Zipping, Tying and Gluing

This week several of us chaperoned the Miss Illinois USA and Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant. This was my second year, but for most of the others, they have chaperoned for years. It was a privilege to be part of a weekend of dreams. 200 young women from all over the state found themselves undergoing quick panel interviews and then on stage for swimsuits and gowns. There has to be something in the water because these ladies were stunning and sweet. And charitable! They brought over 700 coats that are now in missions around Chicago just in time for our winter weather. One contestant brought over a 100 coats! Even though Trump may want the focus purely on looks and sex appeal as we heard over the weekend, these girls have much, much more to offer and I hope they never negate that.
Congratulations to Miss Illinois 2011, Angie Sparrow and Miss Illinois Teen USA 2011, Paige Higgerson. We'll be watching for you at nationals!

1) With Jennifer Naida...Mrs. Illinois America 2010 and Mrs. Illinois International 2010. Yes, we are friends;)
2)Some of the teens lined up for opening number
3) The BEST chaperones ever!!
4)A few of the Miss
5)Load of coats

Community Baby Shower for MOD

In honor of Prematurity Awareness Day and Prematurity Awareness Month, the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter hosted a Community Baby Shower at Rush Medical Center and I was invited. After collecting baby clothing, toys and baby products for expectant families, the gathering of items was then distributed to organizations assisting low-income and/or high risk pregnant women in the Chicagoland area. Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, organizes the Storks Nest which does just this for high school students. As sweet as it was to organize those itty bitty baby items and even buy a few for the day, it is also a reminder that many families find themselves grappling with the sudden arrival of a premature baby and all the complication that can bring.
The day was spent listening and learning from experts on advances concerning prematurity and meeting mothers who had survived a lifetime of heartbreak including one mom who had twins at 25 weeks. Seven weeks after their early arrival she lost her newborn son, but his twin sister is healthy and thriving today. And there are some advances on the horizon to help understand prematurity and ways to prevent it with even talk about pro biotic foods etc that may be more important than we realized.
When I went into preterm labor at 29 weeks, John and I were told very clearly of the issues at hand. But then we were very quickly we informed about brain bleeds, developmental delays etc, and we were told every week was so very important to our unborn child. So, we found ourselves heading to Prentice. There was nothing worse than being stuck in heavy traffic on the Ryan (construction) in absolute silence. We were very lucky with some extra time. My water broke at 37 weeks which is now considered late preterm.
But there are doctors out there who will induce labor for women before 39 weeks. Granted, our strong willed daughter does not stop talking/singing and has a fierce opinion about her clothes already, but that is not always the case for even babies born at 37 weeks. So the March of Dimes is working hard to encourage states and doctors to hold off until 39 weeks gestation unless medically necessary as it is still regularly done elsewhere. Let me tell you, my Gynie is AMAZING and is apparently even Oprah's Dr. Her practice will NOT induce until 39 weeks unless there is an amnio first. So to learn of women electing to have babies a few weeks early to get it over with already is...insane to me as I know we were freaking out a bit with Ali. Given family and friends have weathered MUCH more difficult situations, we were fortunate. So for that, I am eternally grateful and I am eternally hopeful for those we love and their children.

CASAblanca VII

It was an honor to serve as emcee for CASAblanca VII this year. As appointed court advocates for abused and neglected children, CASAs are the eyes and ears for the judges who must make tough decisions when it comes to where a child should live or not live. Although almost EVERY state gives millions of dollars a year to their CASA programs, Illinois DOES NOT. Yet, CASA programs save millions of dollars a year and they help take off just a little bit of the burden placed on social services. Most importantly, CASA's are there to always and only look out for the best interests of a child and make sure a child gets therapies, treatments and support. This is critical when you consider what some of these beautiful beings have already endured.

So! It was a humbling honor to emcee the event which raises much need money for these kids who deserve a chance to dream big and reach those dreams.

1)With Jeremy and singer Debra Romer who was a finalist on this past season of America's Got Talent. Both were children who grew up in foster care. Both have incredible stories of success.
2)The enormous ballroom as the gala got underway

Burrr!!!!

