BUY "A LIFE BEGUN" by 4/27/13 & HELP US HELP BABIES

We walk every year in March for Babies, which is a walk to help premature babies.  This is ofcourse because our own daughter Emily was born very premature back in November of 2000.  This will be our 11th time walking.  We are very proud of that,  but each year it is a challenge to try & get donations.  Don't get me wrong, we are extremely blessed w/ good friends & families but ofcourse we want to raise as much as we can for this worthy charity,  one that we care so much about on such a personal level.  We believe that through their work, & advances in premature babies care, we owe them a great deal. If Emily had been born only 10 yrs before she was her outcome could have been very different.   SO we are beyond grateful to them & it means the world to us to be able to give back & it feels so damn good too!  SO This year we decided to do something different.  We call it a win-win for everyone. Aside from the normal fund-raising we'll do, we wanted to do a little something extra to help raise money & it involves my husband Brian's book, "A LIFE BEGUN" about Emily's birth & our time in the NICU which is now available to buy.  The book is really good, & I know I'm bias but everyone who has ever read it has said the same thing.  In fact just the other day, Brian got an email from someone who said, it was "WONDERFUL simply WONDERFUL! She was crying at her desk at work because she couldn't stop reading!"  But anyway,  enough of my gushing over my husband's book, it honestly just comes from the pride I feel for him having wrote it, & for us having lived through the most difficult bitter-SWEET time in our lives.  BUT you'll have to buy the book to get the FULL story of all we endured & the lessons we learned because of it.  Which finally brings me to the real point of this blog post.  We have decided we will give 20% of the profits we make off book sales NOW until 4/27/2013. The day before the walk.  IF you buy the book before 4/27/2013 we will calculate 20% of the money we make off sales & personally donate that amount to March of Dimes before our walk on 4/28/2013.  SO right now is the PERFECT time to read it, cause not only will you get to read a great book but you'll get a chance to help us, help babies.   xoxo
http://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-roach/a-life-begun/hardcover/product-20717019.html;jsessionid=604E43DE31743821B30F4E951FD3A0CF

WHY we WALK In March for babies, & why we need ur help! TY!

This is why we walk in March of Dimes...

When I first became pregnant, I was scared, stressed and so EXCITED too. It was at a most difficult time in my life. My mom, Margaret who was my rock my whole life had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian cancer, about a year or so before. My Mom and I were extremely close. So close that she and my baby brother (14) at the time lived with my husband and I. So I was devastated when it seemed like my Mom wasn't winning her battle with her cancer. We needed a miracle.. we had no idea it would come in the form of a new baby. I never had really thought much about having a baby. I LOVED children but Emily was a bit of a surprise!! I call her my gift from God!! I can't imagine my life today with out her. She is my LIFE, and I've never been happier. When Emily was born however it wasn't a typical happy birth. It was a scary devastating time. It was compounded because my Mom was so sick too. Emily was born very premature. She was what they call a micro-preemie. I had never seen a baby so small, in fact I had no idea there were babies that small. She weighed 14.7 ounces and was 10 inches long. I remember looking at her and thinking how can she survive? IT wasn't easy. It was a long 6 month journey of ups and the scariest downs you can imagine. Yes, we thought we would lose her many times. She had 4 major surgeries before she was 6 months old. The first one when she weighed still less than a pound and was only 7 days old. That was just one of many times they told us, "She probably will not make it". She had lung infections, UTI's, bowel surgeries, sepsis, countless blood transfusions, eye surgery, and so many xrays, blood sticks, work ups, etc. Her poor little feet still show the marks from all the blood sticks she needed. ALL of these things were done to her before she was 6 months old and all in the attempt to save her life. It was painful to know that she was in pain. TO know that there was little that my husband and I could do for her. But we were there, everyday in every way we could be. I was so torn.... between being with my Mom and being with my daughter. My Mom let me know that I was to be with my daughter and that was it. Her taking that decision out of my hands was an example of her love for me. But it was still a torture for me. The two most important females in my life.... both fighting for their lives. And me feeling helpless to do anything about it. I did what I could and now when I look back, I don't know how we got through it. Emily finally started to improve but unfortunately my Mom had fought as hard and long as she could. I lost my Mom and the world lost a great woman on May 9, 2001 and Emily came home on May 17, 2001. It was a very bittersweet time and I got through it because of Emily. I know she is a gift from God. My Mom knew it too and that brings me such comfort. Today, Emily is doing so great! She is a happy/healthy 12 year old. She is in the advanced placement class at school. We are so proud of the fact that she has gotten straight A's final year grades since she started going to school. She is now in 5th grade! She is so full of life! She sings and dances through it! Now why am I sharing all of this with you. Well for one thing... We felt so helpless when Emily was born that our family decided to do something to help others. We decided to start walking in the March of Dimes Walk America/ March for Babies. Our first walk was in 2003. This year we will be walking in our 11th walk. We have raised over 10 thousand dollars for the March of Dimes... I'm proud of that, and I know my Mom would be too. So please I am asking you if you can to please make a donation to our Team Emily. The link is on my wall page or just click below:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=1558524&ct=4&w=5444163&u=Meliwil&bt=11

