March on!

Wow, what a day! I was a little nervous about the weather since it was sprinkling all morning, chilly and windy. But once we got to the starting location for our March for Babies walk, it was decent! A huge thank you to mom (took this picture), Renae and Kelsie for walking with us. It really means a lot to me (us). It was a very profoundly touching and memorable day. For all the babies like our friend Logan who didn't make it, for all the babies like Finn who did and show very little residual effects from his prematurity and for all those babies in between who struggle with different challenges, this walk actually makes a difference. It felt good to participate.

The walk started at Boom Island, which is about two miles from our house! Too funny. I left my phone at home, so I wasn't sure we would be able to find our friends Matt, Amanda, Taylor and Gavin...but we did! They were walking right in front of us at the start. The walk was just under 4 miles and the route was beautiful. Finn was very tired when we arrived, but did NOT sleep the entire walk, which shouldn't surprise me, but it did...and he wasn't even very crabby! Too much to see and point at, I guess (and two aunts and a grandma to keep him entertained!).

After the walk, we headed over to get a group picture taken (I don't have a scanner, so I can't include it here, sorry!). Then the Children's NICU reunion as on site as well. I was looking forward to the reunion, but didn't have high hopes about seeing anybody we knew. But it was fabulous. We got to see Peter and Joshua (roommates in the ICC), Jill our social worker, Dr. Brassel, one of Finn's doctors and Kolton and Jonathon (roommates in the NICU). The only one we didn't get to see was Noah, which bummed me out a little bit.

I left the reunion with a great feeling in my heart. These boys, and so many others, all survived and it is because of past walkers and their contributions. The money you all helped us to raise will help babies just like them in the future. It is really amazing. A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE A DONATION TO OUR WALK!!!! You can still donate if you wanted to and kept putting it off! http://www.marchforbabies.org/sjwalsh97 They accept donations (and we get "credit" for them) through the end of May, I think!

I'll be up at 6:30 tomorrow to give Finn some apple juice before surgery! Milk until 3am and clear liquids until 7am. I didn't think he could last until surgery with nothing. Fingers are crossed that all goes well. We'll try to update as the day goes by, but might not have access.