Thursday, April 26, 2007

WalkAmerica: Crunch Time


Only two more days left until the BIG day. I had such big plans this year, but due to recent events, was unable to do everything I had wanted to do in terms of fundraising.

I am so grateful to our friends, family, and blog readers, who have gotten us to where we are in terms of money raised so far. Thank you all so VERY much!

By my calculations, if everyone reading who hasn't already donated, would donate just $1.00, we could easily reach our goal! Just $1.00. That's less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks (a lot less). And it would make me so happy...

http://www.walkamerica.org/HollandEden

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

I watched your video and it made me cry. You're up $25.

I hope they can find answers. One of my friends threatened to go into premature labor for the whole second half of pregnancy. No one knew why. She made it to 36 weeks. They brought him home but a few days later he had apnea episodes that were, thank god, noticed by a nurse during a jaundice check. He was rushed to a hospital out of town and had a rough few days. Your girls went through so much more. It's not fair for tiny babies to have such a rough start in life.

Anonymous said...

Hiya, I'm delurking to let you know that you are up another $25 (for all the times I've looked at your blog). ;) Your girls are absolutely beautiful and I have a special interest in Eden because she's deaf like me. =D

Anonymous said...

OMIGOSH BIllie!! I'm at work bawling!! I love your love for your family.

Sara S-M

Anonymous said...

Your girls are beautiful, I have been following their stories for a long time now. I am also a supporter of the March of Dimes.

Can you post who the song in your video is by, I love it.

Bird's Eye View Photography said...

My donation is on the way.. thanks!

Billie said...

The song is "Lullaby" by The Dixie Chicks. I love it too!

Kacy Jean said...

You know it was very hard to read the donation screens with tears swelling in my eyes!! The best of luck on Saturday!

Anonymous said...

What a perfect song for your video. Another lurker here, who just donated as well.

I do not think these girls could have possibly ever had better parents than you and your husband! You must be the most amazing woman!

Holland and Eden are just beautiful.

Good luck in the walk!

Mom of 32 weeker

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! You have reached your goal for the Walk!

Anonymous said...

Billie,

I had the most warm,loving feeling come over me as I watched your video. You & John are amazing: what may be difficult to convey in words, you have done through your video.

May God continue to bless you and your beautiful family.

Aparna

Anonymous said...

Delurking to tell you that my starbucks money has been added to your list of contributions. Your blog never ceases to amaze me, and your video touched my heart. God bless you and your beautiful girls.

-janet

Anonymous said...

Billie,

Thank you so much for sharing your girls with us. I always check to see new pics and updates. My 15 mos old was born very premature and we almost lost him. My eyes well up with tears at the very mention of March of Dimes, we are so in debt to them. Walk America does so much more than raise money, it raises the spirits of us preemie moms...as we battle the breathing issues, cold season, and everyday events in our "preemie parent" lives. Holland and Eden are beautiful and we all love them from afar.

Take care, best of luck in the walk and blessings.

Courtney

Anonymous said...

Your video is beautiful, and so moving. Your blog inspires me as a parent. Best of luck with your walk! I have added a small donation.
Sheila aka tripleblessings

Anonymous said...

Made my donation....it was easy....I don't like Starbuck's coffee!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! You have now raised more than your goal!

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the weather is good for your walk.

You are an inspiration to moms everywhere, even if they don't have a preemie!

Anonymous said...

Congradulations on reaching your goal. I LOVE the video. The girls are adorable. You and John are so lucky to have them and they are so lucky to have you as parents. I think research is needed into all disabilities that affect children. I think research to prevent premature births is a great start. Although, I am Canadian, I donated $28 towards your walk because I know findings from research will likely benefit children everywhere, not just in the United States. I was not a preemie but I was born with Asperger syndrome (cause is likely genetic) and even though I consider myself to have a very good quality of life, I would like to prevent my future children from having to go through the struggles that I went through and still face today.

Anonymous said...

wow. that video is great. i am wiping my eyes and honestly, my heart is about to burst... they are great. you are great.

i'm so happy you made your goal.
did my donation ever post or what?? well, no matter what the moeny all goes to the march of dimes, which is the point! love you.

lis

Minnesota Momma said...

