We joined a team.
We raised money and met our goal.
We had some cute shirts made.
We decorated the kids' wagon.
A few family members traveled.
We showed up early in the morning prepared to walk 3.5 miles.
BUT NOTHING could have prepared us for such a humbling experience.
I've never done anything like this before and had no idea what we were in for.
This was for the babies!
We were walking in honor of Braylin and her big brother in heaven, Boston.
We have traveled quite a bumpy road to get where we are...
AND SO HAVE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.
Once we arrived we realized how BIG this event truly was. There were thousands of people there!
All walking in honor of babies on earth and in heaven.
As we walked and read the team shirts and signs, we realized just how many people have suffered through the same kinds of experiences. Tiny one pound babies that fought hard and made it, and some were too early to survive, and others were born silently, and some families had lost more than one baby.
There were all sorts of people walking for the same reasons we were.
NO DISCRIMINATION.
There were all colors and all types of people that have experienced, and hurt, and prayed for a baby,
JUST LIKE US.
It was emotional to be out there with baby Braylin, in my arms.
OUR FAMILY IS BLESSED.
Thanks to every person that donated to this cause.
I hate raising/asking for money, but I certainly know the money that was raised is going to a great place!
Thanks to our POWER TO PREEMIES team and our NICU pals.
It was so good to see you and the progress that our babies have made in 18 months!
BLESSINGS TO ALL.
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| Austin pushing Braylin to begin our walk |
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| Our team was gathering.... (Mom, Marla, Tina, Maci) |
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| snacks are out... |
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| we be lookin' good! (Maci, Tina, Jalee, Marla, Mom) |
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| Mom, Me, Bean |
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| One of Braylin's NICU pals, Garret! |
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| AND WE BEGIN OUR WALK! |
Now, on a lighter note, it must be said:
Braylin DID NOT LIKE THE WALK. SHE DID NOT HAVE FUN. It was wayyyyy to restricted and restrained. Braylin likes riding in her wagon... ON HER TERMS. She also likes running around... WHEN SHE CAN GO HER OWN WAY. Needless to say, we had an agenda and a PATH to walk on, so Miss America did not appreciate it at all.
We walked 3.5 miles and Braylin "complained" about 3.2 of it!
There were probably hundreds of babies out there, and I guarantee Braylin was the ONLY one that did not enjoy the outside air and stroll through the park. Unbelievable! I'll tell ya one thing, about 18 mths ago, the NICU nurses warned us of her attitude, and they did not lie.
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| about 5 steps into our walk.... |
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| Austin had a good time! |
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| Nonnye! |
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| Braylin's NICU neighbor's family! They were Team Austin! So cute! |
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| The fight with Braylin begins as others in front and behind us witness her fits! Sug is trying to please her... |
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| Now it's Nonnye's turn! |
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| Momma's turn (this lasted about 30 secs before she started crying again) |
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| Braylin is turned around because what SHE REALLY WANTS TO DO IS push the wagon! |
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| Another NICU neighbor, Jeremiah! ! |
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| Thousands of people walking for all the same reasons! Bitter sweet. |
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| Uh-oh! Aunt Bean's turn to handle Braylin! (Notice Austin is still just chillin' in the wagon like a normal child. |
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| Finally getting her way... and holding up traffic behind us! |
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| lotsa people |
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| ALMOST TO THE END! |
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| WE MADE IT! |
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| ok, ok! Push the wagon, Braylin! |
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| AUNT BEAN AND AUSTIN COOL PIC! |
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| Now she's smiling! brat. |
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| Sent our prayers and love to Boston. Thank you, beautiful baby, for changing our lives forever. |
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| waiving at Big Brother's balloons |
After our walk we decided to checkout the Fort Worth Arts Festival since we were already right there. And I'm glad we did!
Braylin had such a good time!
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| having a picnic while Sug and Braylin look at the map of events! ha ha ha! |
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| Art! Art! Everywhere! |
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| hammin' it up! |
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| she loved climbing on the plastic curbs everywhere. CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT AND A HAPPY BABY! priceless. |
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| dancing to the music and putting on quite the show! |
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| Sooooo entertaining that other people began taking pictures of her! (maybe we should have put out a tip jar) |
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| just snackin' and waivin' |
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| peek a boo! |
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| I love you more than words, little presh! Thank you for blessing our lives abundantly (and always keeping us on our toes!). |
it was a good day.
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