I am a mother.

no shit, sherlock.

I love my girls to the moon and back and back out to the PLANET Pluto and back on a rocket mysterious flaming airliner over California.

As cute and adorable and loving and special as they are… HOT DAMN they can get on my nerves. Every last tickling nerve.

But they are alive.

They are with me.

They are healthy.

They are my everything.

When my limits are tested to the brink of “GET MAMA A MARGARITA AND A NAP,” I say a little thank you that they’re here.

When they whine for 2 hours before dinner because “I DON’T LIIIIIKE CHIIIICKEEEENNNNNNN….,” I’m thankful to hear their voices.

When they stand in front of me and beg and plead and throw themselves on the floor for “JUST ONE MORE LOLLIPOP!” I know I’m their Mama.

I am fortunate to have my babies here with me to hug and kiss and photograph and cuddle with and dress and feed and chauffeur and wipe a nose and play school and love.

My friend Heather does not have her Maddie.

Today is Maddie’s 3rd birthday.

I am appreciating my girls more today and every day because of Maddie and because of Heather.

For that, I say thank you for sharing Maddie with us.

I love you, Heather. Thank you for being in my life.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: girls, hugs, love, maddie

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I made a commitment.

I committed to being a friend and being there for my friends in their time of need.

Not everyone can keep their friend commitments. I, even, have fallen in my commitments to people. To friends, to family, to former students, to my children.

I may not be committed to working out on a daily basis, but this time, I’m committed.

Committed to be a life-long friend to my friends.

My friends Heather and Anissa have suffered losses beyond what I can comprehend.

Today is the one year mark of Heather’s daughter, Maddie’s, death.

Incomprehensible.

Heather has told me that she wants to talk about Maddie. She wants to know people remember her sweet baby. Even though I never met Maddie, I have met her mama, and having met, laughed with, danced with, gossiped with, sat in silence with her mom, I know Maddie was a force in this universe. The day she passed, her energy did not continue. It changed.

It changed into a force for her mama to wrangle on the internet and throughout the world. Heather now has the opportunity to share the story of her daughter’s life to raise awareness for preemie babies and their families with Friends of Maddie and the March of Dimes.

It is not the opportunity she ever wished upon herself, nor anyone to wish it upon anyone else. But in the wake of her tragedy, Heather has helped so many other people in their time of tragedy.

I have not forgotten. I have committed to helping my friend, Heather.

I am committed to Anissa.

After Anissa’s strokes and while she was in a coma, I read a post about loss and the commitment to helping in the long term. I’ve thought about the post almost daily by Supa Dupa Fresh, a young widow who knows about surviving tragedy. Please read her post if you haven’t already.

I am committed to my friends. My family.

I will be at Anissa’s home for a week in June, committed to helping her and her family.

I will continue to talk about Maddie and donate to Friends of Maddie and the March of Dimes.

Will you?

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: anissa, heather, maddie

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November 11, ’09 marks Maddie’s 2nd birthday.

She only got to celebrate 1.

This is Maddie on her only birthday.

Her eyebrows were one of the Great Wonders of the World. I’ve told Heather many times how much they make me smile. To me, this is one of the best pictures Heather & Mike captured of their baby girl.

Thinking of you today.

Please consider donating to Friends of Maddie in memory of Maddie.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: birthday, maddie, maddie spohr

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For a comprehensive place to find all ways you can help the Spohrs and the March of dimes, visit March for Maddie (created & maintained by Sam {tempting mama}).

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: maddie, maddie spohr

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In honor of Maddie Spohr and supporting the March of Dimes, blogs around the internet are turning purple.

Grab a badge —> and put it up on your blog if you’ve gone purple.
Here is the full code for the donation badge you see in my sidebar.

If your blog has “turned purple for Maddie” leave your link in the Linky here:

Turn your Twitter page or avatar purple and leave your link here below. If you need your avatar “turned purple” for you, feel free to email me your picture, and I’ll do it for you.

Don’t have a blog or can’t change the colors? Wear purple and leave your name and link here:

For more information about Maddie and ways you can donate, please visit A Mom Two Boys.

And if you’d like to get something for giving, visit the Good for the Kids blog.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 73 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: "march of dimes", maddie, purple

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