Great Strides

First of all, you'll notice that I made a few changes to the ol' blog layout again.  Hopefully I'll be satisfied with this for a bit, until I get bored with it and want a change.  One of these days I promise I'll find something I really like and will keep it for a long time!  I did change the title of the blog (the URL will remain the same) - when I started writing, we had no clue about the diagnosis that would lay ahead for Judith, so the old title was fitting.  Now, though, I felt like I was excluding something that is unfortunately such a big part of our lives, and I want new readers to know that our story isn't just about a preemie and her 2 pups.  Hence the addition of "65 Roses" to the title.  I realize that I don't have to explain any changes to anyone - it's my personal choice, after all - but I would like people to be aware of the meaning of "65 Roses."  If you are not familiar with it, the story behind the nickname can be found here (clicky).


And now to the main point of this post: the upcoming Great Strides walk!  It seems like it's so far away, but I know it will crop up on us quickly.  If you take a look to the right, you will notice a new (more like new-ish) addition to the sidebar: a donation button for Great Strides.  We do, in fact, have a family team for miss Judith, and we will be walking in one of the local walks.  If you would like to donate to our team and help find a cure for cystic fibrosis, simply click on the button and select the amount you wish to donate.  Super easy!  You can donate now, if you choose, or you can donate later.  You can even donate after the walk takes place!  Nice, right?

I am excited to be able to meet more mamas who have children with CF - I have a few mommy friends, in real life and online, that are a great support, but it's always nice to have a larger network of people who understand exactly what you're going through.  I am excited to be able to raise money to go toward research that will help find new ways to treat the disease and hopefully find a cure.  I'm excited that a bunch of my friends, along with family, are signing up to walk with us and are setting their personal fundraising goals to help.  This is kind of a big deal for me, because I want the world to see that my little miracle is a fighter - a little CF warrior.

Hopefully, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed, Judith will be able to attend the walk with us.  If she gets sick, she won't be able to come, for her protection and for the protection of everyone else.  Knock on wood, she does not carry the bacteria that would automatically prevent her from attending (healthy or not), and hopefully it stays that way!