Turk is Toast

On Saturday Colin, Catie, and I drove into the city to attend the Walk Against Brain Cancer. On of my best friend's from college was diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma glioma brain tumor last June. She has had brain surgery, chemo, MRI's, and so much more. She is fighting the fight and on Saturday we all joined her. Jackie named her tumor Turk and we were walking to make sure that Turk was Toast!

Everyone wore toast headgear and walked in the rain to help support such an amazing cause. Jackie spoke during the event and did such an incredible job. We were all so proud of her!!



Team "Turk is Toast" was created to support the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), a group that gives money to the guys and gals who don their masks, capes and microscopes to fight brain cancer on a daily basis. Jackie's team has earned over $33,500 dollars and it isn't done yet. If you would like to donate you can do so at http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-SF?team_id=20180&pg=team&fr_id=1380

We love you Jackie.

Catie's Stats...

Catie had her 9 month check-up on Friday with Dr. Ornstein. She weighs 19.4 lbs and is 27 1/2 inches long. I wasn't surprised when the doctor said that she was in the 50% for height. My friend's from college use to say that I was the tallest midget that they knew. Sorry about the height Catie but as your Nonnie always told me, "It's better to be short then tall because you can date tall men and short men"! I told that to myself every time they asked us to line up in order of height.

Anyways, after Dr. Ornstein answered the 12 questions that I had written down (yes, I bring written questions, a pad of paper, and a pen to every doctor visit) we spent the appointment talking about what Catie should be eating. When Catie turned 7 months I started to give her Gerber puffs which dissolve in her mouth and teaches her to use her "pincher" fingers to eat. She has gotten really good at feeding herself (we are now working on eating only 1 puff at a time versus the 4 that she stuffs in her mouth). Since she has done such a great job at feeding herself the doctor said that I need to start giving her more finger foods and less pureed food. Catie should now be having 3 meals a day and about 4 bottle throughout the day.

The doctor told me to start giving Catie steamed vegetables that are cut up, small pieces of chicken, meat or turkey, pasta, and bite size pieces of fruit and cheese. She said that it's ok to give her some of your food at a restaurant, let her gnaw on bread, eat some of your food at meals, etc. There were some rules...no nuts (helps to avoid food allergies), no citrus fruit or milk until she is a year old, and not too many spices. Easy enough!

After the doctor's appointment Catie and I went straight to Trader Joe's to get her some food. My grocery cart has never been filled with so much fruit, vegetables and protein. When we got home I gave Catie some watermelon and turkey. Let me tell you folks...she loved it!! Wow, she really is getting so big. Here is a picture that I took of her eating. As you can see, she is one happy baby!



On tonight's menu...chicken, pears, and asparagus.

9 months old!!!

Catie is 9 months old today. Holy cow! She is growing up so fast. I can't believe that I am already starting to think about planning her 1st birthday. Where has the time gone? Happy 9 month Birthday Catie O. I love you.



Oh and it is also B's birthday...a.k.a. Barbara. Happy Birthday Barbara. I hope that Catie is giving you some extra snuggles today.

PS- for all of you planners. Catie's 1st birthday is going to be on Sunday, July 26th!

PPS- Catie has her 9 month old doctor's apt. on Friday so I will post her most recent stats then.

Bath Time

A funny story that I thought that I would share. On Tuesday night I asked Colin to give Catie a bath. He looked at me with an "Oh my gosh are you sure that I can do this" look. Giving Catie a bath in the past made Colin a little nervous since she was so little and doesn't like you to pour water on her face. Now that Catie takes a bath in the big tub with a bath ring he was more willing to tackle the bath solo (without me standing by his side). As he took her upstairs I said, "Don't forget to put lotion on".

I was making dinner when I heard, "Kimberly" so I went upstairs and when I got to the top I laughed so hard that I almost cried. Colin was soaking wet. I mean his shirt was DRENCHED. Awesome! He asked where the lotion was and when I walked into the room Catie was lying naked on her towel laughing. Colin started to put lotion on her and she rolled away and laughed. He would move to where she was and right as he would start again she would roll over again. He was literally following her around the room. It made my night.

A classic dad moment and I loved it! I am off to baby bootcamp and Catie also needs a bath. Oh Colin...guess what!!!

The Many Faces of Catie

I entered Catie is Parent Magazine's cutest kid contest. If she wins she could be on the cover of the magazine. She is the cutest in my book. Below is a link to the 6 pictures that I submitted. She sure loves to smile!

http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/cover-kid/730400027/

Forever Purple

Now that I have a daughter I have come to realize that a mother can't help but wonder what type of impact their daughter will have on this world. As I read the blogs that are dedicated to Maddie, review the comments that people post, and see the dollar amount rise for the March of Dimes, I have come to realize that Maddie impacted this world more then most grown adults do. Maddie's smile made people smile, Maddie's fight for survival brought hope to people, Maddie's giggle made people realize that there is humor in the world, and Maddie's story will help other preemies survive. Heather, your daughter truly impacted this world and my blog will forever be purple in her honor. You, Mike and Maddie are in my daily thoughts and prayers.

Madeline Alice Spohr

My friend Heather is one of those friends that when you see her, you automatically smile. We have been through a lot together. College, roommates after college, dating, getting married, being pregnant and having little girls. When Catie was born Heather was the first friend that I called back. I asked her a million questions about having a cesarean, what to expect, etc. I primarily wanted her advice because her daughter was so amazing. You see, Heather's daughter Maddie was just like Heather. When you saw her, you couldn't help but smile. She was a little girl who would light up a room.

Last Tuesday I got a phone call letting me know that Heather's beautiful 17 month old daughter Maddie passed away. My heart sank, my breath was taken away, and I began to cry. I cried for Heather and Mike and the unbearable pain that they must be going through. I cried because I would never get to see Maddie's smile and hear her adorable laugh again. I cried because Catie would never get to know Maddie (they met when Catie couldn't really do much but sleep and eat). I cried because it wasn't fair. Maddie fought so hard to live after being born 11 weeks premature. Life isn't fair. All I could do was cry.

Exactly a week later Heather and Mike did the hardest thing that I am sure they will ever have to do in their lives. They had a memorial service for their beautiful daughter Maddie. It was an amazing service filled with purple love (Maddie's favorite color), memories of precious Maddie, pictures and videos of her smiling, laughing and loving her parents. As I was sitting in the audience listening to both Mike and Heather talk about their daughter, I couldn't help but think...Maddie would be so proud of her parents. I sure was. They raised an amazing daughter and filled her too short life with love, laughter, rock and roll, and memories that I know that they will cherish forever.

I will always tell Catie about her friend Maddie in heaven, and she will wear purple and smile because she will know that it is Maddie's favorite color. As I put Catie to bed on Tuesday night I kissed her and told her that there was a new angel in heaven. I then took my purple ribbon off of my purple shirt and placed it on Catie's bulletin board, and I cried.

The March of Dimes helps premature babies fight for survival. For obvious reasons this organization has always been important to the Sphors. If you would like to help please go to www.marchformaddie.com. If you would like to learn more about who Maddie was, you can visit Heather's blog at http://www.remembermaddie.com/ You will realize how amazing Maddie was and what incredible parents Heather and Mike are.

Maddie, you will always be in our hearts.