March of Dimes/March for Babies 2011

Dear Logan,

We participated in the March of Dimes/March for Babies walk again this year with Team The Arc of San Francisco.  Our team raised over $4000!  What an amazing amount and my client did a spectacular job soliciting, well, harassing, for donations.  I was fortunate and grateful enough to raise about $1000.  Not a bad amount despite all the different tragedies happening recently around the world.

We stayed over at Grandma and Yeh Yeh's house the night before the walk.  This saved us a lot of time.  I picked up Lola Lolita bright and early in the morning to head over to Fort Mason first.  Daddy, Aidan and Grandma came a little later in a separate car.  It was yet another gorgeous day at Fort Mason.  You can see the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge as we walked along the beach.  This time around, we didn't go all the whole way to the end and back.  Last year, we had a stroller for Aidan, so it was fine if we walked more.  This year, he's all on his own and it would be difficult for us to complete the whole 6.25 miles.  Grandma was the one in the best shape.  I have to say, I am very proud of Aidan.  He walked 95% of the 3 miles that we did.  I only needed to carry him towards the end of the walk.  He stayed close to Grandma most of the time, and it didn't hurt that Grandma had a whole backpack full of yummy snacks.



It was a lot of work putting together this walk for the team.  However, as Lola said, after all said and done, it was totally worth it.  My body was sore for the next two days.  My feet were tired, and my muscles were sore from carrying the heavy items in and out of my car, and up and down the hill.

However, I look forward to next year's walk!

Miss you,
Mommy

March for Babies

Dear Logan,

Sorry I didn't get to write to you earlier. It's been a busy week and I finally got to sit down in front of my computer and concentrate on writing to you. Last Saturday's walk was wonderful. There was a great turnout and it appeared that there were many more walkers this year than last year.

Team The Arc of San Francisco was able to raise about $4000! How amazing is that! More than half of that amount was raised by my clients. I was so proud of them to be so actively soliciting donations from their friends, family and coworkers. About $700 was raised by our Adobo Chicken Lunch Sale and the Coffee and Bagel Sale. An about $1000 was raised by Mommy. I am grateful that friends continue to support my effort to raise money. Even though you're not born a preemie, I still felt a close connection to all the little babies we saw at the NICU, and especially when this walk happens each year so close to your anniversary.

The night before the walk, we stayed at Grandma's house so that we didn't have to drive up to SF early in the morning. I couldn't sleep that night. My brain was too busy thinking about the walk and I was too anxious. Even though I didn't have coffee all day on Saturday, adrenaline was pumping and I was full of energy. But by the end of the day, my coffee headache came and I needed my 'drug'.

We arrived at Fort Mason at around 8:30 a.m. and I frantically tried to locate a table or a tent for our team. I then found out that only companies with big sponsors got one of the white tents. I then located a spot right next to the stage and waited for my clients and staff to arrive. People slowly arrived in groups by bus. The walk started at around 9:20 a.m. Uncle Yance and his friends joined us again this year and we all did the whole 6.25 miles. I was happy to see that some clients and staff made it all the way as well. Everyone seemed to be very excited and it didn't hurt that the weather was beautiful. Your brother walked about 2 miles with Grandma, and then sat in the stroller on his way back. I was glad I borrowed back the stroller I gave away for your brother. I wouldn't want to carry him back. I was so tired.

After the walk, we headed back to Grandma's house for a long afternoon nap. Had dinner with her and then drove back home. If we drove home right after, your brother would just sleep uncomfortably in the car and then wake up when we got home. That means none of us would be able to recuperate. The following days, I was so sore. Mommy is really out of shape.

It was a great event and I am glad we got to do this again. It's too soon to think about next year. A lot can happen in a year.

Were you watching us while we walked? We're doing it in memory of you.


Love you,
Mommy

March of Dimes - March for Babies

Dear Baby,

A Grand Total of $3613!!!! That's all the donation Team Logan The Lobster received!!!