Very, very touching video. Boy, did it bring me back to that hospital room. I can't believe how similar your girls and my girls NICU stay was!

We are gearing up for the walk this weekend too. Good luck with yours! God's Blessings to you all!

Anonymous said...

We've never been able to manage the local walk ourselves, it always falls on a bad weekend...so my donation this year is to you in honor of Holland and Eden and my own twins, 29 weekers who turned 5 this month.

Kendra Lynn said...

Okay...I cried, I couldn't help it.
They are so precious, so special.
I'm glad you have them, and that I get to visit your site almost every day.

Love to you all.

Kendra

Anonymous said...

Billie - I posted my donation to the site -- I hope you exceed your goal!! Love to you and yours, Kathy Wallace

Anonymous said...

I love your blog, and as someone else said I love the love you have for your family. The photos don't do justice to how beautiful you all are.

Jennifer said...

Yes, I'm crying at work. You've got $10 from me!

Preemies are so special :)

Anonymous said...

I work with children all the time and I nominate Billy and John for parents of the year!!! Take this $100.00 for the walk.

Anonymous said...

WOW
That was an amazing montage of all the things you guys have been through. It made me cry!

Mikayla

Anonymous said...

Thank you for allowing us to share in your journey with these adorable miracles of yours. I've donated to this organization before, but will now donate through your walkamerica. God bless you. Connie W.

Anonymous said...

billie - can we no longer go back and read previous posts or am i missing something?

i was telling a friend about you guys, and she wathced the video, and cried and cried.

love you guys.
lis

Kim said...

Add me to the list of people who welled up watching this video. Your girls are miracles, you and John are amazing and all four of you are beautiful. Wish I could have donated more to you walk.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I'm one of those stalkers who have followed Holland and Eden's story almost since they were born, but never dared to comment. But I totally had to delurk today to tell you that they are honestly two of the most beautiful children I have ever seen. Such joyful smiles...

E said...

Great video. I think you are going to have to start making more of them!

Anonymous said...

Wow, Billie, the donation even worked from Germany!I wasn't sure at all if one could make the international donation! Great video, hugs and kisses to your awesome girls!

Tonya said...

your video was beautiful :)

Anonymous said...

You and your family have inspired me and my family since I began to follow your story a while back. Thanks to your inspiration, Team Noelani (in honor of our own 24 weeker) raised over $2,800 for the walk! Your girls are so beautiful and they are in my prayers consistently. God bless you all.
Nancy

Anonymous said...

We need to connect. I live in MI and I had 2 pregnancies after having preemie twins at 25 weeks. One of those pregnancies was a second set of twins. Email me maureenvh@comcast.net.

Stacy said...

Billie -

Just watched your video - how incredible. It was so neat to watch the girls and slowly be able to pick them out in the preemie pictures (don't all preemies look the same).

I also had a friend who's (full-term) son was recently diagnosed with PVL and hypotonic CP. I gave her your website. She's already told me how much it has touched her.

I just realized today that Holland & Eden were born on Tanner & Morgan's original due date. I hadn't made the connection before.

We do our March of Dimes this weekend - we don't have as hefty goals as you, but we're excited to have raised about $400 so far!

Anonymous said...

ok... i can't take it anymore. how'd the walk go? how are the girls? give us some love! :-)
lisa

Anonymous said...

yhyh tel us ppppppppllllllllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeee

Andi Burnett said...

Oh boy, lots of tears here ... both from this video and the one you posted on the CP list. Way to go Eden! Avery just crawled for the first time recently and the tears were unstoppable.

Your last month has been so much like our March/April last year, with both our guys taking turns in the hospital and the family being split up for so long. I completely understand how you were feeling and I'm so glad to see you are all home now.

When we were hanging out in the hospital, I brought my laptop and created a video similar to yours but I never took the time to publish it. I will have to do that soon!

Take care!!
Andrea

Jessica said...

You video is BEAUTIFUL and so are your girls. Just precious. I am in tears!

Anonymous said...

Amazing girls who have come from amazing parents! Thankyou for sharing their story with us that movie is beautiful.

I have a movie of my daughter Airlie Fae who was born 12weeks too early. If you like to take a look please go to www.momentbymoment.com.au and look in the our inspiration area.


Love can take you to some amazing places.