#WhyIWalk

Nature Walks {Summer Bucket List}

Amber Leave a comment

Either in the morning or before bedtime, we take a walk around the neighborhood together.  I picked up tin buckets from Target’s One Spot, and sometimes the kids bring them to collect treasures found on our walk.  They received butterfly nets as birthday gifts, and we take them along sometimes.  We haven’t captured a butterfly yet, but George caught another flying insect one night.

It’s always a great adventure searching for acorns, pebbles, flower petals, and leaves.  Taking walks together has been great for burning off extra energy, making and sharing observations, chatting with our neighbors, exploring the world, and practicing walking independently.  Since the kids do really well walking together, we rarely ever use strollers and are less reliant upon cart containment in stores.

When we take walks close to bedtime, the kids usually wear pajamas.
  

In our neighborhood, there’s a wide walking trail that curves around a creek.  It’s the perfect place to spy animals in their habitats.   We have to keep an eye out for snakes though (YIKES!!!).
  

  1. Movies
  2. Sea Life Aquarium
  3. Train ride
  4. Fire station tour
  5. Library story time
  6. Sprayground
  7. Zoo
  8. Bahama Buck’s
  9. Frozen yogurt
  10. Community pool
  11. Grill dinner outside
  12. Water Table
  13. Inflatable Pool
  14. Sprinklers
  15. Ice Cream
  16. Indoor playgrounds
  17. Lee’s Grilled Cheese
  18. Blow bubbles
  19. Chalk drawings
  20. Board games
  21. Play dates
  22. Summer Reading Club
  23. Dance classes
  24. Fireworks
  25. Sleep over with grandparents
  26. Nature Walks
  27. Bounce house
  28. Popsicles
  29. S’mores
  30. Sparklers
  31. Water pistol duels

hugs,

Amber

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March for Babies

Amber 2 Comments

March of Dimes

This year as we prepared for our third March for Babies, I felt compelled to do a little more research about the background.  I always knew it was an organization we supported due to our personal experience with premature birth and stint in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but didn’t know (or perhaps had forgotten) the full history.

The March of Dimes was originally founded by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 as National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP) due to his personal experience with paralysis from polio.  Through research grants, the polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk, MD and Albert Sabin, MD.  Once the original mission as accomplished, the organization later changed its mission to the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality.   Since that time, March of Dimes has supported research into the cellular and molecular basis of genetic diseases, developmental processes and abnormalities, and the epidemiology of premature birth to improve medical diagnosis and develop treatments for a wide range of birth defects and developmental disorders.

The March of Dimes is credited with leading the way to discover genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. They were instrumental in the research for surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress and helped initiate the system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies.  These two initiatives  were critical to our family since all four babies were born in respiratory distress and immediately admitted to the NICU. Finally, the March of Dimes Folic Acid Campaign achieved a dramatic reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects, birth defects of the brain and spine.  Due to my diagnosis of MTHFR, early folic acid supplements helped me carry the quadruplets as long as I did.

Today, the March of Dimes official mission is,

“To improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, infant mortality, and premature birth.” 

In case you wonder exactly where donations are used, The March of Dimes spends 76¢ of every dollar raised in March for Babies to support research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives.

MoD support

This year marked our third year to walk as a family team.  Our first walk was a bit impromptu, but we found the walk to be an empowering experience.   Last year was the first year we rallied a team to join us and purchased team t-shirts, which gave us a sense of cohesion.  This year, I was hesitant to walk knowing George couldn’t join us due to work, but our family and friends promised to help me and rally around our family team.  With that spirit, I ordered custom-made t-shirts from Custom Ink that would help identify our team members during the walk.  Seeing our small sea of sapphire blue in the crowd warmed my heart and reminded me why we walk each year.

circle_team_years_3

MoD2015

Friends from all aspects of our lives joined us for the walk, and we appreciated their support immensely.

Twins, triplets & quads, oh my!

Twins, triplets & quads, oh my!

MoD2015

Unfortunately, Custom Ink didn’t have infant t-shirts available. My artistic friend, Jen, hand painted a custom tank dress for this beauty.

MoD2015

Nisey and Poppa were a huge help to me. Without George by my side, they helped me get everyone ready and off to the walk.

MoD2015

Along with my parents, my sister, sister’s fiance, aunt, and two younger cousins joined us for the walk.

MoD2015

The front of our shirts read, “March for Babies. Saving lives one step at a time.” The back read, “Shawver Quads Family & Friends. March of Dimes 2015.”

I would like to extend a special thanks to our friends and family who supported our March for Babies this year by making a donation to our team, purchasing a team t-shirt, and/ or walking with us.  In no particular order: Steve, Denise, Courtney, Matt, Tiffany, Landry, Luke, Haylie, Ryleigh, Jason, Matt, Natalie, Molly, Sadie, Brandi, Garrett, Seth, Terri, A’ Lysia, Emmerson, Mina, Laayla, Jen, Priscilla, Marco, Sydney, Kristen, Alan, Devon, Marianne, George Jr., Carol, Lindsay, Sara, Billie, Guadalupe, and Karen. 

hugs,

Amber

Psst…..If you would like to make a donation to our team, it’s not too late!  Please visit our team page to make a donation here. 

