NICU Survival Kits: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
If you’ve been around the block and back with 4tunate, you are familiar with our “NICU Survival Kits”. It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted about them. We took an extended break after our move and then we got caught up in parenting two year old toddlers to dedicate the time and resources required to put these together. Brad and I spent the weekend restocking, organizing, and assembling our supplies. After hand-delivering a NICU Survival Kit to a new triplet mom today, I’m excited to say, “It’s GREAT to be back in business!”
(If you have no idea what I’m rambling on about, you can look back on these posts where I explain NICU Survival Kits in more depth and see how the idea has evolved.)
Many of you have written and asked if you could make up your own NICU Survival Kit for a family member or friend who is experiencing the uncertain journey of the NICU, and my answer has always been ABSOLUTELY! We are in no way copywriting this idea, and it thrills us to no end that many of you want to “Pay It Forward”!
Check this video to see the details that go into a NICU Survival Kit:
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6270162&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1
NICU Survival Kits are funded by the revenues we earn from the sponsors of this blog. (Another portion of it helps feed our ravenous toddlers.) So thanks to you, readers, for helping us bless others just by reading our blog!
If you have ideas, tips, or would like to get more involved in our NICU Survival Kits, be sure to leave me a comment or email me at quatro_mama {at} yahoo {dot} com We’d LOVE to have you as part of this effort to reach out to parents of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
And there’s more….but I’ll leave you in suspense until a little later!
This is such a great idea! I wish I'd thought of this last year when my sister had her little guy in the NICU. Definitely will keep this in mind for the future. Thanks for passing along the blessings to others. 🙂
I love that you take the time to pass these blessings on to others! You mentioned premi sized blankets… how big (small) are those? I quilt and crochet and make a lot of baby blankets… I've got more than I'll ever need, especially since we don't have kiddos yet! I'd love to send some for you to include if you have a need for them. Let me know if you are interested or if there are any specifications that I need to follow for premi/NICU sized blankets.
I have always loved this idea – I took your idea to my Moms of Multiples group and people had agreed it was a great idea but it never got off the ground. Maybe this year we can revive the idea here, too!
PS…I bought that book by Tilmann after your mentioned it last time you posted and I LOVE it, too! Makes me want to go upstairs and find it on the kids' shelf and read it to them tomorrow! I also have a baby shower next week – I hope to find a copy of it before then to give with my gift for a very good friend!
I have always loved that you did this for others in the NICU! I've been around the block with you (lol) and I'm so glad you are getting back into it!! All those ideas are great!!
Love seeing the video too!!
Such a thoughtful thing to do from a family that has been there and done that the way that you have. Really kind! Love it!!!
Hi Jen,
I so wish that we had had someone like you around when our MoMo twins were in the NICU. Such great ideas!
Jen
Fresno, CA
This sounds like it would be a great service project for multiples clubs! I know our local chapter is always doing projects like this, but maybe it could be organized so that the clubs can donate to have these kits sent to their local hospital? If this is feasible, contact me and I'll bring it up with my multiples club.
Also, what about including some free samples to support the new mother in breastfeeding-such as Lansinoh samples, Mother's Milk tea, etc. I know that I can get those samples for free and if they wouldn't send them to you, I could get them and send them to you myself.
Jen~
I just LOVE that you do this! The NICU is SO overwhelming that any little thing can help! Survival Kits, AWESOME! I think I may just try to start doing this down my way! Thank you for doing such a WONDERFUL thing! (=
Love, Cathy & her quads
Love the idea – wonderful!
It's a wonderful idea and a great vlog. You are a pretty girl! Look good for a mom of four 2 1/2 year olds!
I'm going to link to it on Sunday from Simple Vlogging Tips.
God bless you for your big, warm heart and desire to help others. I am a volunteer at St. Vincent Women's NICU (I'm working towards a nursing degree and hope to be a nurse in the NICU one day) and would love to help you out in any way I can. I don't have much money to contribute to the cause, but if I can help in any way possible, please, let me know! Even if it's giving you info on high order multiples that are currently in the NICU (I know for sure there is one set of triplets right now, another set was supposed to be delivered the other day). Please email me if I can do anything.
Marianne
marianne.lacy@gmail.com
God will richly bless you in a very special in return of your being helpful and generous on helping other people. Excellent post.
Jen,
Good to hear your sweet voice! That is so awesome that you bless families at such a difficult time! We couldn't get our nurses to take many pictures, but we did get a baby blanket with Sharpee at each station and the nurses did sign them for the kids. A good keepsake for later!
Also, I wonder if one of the nurses would make up some sort of a guide to all the equipment. All those beeps and monitors were so overwhelming. I never got the "orientation" so I didn't know what they were monitoring and what was going on half the time. And how many times did we all have a heart attack when the alarms went off, just to find out that an electrode had come loose. I wish someone had told me that beforehand!
Love you!
Amanda
my murray NICU survival kit meant the world to me. love you so much!
suz