Maternity staff party

Every year the doulas (trained birth support women) used to give the mothers a bag filled with goodies at Christmas time as a once off prezzie.

Because Bosom Buddies is now giving even more gorgeous bags three times a week, we suggested that BB get together with the doulas (of which I am actually one too!) and give the nursing staff a gift instead.

We had 23 bags sewn up by the very nifty Monica who lives in Khayalitsha and filled them with all sorts of goodies from various people that Lisa Southin organized.

(Inge Bosman paid for the labor of the bags so thanks loads.)

I then approached different stores to get food & drinks sponsored for the Christmas party and many agreed to help us out.

On the morning of the party I had the inevitable happen with people letting us down and not delivering on their promises except for.

Pick n Pay Waterstone Village. Kevin the manager handed me over to his manageress Sanet who took my wish list out of my hand and proceeded to fill a trolley with TONS of food and festive tinsel, Christmas crackers, red & green napkins, juices and cakes & tarts. I was blown away by their generosity. I had prayed that morning for all we needed and who does God put in my path..? Sanet, an ex nurse! Coincidence? Not a chance!

I then had to dash off to Woolies at the Mall to pick up the rest of the food although Kevin & Geraldine had said it wasn't much, just some veggies & strawberries.

Drove around to dispatch and almost passed out when I saw the mountains of food. I was stressing big time as I had to get to the hospital in 45 minutes and I had to now find another charity to give the excess food to. Weather cooking hot, food potentially going to spoil. Aaaaaaaaaaargh!

I hate wasting food, especially when I know people are starving here.
Anyway, luckily Andy & Lynn from CHE met me in the parking lot and we loaded off most of the food into their car which they took into the townships. The people were stoked!
I then dashed off via home (pick up other food) to meet Lisa at the hospital and a couple of us set up all the food and decorations. The nurses and other ward staff were thrilled and touched with their gift and the party. We set aside enough for the night staff and all those who were on leave.

I want them to know we do appreciate their hard work and know the conditions under which they have to perform. Sometimes I get irritated with the sense of entitlement and total lack of gratitude some of the mothers show. Some of them are just surly and rude. Imagine what it is like for the nurses! I do know my attitude is wrong and not very Mother Theresa-ish. I really do love most of the precious moms.

Actually I must apologize for my attitude, its just a few of the preemie moms who take a second bag and pretend they haven't received one before who piss me off a little.
I should just know they have so little so that's why they sneak a second one but it's dishonest and means someone else doesn't get. Grrrrrrrrrr!

Anyway, a quick update of what's been going on lately.

December is a busy month with many babies and plenty preemies who are transferred from other hospitals.

The neonatal ICU was very busy yesterday but they all looked great and the room has such a golden light feeling to it for a change. Sometimes it feels so dark and sad in there but not yesterday.

While we were visiting we had 2 babes born within 10 minutes of each other. The poor women were yelling and groaning, but then finally, one little girl and one big boy born with a huge head. (OUCH!)

We gave out 16 bags in total so that's pretty busy. It was the first time we have gone on a Friday as we always do Thursdays. The previous day I couldn't find one single person to go with me and felt very strongly it was a mistake to go in alone. I know this probably sounds a little freaky / Lordy to some of you, but God clearly states (in the bible) that when 2 people are together in His name, He is there. 2 are better than one and we can stand in agreement on certain things. One going in alone is too vulnerable, like a sheep wandering off to the edge of the field. Snap, snap says the wolf and chomps up the sheep.

Am I making sense? I am the sheep, the devil is the wolf and I don't want to get chomped.

Today is Saturday and we were wandering if it was worth going because of yesterday. Liz decided to go anyway with a new recruit, Renee. She had phoned ahead and we were told 4 moms but I packed 9 bags just in case.

She landed up having to come home and pack more bags it was so busy. (15 bags) They also had a stillbirth mother so fortunately could spend some time with her and give her the bag we had prepared for her. So that's 31 bags in 2 days, crazy hey! Renee had an awesome visit and wants to come again which is good for us.

The previous week we had NO bags sewn and had a really bad volunteer week. I decided I didn't want to get too hung up on the details so Liz organized strong paper gift bags and we packed those for the Saturday and Monday visit. It worked out fine and is great for a back up.
We are now packing a POOR bags which we indicate by drawing a little heart on the back of the card. In addition to the regular goods, these have cloth nappies/diapers in with nappy liners, waterproof pants & a snappi in. We also put extra clothing in those bags.

It is a little tough deciding who gets those bags but nice to give.

Our clothing supply is good at the moment and blankies too. The sewing of the bags is not great but hopefully we will continue to get funding to pay Monica to make up the shortfall. We have been very blessed lately with about R3500 coming in the last month.

Which brings me to my long overdue thank you list:

Leana & Erica plus all the moms from the breastfeeding clinic

Jenna & her husband Charlie, parents to trips William, Elizabeth & Carolyn. They sent the most awesome parcel with exquisitely made baby blankets, clothes, products & goodies for mom. All the way from California.

Judy, Molly and Tamara, the Sugarplum faeries from Plumstead who sent us a whack of babygros, cloth nappies, liners, snappis, salt, vests and everything we needed. They even put English & Xhosa instructions on the salt which just reduces me to grateful tears!

Ladies from my church who always give

Delint & her mom who gave us a Hi-Fi for our kangaroom. Vibes at last!

Colleen Gast who told me I can use the R130 I owe her for my snazzy cake plate and buy products for BB. (I won't forget!)

Irene Bourquin who collected products from her ante-natal moms

Dezi & Verna who bought 2 newborn baby clothes packs

Doreen Freeman, Leigh’s granny who knitted for us

Lynn Hawkinss English ladies who sent us loads of wool and knitted cardigans from the UK

Lara Kirsten from Woolies who organized us Woolies waste

Kevin & Sanet from Pick n Pay Waterstone Village for all our party food

David & Geraldine from Woolies Mall for the remaining food

Megan & Twiggy for a second lot of clothing

Tina Hovaker from Pasadena, USA who sent us a gorg parcel of cute baby girl new clothing. We all oohed & aahed over the cute US clothes!

Cozy jerseys for next year from the elderly ladies at St Francis in Simonstown.

Generous cash donation from Retha & Lourens on behalf of their boys David & Stefan. This pays Monica for 3 months, yahoooo!

Lee's step dad who donated R2000 for us, we have put R1000 in our bank account and I sent Lee & Eleni shopping with the remaining R1000 for baby things. What fun.

Liz Holmes from JHB who gave us a great big box of dummies & bottles. It has been great having so many because we out 2 dummies in each bag.

And you, whose name is not on this list. Please forgive me, I suck at the admin and have lost track of some donors. I am ever so grateful though and we cannot survive without people like yourself. Ta!

To my volunteers, thanks forever. Please don't bail on me now. I really don't want to stop for Christmas and believe these moms, if anything, need extra TLC.

We are going on Christmas day after church so let me know who wants to join.

Bring on the mince pies!