pazos (& Radar)
  
• Grandma Ann
  
• Emily Rollheiser
• Vivaan Shringi
• Gail Thompson
• Leslie Welch Travis
• Kristy Wendt

I am honored beyond words that you have donated to our cause!

Every dollar brings us closer to our goal and helps premature babies and their families.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!



We are only $153.00 $48.00 away from reaching our goal!
I know we can do it!

March of Dimes Last Year!

I'm getting excited about this year's March for Babies!
We still need to raise just over $200.00!

A NICU Flashback

I don't know if this is the way other NICU mom's handle things, but it seems that I had blocked out the first month or so of Greyson's NICU stay. Yes, I can see him in my minds eye in that first room, I look at the photos and I remember it vividly, but there is a level of emotional detachment. I don't "feel" what it was like anymore.

Mainly, when I think about Greyson in the NICU I remember the last 3 weeks. When we were trying to get him to eat orally, when we were trying to get his reflux under control, when we could hold him almost whenever we wanted and when we could see the door to home. That's what I think about. I feel the excitement and joy of finally being close to taking my son home.

Well, that's how I felt until yesterday.

My friend sent a text message saying that her son (Max born at 25 weeks) had his first heart rate and O2 drop. That the NICU staff rushed in to his room to help before he bounced back. The moment I read that, right there in the produce section of Hy-vee, I had my first full-blown NICU flashback.

My heart started racing and that fear, that intense, deep to the bone fear overwhelmed me. I could hear the monitors and smell the horrible soap we used to scrub in. I could see my baby turn blue in my arms all over again. And worse, when I wasn't even allowed in his room because there were so many staff in the room trying to help him. When all I could do was stand by helplessly watching. It was all I could do not to cry right there among the oranges and pears.

I spent the first month plus of Greyson's life living with the fear that I wouldn't get to take him home. That kind of terror is a feeling you only know when you truly fear for child life. It's a feeling I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, let alone a friend. I'm so sad that they have to go through this. Being a NICU mom is not a club you want your friends to join.

I was literally shaky for hours after talking to her. Not just because of my flashback, but because I know this is just one of many scary moments they will have and wish it wasn't so. I told her it was "normal" because it is. These frightening, awful moments are normal for preemies. I can't even count how many times Greyson's O2 levels plummeted, how many times I saw the color drain from his face, how many times I was scared to the depths of my being. It's normal for preemies - but it is not normal for mommies. It is the absolute furthest thing from normal.

Once I got home I hugged my little boy, who at that time just wanted to run around the house, and was so grateful that we made it through those awful weeks and months. Thankful that he is happy and healthy and while I still worry about him - I don't live with that fear anymore.

And I pray that Max has an uneventful NICU stay, that his drops are few and that he bounces back quickly from them and that soon their NICU stay will just be a memory of the "easy" parts, like teaching your child to eat, holding him close even when attached to wires and seeing that the door to home isn't too far away anymore.




Your gift will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

A Long Overdue March for Babies Post

Greyson spent the day proving just how smart and strong he is. When he was playing in the yard with Grandma P he tried to turn on the hose - after seeing me do it only three times this weekend. He brought me the books he wanted me to read before bed. He opened his drawers, picked out a pair of BabyLegs, walked over and handed them to me, then proceeded to stick his foot out as if to say "Put these on my legs!".

He's a kid with things to do, places to go and he's not going to let anything get in his way. Not even prematurity!



When I look at him these days it's easy to forget those first few months. Those scary weeks when he would stop breathing and needed so much assistance from a team of doctors and nurses. Back when I couldn't hold him, when he had tubes and wires coming out of him, when a machine breathed for him because he wasn't even supposed to be in the world for another 2+ months.





It's hard for me to believe that the little boy running around out house causing chaos is the same little 3lbs bundle I stared at through a plexi-glass issolette for hours on end. But it is him. He's just growing every day - kicking prematurity's ass!

I have the March of Dimes to thank for the all the wonderful moments I have with my crazy son. Without the research they funded there is a very real possibility that Greyson wouldn't be here today. We walk to say THANK YOU to the March of Dimes for the research they funded in the past and we are trying to raise $575 to help fund the research of tomorrow! Please donate to our cause and help make a difference in the lives of premature babies and their families. What they do has made all the difference in my life...and Greyson's.

What a Difference A Year Makes

March 9th, 2009

He was so little - but still more then double his birth-weight last March. When this photo was taken Greyson had been home with us for only 45 days. At that point he had still spent more time in the NICU then he had with us. It is so weird to think about that. Some times I forget that his first 2 months weren't spent at home. And then I remember, and I get a little sad at the time we missed together.

Who would have thought that one year later he'd be doing this?


I am astonished every day by the strides Greyson has taken this past year. He's surpassing my expectations at every turn and keeping me on my toes.

I thank the wonderful NICU staff at OPRMC and the March of Dimes for getting him home to us so we can watch him grow...and now walk! We'll be saying thanks again by walking in the March for Babies - this year Greyson will be walking at least part of it on his own two feet!

To those who have donated to us already, THANK YOU!
And to those who haven't yet - just click here. The walk in is 50 days and we are not quite to half our goal yet. Please help us get there!

My March For Babies Speech...

I was asked to speak at a March of Dimes/March for Babies event this morning. I was honored to do this and to share a little bit of Greyson's story.

Version One of my speech talked about how I didn't even see my son until hours after his birth, how my first glance at him was of the back of his head as they wheeled my gurney past his NICU room, how I got out of bed WAY sooner then I should have the next morning because I needed to touch him - to know really know that he was "okay". How I didn't get to hold him until 3 days after his birth. But my speech was getting too long - I knew it would make me cry - plus I'm in that place any longer. I no longer look at Greyson and think about the scary place we were, instead I just see the present, how strong and smart he is and how proud I am that he is my son.

So, here is what I said this morning:

Good morning, I’m Morgan Perry. Like so many other parents here this morning, I too have been touched by the March of Dimes Mission.

Also, like so many other parents out there, I think my son is a miracle and an amazing fighter. That fact that he is here at all is a testament to that. We thought we had lost him more then once during my rocky pregnancy. Towards the end of my 27th week I woke up in a pool of blood and was rushed to the hospital where I would spend the next 11 days on bed rest. My son would spend 52 days in the NICU after being born at just 29 weeks gestation.

Even though I had received steroid shots to help his lung development, Greyson still had, what the neonatologist called, “Severe Premature Lung Disease”. His chest was sunken-in and he struggled to breath even while on the ventilator.

Greyson received multiple doses of surfactant, which helped him to finally breath easier. The therapy of using artificial surfactant was developed by a March of Dimes grantee.

Greyson is now 14 months old, and just a few weeks ago we celebrated 1 year of having him happy, healthy and home. {Greyson started wailing here so I added, "And you can hear how well his lungs work now."} I like to joke that Greyson doesn’t know that he is a preemie. He is an active, funny, strong and inquisitive little boy with a flair for mischief. He may have forgotten that he is a preemie, but I know I never will. I will also never forget to be thankful for the March of Dimes and all of their donors for helping my son to finally breath.

This year please help us raise $575.00 for the March for Babies.
Greyson's Height on his first birthday (29.75 inches) equals the
height of 575 dimes stacked one on top of the other.