Seeking Sponsors

I'd like to go about sponsorship a little differently here. I don't see a need to build up a stash of cash for care packages at this time (because there aren't a lot of requests), so selling ads or otherwise asking people for money up front doesn't seem to be the right thing to do. Besides, then I'd have to do accounting, and I hate it with a passion.

Instead, I'd like to propose this:

I'd like to exchange site buttons with our supporters. I'll be making a special "I support Pagan Parents of Preemies"  button, and provide a sign-up form so we can keep track of supporters. Sign up, and post our button on your website, facebook, blog, or whatever, and give us a little exposure, and we'll post your button (125x125 max) on this blog in exchange. Supporters will be signed up to receive our newsletter each month, and will receive a special email when we need to put together a care package.

Supporters who help out with a care package when requested will get a special "Care Package Sponsor" button and will be listed on a thank you page here on the site.

Further, I'd like to seek out other ways of getting information on this project out there - writing articles for magazines, for instance, or guest posting on blogs. What about a give-away here on the blog? Something Pagan parenting related maybe, or something for Pagan kids? Anyone have a line on getting some things donated?

I'd also like, once we get a logo finalized, to get a little store going on zazzle or cafe press, with funds from there going towards advertising.

Got some other ideas? Let me know at PaganPreemies@gmail.com - I'm definitely open to suggestions!

Pagan Parenting in the NICU ver 1.0

I'm pleased to announce the first edition of my ebook, "Pagan Parenting in the NICU." Comments & suggestions for updates are always welcome.

I'm hopeful that other parents will find this information helpful during their NICU stay. I'll be including a printed copy in each care package.

Download it now.

Care Package Items - Wish List

Hi folks. Glad you could join us. We don't have any requests for care packages yet, but I want to put some thoughts out there for those of you thinking about what would be helpful.

The things I have in mind for care packages fall into three categories: things for parents, things for babies, and religious support.

Things for parents:

• NICU life accessories. Things like hand sanitizer and lotion. Also small notebooks, pens/pencils, a puzzle book, etc. A lot of these can be had at local department stores on an as needed basis.
• Toiletries. Some hospitals let you stay on site. Some parents are traveling significant distances to see their babies. Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap etc.
• Food. I've gotten care packages this time around with single-serving snacks, some natural and some decidedly not. I've gotten coffee samples, bags of tea, coupons for discounts on frozen prepared meals, and gift cards to actual restaurants.
• Memory type things. Some care packages we've seen include a disposable camera, hand/footprint kits, NICU journals, etc

Things for baby:

• Clothing for the baby. We have access to a place to get preemie & regular newborn sized clothing. We also have an account with one of the specialty shops that does micropreemie clothes, because we've been doing gift bags for our home hospital for over 2 1/2 years.
• Baby accessories. Blankets, hats, small stuffed animals (we've had great luck finding stuffed animals at Ikea), pacifiers, etc. Baby-friendly lotion and diaper rash cream too.

Religious things:

• A symbol of the family's faith. I have a source for tiny silver pentacles. I have a few ankhs. I can get triskele, tree of life, greenman, and Goddess, though they're bigger than I'd like.  I've been unable to find a reasonably priced source of Thor's Hammers that are small
• Other ritual items. Battery powered LED tealights (most dollar stores have these), maybe a quartz crystal or other protective or healing stone? (I have sources for stones)
• Once I get it finished, a hard copy of the ebook I'm working on about navigating the NICU experience as a Pagan parent. 
 

I'm sure there are things I haven't thought of yet. There should probably be some sort of flyer/brochure explaining where this package came from, with links here, and maybe other resources?

A rocky beginning

Most of us don't know until shortly before it happens that we're about to become members of a special club - those whose babies start life too early, too small, too ill, to go home with us when we leave the hospital.

This is our family's second lengthy NICU stay. We're on week 5 of an unknown stay for our daughter, born this past May at 28 weeks after more than 4 weeks of hospital bedrest for blood pressure issues - based on my history, it was assumed that I was developing pre-eclampsia.

Our first was with our son, who was born in June of 2008 at 27 weeks and a day, weighing only 1 lb 7oz. due to pre-eclampsia & HELLP syndrome, and spent 291 days in  the NICU, coming home with a tracheostomy, a ventilator, and a g-tube. He's now a nearly-typical 3 year old, with his various tubes coming out later this summer.

The two stays are different, and a big difference for us is that we're more comfortable there - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It's life in a fishbowl, but if everyone else gets to draw crosses on their child's marker board, and gets to decorate with other symbols of their faith, why not us? A small altar/shrine is in the works; we're more at ease with chaplains and others who want to pray for us.

I started this site to give support to others in similar situations - whether you're in a position to be open about your faith or not, no matter how long your child is hospitalized - this is a hard journey, and I think we can support each other along the way.

With that in mind, like our facebook page, linked on the right. Subscribe to the blog. Follow @PaganPreemies on twitter. If you're in the NICU, request a care package. If you'd like to help provide those care packages, email me at PaganPreemies@gmail.com. We'll also be taking requests for prayers & energy each week, and we'd love to have others help send energy to families who need it.