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IRUN4 - Inspiring, Encouraging, Believing

1/26/2015

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I wanted to take a moment in the middle of everything and for those who don't already know about the IRun4 program and have a child with special needs/a disability. This program is amazing, it brings complete strangers together and builds lasting friendships based on inspiration, encouragement and support. Athletes who already walk/run/work-out, etc on a regular basis sign up to be matched with a child that has a chronic illness, disability or life-threatening disease.
The runners carry-on so to speak with their normal routines, but they now have someone to inspire them to train harder, run faster or longer, push their work-out more. The children have someone to encourage them to keep on with their own fight and journey. They both believe and support each other and as a result a beautiful friendship and bond is formed. The pictures above are of my son, David, who was diagnosed with Autism at 3.5 years old and his IRun4 Buddy Jen (the Spiderman is her son Tyler - who also loves running and encouraging David too).

The program last year opened their doors to the siblings of our little heroes too! Which has been nothing short of amazing, especially for my two girls who start to feel left behind in the craziness of therapies, evaluations, appointments and length of time and attention David requires. The siblings program has allowed each sibling to feel connected to someone who encourages them to keep being the best big or little sibling they can be, to continue to help their sibling and to also keep being the awesome kid they also are. Siblings are truly the unsung heroes in the realm of medical journeys. They learn to sacrifice more at an early age than anyone else...and they do it without complaint, hesitation or even questioning the reasons why.
Here are some pictures from the girls' buddies - Rashelle and Megan! Both girls love their buddies and always look forward to seeing text messages on my phone or new postings on my personal Facebook page for them. It makes their days brighter and gives them the best feeling in the world, that there is someone they've never met cheering them on in their own personal goals. With the year we've had, it has been fabulous for each of the children to have their own cheerleader. While they know I am always their biggest fan in the world, having two is something they're more than thankful for!

What is exciting for me is seeing my personal friends who are runners being matched up with special children! It is a great feeling to know I have some terrific people in my life that want to help encourage and inspire the life of a child fighting an illness/disease or disability.

So for those who haven't signed up to participate in the program for your children - here is our personal testimony as to what the IRun4 program means to our family.

To learn more about the program and to sign-up you can visit their website at:
http://www.whoirun4.com/
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The Season of Giving NICU Smock Donation and More

1/24/2015

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Not sure how I missed sharing some of our last donations in 2014, but while working on our website and writing out some blogs, decided we needed to share them as well. 

The first of our giving back donations was remnant fabric from gowns to be made into g-tube covers by Dylan's Doodads. Dylan's Doodads was started by Dylan's mother in memory and honor of her son. She received her 501(c)(3) status and is donating g-tube covers to families in need. This year she is also developing a g-tube belt and feeding tube bag cover design to give to families as well. According to her website she will donate two g-tube covers to each family and fifty to an organization that will distribute them to their local families. However, she also allows families to purchase them as well that may need more than two g-tube covers.

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While going through our pajamas and items for our Christmas Box Project, we realized that we had an abundance of Newborn and a couple preemie pajamas that Gracie's Gowns would not be using for Christmas Box Requests. While searching for ideas on who we could send these pajamas to, we came across Liberty Godparent Home. LGPH is a residential home for pregnant teens (under the age of 18) with an unplanned pregnancy. The ladies stay there until they deliver and are able to choose to have their baby adopted by another family, or to raise the baby themselves. Being a student at Liberty University (online), it touched my heart to see the work they do and the changes made in the lives of each lady welcomed into their home.

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We also put together another box of fabric pieces for Melissa and the whole group over at Bee Brave. They are simply amazing and we're always so excited to help them with making their pillows that go under the trays and mini stress relievers. Bee Brave has worked with many of the same families that we have at Gracie's Gowns and has always been a wonderful supporter of us as well. It has been a fantastic partnership between our organizations. They can always use some support and supplies too!

The last NICU to receive a donation of smocks from Gracie's Gowns in 2014 was Mary Washington Hospital, the facility received twenty NICU Smocks from Gracie's Gowns in care packages put together by Hollie Williams in coordination with her Thirty-One Consultant efforts. Mary Washington Hospital is a special facility to me, because the NICU there took care of two of my children when they were born. My oldest was there in the NICU for a week and my son for only a few hours, but the staff was amazing and took such great care of each of them, regardless of the length of their stay. Below are the gowns that we donated to Mary Washington Hospital.
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We look forward to helping many other organizations, NICUs and Hematology and Oncology Units this year and even helping some of our families in different ways and with new items in 2015. Thank you so much for all the love, dedication and support in the past and the years to come.
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Some of my Favorites in 2014

1/24/2015

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"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things"

Musicals are definitely on my favorite things list, in particular The Sound of Music, but that isn't what this post is exactly about. Looking back on our gowns made in last year, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite gowns we created. The photos are not in any particular order of how they rank on my list. Some made the list because of the fabric, others because of the embroidery we were able to add. 

With the potential for a nasty winter storm coming our way, I wanted to share something cheerful this weekend.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorites from 2014. Of course we love every gown that we have made this year, but even more so every child that those gowns have been made for.
Do you see one that is your favorite above? Or one that we posted this past year on our Facebook page that was your favorite?

We pray that everyone is having a wonderful start to 2015. Minus falling down our stairs and being diagnosed with a nasty concussion, this has been a great year for Gracie's Gowns and our family too.
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