March for Babies 2015

We participated in the March of Dimes/March for Babies this past Saturday and it was such an awesome day! I'd been looking forward to this event for a month now. I really want to teach my kids to give back, help others, and bring awareness to important issues. Of course, prematurity is near & dear to my heart after our experience with our 29 weekers. Our last quint home, Rayleigh, came home after four long months in the NICU. I hope the money we helped raise for the event will help other expectant moms and premature babies.

The event that was closest to us was in Longview, Texas, which is an hour and 15 minute drive. We had around 40 people drive that far to participate in the event with us. We all meet at the church parking lot so we could follow each other; when we drove up and I saw everyone who'd gotten up early on a Saturday morning to come support us, I had tears start to swell in my eyes. I seriously had tears of joy. We have the most awesome support system. We will never be able to convey to all the people who help us out, just how much we love and appreciate them. We are so blessed.

Another reason I was so excited for the event to arrive, was because I knew I was finally going to get to meet my fellow quint mom, Darcy. When I found out we were going to be in Longview, I knew I had to get in touch with her and see if they were available to come out. Darcy has 10 year old quints. She is from a small town that's about 20 minutes from where we live and she still has family in the area. When word broke about me being pregnant with quints, she reached out to me. She sent me pictures of her quints and offered advice and was always so supportive. Darcy spearheaded a diaper drive for us and to this day, we have yet to buy any diapers for the quints. She is such a special lady. The moment I saw her, my eyes filled with tears; once again, I was overcome with joy. We talked the whole 3 miles. I probably asked her a million questions. She was so easy to talk to and we have so much in common.

Me & Mia
Mia was styling!

Tessa and Kara

Paula & Brant

Kayla and Mia

Gavin and Brady

Tessa

Rayleigh and Mia

Brady and Brant

Getting ready

Gracie and Tessa

Mia

Walking for a great cause!

After the walk, we were ready for some Mexican food!!!

We are so loved! 

Quints holding quints plus a little sister and a big brother!!
Austin holding Mia (Baby A's)
Mackenzie holding Tessa (Baby B's)
Kaitlyn holding Brant (Baby C's)
Peyton holding Gracie (Baby D's)
Caleb holding Rayleigh (Baby E's)
The Bryant Quints have a little sister, sweet Olivia.
And we have big brother Brady.

It was so nice to finally meet a fellow Quint Mom.

I have the most amazing friends, who also happen to be very talented. My friend, Channing, designed our team shirts and my friend, McCall worked on the quints' shirts. I am so please at how all the shirts turned out!

We walked for our 29 weekers!!!! I wanted to make it longer in my pregnancy, but that didn't happen. I did everything I could, but my body just gave out. I'm so thankful for modern technology and the awesome staff of doctors, nurses, aides, and therapist at Baylor University Medical Center - NICU. They saved our babies. Today, the Mia, Tessa, Brant, Gracie, and Rayleigh are happy, healthy, and thriving 13 month olds.

Sweet little Rayleigh was about 2 weeks old in this picture. Look at her tiny little legs.

Tessa and Gracie were so little I could fit both of them in my shirt (of course I was still wearing my maternity shirts then). They were about 3-4 weeks old.

The first picture of them all together again. They were 2 months old.

This was the day we took Brant home. They were almost 3 months old.