A small appology.

I'm sorry we've all been a tid bit absent around here.  All of us have had A LOT going on. 

This week I've gone half way across the country with my little family to celebrate my sons first Christmas.  It didn't go exactly as planned.  DH's grandfather fell and broke his hip and had surgery, my little one has been ridiculously fussy, and there is snow, a lot of snow, yuck.  However; we got to spend a ton of time with family and introduce our baby to my husbands family. It's been a lot of laughs and giggles, baby hugs, big people hugs, good food and fantastic company.

Pictures will follow later.

Until next time,

Lady Hurricane

Christmas letters n' such.

Do you ever just sit and stare at a page and wonder what to do with it?  I've been in this situation before, earlier this last week actually.  I was sitting, staring at the computer screen with a blank new page in front of me and I was supposed to fill it with a reflection on the year that has flown by.

How many of you actually read all of the unpersonalized Christmas/holiday letters that you receive folded up neatly inside a card with a scribbled signature and a picture of a happy family?  I read most of them.  If I don't actually read it all the way through, I at least skim it for keywords.

It's always nice to write out a little "brag" letter, but I often wonder how much of my silly sense of humor, that I squeeze in each year, goes unread.

This year I went out month by month and posted silly things that happened this year to hopefully catch someones eye, and included a nice little family photo.

Do you send out cards/letters each year?  It's always nice to get a little bit of cheer in the mailbox.

Until next time,

Lady Hurricane

Slow times...

Welcome back to The Naptime Bloggers!

I'm sorry things have slowed down a bit around here.  We're all very busy with the upcoming holidays!  We hope all is well with you and your family and that you have safe holiday travels and a great time with you and yours.

We are still looking for more guest bloggers, our wait-list has cleared up, and we would love to hear from our readers!  A guest blog can be about anything really, a product review, a funny story about your family, a heartfelt story about adoption, a great recipe that your family loves, a different point of view on discipline, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, you name it.

Sit tight and hopefully you'll be seeing more of us in the New Year!

Until next time,

Lady Hurricane.


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Too Busy?

It’s no secret that we are all busy. I don’t care if you are the stay at home parent of an only child or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company with quadruplets at home. You are busy.

Here’s my current situation. I am a stay home mommy, full time student, and wife. During this last week I had 4 finals to study for, a 5 page paper to write, and a very important interview to prepare for. I felt like I had a million things to accomplish! And it all had to be accomplished while being super mom and Susie Home-Maker.

 

There were 10 loads of laundry to be folded (This is NOT an exaggeration). My sinks were overflowing with pots and pans. My youngest has refused to leave her diaper on, which results in the occasional pile of poop that I will find around the house. Oh, and we thought getting a puppy would be the perfect addition to our craziness!

 

While sitting in my recliner, trying with everything I had in me to get my material read and get notes studied, I found myself getting after the girls over and over (and over and over and over and over) again. My day was filled with tension and resentment. And to top it all off, it was an uncharacteristically GORGEOUS day for the beginning of December. We are talking 60 degrees! You know what that does to kids!!

 

In a final attempt to capture some attention from mommy, my youngest climbed on my lap and straddled me, looking me square in the eyes. As I began to scold her and let her know all that mommy had to do, she leaned forward and hugged me. She laid her beautiful blond head on my chest and just stayed there.

 

It hit me. HARD. What was I doing?! These sweet and innocent little girls just wanted to play with mommy. They just wanted to share their infinite supply of joy and energy with their struggling mother. I wasn’t getting anything accomplished anyway.

 

I put it all away. The books. The notes. The computer. The interview application.

 

I gathered up our jackets and boots, and we headed out to the backyard. It was a muddy mess, but the sun felt like a rush of sanity washing over my heart and mind. The girls ran and laughed and played. The dogs explored and romped around in the mud. It was glorious.

 

In all of my haste, I forgot that they are babies. I forgot that they needed me. I forgot that I don’t have to get it all done NOW. I forgot that we must take advantage of today’s beauty, because it will fade with setting sun.

 

What I learned that day was to SLOW DOWN. Enjoy these sweet moments. I don’t get after my girls for crawling up on my lap anymore. I simply hug them back. As long as they want to. I take breaks. I focus on the big picture.