Swiffer, Another reason to love!!

 

 

Hey Guys! I have something really cool to share. Super excited about this. As you know,  I always like sharing things, especially products that I like or don't like.  SO a couple of days ago I tweeted how much I love & missed using the Swiffer.  Ours had broken a couple months back & because I was trying to save money we were using our sponge mop & how much I missed my Swiffer mop because A) the sponge mop just moved the dirt around & B) how I have to go back & clean up the line of dirt the Mop would leave!! & finally that I was happy to report that we used a lil' of our tax return money to get another one & that made me happy!  Didn't think much of it, I was just doing what I do, sharing, I tend to tweet a lot & to share random things on twitter like this. SO I was surprised when I got a tweet back from Swiffer asking me to DM (Direct Message- for all you twitter virgins)them. So I did & they said thank you for the shout out about Swiffer & that they wanted to send me a "treat".  I was so happy, & honestly thought maybe I'd get a sample/ or coupon.  :) I thought it was so cool that they acknowledged their customers like that.   Anyway this morning.. I hear a noise & look outside to see the fed-ex truck leaving & there's this big package on my step!! I thought it was something Brian must have ordered & was super surprised when it said "Swiffer" on the return label.  Anyway... Here's some pictures of what their idea of a "treat" was... I was really blown away by their generosity.  The cost of these products to buy would be $40-$50. WOW! The note reads,

Dear Melissa,

Here at Swiffer, we believe no one should have to use a sponge mop. Please use these products to clean up the line of dirt that your mop has left behind.  In this box you will find a WetJet, a box of Extra Power pads, & our brand new Gain-scented solution and wet cloths.  Thanks for the shout out on twitter and have fun cleaning!

Sincerely,

Catie

Swiffer

Proctor & Gamble

 

 Needless to say they have a fan for life!! I'm telling everyone I know about how great their products are & will never try again to go back to my "sponge mop" I guess it's going to have to be making eyes at the broom. or better yet the trash can, "who's that lady"!! Anyway anyone who knows that commercial, knows what I'm talking about. hehe... :)  Happy cleaning indeed! Thanks Swiffer! :)

Twitter Bios....

SO I am going to change my twitter bio & so I'm putting my old one(s) here just in case I ever want to know what I thought about myself at some point... or if I ever want to use them again! :)




1-"I'm Missy, a neurotic type, trying 2 convince myself the world isn't as scary as I believe it 2 b, then tsunami's happen & I'm like wtf, NOT helpful."

2 March 2013-"I'm Missy,  more granola than girly girl. democrat. proud mom. can be lonely in a crowd of people or crowded in a group of two"

3- (NEXT ONE) I'm Missy, I've been told I'm a worry-wart & that has me concerned"