We Are Preemie Proud!!

Last night was amazing!  

We watched as our former 29 week micro preemie danced her heart out in front of an auditorium full of people.

Yes, that's right!  Our daughter, Braleigh, performed in the annual dance recital for her dance studio last night.  She performed in three dances during the matinee recital and two dances during the evening performance.  As her parents, we are so proud of her and how far she has come since birth.  She is a far cry from the premature baby who came 11 weeks early, but she was right on time last night!!!

Braleigh also was selected to be a member of the 2010-2011 Dazzler Competition Team.  She has competed in several competitions this season and has worked very hard.  Again, we are so very proud of her and all she has accomplished this year and over the past 7 yrs.  She has come so far!!

Way to go baby girl! You are awesome and we love you with all our hearts!

We are forever "Preemie Proud!"

Another School Year Almost Gone For Our Former Preemie

Can you believe that the end of the school year is upon us.  There are only 5 1/2 school days left in the 2010-2011 school term for our daughter Braleigh who is a former 29 weeker.  How time flies!

Braleigh has had a marvelous first grade year and truly loves her teacher.  The last day of school will be hard on our daughter as she will miss her friends and familiar faces. What a year it has been!  Not only has Braleigh succeeded in her first grade curriculum, she was also tested for the Talented and Gifted Program.  She scored high enough on her testing to be accepted into the TAG program while in the first grade.  Part of her year was spent with pull out services as she went to a third grade class room for reading.  Braleigh is quite the reader!  She has already scored over 206 AR points this year for the Accelerated Reader Program and has loved every minute of it!!!  Not only does she read, but she reads well above grade level.  Our former 29 weeker is reading on at least a 4th grade level!!

As many of you may have been told by your doctors and neonatologist, preemie babies do often have speech delays, physical delays, or learning disabilities. This is statistically true.  However,  NOT all of them do!  Set obtainable, high expectations for your child.  Work with them when they are small and give them every opportunity you can for them to succeed.  Again, NOT all preemies will come away from their prematurity with a host of problems.  There is hope!!! 

We Did It!!

We did it!!! 

All of our wonderful Preemie Proud team completed the 6 mile March of Dimes: March for Babies Walk on Saturday (even our littlest members)!!  A special thank you to everyone that walked with us and helped support the March of Dimes in their effort to continue doing research to help premature babies everywhere. If your community is having March of Dimes walk, I encourage each of you to get involved and honor of your preemie!.