 

No matter how busy you are today or what you have planned for tomorrow, don’t forget to laugh and love. Children are masters of reminding us what is important; sometimes we just need to shut up and listen to them. No matter what this day, week, month, or year has in store for you, don’t forget to slow down and enjoy what is right in front of you.

 

A Quick And Powerful Snack Blend For Those On The Go Moments

Nuts are a huge part of my family's diet.  We love to snack on them or incorporate them into our main meals.  While they are a favorite in our home, I know that there are a lot of people out there who cannot enjoy the health benefits of them due to allergies.  But I want to draw attention to an alternative that can be used as a replacement in trail mixes, peanut butter, etc. and not only is this food item packed with amazing health benefits and nutrients, they are also SO much cheaper than nuts!    
That's right, I'm talking about seeds!  I first learned about how you could switch out nuts for seeds a few years ago when I was a nanny for a family of three boys.  The youngest had a severe nut allergy and so I learned how to be extremely cautious when feeding the boys and reading every single label out there so (A) would be safe and still be able to enjoy delicious food.  Yes, it is still absolutely possible to eat great and healthy when you have allergies to certain foods.  You just have to learn how to read the labels carefully, know the terms, and not be afraid to ask questions!

Here’s a simple snack idea for those of you moms, dads, and other “I need something quick and healthy to feed myself and kids RIGHT NOW” type of people because let’s face it, we have all been there at one point in time! This blend of seeds is one that I recently began throwing together and storing in jars or snack size ziploc baggies.  I keep baggies in my purse, one in my son’s backpack, in our snack drawers (which I’ll write about in a later post), in the car, just about anywhere that grants easy access to something quick and nutritious so my family can choose something such as that over fast food when we’re hungry.  

In the photo above:

Greek Yogurt, Pepitas (pumpkin seeds), Golden Flaxseed, Sunflower Seeds, and Mini Chocolate Chips.

Here’s the breakdown:

Look for raw, unsalted versions of these seeds and ones without oils added to them.

Pepitas (pumpkin seeds): Vitamin K, B, and E as well as: Copper, Zinc (immune support), Protein, Iron, Magnesium (for your heart), Manganese, Plant Based Omega-3 Fats, and Phosphorous. There have also been studies that show that pumpkin seeds can aid in lowering LDL cholesterol, promote sleep, help with depression, and are good for prostate health among other things!

Raw Sunflower Seeds (shelled):  Vitamin E, Potassium, Protein, Magnesium, and healthy fats, but beware of eating too many at a time because they are high in calories, so moderation is key!

Golden Flaxseed:  These may be tiny, but they pack a mighty punch because of the lignans (may protect against certain types of cancer), Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fiber, and Protein that they contain.  

Mini Chocolate Chips:  Okay, so there are really no great benefits at all, but I have a major sweet tooth and these little guys are just the burst of sweetness that I need and taste so perfect with this blend of seeds!  If you want to choose a healthier version and still get your “chocolate fix” then replace them with cacao nibs!

Greek Yogurt:  To be honest I don’t like the taste of 0% Greek Yogurt.  I remember the first time I bought Fage and my 18 month old (at the time) son and I tried it.  Haha I wish I could have captured our faces in a photo because my son’s was hilarious and not impressed.  I’m pretty sure mine looked the exact same way as his did :).  Even though it’s a million times better than regular yogurt, it’s just way too sour for me.  So I add in raw honey to help sweeten it up a bit and add in some walnuts or this blend of seeds and voila.  A simple healthier treat/dessert!

While the Greek Yogurt I have pictured isn’t the best (choose Fage when you can) it is still far better than brands such as Yoplait and Dannon.  The reason that the Greek Yogurt I have pictured here isn’t the best is because it has pectin in it.  But regardless, for the most part I love Greek Gods yogurt and when my supermarket is out of Fage, as mine was, I generally grab this brand because I prefer the taste.  When choosing a yogurt, as with every other food item you purchase, read the labels!  This container contains:  Pasteurized Grade A Milk, Cream, Pectin, and Active Cultures (S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidopholus, Bifidobacteriu, and L. Casei).  

*** I am in no way an expert or dietician.  This comes from research, personal knowledge and experience as a previous nanny, babysitter, daycare worker and supervisor.  I’m now a mom who tries her hardest to feed herself and her family food that will benefit them in a positive way.  

***  Seeds can be an awesome replacement, but I do strongly encourage you to make sure that you are not allergic to them before ingesting them, especially if you are allergic to nuts as some times both can set off reactions.

