Thursday, October 23, 2008

Family, Friends, and Fashion for a Cause

Hello family and friends!

I wanted to let you all know that the NICU family advisory board for St. Joe's (of which I am a member) is preparing for it's Fourth Annual Fashion Show and Silent Auction. Our family will be modeling in the show for the fourth time and would love to have you join us to show your support to the NICU that saved Holland and Eden's lives.

I know that you all know how important this cause is to me. The money raised at this event, in ticket sales and in the auction, is used to run several programs, including the annual Reunion for NICU families that I have organized for the past two years. We have also developed several other educational and supportive programs for NICU families, such as a monthly Educate and Create program, a monthly Pizza night, and the Parent to Parent program (which I am also part of), which provides current NICU parents with a mentor who is a former NICU parent. I cannot stress enough how wonderful the Family Advisory Board is, and how much they do for families in the NICU who have premature or sick babies.

This year's fashion show is on Thursday, November 13th at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor. The Silent Auction and dinner begin at 5:30, and you don't want to miss it. There are many really cool items available to the highest bidder, including a bracelet that will be made by my wonderful mother-in-law, a seriously awesome quilt made by my lovely mother, a Choi Kwong Do package (thanks Nick!), and a quilt and/or basket donation from my friend Kathy. I am waiting to hear back on housecleaning and/or massage by Jackie. Please let me know asap if you think you will be able to get these donations to me by November 5th.

The fashion show portion of the event starts at 7pm. We are, of course, the stars of the show. Well, at least in our own minds, but we will be modeling and our family story will appear in the program. I am also in charge of set decoration, and am putting together the two slide presentations that will be shown during the show.

Tickets are $25 each, and are available from ME, as well as at the door. I have committed to selling 10 tickets, 6 of which are already sold to my parents, my mother and father-in-law, and Liz and Eric. Please let me know if you can come and I will be sure to have a ticket with your name on it:)

If you can't come, but would like to donate a ticket to someone who might want to attend but cannot afford the ticket price, please let me know. I know several people who would appreciate it very much.

I love you all, and hope to see you at the show!
Billie

And because no post is complete without a picture, check out the nieces and nephews on John's side of the family:

Connor, Justin, Eden, Holland, Briana, and Cody. We love you guys!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Thursday, October 09, 2008

I need my hearing!



Eden has gotten really good lately about reaching up to put the magnet coil of her cochlear implant back on to fix her hearing. She also tells us now if/when it's not working by saying "it's not working," "I need new batteries," or "I can't hear." I love when she wakes up in the morning and I hear her over the monitor calling "Mommy! I need my hearing!"

The other day Eden was playing with a little baby doll who had on a headband. She loves to pretend that this doll is "baby Eden." As she was playing, the doll's headband fell off, and I overheard Eden say, "Waaaaa, waaaaa, I need my hearing!"

I love it!


Sunday, October 05, 2008

Fall Fun