Just ordered 20 (TWENTY!!!!) more elephants!!!!  I found a new "supplier" (through Amazon.com, I can't believe I didn't check there before)  and I got them for $61.40....and at our old supplier 16 elephants was $79.84!  I got 4 more elephants for like $18 CHEAPER!  Man, I love a good bargain!


Calvin's Hats is celebrating their 3rd Birthday this month.( Calvin's Hat is very dear to me.  They sent us a hat last year...it's amazing that that little hat made me so happy and so sad at the same time.)  So, in order to raise more money to fund their shipping, they are 'selling' candles for $5.  Their goal is to have 100 candles by the end of the month.  So, last night I got one in memory of Ian.  Every time I see his name on something.....my heart jumps a little.  I LOVE to hear and see his name.  When he first passed, hearing his name would send me into instant tears....but now, I long to hear it.  Because it reminds me that other people remember him too.  His little life is important!  And as a Mommy, that makes me happy.

ADORABLE elephants!!!

A coworker made these cute little elephants for us!!!  I have dubbed them "Morris Elephants" in her honor!  We are selling them for $10 (not sure what shipping will be though) a piece and they can yours to keep or yours to share with a friend!  I currently have 1 tan and 2 grey left.  And don't forget about our 'awareness' bracelets for $3.









The lady from the hospital called me back yesterday. She is interested, but she wants to see one first.  So, the hubby is going to go by tomorrow to show them to her.  She is only there during the hours that I am at work...James is nervous about going solo...but I know he will do fine.

A new opportunity for Ian's Elephants....

I knew the day would come...I dreaded it....but I know that it needs to be done.  I got an email from an old co-worker/friend today, saying that her women's group at church want me to come in an tell them all about our organization and they are going to have a "supply drive" where they will collect as much supplies as they possibly can to create care packages!!  I'm thrilled...yet extremely nervous!!!!  This won't take place until April, so I have time to prepare and work up the nerve to do it.  I talk about Ian to my friends and family on a regular basis...and usually I can do so with out becoming a big sobbing mess....however...any time I've ever told "someone new" our story ...I break down.  Please pray that God will give me the words to say and I don't get up there and just say random stuff...

I called the hospital where we had our D&C with Ian today to find out if we could donate some packages...I think its going to be a go...but I'm getting the run around....here let me connect you with my supervisor...etc. At the hospital that we currently donate to, we called, told them our story, and  they instantly said yes.  I don't understand what all the red tape is about at the Drs offices and hospitals...  we're not selling anything to them.  It's a free service that will help their patients... but we can't do it unless they let us.

'awareness' bracelets

Our bracelets are finally here!  We have decided to sell them for $3.00 each and of course all proceeds will go to our care packages.  Since hubby is booting me off the laptop LOL I'm just going to copy and paste what we put on our Facebook page earlier tonight.  AND 6 more of our elephants come in today!  I am so thankful that we are able to help other families...but I honestly wished that there wasn't a need for this type of ministry....


Psalm 40:1-2 ...........Becky and I were sitting in church one Suday...on a day that neither of us felt like going...we had missed about a month of Sunday's and we decided that it was time to get back into His house. That Sunday, it felt as though the message was tailored for us. Our pastor spoke of patience and waiting...Becky and I were sharing my Bible and at the same time we spoted these verses:
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

God hadn't forgotten us. He was still there, patiently waiting for us to come back to Him. He was there, holding us up, when we weren't steady enough to stand on our own. So, that's why these verses are on the back of our 'awareness' bracelets. On the front they say Ian's Elephants, and on the inside they say "A person's a person, no matter how small-Dr. Seuss" because it doesn't matter a baby's age or gestation....they are real, they matter, and they will always be loved and remebered! -James

Will the stupid comments ever stop?!?!?!?

I had a coworker ask me "Are you and James going to have any more babies?" today.  I told her "no, unless God gives us another surprise, we're done" and she said "well, that's good!  You've got your boy and your girl....couldn't ask for more right".....insert knife to my gut here......Did she forget that I have a baby in Heaven?  Or is she just that inconsiderate?  If people would just take the time to THINK about what they say, things like this wouldn't happen. I don't want people to walk on eggshells around me...but I would like for the stupid comments to stop.  I have 3 children, if you don't want to bring Ian up, that's fine...but please don't act as if he never existed!  UGH!!!!

I have fallen into a bit of a funk lately....some days I cry for NO reason at all!  I'll be driving down the road...and tears flow....watching the kids play....tears... sitting in carline waiting on Brycen to get out of school...tears....I'm tired of this!!!!  I hate living this way!!! This time last year I was getting ready for my first OB appointment....nervous but starting to get excited.... Now he's gone.  And I don't know how to handle it.

So I got off here rather quickly yesterday....I was in a hurry we were going to the hospital to donate more packages.  They were well received and I am so glad that we started this program.

I received an email this morning from a local friend, she has a close friend who had a baby boy...and sadly 3 days later he passed away due to heart problems, and she wanted to buy a package for her.  I couldn't let her buy one...we will give her one!  That's what we are here for. Yes, these packages were supposed to be donated to Dr's and hospitals but essentially they are for the mommy's.....my heart just aches for her.  Losing your baby is hard!  And I hate that anyone ever has to experience it!  I pray that in the future that Ian's elephants gets so big that whenever we get a message telling us there's a need we can automatically send them a package without having to say...I'm sorry we don't have any more. we just ran out....can you wait 3-5 weeks? I am over whelmed with how fast Ian's Elephants is growing but I know that God will send donations, He will send volunteers, and He will send me the courage I need to get the word out.

Here's the pictures I promised!  (sorry they are out of order)

Autumn making the tag to go on the elephant

meet our little "Ian" Elephant

me with the elephants...they are sooo soft and snugly!!

all ready to go!

this is how they come to me

my new friend :) she is wrapping a pen with ribbon to make it prettier

Our new logo!!!! That Autumn drew!!!  She worked for about an hour to get it just right!!

she didn't want her picture taken ;) but this is one of the nurses at the hospital

my sweet little man all tuckered out (we put him to sleep on the couch...we left at 3 am!)

peek-a-boo!

Yay!

 Ian's Elephants has a lot going on right now!!!!  I am excited to report that in less than 1 month we have 121 "likes" on our Facebook page!!!  We have surpassed our original goal of 20 care packages by Ian's Birthday!   We currently have 16 packages made and ready to be delivered, and 5 that need to be purchased (I try to order the elephants in increments of at least 16 because it eliminates shipping costs) giving us a grand total of 21 care packages!!!!!  I am blown away by this!  Also a friend of mine "hooked me up" with another baby loss mom, Buckley who's daughter was born sleeping 2 years ago this month, who is featuring other baby loss moms on her page all this month and Ian's Elephants was featured yesterday!  Her site is littleorso.blogspot.com, please go over and share some love to her!

 Last night my friend Autumn (AKA "A"), her friend "ACN", and myself created the first "official" batch of care packages!!!!  Autumn has been made an administrator on our Facebook page and has been a HUGE help to me!!!!!  She freehanded  our new logo that will go on our packages! She has a uncanny ability to make anything, and I do mean ANYTHING pretty.  She helped me figure out what our bags needed...the content stayed the same but we made the pens into soft flowers, we added the logo on the bags that are now tied together with pink and blue ribbon....

Just realized that I have to leave here in like 45 mins and no one is ready :/ pics to come later!!!