What is one of your favorite on the go snacks?

xoxo

Lady Sunshine

What I've learned from my miscarriage

Again with the heavy topics, I know.  I promise I'll lighten up next Monday... If I don't I owe you all a dollar (Please don't take me up on that, I can't afford it with the nearly 1,000 views we get each week haha). However, I really will try to write about a light hearted subject, I feel like I might be the downer of the group right now.  Back to the topic...

What did having a miscarriage teach me about myself? A lot, but here is the gist.

1. I wasn't ready to be a mother yet.  Don't get me wrong, I WANTED more than anything to be a mother to my child, but losing our baby showed me many of my flaws.  
1. I'm not patient...at all. I stop the microwave before the last second (don't worry I clear the second off),  I go to the post office at 10:30 every morning because that is the deadline for when the mail is supposed to be in my box, I don't even like waiting for the Xbox to start up let alone the oven to get up to temp. Not only did I have to wait for us to try and conceive again, I had to wait to be emotionally prepared and then wait 9 months to have our son. 
2. I'm selfish. I wasn't taking care of myself the way I should have been before conception.  After losing our baby I began exercising daily, eating better, etc. I want to be around for our children for a long time, and the way my life was going, I wouldn't have been. I would have rather get my sleep, go out to movies, go to dinner, and do things on our own schedule. I wasn't ready for something or someone to interrupt the way our plans were made. 
2. I am stronger than I ever imagined I could be.  I had to be.  I couldn't let this cripple me.  I still needed to work, I still needed to be there for my husband who was also hurting, and I still needed to go on with my life.  I couldn't just crumble.

What did having a miscarriage teach me about the world?

1. The obvious, life is fragile. It is.  It can be there one moment and taken away from you the next, quicker than anyone could ever imagine. 
2. There are some amazing people out there.  Several of which, I am proud to call my friends and family. 
3. I have a fantastic support system.  The days after my miscarriage I had an outpouring of messages and phone calls of people telling me they loved me and that they were their if I needed them.  I had flowers brought to me by friends. I had friends that just sat there and listened, and cried, and hugged. 
4. I am not alone, and neither are you.  Previously mentioned support system also included friends and family who also lost a little one and shared their stories with me.  Also the resources I listed on last Monday's blog.   
5. Everything happens for a reason.  This was the hardest thing for me to reason with, especially now that we have our son.  Without having our miscarriage, I wouldn't have our son.  Our baby was due at the end of August, on baby's due date I was 10 weeks pregnant. 

I hope you walk away from this post learning a little bit more about yourself or even just understanding your friend or spouse and being able to be there for them.  Remember, no matter the gestation of your baby, they are just that...your baby.  Take time to grieve, give yourself space.  Sit back and evaluate the situation that your in and do what is best for you.  Take care of yourself.

Until next time,

Lady Hurricane.

Guest Blog: A Fairytale Beginning

Welcome back to The Naptime Bloggers!  We're so very happy to have you hear!  Lately, at least in my life (Lady Hurricane), a lot of people around me have been adopting.  This next story really captured my attention.  Not only because the mom has a way of pulling in people with her words, but also because of the incredible strength and amazing bond the family has.  I follow Lisa's blog about her family's adventures HERE, often and I hope you will go check out what she has to say too!

Lisa Sorenson is the author of The Far Side of Complexity, a blog that chronicles her family’s daily adventures in the great northwest. An advocate for children with disabilities, a large part of her writing focuses on the trials and triumphs associated with caring for her own handicapped daughter. When not tending to her children, Lisa performs with the Mid-Columbia Symphony and teaches private music lessons. She also enjoys traveling, reading, and listening to Beethoven’s 7th Symphony.

Enjoy.

 

One of the most common motifs in literature and cinema alike is that of rags to riches; stories that tell of a person rising from poverty to wealth. Indeed, those were the stories that captured my attention throughout my childhood years. Favorites included Cinderella, The Prince and the Pauper, and My Fair Lady (to name a few). Oh, and let's not forget Becky the scullery maid in A Little Princess. One of my absolute favorite literary moments is when she leaves her life of poverty and becomes a 'little princess' herself.

Those stories always resonated with me, though I am not quite sure why. As a child I wanted for nothing and had every opportunity afforded me. Yet I sill pondered what it would be like to experience such a dramatic change of fortune - or better yet - to be the cause of that change in the life of someone else.

