{31 for 21} Day 5: What you can do...

As we start counting down the days (yes, days) until Sweet Pea's surgery, I wanted to put a post together about what others can do for us.  And I came across this wonderfully written blog by Susanna (you NEED to read her blog about her journey to bring Katerina home).  She said everything I could think of plus so much more.  So, here is the list from her blog.

1. Visit them in the hospital when their turn comes, and…(pick one or more)…
…if they have a personal blog or Caringbridge site or facebook, read their updates so you aren’t asking them to say it all over again…
…unless they want to, then give them a listening ear…
…call first and ask what you can stop and pick up for them…
…or just pop in and surprise them (like a couple of friends did for me, including one from SC who was in that hospital in PA with her mom that day!)…
…offer to transport their other children to the hospital to see them…
…or give respite care to the people who are caring for their other children…
…give them a hug at least once…
…take them a CD of soothing music for themselves and/or their baby…
…take them a tote bag full of goodies that they may find useful, and include some special surprises…
…take along two specialty drinks, one for them and one for you, then sit and visit in an unhurried manner…
…offer to take pictures of them and their baby (this may remind people like me to take a picture of the baby with his/her visitor!)…
…tell them their baby looks beautiful, even all hooked up and medicated…
…offer to take a load of stuff back to their house (maybe breastmilk to their freezer)…
…ask if you may pray for their baby before you leave…
…remind them that you are praying for them…
…and then DO pray for them!
2.  Send a note to them at the hospital.
3.  Send them a gift card for a gas station, in-and-out restaurant (like Subway), specialty shop (like Starbucks), or grocery store.
4.  Clean their house while they are gone, and do their laundry.
5.  Put a meal in their freezer while they are gone, or after they return home.  Even better would be to organize meals for their first week home or fill their freezer with quick, easy meal components.
6.  Keep checking in on them during their baby’s recovery and remind them that you are praying.  Be sensitive to the fact that they may be eager to talk about things that have nothing to do with surgery, hospitals, medications and doctor visits!
7.  Offer to take their other children for a day or partial day during the time that the baby needs to stay home to avoid crowds.  A playground would be a fun destination if your house isn’t suited for children.  This would be especially helpful if the baby has a follow-up doctor’s appointment!
8.  Offer to stay with their baby while they go out for a few hours during the same recovery time.
9.  Anytime you go to visit the baby, wash your hands well, and be sure to tell the parents that you did, so that they are not compelled to ask you.

And just to let everyone know, my parents will be here for however long Sweet Pea is in the hospital to take care of the other kids and Sarge's parents will be down the last weekend of the month.