My mom was finally able to get back to work last week. The water is receding, but the clean-up is a mess! Mud everywhere. Some bridges were being opened in Iowa City last week, but there are still traffic situations with closed streets and bridges.
Archive for July 3rd, 2008
I want to start a ministry…
…I’ve been thinking about starting a new ministry at church. And I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but I’m still trying to put the pieces together.
I want to start a group that makes items for babies in the NICU at area hospitals and for families who can’t afford items. These would especially be things like preemie hats and layettes and blankets, but also some for newborn sizes. Even isolator covers and positioners. And unfortunately, even burial items for those little ones. And then I want to take it a step further and buy disposable cameras to give to those parents with babies in NICU and to buy teddy bears for those mothers to take home. Your arms feel so empty when you have to go home.
And lastly, I want to do something I don’t know if anyone has done: I want to buy teddy bears to give to doctor’s offices, so they can give them to their patients who have lost a child to miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy. It’s such a dark, empty time and no one seems to recognize your status as a mother. It helps when you just want to hold on to something and cry and to know someone understands. And in those cases, there’s almost never something to take home. Just that empty feeling.
Well, I’ve found patterns and I have the idea. But now I need to talk to Pastor at church and see if people would be interested in joining me or in donating items/money. And I need to find contacts at area hospitals… Geez, I have a lot to do yet.
Almost 31 Weeks!
I can’t believe we’re this far. Every week seems to be an accomplishment.
The baby is moving some every day, some days a LOT. It makes me giggle and it helps me feel relaxed that I know it’s doing okay.
Have started our every-two-week doctor visits. Everything was good this week; the baby had the hiccups when the doctor was listening for the heartbeat. Sounded very funny!
We’ve signed up for our childbirth and breastfeeding classes, as well as a basic baby care class. I thought this would help Jason a lot, because he’s never had the chance to take care of a little baby. Should have all of those taken by mid-August.
There are 2 showers being planned at the moment, and a third coming after the baby is born. So many things and so little room to store them in! We were able to find a lot of things at some garage sales a few weeks ago, so our basics are almost covered. And my mom’s clothing storage has outfitted us for quite some time. My one friend is giving me a children’s book shower, which I’m very excited about. I have no books and can’t wait to start reading to the baby, even if they don’t know what I’m saying or what we’re doing yet. We’re registered at Target and have an online registry (with a lot of retailers) on myregistry.com.
The only thing that I want to do that everyone tells me I’m crazy for even trying is that I want to do cloth diapers (which are not your mama’s diapers anymore! no pins for starters!). But I really want to try. Mainly because of the environmental impact: I don’t use disposable napkins, kleenexes, anything – why would I use disposable diapers or wipes? Oh well. I can always change my mind later, but I really want to try.