Sources:

History of the March of Dimes

The Origin of the March of Dimes

March of Dimes FAQ’s

March of Dimes Research Breakthroughs

#WhyIWalk

Amber 5 Comments

Last year, we were rookies in the March for Babies.   We registered to walk only a few weeks before the big day and made very few preparations. Our skeleton team consisted only of George, Aunt CiCi, Brandi (George’s cousin), the babies, and me.  At that time, we walked in honor of our babies.  They endured seven week stint in the NICU, and at the time of the walk were making their first public appearances.   George and I felt a sense of gratitude for the March of Dimes, which funds major research to help preemies like ours grow and thrive.

This year, we started much earlier and rallied our friends and family to join us.  We even ordered royal purple team t-shirts to show group cohesiveness.  Our team doubled in size when our neighbors with quads also joined the cause.  Together our team was over thirty-eight members strong and raised $1650!  This year, the cause was bigger than just our own family.  It was in honor of our healthy, thriving babies, but also in memory of the many babies who passed away this year.  Our community of multiples is a small one, and when tragedy strikes, we all feel the sorrow.  Far too many families experienced infant loss, and the March of Dimes is helping to make sure that more families do not endure similar situations.  I can only hope that our team grows even larger and stronger next year!

The sea of royal purple warmed my heart.

The sea of royal purple warmed my heart.

This sign proudly hung in the "Garden of Hope" for other families facing premature births.

This sign proudly hung in the “Garden of Hope” for other families facing premature births.

Our sign was surrounded by signs honoring other babies. Take a close look at each one though. Some signs honor babies while others are memorials for babies. We walk to help prevent future families from hanging memorial signs. No family should have to endure the loss of an infant.

Our sign was surrounded by signs honoring other babies. Take a close look at each one though. Some signs honor babies while others are memorials for babies. We walk to help prevent future families from hanging memorial signs. No family should have to endure the loss of an infant.

 

This year, my parents and sister's boyfriend (Matt) were right at our side.

This year, my parents and sister’s boyfriend, Matt, were at our side.

Along for the walk were the Murphy Clan (top) and Bonnie Brae Crew (bottom). Two of these walkers were expectant mothers with babies due this summer. They know the March of Dimes is working to make sure their babies are delivered full term.

Along for the walk were the Murphy Clan (top) and Bonnie Brae Crew (bottom). Two of these walkers were expectant mothers with babies due this summer. They know the March of Dimes is working to make sure their babies are delivered full term.

Along for the walk were the Murphy Clan (top) and Bonnie Brae Crew (bottom). Two of these walkers were expectant mothers with babies due this summer. They know the March of Dimes is working to make sure their babies are delivered full term.

Along for the walk were the Murphy Clan (top) and Bonnie Brae Crew (bottom). Two of these walkers were expectant mothers with babies due this summer. They know the March of Dimes is working to make sure their babies are delivered full term.

Wait a minute...one of these is not like the others. Which one doesn't belong? When Harper was unhappy in the Runabout, Spencer happily took his place.

Wait a minute…one of these is not like the others. Which one doesn’t belong?
When Mason was unhappy in the Runabout, Spencer happily took his place.

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Aside from group cohesiveness, a nice perk of having a large team was that we didn’t face a barrage of questions or a sea of paparazzi like we did last year.  It allowed us to just walk and enjoy the spring weather.  Also, it was far easier managing four babies with so many helping hands.  Everyone gladly took turns pushing our 120 pound stroller and entertaining fussy babies.

We crossed the finish line as a group for one cause.

We crossed the finish line as a group for one cause.  Everyone, including he babies, received a sticker that read, “I did it!”

 

Quads doubled!

Quads doubled!

After the walk, the babies enjoyed quick picnic lunch of their favorite staple: peanut butter and honey sandwiches with apple slices and goldfish.

After the walk, the babies enjoyed quick picnic lunch of their favorite staple: peanut butter and honey sandwiches with apple slices and goldfish.

Nisey and Papa beam with pride when they are with their grandbabies.

Nisey and Papa beam with pride when they are with their grand babies.  Our family team shirts didn’t come in toddler sizes so I ordered March of Dimes onsies for the babies that read, “Proof Miracles Happen.”  I thought it was quite fitting for them.

 

Have you ever participated in a charity walk or fun run?  If not, I hope you’ll consider joining the March for Babies next spring.

 

Hugs!

 

Amber

 

 

We would like to extend a special thanks to those donated to our team: George Shawver, Jr., Carol Vincell, Kristi Bowman, Melissa Shaw, Megan Haley, Karen & Brad Cox,  Ashley Lopez, Patty Winkle, Leslie Murihead, Melissa Dumas, Marianne Southwick, Lindsay Howard, Treva Muirhead, Cathy Wildman and Terri McGuire.

And for those who walked with us: Jaime Balderas, LeeAnn Brager, Esmeralda Colmenero, Gracie Colmenero, Alfonso Cordova, Joey Cordova, Juana Cordova, Jen Crawford, Candelairo Hernandez, Griselda Hernandez, Kimberly Hernandez, Rojelio Hernandez, Matt Johnson, Kristen Klatt, Kelsey McGuire, Daniel Murphy, Debbie Murphy, Dennis Murpy, Sara Murphy, Ann Odom, Brenda Quintan, Alan Reid, Deven Reid, Jessica Rivera, Alondra Rodriguez, Mina Rodriguez, Viviana Rodriguez, Daria Schwalbe, Paul Schwalbe, Priscilla Serrano, Kaylie Slaughter, Tyler Slaughter, Brandi Steele, Evelyn Villanueva, Courtney Zehnder, Denise Zehnder, and Steve Zehnder.