…I need somebody…
Since we are surrounded by such amazing people in our lives a question that gets brought up over and over again is how people can help us out while we wade through all of this “dookie”. I’m terrible at asking for help. Unless you are my mom or my sister I just don’t come out and ask for it. Part of the problem is my rationale goes like this; Yeah, I’m a new mom, there are plenty of new moms and others who are now veterans who have survived the “super fun” stages of a baby without help from all their friends and family. And in that group, plenty of them have had health issues with their babies, so what makes me different? Why do I need all of this help and they can get through it? Why would I ask a girlfriend to walk away from her family mishigas to come and baby sit one 7lb baby? I mean, how difficult could this all really be?
Really, really, really, really difficult. I’ve begun to wonder how women have had babies, since, well since the dawn of man. And then they decide to do this again? And some do it more than twice? That’s insanity if you ask me. This is, by far, the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My heart rarely slows down to my average heart beat, always worried I’m doing the wrong thing, messing my kid up already, and most of the time I feel like I’m a chicken running around with its head cut off (Bak, Bak-chicken noises of course). Genetics, Neurology, GI’s, Castings, Orthotics, Pediatric Orthopedists(multiple), Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Worker, Nutritionist, Pediatrician, keeping it all straight is also a nightmare. I have to keep reminding myself that we have more to deal with than the average bear (full leg casts, hip splints, surgeries), but I don’t know if I’d be much calmer or relaxed with a perfectly healthy baby boy. Maybe one day we’ll find out 😉
So I’m admitting it here for all of you that yes, we would love some help. Here are some ways we’ve come up with that people can help us through this insanely hard time. And hopefully, one day we’ll be in a position where we can be there for all of you.
1. Your Time
This is difficult for a lot of people, especially those with kids of their own, but having people come over during the week during the day would be a lot of help for me. I’m still trying to get my photography business off the ground so things can be rolling a little stronger by the spring/summer. Just text me when you can come 773-343-8020, and let me know who you are in case I don’t have your # in my phone. Dress in clothes that can be spit up on, and let me take a nap, run an errand, or hide in my office for a few hours.
Another thing we could use is a different blogging method. CaringBridge is great but they only allow me 51 images total. Ummm, I plan on doing this for at least the first two years of Aleck’s life, and we all know how picture crazy I am. Anyone want to donate their time to set-up a WordPress blog for me? Teach me how to do it from home so I can update it myself? Email me at the email address to the right.
2. Your Words
Craig and I read your guestbook entries religiously, though we don’t respond to all of you, we cherish every entry. It helps so much to hear what our friends and family think, what they go through, discussing the meaning of life and all of this other nonsense. Or just telling us that they are there for us, by email, on Facebook, helps keep us going as we fall into bed at night feeling exhausted, and sometimes a little hopeless. Please don’t expect lots of responses since time is so short right now but know that the fact you take the time to write these to us means so very much.
3. Donations
People have asked us about donating, and donations to CaringBridge help keep this website up and running, they certainly don’t go directly to us or Aleck. We’ve been trying to set up and investment fund through friends who know how to do this but no one has gotten back to us about that yet. In the meantime we do have a savings account for Aleck that we pull from for his medical expenses. Feel free to send a check made out to him, Aleck Persin, and we’d be more than happy to add it to that account.
If sending money isn’t your thing or if you really want to do something simple like buy us groceries, or diapers, or whatnot, giftcards are helpful as well. Target, Trader Joe’s, Costco, are all really close to us and then you know we’ve got a bag of groceries we need and you to be thanked for it.
If you have any other ideas you want to run by me, feel free to email me directly. It may take me a few days to get back to you but I promise I will.
Thank you again for being here for us during this time. We love that you are a part of our lives and here to help us through this difficult time period.
oxo
Lynnie, Craig & Aleck