So when my husband approached me with the idea of adopting I didn't give it a second thought. I responded with an immediate and absolute, "Yes!"

And that is where our adoption journey began.

Many were surprised when they heard we were adding to our family. We already had three biological daughters, the youngest of which was born with severe brain damage. As a result, she is what I like to call a forever-baby. She doesn't walk, talk, or even eat. Feeding tubes, shunts, and seizures are common topics of conversation in our house. To many, it appeared our plate was full. But what most don't realize is that while our life is a little different, it is also our normal.

So despite the shock and questions from onlookers, we started researching, knowing that somewhere out there was a child who belonged with us. It was such an interesting thought, to know that on some continent, in some country, was one child who was all alone, waiting. So I searched and searched until one day I saw this picture:

Her smile captivated me. And her eyes - so full of life and excitement, despite the unfavorable circumstance she was in. I knew immediately she was the one.

***

Three weeks ago we traveled to Ethiopia where Elsa, age 6, joined our family. We arrived at the orphanage with a new outfit to dress her in - including some silver sparkle shoes reminiscent of Cinderella's glass slippers. She literally left her 'rags' behind and came to the States to find a bedroom fit for a princess awaiting her. But rags to riches it isn't about monetary wealth. At least not in this case. For Elsa it means a home; it means safety; it means opportunities to develop talents; it means having a family to call her own.

When I look at Elsa, I see something special - a spark, a light, limitless potential. I see a child who was born into dire circumstances, but regardless, chose to smile. She has a fighting spirit and the courage to face the world with confidence. I have rarely seen such strength and strong sense-of-self in a person. As I think towards the future I am excited to see what it holds for my Ethiopian princess. Who will she become? What will she achieve? Something great awaits her, I just know it. Indeed, this fairy tale is going to end with a happily ever after.

 *** 

I really hope you enjoyed Lisa's guest blog today, and that you go check out her blog as well to follow more of her story!

Until next time!

-The Naptime Bloggers

Presents versus Presence

     I want you to think hard about the holidays of your childhood. What do you remember most? Do you remember baking special holiday treats with your mom or grandma? Do you remember going to see a display of Christmas lights? What about traditions that your family ALWAYS did that you loved? Now I want you to think about the gifts you received. How many can you remember? Okay fine, I definitely remember my N64 (and yes I still have it) and my Power Wheels Corvette, but aside from that, I've got nothin. Let that sink in for a minute....go ahead....I'll wait....
 
     Okay now...get it? Good. I want you to realize how stressful it is when you are running around frantically Black Friday shopping or last minute gift wrapping..or maybe about preparing for all that company. Do your kids enjoy you when you're stressed? Mine certainly don't.
   
     One last question...how often did they play with last year's expensive gifts? If your kids are anything like mine, they played with them for MAYBE a week before they were lost in the pile that is the toy box. They would get dumped out when company came over of course as you know kids are prone to doing this AWESOME thing where they check to see every single toy the other child has, but were they worth it? Not really.

     What has this holiday become? It used to be about so much more than retail, but I don't want to get preachy. I could rant all day about how materialistic we are now and how insane it is to trample people in a sale to get junk that will likely not even really be appreciated, but I won't.

     So what do we do to make sure our kids have something more worthwhile... I know there was a blog earlier about community service and that was a GREAT idea, but aside from that...do a holiday craft, even if it comes out sloppy. Bake some Christmas tree brownies together. Take them to see a light show. Start some traditions and make them memorable! (you can still do a lot of shopping if you have a preteen who loves to shop with you! :P)

     Here's what I did with my kids today...we made ornaments out of foam balls and sequins. They LOVED IT.

