For the first 12 hours I could not see him. Immediately after delivery he was taken to the NICU and Wes went with him. While I was recovering, Wes brought back pictures for me, my Mom and his Mom & Dad to see. He then told us he could not yet hold him. He then had to break it to the Grandparents that they would not be able to see him until Thursday night...and this was Tuesday!
That nigh,t Wes wheeled me down to see my little angle, who we still had not named. When I first saw him, all I wanted to do was pick him up and tell him how much I already loved him! When the nurse told me I could not hold him I felt helpless. I was his Mommy and all I could do was touch him ( and she barley let me do that), it hurt my heart to think this child could not be held. ( Wes was filming my first actual meeting with the little man, and I was on pain medication from the surgery and when the nurse walked away... apparently I started talking smack about her and that she did not know what she was talking about and that the best thing for the baby was for me to hold him...oh yes this is on video)
Anyway, the next morning I went down to see him, I still could not hold him. I noticed a gift bag sitting in his little area and the nurse told me it was for me. When I got back up to my room, my mom was there and we opened it. There was a card from an organization called Footprints Ministry. It was filled tons of stuff, burp cloth, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, camera (just to name a few) and my favorite...a receiving blanket. Attached to the blanket was this poem:
My Blankie
by Pam Carroll
I have a little blankie
That I hold tight each night
But there's just one thing missing
That's Mommy by my side.
If Mommy takes this blankie
And holds it very close,
When she brings it back to me
I'll smell her with my nose.
It won't replace my Mommy
But remind me of her love,
And that God's watching over me
From heaven up above.
I got to the third line and had to have my Mom finish reading it. It was at that moment that I knew he was not only in great hands medically, but God had these wonderful people... His earthly angels, that did not even know my child, praying for him and visiting to pray with him daily. The NICU is very strict about visitors, but they allow this minister who works with the Footprints Ministry to come pray with the babies daily.
The point of this LONG post is to explain why we are asking you to help us Support and Thank this amazing organization. We will send out invitations to Amos' 1st Birthday in a few weeks. His party will be at Aunt Laurie's house. In the invitation you will have a card asking you to help us thank and support Footprints. There will be a list of things they need to make the bags they give to the families of babies in the NICU. Our little man was only there 5 1/2 days, but some aren't so lucky. Their stay is much longer. Please help us by bringing one of the items on the list to the party. When we get back to Birmingham we are going to take all the items to Footprints. We have been in touch with Footprints, and they are so excited that we will share Amos' 1st Birthday with them.
Again , I cannot express how this little bag can mean so much when you are in that situation.
God has given us this child, this amazing gift and trusts that we will raise him to be kind, giving and appreciate all of our many blessing. I can't think of a better way to start.
I have listed below, what will be in the invitation. I just could not put all of this in the invitation, so I thought this would be a great way to explain the importance of helping this organization.
Items Needed
Disposable Cameras with flash
Travel size Kleenex
4 or 5 pack receiving blankets from Target or Walmart
$5 gift cards to local restaurants
Gas Cards
Monetary donations should be made payable to Footprints Ministry
I hope to see you all as we celebrate his 1st Birthday!!!
We are so blessed!
