Hospital Survival Kit for new moms!

I made this fun little kit for a friend of mine who is expecting her first child in a few days. It's been a few years since I've done that, but I still remember all the things I wish I had thought to pack. Such a fun way to celebrate the birth of a first, or tenth baby. I wanted to get her something before she went to the hospital. 

  

Baby Boy!

I went with blue accents.

You could use any color or pattern.

Body wash, soap, and Chapstick.  

Chapstick was #1 on my list.  

Your lips will quickly feel like sand paper.

  

Hairspray and lip gloss.   

You will take more photos this day than any other  in your life. 

It doesn't hurt to have a little something to freshen up. 

Remember, pictures last forever. 

Drinks.

You can't eat, and the next best thing is to drink.  Clear flavored liquid will seem like the nectar of the Gods while in labor. Capri suns are just the right size, and they come with a straw. Bonus.  Crystal light packets are perfect for bottled water. I threw in several.  Baby daddies get thirsty too. 

Sometimes, labor in LONG! 

Kleenex.

You will cry--  

Tears of frustration.

Tears of exhaustion.

Tears from pain. 

Tears of anticipation.

And, the tears of joy...

Goodies.

Jolly Ranchers saved me when I couldn't eat or drink.  

Gum . Contractions can be unpleasant. It helps to bite something.  : )

Chocolate and other candy because they don't serve that with your hospital food, and you deserve it.  You birthed a human. Have a Snickers!

Toothbrush and toothpaste for the trip.

Ear Plugs.  

Hospitals are not sleep friendly.  They are moving 24-7. New mothers need their sleep, and for this reason I send people out to buy me ear plugs.  They were a God send. By the way, one tip here--send you baby to the nursery at night.  You have the rest of your life to get up with that child.  Get some decent rest while you are there.  You are going to need it. There is no shame in sending your baby to the nursery.  Don't let anybody tell you differently!! No shame. 

FUN! 

A little something to pass the time.  Labor isn't also as quick as it is in the movies.  

Ped socks.  

My feet were freezing.  I didn't want to wear slippers all day. These were delightful.

Compact. 

Nobody wants broccoli in their teeth when cameras flash or visitors show up to see the new mom and baby, and they do come(and they do, often in droves.)  You won't feel like getting up and walking to the bathroom, so having a small mirror at my bed was great.  

Hair bands. 

I never had enough of these. 

Head bands.  

You may want your hair back while pushing, or when trying to nurse.  They just come in handy. 

Deodorant! 

Labor is hard work. 

Salt. 

I craved salt.

Medicated lip balm.  

Worked well overnight.

Make-Up Remover Facial Wipes.  

These are simple. 

Again, you won't want to get up and down for things like this. Keep a small bag by your bed.  

Fashion magazine.  

There isn't a woman out there that loves her maternity clothes enough to wear them one day longer than necessary.  Nine months of maternity wear takes its toll on the best of us.  A fun fashion magazine so she can catch up on the latest trends as she switches out her wardrobe.  

Make yourself a label.  You could easily copy this one and print it off from your home computer.  Attach label to your bag.  You can use any bag.  I like the look of the simple brown craft bag.  

Tie the handles together with baker's twine, or some type of decorative string or ribbon.  I found this at Target for $1. 

Fill your bag with all of the items.  Fill in empty space with white crinkled paper.  I put a bow around mine.  You could buy a bow and attach it right to the bag or use ribbon you have to make one.  The zebra looks darling with almost anything.  Glue your label on. 

And....voila!

The perfect gift for the soon to be new mother. I love the idea of gifting the mother things  for herself.    

It's may be the biggest day of her life! 
It is kind of a big deal.
When a baby is born, so is a mother. 
Neither has existed before. 
 Remember her, as well as the baby. 

Hospital survival Kit

for the new mother!

Twins: Double the love – half the sleep!

There are two things in life for which

we are never truly prepared...

p twins!! 

 The first year is a blur. 
Take photos. 

December 21, 2006 --- 29 weeks, 5 days

Apparently, they felt the world needed a little extra for Christmas that year! 

Emersyn

9:35 AM

3 lbs.

16 inches long

Eden

9:36 AM

2 lbs. 14 ozs.

