Booty Wall!

I’m issuing an international Booty Wall call!

It is nearly Prematurity Awareness Month which is in November and every year in November, my preemie moms group, “Mommies Little Miracles,” throws baby showers for moms who have babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

I usually throw a virtual baby shower here online with games and whatnot — but this year I’m shaking it up and issuing a Booty Call!

What are you talking about!?

Some background first, if you’re new here.

5 1/2 years ago I gave birth to a preemie. I am different because of that day but a better different. I wrote about my experience extensively as I had a lot of emotional issues to overcome even though my little baby was, in the end, just fine. I think I took it harder than he did.

One of the things I remember most about my childbirth classes when I was pregnant was not being allowed to go into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a tour that particular night because it was closed and thinking, “Well, I won’t need to see that place anyway, it’s for babies born with addictions and defects and things like that.”

Yes I actually thought that.

I was so wrong.

After having to be in the NICU with my baby, I realized that was a place very much for people like me: the healthy, educated, middle class average everyday mom. Prematurity does not discriminate.

I know that now.

Eventually I came to a place where I wanted to give back. I wanted the moms who go there to not feel as alone as I did. I wanted moms who were blindsided by early birth, who missed their baby showers, who missed the joys of pregnancy and even the being big and huge part, to feel comfort in knowing others tread that path before them.

So did the moms in my group and we began throwing showers for moms who have babies in the NICUs. We paired up with the local HUG Program and the March of Dimes and we were in the St. Pete Times last year, the front page, actually! We threw baby showers at 5 hospitals including Tampa General, St. Joseph’s Women’s, Mease Countryside, Community Hospital in Tampa and Brandon Regional.

This is what you sent me last year:

It was lots of stuff! It was part of this:

We had an entire room of stuff. Look at that!!

This year, because of our group’s limitations, we could only do one shower. Instead of 5.

*sigh*

And it’s hard to just do one hospital, but under the circumstances we had to. It was not an easy decision. We hope to be back to 5 next year.

However, we want to throw the best darn shower we can for the moms at Tampa General Hospital.

That’s where the Booty Wall comes in!!

All you have to do is click on a pair of booties which will take you to Paypal. You can donate to the showers by buying a pair of “virtual” booties on the wall. Then send me an email telling me which number you bought, a picture and a link to your website and I will replace that booty with YOU! (christieo at averagemomswearcapes.com). You can also specify what you want the money to go to and I will purchase it here. The booties are in $10 increments and you can buy as many as you like!

If the Booty Wall aint yo thang, there are other ways to help us!

We are collecting NEW and UNUSED baby items for moms. Anything from large items like strollers, to little items like bottles and binkies. Pump supplies (because NICU moms pump. A LOT.) and nursing supplies. Gift cards for restaurants because they don’t have time to cook – they spend so much time in the hospital. Gas cards because they spend so much time commuting. Preemie outfits — sometimes you can find preemie onesies in WalMart for $2!!

So, other ways to help:

• We also have a registry at Babies R Us and lots of times there’s free shipping! You can search in the registry for “Mommies Little Miracles” or use our registry #: 47539396 (We are still adding things)
• Mail a gift card or gifts directly to me (you can email me for my address).

Anything you send will be put to use by a mom who needs this day more than any of us know. If you want our official press release, you can find it here. 

The showers become a time where the moms and dads can kick back and relax, if even for just a few minutes, and have PERMISSION to celebrate the birth of their babies. Because honestly, celebrating your baby in the NICU is the last thing on your mind. Sometimes you need permission.

And there’s nothing like being told you’re not alone. Because you’d be surprised how many people don’t understand the feelings going on in there.

We will be collecting until the first week of November so just about two weeks. We’d love to see your shiny face and/or blog on our Booty Wall!!

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