Four hundred seventy-five...

475

That is the amount of LilyWraps, or blankets, we were able to deliver to hospitals on Teagan's Birthday/Angel Day.  Eighty-four is the number of flannel diapers we were able to deliver.  I love those numbers, I am so amazed.  When I started this project, I was hoping for 200.  I can't believe we more than doubled that.

**This number does not include the blankets that have been made and given to people's local hospitals.... I love it!

When we delivered the LilyWraps, the nurses at the hospital asked if I did this all on my own.  My answer was a big "No."  There is no way I could have pulled this off on my own.  Not even close.

I am humbled with gratitude from the outpouring of love from so many people.  Many of these people I have never met, others close friends, and others family.   Honestly, I can't even find the words to express how this whole project has made me feel.  I am so awed by the generosity of everyone who has helped me be able to give back.  

I know these blankets will be a priceless gift to a grieving mother.  A gift she will hold on to for the rest of her life, being able to wrap her tiny baby in a blanket made just for them.  A blanket that will be one of the few tangible objects she has of her child's life. It will become a connection to her angel.  I thank everyone who made this possible, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

People sent packages of material

  Packages of already made wraps

I received a package of Teeny Tears Diapers

Tate and Bentli were disappointed at first that all these incoming packages were for Mom and not them.  Once they learned what all these packages contained and what they were for, they were excited with me.  A package would come and would be followed by, "Its another one... Mom, Mom, another package!"  Every package would bring tears of gratitude and happiness.

So many generous people donated money.  Believe me, it was all put to good use!  My kids weren't as excited about the amount of time spent in JoAnns.  Haha.   I wish I would have kept track of how many yards material I ended up buying.  And then so many of my dear neighbors and friends here in Philly chipped in cutting, pinning, ironing, and sewing these blankets up.  So, so much help!

Bentli was excited to help by tying the blankets up with the tag.  It was great mother-daughter bonding time as we would sit and tie together.  She would often remind me how lucky I was that she knew how to tie a bow and could help out so much!

Here is a picture of 375 of the blankets.  100 of them had already been sent to hospitals in Idaho (near Teagan's grave) and Indiana.

84 Diapers!

August 9th, we delivered wraps to Lankenau Hospital.  As I sat waiting for the nurse to come, I thought of my baby.  This is where our sweet little Teagan spent her whole life, all 29 minutes.  This is the hospital of doctors and nurses who did everything they possibly could to give her a chance.  This is the hospital where so many of the staff treated us with so much compassion during the most devastating event in our lives.  I will always remember this place and the people who are so much a part of Teagan's life. 

The nurses were so excited to receive these blankets, to be able to swaddle other tiny angels.

 Cute pic of the kids in the car on the way from Lankenau to Jefferson

A random connection lead us to Jefferson hospital, located downtown Philly.  They were also so excited and happy to receive this donation.

What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes and part of us. 

--Helen Keller

Craft Night

 I finally completed the first batch of wraps for the hospital.  And my 'I', I mean 'we'.  I had some wonderful neighbors and friends come over and we busted a bunch of wraps out.  We were able to accomplish a lot that night and my neighbor Krista and I were able to finish it all up.  We were able to make 82 wraps so far!  I am so excited. 

I have received a couple more donations and so will be one last trip Joann's next week to buy fabric.  I might have to beg a couple more friends to come and help out with the last batch of wraps.  I have been so truly humbled by the generous donations that people have made.  I think I cry every time I get a donation or see the projects people are working on for it.  I am so incredibly grateful for the kind hearts of so many people.

Sherrie and Krista... slaving away

Mary Jane was so great to pin for us

Emily sewing away!

My sweet friend Dani, made and sent these sweet little diapers all the way from Hawaii!  They are so tiny.  I love the card that comes with each diaper.

Help Swaddle an Angel

You want to know what I told the nurse practitioner at my first OB appointment?  Rhetorical question, because I am going to tell you anyway!  haha.  I told her I was a low maintenance pregnancy, that I go to my doctor appointments, go the hospital, and go home with my baby.  I honest to goodness said that.  I still am shaking my head and berating myself for that stupid comment.  My pregnancy was anything but simple or routine.  For six weeks there were countless tests and hospital visits.  I think the longest I went without going to the hospital was 4 days.  Looking back, I wonder how I didn't see this coming, I didn't even consider the possibility of Teagan not making it.  I had researched everything: physical and mental developmental delays due to prematurity, NICU stays, how to take care of micro preemies, etc... all of it, except for the possibility that I wouldn't ever bring my baby girl home.

I wasn't prepared to have those few hours after Teagan was born be the only... the only time I had with her.  What parent is prepared for that?  I didn't have any blankets made or clothes, even if I did have them made/bought by then, they would have been too big.  The hospital was wonderful to us, and gave us a bereavement box, with a blanket, bows, feet/hand imprints, etc.   I am so incredibly grateful to the hospital and the memories they allowed me to create with Teagan.  I know we are not the only parents who only have a short time to create a lifetime of memories.  There are many parents, more than you realize, who have to say good-bye as soon as they welcome their child into their arms. 

I talked with the hospital where Teagan was born, Lankenau Hospital, and the nurse told me that they have a need for small blankets designed for babies 18-24 weeks gestational age.  They do get some donations for closer to term babies, but they are too large for these tiny babies.  Every parent should have a blanket to swaddle their infant.  They should have a nice, pretty blanket to wrap their baby in for pictures, and (if they are like me) sleep with every night to comfort them in their grief.  I found this blog that gives directions on how to make LilyWraps (small blankets to swaddle tiny babies).

How to make a LilyWrap

(Make option 2, the snug as a bug option)
I will be making wraps that are a finished size of 12"x12" and I may throw in to a few slightly larger ones of 15"x15"

Our family is starting a project.  I'm calling it Swaddle an Angel.  We are going to make as many of these wraps as possible.  And maybe some cute little diapers, see how to make them here.  We want to take these wraps and donate them to Lankenau Hospital on Teagan's birthday/angel day, August 9th.  We want to celebrate her life and our love for her.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate Teagan than to give to those in need.

If you would like to help with this project of ours, you can: make some LilyWraps and mail them to me, donate fabric, donate money to buy fabric, or even just spread the word to those crafty people who are looking for a project to work on.  Words cannot even begin to express the gratitude in my heart for the donations that were made for us, so we could have some beautiful memories to hang onto for the rest of our lives.  If you are able, I would love your help in bringing some comfort to mothers and fathers during one of the most difficult times a parent can experience.
 
*For questions or for an address to mail donations to, please email me at jenniespicer@gmail.com
**I added a PayPal donate button to the sidebar for easy click donations.  Thank you all!