Yesterday, they helped me put together my Christmas village. (my grandmother had me help with hers every year and it was my favorite so I started my own) There's a brilliant local light display that I've been to every December since I was 10, and I'll be taking them to that. If I'm being honest I don't like holidays, but only because of what they have BECOME. Let's create traditions and memories with our kids that will make these holidays meaningful..otherwise, what's the point? :)

-Lady Luck

Miscarriages and Blessings

Today's post might be a sensitive subject for some... So here is your **Trigger alert**

December 15th, 2011 I was waiting nervously for 3 minutes to pass as my pregnancy test was processing.  Negative.  I wasn't sure weather or not to be excited or relieved.  You see, my husband and I had just decided the previous month that we would begin trying to start a family and after being at WalMart near the rotisserie chicken and almost throwing up, then about 3 isles away from the candles and having the smell be too strong, I figured I should take a test.  I didn't believe that it could be negative, the smell of chicken and candles never bothered me before, I thought I must have been getting sick.  About 30 minutes later I went and pulled the stick out of the bathroom trash just to be sure, and it said it was positive.  I quickly grabbed another test and in about 30 seconds it said it was positive.  I was elated.  I couldn't decide if I wanted to tell DH right away or if I wanted to wait and make it a sort of Christmas surprise.  I'm terrible with secrets, I told him.  We both hugged for a very long time and cried tears of joy.  We were able to wait a whole 2 days before we had announced it to the family that we were expecting, and another week before we announced it to the world via Facebook. 
You see, I had never heard of the 3month/12 weeks rule...The doctors test estimated we were about 3 weeks and 4 days when we found out we were expecting, and everyone had known at about 4 weeks.  We had our first appointment on January 12th where we were told everything looked good, and that we would have our first ultrasound on February 15th.
We never did make it to the February 15th appointment.  On February 3rd I wasn't feeling well and had began spotting.  I called the doctor, and he said it was normal, but if there was anymore blood we should call again.  We were watching some music award show that evening when I was having the worst pains I've ever had, and had been in and out of the bathroom.  We called again and the doctor, without any sort of remorse or "I'm sorry"  in his voice said words that hit me right in the heart. "Well, you're having a miscarriage and there isn't anything we can do about it.  You can either go through it at home or go to the E.R. and wait it out there."  I decided to stay at home.  I knew that if it was going to happen, I would want to be home with my husband, not hooked up to machines and poked and prodded by strangers in the E.R..

***Graphic/Trigger Warning***

I was laying on my bed in the "child's" position while my husband rubbed my back trying to help me get through the cramps of labor, when I needed to go back to the bathroom.  I had just finished and was about to leave when I felt the need to go again, I sat back down and felt a big "flush"... I just knew, that I had lost it.  I looked down into the toilet, and there was the most fragile little 12 week 3 day baby.  I didn't know what to do, I collapsed on the floor screaming and crying, my husband frantically ran into the bathroom.  He held me, we cried and he called my mom because he too wasn't sure what to do.  Then the doctor called to see how we were doing and we told him that we had lost the baby, and he told us what we needed to do.  My husband asked what I wanted him to do, and words that I now wish I could've taken back came out of my mouth "flush the toilet".... Three words that I don't know how to forgive myself for.  Three words that would change my life forever.  My sweet little Peanut.  My sweet little Peanut that was too beautiful for Earth was gone. People have asked what I would have done had I not flushed, and I don't know the answer to that question, I don't know how things would have been different, but I do know that, that little baby will always have a place in my heart, and a piece of me.

**Okay, it's safe again***

The blessing behind all of this?  We discovered the "problem".  My blood type is O Negative, and my husbands isn't.  When your partner doesn't have ONeg and you do, your body will see the other blood type (your babies blood type) as an intruder, an infection if you will, and will attack.  However, with modern science you can get shot of Rhogam so that your body won't do that.  Which is how our second baby survived my hostile body, and was born as a healthy 8lb 10oz baby boy this past March. 

Did you know that 1 in 4 women have a very similar experience?  1 in 4 women experience miscarriage or pregnancy loss.  1 in 4 women suffer from this same heartbreak.

Here are a list of resources I've accumulated that I would love to share with you.
Calvin's Hats Facebook
Calvin's Hats Website
Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss Support  on Cafe Mom

Footprints On Our Hearts on Facebook

 Here is my hat from Calvin's Hats:

On Baby Peanuts due date we released balloons with notes:

I also adopted some baby chicks and watched them grow up:

 

I took up painting too:

I know that it is a hard time, and that nothing I say can make it better, however, knowing I wasn't alone helped me more than I ever thought that it would, and I hope that it helps you too.

Lots of hugs,
Lady Hurricane

Guest Blog: Hands and Feet to Zambia

Welcome back to The Naptime Bloggers!  It's Sunday again, and we have another great guest blog for you!

Enjoy!