...and from Hoffman Estates to Burr Ridge. It was the annual Jingle Mingle parade and tree lighting. It is also a yearly tradition for Mrs. Illinois. This year, Miss Junior Teen Illinois All-American (and 2nd runner-up to Miss Junior All-American)Taylor Anne Marie Ignoffo was also part of the evening. There was a parade, tree lighting and story telling along with train rides and reindeer! I would have loved to stay for it all, but I had to be 45 minutes away to emcee the annual gala for CASA in Wheeling. Thank you to the Aceto's for arranging a Corvette for the night time parade and for braving the bitter cold. Thank you to Taylor for handling the night with such poise and polish.
1)With Marcie before the parade
2)With Taylor, Miss Junior Teen Illinois.

Wear What??

Today began in Hoffman Estates for the Barrington Junior Women's Club's Fall fundraiser. Former Mrs. Illinois contestant and 2009 runner-up, Darby Hill, was the event chair! I was asked to stroll the catwalk in fall fashions which apparently also includes some lycra courtesy of Lululemon. Now, I love Lululemon, but that was an extremely LONG runway to do in spandex and flats. But, all for a good cause. Darby, your event was a huge success and thank you to Tracey Tarantino of Zzazz Productions for including me.

A True Treasure

It's here!!! Each year, Mrs. Illinois is given a medallion necklace with the Mrs. America trademark on it. This has been a Mrs. Illinois tradition for 30 years and I am told Illinois is the only state allowed to do this. James and Williams designed a one-of-a-kind piece for me with diamonds and they even had hand made cut outs done on it. They really outdid themselves. They told me someone used very small tools for the carving of those letters! Bill, thank you again for your vision and your generosity as it is a true treasure.

Worth the Trip

This afternoon Marcie and Julie Aceto and I went to Worth, Illinois to the long standing boutique called, "That Girl." They are a sponsor of Mrs. Illinois and it was terrific being able to meet the owner, Ann. She has such a great selection of dresses for homecoming, prom and other such events in life.

Making the Holidays Merrier!

Here is a great way to spread some cheer AND help out Children's Memorial Hospital! You can order your Holiday cards, calendars, mugs and such through Children's and tinyprints.com and a portion of the proceeds will go to the hospital here in Chicago that creates miracles everyday for families in crisis.

Dream A Little Dream for St. Jude

St. Jude has done extraordinary work for children and their families for nearly 50 years. This afternoon was a testament of that. Some of the Mrs. Illinois America family gathers each year to attend the annual St. Jude luncheon in Chicago and it was sold out this year! More than 1300 people were a part of the fundraiser for the research hospital to help it treat, cure and prevent pediatric cancers and terminal diseases. I was asked to select and announce the winners of the grand raffle and found myself seated with Marlo Thomas. Her famous father,Danny Thomas, started St. Jude and is quite the star and author herself AND very funny!
We were also seated with the day's emcee Allison Rosatti from NBC5. Through my work in news, I had not met Allison as she is an anchor and therefore rarely outside the studio for stories, so it was about time we met in person! Just as I had been told before, she is a doll. We three had the good fortune to spend the afternoon with St. Jude Special Guest, Marget Graham. At only one year old, Marget was diagnosed with a rare inoperable neuroblastoma tumor which brought with it, only a 10% rate of survival. St. Jude stepped in and after a year of treatments, she was able to return home as the only survivor or her age group. Today, she is a mom to a little girl (who is PRECIOUS) and she has twins on the way this spring. And thanks to another 30 years of research, neuroblastoma now has a survival rate of 55% which is a big improvement.
It was a wonderful and inspiring afternoon. Thank you St. Jude for asking me to be a part of it!
1)Aren't they adorable?
2)The ballroom
3)Love her skirt!
4)with Marlo Thomas and Allison
5)Marcie Aceto, Julie Aceto, me, Michele Barber (Mrs. IL '03),Krista Cline,and Karen Lea Cline (Mrs. IL '98)
6)With newly re-elected Secretary of State, Jesse White