14. 5 inches long

I don't have many memories from the first few years after the girls were born, but I am glad I took photos. At least they will have something because if they want stories--I've got nothing. 2007-2009 is a blur. It is suddenly seven years later, and I am just now getting around to these pictures. Many I saw for the first time tonight. It was so fun to see them. I had forgotten so much. The girls loved their pictures. I am so glad I found them. 

Those first few years, I barely survived. 

I dare say months, or perhaps even years, but guess what? I did. And from the pictures, I think I may have even smiled along the way.  I didn't find one flattering picture of myself in two years.  But, it was a few years that weren't about me and the pictures tell a story.  My children will know those days were exhausting.  The pictures do not lie! I either had macaroni in my hair, breast milk on my shirt, or swollen eyes from lack of sleep or tears.

I cried because I couldn't do it one more minute, not one more minute. But, I always did. Because we always do.

I cried countless tears of frustration and more born of exhaustion.  I never had the energy to fight them.  They came without warning.  They never asked permission.

The most bitter tears were those of guilt.  They are endless and they are remarkably heavy.  As a mother, it is those tears betray you.  You can rarely hide them.  They give you away.  They are not a respecter of persons.  Age, ethnicity, class, and religion,mean nothing to them. They fear no one.  It is these tears that crush you.  They rob you.  They are a gift that never stops giving.  They will cripple you, if you let them.  You cannot escape them for they will always catch up to you.  There was so much guilt.  The guilt that my boys never got the time they deserved, they never had all of me.  My world had just been turned upside down.  I was literally focused on  keeping these girls alive. And then the guilt that their premature births was my fault.  I had done something wrong.  My body could not carry them.  They were being put through every hideous test, machine, and practice because of me.  I would never be the mother they needed, I couldn't even carry them inside me.  Was that not the most basic of tasks?  Oh, and the ever paramount guilt of abandonment and refusal to let myself love them.  The fear of losing them was so paralyzing, I tried not to love them.  I refused to allow myself that luxury.  I could not bear to have them taken from me.  And despite my efforts to forgive myself for those things I thought if only ought of desperation, I cannot. I cannot deny wanting to wake up and have somebody tell me it never happened.  I remembered life before them and longed for the ease and comfort and relief it offered.  I would never be the same.  Neither option was inviting.  If they didn't come home, my heart would have left with them.  And if they came home, I would be consumed by their constant care, leaving nothing for my two other children I loved more than life.  It was the first time in my life, that I wasn't sure which would be the lesser of two evils. And I hated myself for it.  I could not watch their bodies fight the battle they fought.  I couldn't fight it for them and I was so angry.  The grief was paralyzing. I remember thinking I would eventually forgive them if they stopped fighting.  It would be selfish of me to ask anymore from them than I already had.  There was no winning.  That is the guilt that never leaves.  It unpacks and makes itself right at home.  You never get over that guilt.  Those tears I still cry.  They are the tears that never dry.  Always there, just below the surface.

I cried tears of absolute joy and overwhelming gratitude because there were moments when I found myself in awe that those four children were mine.  I could not figure out what I had done to ever deserve such goodness.  I was afraid I was too happy and that it was going to be taken away for surely I did not deserve so much goodness. I still have those days.  I am not sure what I did,  but I know this...whatever it was--it was something good! 

Let it never be said from my girls that they ever wore the same outfit, or hair bow their first year of life. They will say many things about me, but never let them say they were not dressed to the nines as babies.  Going through these pictures, I am almost embarrassed. I don't remember getting them dolled up, or shopping for them. But, from the looks of it--somebody did, because they are ridiculously overdressed.  In my defense, I received so many gifts. I have amazing friends and family and they like to shop. Girl clothes are more fun to buy than boy clothes, and when you have two babies in public, and they look this cute, you are granted celebrity status. I miss it. Nobody stops me anymore.  I don't hear people whisper when I walk by about how cute they are.  It was fun. I loved every minute.  

Warning: Yes, I like big bows. Huge! Colossal! I like them fancy, and the gaudier, the better. You've been warned.  Carry on. They also had their ears pierced before they came home from the hospital in February. Guilty! And yes, I had jewelry made. I was excited. It was a big deal! They had a rough beginning. They were spoiled. Sue me.