We had such a wonderful walk today. You would be so proud of your Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Big Brother. Though we didn't do the whole 6.25 miles, we did 2/3 of it, which is the Family Walk. We got to Fort Mason right at 8 a.m. and Uncle Yance and his friend were already there. We hung out for a while, had breakfast and got some juices and snackies for your big brother. It was windy but it was nice and sunny. Mommy loves to see bright sunny blue sky. Auntie Shelley then joined us shortly and she was able to raise $200 worth of donation from her friends! Mommy also met up with her co-workers and friends from The Arc. They participated in this event because of you. Mommy is so grateful that so many staff and clients showed up for the event. Mommy will personally go back to The Arc on Wednesday and thank them all. I haven't been back since I started my maternity leave. I've been wanting to bring you back, but we never got the chance to. You're so loved by them all, even though they have never met you. You could see from the pictures below how much fun we had. Grandma was such a good sport! She was carrying and chasing after your big brother and also pushing the stroller all the way back. She got a lot more exercise than Mommy and Daddy! Mommy really needs to exercise more. My legs are already sore! Were you watching over us? Did you ask God to grant us such great weather as well?

This is your big brother with his March of Dimes shirt. Since they didn't have a kid's size, he was wearing it like a dress. Your brother loved it!



This is the poster that Mommy tried to send out the other day but couldn't make it work. So, I had to print it out myself. It's a little smaller because I didn't have legal size paper.



This is the Mission Mile poster section. You were accompanied by all these babies. Wow, look how special you are! All in the middle. Actually, another baby joined you in the special section later on.



Your big brother Aidan enjoying his juice. He had so many juice boxes today that I lost count!



Big brother was playing with Grandma's walker. He was enjoying the music most of the time, and that kept him busy and entertained.



Team Logan The Lobster! Uncle Yance, Daddy, Mommy, Big Brother, Grandma, Auntie Trinh, Yoori the Doggie, and Auntie Shelley. Mommy is waiting for the official Team picture to be e-mailed to me. Hopefully soon!



This is just a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Honey, I hope you enjoyed the picture. We did it all in memory of you. Because of you, your big brother has his first charity event. We will do more of this in the future. For now, take care of yourself and go play with the little angels.


Love you,
Mommy

Reflections of Logan's ICN stay

After Logan's month-long stay at the Intensive Care Nursery, I often wonder what would I do if I do not have any health insurance. Hospitals often say they won't turn away anyone, especially babies if they were born needed services and support like this (actually, it was written in Kaiser's Patients Bill of Rights). However, what happens when the baby is discharged? You still have to pay for ongoing medication, equipment (like Logan's oxygen supply or apnea monitor), ongoing doctor's appointments which oftentimes include seeing different specialists. All of this cost money. I am pretty sure these are not covered within that Bill of Rights. Of course, there are free clinics and General Hospitals, but we all know they are not the nicest or friendliest places, esp. when you have to wait for months to get an appointment.

This makes me realize the importance of Universal Healthcare. I am not a very political person, but I do know this has been an important issue discussed during the Presidential election. I don't know how to make it work or how much it costs, I just hope affordable healthcare can be available to all those in need. Can you imagine seeing your baby suffer and you can't bring him/her to see a doctor?

I've also been thinking about participating in the March for Babies (March of Dimes) in San Francisco on April 25. Even though Logan wasn't a preemie, I've seen so many preemies at the ICN. They were all so tiny, some weren't even 2 lbs and they had different machines hooked up to them. It was already heartbreaking for me to see my "big" boy going through all the tests, hearing all the "ding ding" sounds coming from the monitors. You just can't help but look at the monitor and go crazy whenever the alarm sounded off. I remember the nurses kept on saying, "Don't look at the monitor, but look at your baby because first, you will go crazy, and second, there isn't a monitor at home. You need to be able to tell from the face of your baby. " And they are so right on that! I can totally tell when Logan's face changes color.

Back to the March for Babies... I am not sure if I can logistically bring two kids up to San Francisco before 9 a.m., braving through traffic and the nightmare of finding parking, to participate. Not even sure if I could raise a substantial amount for the cause either. Money is tight as I am not working at the moment, plus, with the recession and all, I am hesitant to ask for donations. Maybe if I know someone is doing it, I'll just donate some money instead.

Preemies are miracles! They are fighters!