It is award season for bloggers
I feel a bit behind the pack this year
A little out of the loop
Not in the running
But I know that it will eat at me
If I do not write this post
A post to explain why my writing
And your reading
Is so important to me
And how award nominations
Votes and accolades
Help me to achieve my goals
I started my blog in August 2010
Just after my beautiful twins were born
At 27 weeks gestation
I had fallen ill whilst pregnant
And undergone major abdominal surgery
Whilst carrying my precious babies
I wanted to share our story
To record the memories for the future
To help family and friends share in our journey
To help other families following in our footsteps
I thought that I had survived the worst thing that would ever happen to me
And I wanted to help others do the same
I had no idea that this trauma
For me, my husband and our babies
Would soon seem not nearly so bad at all
When our beautiful healthy 9 month old baby girl
Died
On 2nd February 2013 Matilda Mae went to sleep
And never woke up
Since her death
I have been raising money and awareness for The Lullaby Trust
Together with family, friends and fellow bloggers
Over £35,000 has been raised
In Baby Tilda’s name
As well as raising awareness of SIDS
I also write about the implications of Esther and William’s premature birth
How prematurity extends beyond the NICU door
And can go with children into the classroom
I have been working in the last two years to support
Focusing specifically on those preterm babies
Born in summer though due in Autumn
And being asked to forfeit a whole year of school
In the last year I have also supported Count The Kicks
As they supported me
Through my pregnancy with our Rainbow, Baby Bea
I documented my experience of Growing A Rainbow
Hoping that it will help other bereaved mothers
Who are lucky enough to conceive again
I try to write about our life as it happens
Sharing our grief journey
My battle with my emotional and mental health
How the loss of Matilda Mae continues to affect us all
How we strive to include her in our family every day
Your nominations, votes and continuing support
Have made Edspire a finalist in this year’s
Brilliance in Blogging Awards
I am a finalist for the category INSPIRE
For the third year in a row
I believe it is a case of
Always the bridesmaid
Never the bride
And this year I may be bridesmaid
To my beautiful and truly inspirational friend Susanne
Good luck to you Susanne
And all the BiBs finalists for 2015
If you enjoy following our story
If this little family has inspired you in any way
If you read my posts on pregnancy, babies, education and play
I would love your nomination for a Mad Blog Award
If we can make it to the finals of these awards again
It will be another magical moment in the legacy of Matilda Mae
It will encourage more people to read our story
To know about life with premature twins
To know how a family can survive after losing a baby to SIDS
To know about the amazing pregnancy and baby charities we support
To know when carrying a Rainbow Baby that someone else knows just how it feels
To understand grief and how it can affect families in different ways
I write my blog with honesty and openness
I have chosen to share because it helps me immensely
To make it through each day
I hope that it also helps others
And can continue to do so
Thank you for reading this post
Thank you for remembering Matilda Mae
And thank you if you are one of the lovely people who has kindly nominated and voted for Edspire
It means the world to me
It truly does mean more than you know
Thank you x
A Little History of The MADs and Me
MADS 2014: Best Pregnancy Blog Final Five
The Mad Blog Awards: Look What Love Can Do
The Mad Blog Awards 2013: Outstanding Contribution Award
Mad Finalist Shock Confession: I Want To Win!
