SWMcFarland

AviatorJJ

hey are you busy on Friday night? are you coming to the comedy club? i think it's just me and Katherine right now.

 also, did you send out any thank you notes to companies that donated for the baby showers? is there something our group can do to thank them? send them pictures?

SWMcFarland

I sent emails and such to my folks, but it would be great to get some MOD TY cards or something.

Not sure about Friday though.  I'll have a better idea tomorrow.

AviatorJJ

i have some MOD cards that you can have. or should they come from MLM? hmm?

SWMcFarland

Do we have anything for MLM?  If so, that would be the better option, I think!  I'm trying to get the pictures uploaded to my computer but have been slammed today at work so I haven't been able to do it.

Hopefully tomorrow!!

clyoungsey

I would be interested in how your organization worked all the baby shower stuff for the NICU showers.  I would like to do something like that near us.

beachykeen1723

Do you have any Orlando mommies in your group? I haven't heard about anything similar over here- which is silly since we have the 4th largest NICU in the country

SWMcFarland

Beachy-

We have a few Lakeland gals, but no one from Orlando (that I know of).  I found the group on meetup.com and searched for a preemie mom's group.

Of course, you are welcome to join us!!!  :-)

 

C-

Let me know if you have logistics questions.  Here's the jist of what we did.

There are 5 major NICUs here in Tampa, so we had one mom "chair" one hospital.  I will tell you how the shower I did at my NICU went.

We solicited donations for gear, supplies, gift cards, etc. Ladies in our group asked friends, families, churches, schools, girl scout troupes, etc.  You name it, we asked them!  I asked folks I know to donate gift cards to places like Wal-Mart, Target, BRU so we could assess what we had and what we needed, since it was rather large-scaled.  Most companies are very generous.  For example, I called Petunia Pickle Bottom (www.petuniapicklebottom) and they sent a diaper bag and matching clutch.  She also told me to call earlier next year and they will set aside several bag/sling/clutches.  Very great organization!  Coke donated all the drinks, including sodas, juices, and water. 

So we used the gift cards to buy clothes (newborn & preemie), diapers, wipes, bouncer chairs, tubs, etc.  Supplies is the best word I can use to describe it. 

So we set up the showers to play games, etc.  Anytime someone would win the game, they got a trip to the prize table to get a gift.  There were tons of prizes and presents.

Basically, anyone who was able to come got a trip to the prize table (and sometimes several trips!!).  For all the rest of the mom's, we had gift bags that had information about the MOD, the HUG program, and our organization.  We also stuffed some little goodies in each bag--a little outfit, or socks and hats, etc.

Let me know if you have specific questions or thoughts.  I am more than happy to go in more detail!

beachykeen1723

I just searched, and Orlando has nothing! I'll talk to DH. Life is going to be crazy for the next few months, but maybe in the spring? How often do you meet?

Jennyjenz

I would love to meet up as well.  I am actually in the Tampa area.