NEW ARRIVAL! FOLLOW THE *DONATE* BUTTON ON MY SIDEBAR TO DONATE TO THE BABY SHOWER! And send me an e-mail if you want me to get something specific with it. All proceeds will go to procuring baby items for the shower!
I am very thankful in the month of November, not only because it's the month that my favorite holiday ever happens to fall in (Thanksgiving), but it's also a month where I like to write about something near and dear to my heart. Prematurity. November is Prematurity Awareness Month which I've been aware of since 2006, the year my first child was born.
It was a bitter-sweet year for me because my beautiful baby was born, but he was born early, something I never had even considered, and when it happened, completely blindsided me. I didn't know what to do. I was a deer in headlights. I was in a constant state of crying-panic-motherhen-robot-ness and I don't think in hindsight it is something I ever could've prepared for. No class, no book can prepare a mother for this. The feeling of being away from your baby, not being able to hold your baby, not being able to help your baby except to be there and even then, there are visiting hours. It is utter torment. And I had it easier than most. Mine came at 34 weeks and he spent only two weeks in the NICU. My dear friend Jennifer's baby came at 30 weeks and their ride was much tougher and longer. I'm proud to say though that both of our babies are healthy and wonderful now.
But here's why this post is coming in October instead of November. We want to help other mommies. Mommies who are standing beside their babies' little incubators right at this moment now. Who are crying. Who haven't had their baby showers yet. Whose happy birthmoments have turned into scary life-trials. Every day they go home without their babies, they return to work with their babies in the hospital, they stay at the hospital for hours or days on end praying and crying and hoping that their babies will be home soon. The March of Dimes in our area is throwing them a baby shower and I'm wondering if you'll help me.
They need things like: Onesies, Hats, Booties, Socks, Bibs, Receiving Blankets, Burping Cloths, Bottles, Nipples, Bottle Brushes, Bathtubs, Washcloths, Towels, Nail clippers, Brushes, Combs, Baby Shampoo, Baby Soap, Cotton Swabs, Strollers, Car Seats, Baby on Board Stickers, Thermometers, Crib Sheets, Pacifiers, Lotions, Diaper Rash Creams, Hand Sanitizers, Car Sun Shades, and Journals. Anything baby, really.
Canyou-willyou-couldyou-wouldyou send in some babystuffs? Please let me know if you're interested in donating one item, or ten, anything that would help. You can send me an e-mail at christieo_7 at msn dot com. Or if you want to link to this and see if any of your readers would be willing to help that would be wonderful too! I will send you my mailing address and collect items here at my house for donation. They are planning to disburse the items November 12-24th, so you can send items anytime and/or right away!
And please, while you're here, sign this petition to tell our legislators to act now on the issue of prematurity! I know too many wonderful women and babies who are being faced with prematurity, and for unknown reasons, it has reached epidemic proportions! So please sign this petition below and please e-mail me if you want to send families some much-needed support!
Thank you bloggers!
It was a bitter-sweet year for me because my beautiful baby was born, but he was born early, something I never had even considered, and when it happened, completely blindsided me. I didn't know what to do. I was a deer in headlights. I was in a constant state of crying-panic-motherhen-robot-ness and I don't think in hindsight it is something I ever could've prepared for. No class, no book can prepare a mother for this. The feeling of being away from your baby, not being able to hold your baby, not being able to help your baby except to be there and even then, there are visiting hours. It is utter torment. And I had it easier than most. Mine came at 34 weeks and he spent only two weeks in the NICU. My dear friend Jennifer's baby came at 30 weeks and their ride was much tougher and longer. I'm proud to say though that both of our babies are healthy and wonderful now.
But here's why this post is coming in October instead of November. We want to help other mommies. Mommies who are standing beside their babies' little incubators right at this moment now. Who are crying. Who haven't had their baby showers yet. Whose happy birthmoments have turned into scary life-trials. Every day they go home without their babies, they return to work with their babies in the hospital, they stay at the hospital for hours or days on end praying and crying and hoping that their babies will be home soon. The March of Dimes in our area is throwing them a baby shower and I'm wondering if you'll help me.
They need things like: Onesies, Hats, Booties, Socks, Bibs, Receiving Blankets, Burping Cloths, Bottles, Nipples, Bottle Brushes, Bathtubs, Washcloths, Towels, Nail clippers, Brushes, Combs, Baby Shampoo, Baby Soap, Cotton Swabs, Strollers, Car Seats, Baby on Board Stickers, Thermometers, Crib Sheets, Pacifiers, Lotions, Diaper Rash Creams, Hand Sanitizers, Car Sun Shades, and Journals. Anything baby, really.
Canyou-willyou-couldyou-wouldyou send in some babystuffs? Please let me know if you're interested in donating one item, or ten, anything that would help. You can send me an e-mail at christieo_7 at msn dot com. Or if you want to link to this and see if any of your readers would be willing to help that would be wonderful too! I will send you my mailing address and collect items here at my house for donation. They are planning to disburse the items November 12-24th, so you can send items anytime and/or right away!
And please, while you're here, sign this petition to tell our legislators to act now on the issue of prematurity! I know too many wonderful women and babies who are being faced with prematurity, and for unknown reasons, it has reached epidemic proportions! So please sign this petition below and please e-mail me if you want to send families some much-needed support!
Thank you bloggers!
Second day in a row that you have me in tears, Christie! My daughter wasn't premature but she did spend 5 days in the NICU because of an infection. It was torture just for those few days to have to split my time between my daughter in the hospital and my son at home. I cried more than I've ever cried, especially in the evening when Hubs left the hospital to take our son home. I just kept thinking I don't know how moms do it when their babies are in the NICU for weeks or months. I was lucky that I was able to stay in her NICU room with her at night. This is definitely a great cause!
ReplyDeletethanks for posting this! you're the best.
ReplyDeleteI was born at 6 months...*looking around* I am now 30 and i am perfect and a mother and she is perfect! There is hope for all premature babies!
ReplyDeletetrisha
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