April Muller currently lives in eastern Washington but grew up in southern California, she still loves the beach and warm weather but now she gets to enjoy four seasons. She is a wife of 11 years and a stay at home mom of 3 beautiful boys. She loves all children and has a special place in her heart for "the least of these" around the world. She is excited to live this out and get her hands a little dirty as she goes to an orphanage and show the children there that they are deeply loved. 

I grew up with parents who love to travel. And they always took me and my two sisters with them. It was much cheaper then and my mom ended up working for an airline which made travel even more affordable. We traveled to Australia, Greece and England all on separate trips. I've also had the privilege of visiting and working at a couple orphanages in Mexico. There was one little a girl I came to adore. I would have taken her home with me if I wasn't a single college student living in a dorm room. But it was from this that I've been given a broad world view. Politics change from country to country but people are pretty much the same. We all have the same needs for food, shelter and love.
I also grew up in a compassionate home. I remember as a young girl sending money to World Vision to help a child who was less fortunate. I also grew up in church and loved listening to missionaries tell about their trips abroad, Africa included.
I've always wanted to go to Africa. I'm sure as a young child I was drawn by the animals of the safari. But when I think of Africa its not the animals that come to mind or the beautiful landscape, its the poverty, the lack of medical care and the orphans. We are not all called to adopt but we are all called to care for orphans. I have several friends who have adopted a child or are in the process of adopting. I have been trying to support them as its a long and financially stressful journey.
One friend is in Zambia now. They require a 3 month fostering period before an adoption can be finalized. Just before she left she was agonizing over the long journey and asked for people to come.
That's when I instinctively said "I'd love to!" and immediately reality set in and said "there's no way!" I am a stay at home mom of three busy boys and the wife of an engineer and master's degree student. How could they live without me?? It was a great opportunity to support my friend and care for the children at the orphanage where she is staying. So I asked my husband anway, certain of his response. And to my surprise, he answered with a "yes", as long as I can come up with the money to go. I must be dreaming.

The very next day we had "Orphan Sunday". The Bible tells us several times to care for orphans. It felt like confirmation to go. Since then, I've been soul searching. I didn't seek out this trip. It was offered to me. Was that enough reason to go? Probably.
Being a mom to my boys is everything to me. I want to be a positive example to them. I want to teach them to love everyone and especially to care for the less fortunate, not just the ones in our neighborhood but around the world. We are all God's children. We all have value. I'm excited to go to Zambia and explain to my kids why I am going. And instead of telling them to love people, showing them.

As I think about the orphans, I think about how little human contact they receive. Even the most amazing care givers cannot replace the time and attention a mom can give. Many infants and toddlers remain in a crib for most of the day where they are fed and changed.

My youngest, age 3, was recently diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. He was born with a cleft palate so he has always been a little bit different. The diagnoses he has received since only explain what we were already seeing. SPD is a neurological disorder. It affects the way a person translates what their senses receive. It is different for every child. For him, one of his sensory issues is that he needs extra sensory input to know where his body is. It's called proprioceptive disorder. If he can't see his body parts he doesn't know where they are unless he has extra sensory input. For instance, for his second birthday we bought him a toddler slide. It was months before he could just go up the ladder by himself! It also affects muscle coordination. The next hurdle for the slide was to get his body on top of the slide with his feet facing forward.He also loves to hug. This is where he gets lots of sensory input. He doesn't just hug his family members and people he knows. He hugs just about everyone he sees. One day recently we were at a local hospital. He hugged a nurse. It's awkward when he hugs strangers but sometimes, most of the time, it's well received. This was one of those times. The nurse appreciated the hug. In an attempt to lighten the awkwardness I offered that we could all use more hugs, to which she agreed. It got me thinking that my sweet boy has a gift. And he gladly gives it to anyone willing to receive it, the gift of touch, the gift of human contact.This is one of those basic human needs and one that every orphan needs more of. With this revelation, I am thrilled to go to Zambia and hug every child I see. I plan to help out at the orphanage wherever there is need but my personal priority is to hold as many babies as I can and give them for that moment the human contact they so desperately need.

You can visit April's fundraiser page here:

 Fundraiser page. 

 And you can bid on auction items, to help her raise funds to Zambia here as well:
Facebook Page

As always, we look forward to seeing you around this week, and we would love to hear from you!  Feel free to contact us via comments, facebook, twitter, pinterest, or e-mail!