After many prayers and much discussion, rather than have the 5K Run, we are going to have a CDH Baby Shower on Grayton's Birthday (May 9th). I am so excited. Brandy Burt Doyle, a childhood, as well as adulthood (if we're in that stage :) best friend, is hosting it at her house. We are asking those of you who'd like to participate to bring items to be donated to other families who go to Children's Hospital of Birmingham because their baby was born with CDH to ease their journey while they're at Children's. Out of the 5 CDH babies who were there while Grayton was, Travis and I were the only ones who lived in Birmingham. 1 family was from Dothan and the other 3 were from Mississippi (staying in Ronald McDonald house, a local extended stay motel or drove back and forth as their jobs allowed). Therefore, I'm working on a list of things that are easily obtainable but mean so, so much to the parents of these babies, as well as the babies themselves. If you run across these things, please bring them to the shower on Grayton's birthday. If you can't make it on Saturday, feel free to mail the unwrapped gifts to Sonia Steely 5722 Lake Cyrus Blvd Hoover, AL 35244. Because Travis and I are delivering the goodies that afternoon, if you mail the items, please make sure they get there before May 9th.
Ok, here they are the (unwrapped) items need:
mittens for newborns
socks for newborns
hats for newborns
crosses (pewter, ceramic, etc.) to hang from their beds
hand knit blankets or booties (come on you crafty gals, get out your needles!)
flannel blankets (the ones that come in packs of 3 or 4)
Boudreaux's Butt Paste
small stuffed animals
gas/filling station gift cards
washing detergent for the parents to wash their clothes
any monetary donation is definitely accepted (for instance, my 6 year old neighbor brought me $5 she earned by taking out the trash to go towards "the babies")
***Gift cards for the family (any denomination) to Burger King (there's one near the hospital), Jim 'N Nick's (also near the hospital), IHOP (one CDH family ate there everyday), Waffle House, Walmart, Visa, etc.
Anything that would make them feel they are being thought of and prayed for by others while their baby is fighting for his or her life. This list is just a few ideas I have and am working with the nurses to include more. I came up with these things due to a couple of reasons. The first time I saw Grayton (3 days after she was born) was the Monday after Mother's Day and she had the most gorgeous pink, purple and white hand kitted blanket rolled up by her adorable head. Of course, Travis had seen her for the previous 3 days and never noticed...as he says, I "don't miss a thing!" Anyway, when I asked Grayton's nurse, Jenny, where it came from - because it was clearly not a hospital blanket - she said one of the surgeon's wife makes them for the babies and, on Mother's Day, the nurses selected one for "their" babies. Well, I thought this was so sweet, I cried.
Secondly, the hospital blanket - white with blue and pink stripes - aren't the most appealing. While the babies are all beautiful and it wouldn't change if they were laying on hay, I definitely noticed when Grayton's blanket (bought and donated by her nurse, Jenny) changed to a beautiful lilac flowered one. Not to be outdone by Jenny :) , I bought several of them for Grayton, and, after washing 'em, I took them to the hospital. Although it may have been my imagination, it seemed she got changed more....A fact that wasn't my imagination (because Travis noticed it, too) Grayton certainly became color coordinated when I brought her some booties and mittens, too. (THANKS Jenny!) They all matched her bow, blankets, socks, etc. It just made my day to walk in and see her changed in her "new outfit" (because most babies only wear diapers, their blankets, socks, and mittens become their outfits). Furthermore, I included mittens because Grayton was
so active and pulled at her tubes, we walked in one day to find her wearing socks on her hands. When I heard the reason, I just
had find her some mittens! My mom and I searched all the specialty stores in Birmingham trying to find them. Guess what? Walmart and Babies 'R Us carry them!
As far the stuffed animals are concerned, when a parent walks in and sees an animal sitting on the baby's bed (as the baby's room
at home probably holds many animals just awaiting the baby's homecoming), she feels (as I felt) wonderful! For an instant, I completely forgot about the machines and all of the sudden, that precious lamb represented hope - hope Grayton would come home to nursery awaiting her arrival.
As far as the handcrafted items, as well as the blankets, we'll be attaching a note reading, "In Memory of Grayton" to them.
During the shower, we are going to do something very, very fun that will also benefit the CDH, as well as the NICU, babies! I'll give you more information later, as I don't want to overwhelm. :)
If you can't tell from the hundred's of words I've written, I'm so excited about the shower! Thank you, God, for answering my prayers as how to honor Grayton while helping other CDH parents!! God is so good!
