"Cost"

"In 2005, the annual societal economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth in the United States was at least $26.2 billion."

--March of Dimes

Taylor and Alivya's medical costs during their first year of life was some where around 1.5 million dollars. This is why you will occasionally hear me call them my million dollar babies. This is also the best reason I can think of to support the efforts of the March of Dimes.

Research funded by the March of Dimes is aimed at awareness, education, as well as treatment for birth defects and prematurity. In the future, more understanding of how and why these births occur may help us prevent them, thus eliminating the enormous economic burden to our society. Not to mention that no one wants to see tiny babies suffer from the effects of prematurity and preventable birth defects.


On a personal note, I took the kids shopping this morning, and Livi totally discovered "Christmas". She spotted the holiday section in the store from the door, and was called. When we finally reached the lights and decorations she turned to me with sparkling glowing eyes. The pure joy in her face just made my heart melt. "Look!" she pointed in one direction, then another, and another. It reminded me why we go through so much trouble to decorate and celebrate. It is going to have to be moved to the end of our shopping trips from now on though, she spent the rest of the trip demanding to see "more snowmans". Too cute.