Amanda and I connected for the first time via my Veronika’s Blushing page on Facebook. She sent me a note telling me she thought she had seen me at the hospital (I was pregnant at the time and seeing my OB) and that she had a baby in the NICU there.
I work pretty extensively with our neonatology service and have a special place in my heart for these families after having worked with so many of them on news stories over the last few years. I meet these families during a very vulnerable and stressful time in their lives and it is a privilege every time I get to meet their precious miracles and learn about their journeys.
I want to share with you a very special project Amanda is working on to support new moms and dads who have babies in the NICU at Texas Children’s Hospital and also to bring a moment of happiness to families who have to spend a holiday in the hospital.
Tell us briefly about your pregnancy and experience having Cami in the NICU
After a scary pregnancy, filled with more downs than ups, Cami was born at the gestational age of 25 weeks and 5 days, weighing just over 2 pounds. We were incredibly lucky to know ahead of time that she would be born early so that we were prepared to get to the hospital at a moments notice.
Though our NICU stay was long, and filled with highs and lows, we managed to maintain a positive attitude, knowing how lucky we were to still have Cami with us. In addition to the great relationships I had with Cami’s nurses and doctors, one thing that always made me feel special was when volunteers brought us an unexpected gift, whether it was a hand knit baby blanket or a cup of hot tea.
After 86 days in the NICU, Cami came home. Not a day goes by that I don’t consciously think of how lucky I am to have my perfect angel on Earth.
When did you first come up with the idea to give/donate bows and bow ties to babies in the NICU at Texas Children’s?
We were so fortunate to not have to spend a Christmas in the NICU. As we were decorating for the holidays and planning out all of the traditions we were excited to start for Cami, it dawned on me that even though WE weren’t in the NICU for Christmas, other families were. I knew I wanted to do something to bring joy to these families, but wasn’t sure what that was.
I considered making ornaments that the families could put on their Christmas tree at home, but decided I wanted to give the babies and families something special that they could enjoy inside the hospital. Then it hit me – bows! When Cami was in the NICU, the nurses would help me tape regular bows onto her CPAP hat because I couldn’t find any preemie sized bows. Even though this was something only the families of baby girls could enjoy, it was something that was very special to me during our stay that I wanted to share with others. I made about 60 tiny headbands and put them in a little baggie with a before and after picture of Cami wearing the huge bow I had bought her at the hospital gift shop during our NICU stay. I made a promise to myself that I would think of something to do for the boys by Christmas 2014.
What inspired you to start your business – Squishy Cheeks BOWtique?
After making bows for the little preemie girls, I decided I wanted to start making and selling bows to others via a Facebook page. I named the business after my once tiny, now big squishy baby girl – Squishy Cheeks BOWtique. After the first couple of weeks of operation, moms of boys started telling me that I need to offer something for boys. I joked around with them about the idea of making bows for boys until it hit me – bow ties!
Since I learned how to make the bow ties in March, I decided Easter would be the perfect holiday to do a bow and bowtie donation to the hospital. 
Tell us about what you have planned for this Easter for the babies in the NICU
This past Christmas, I was so late with my idea of making and donating bows that I had to drop the bows off at the front desk of the NICU. For Easter, I am very excited that I might have the opportunity to actually take the bows to the families and see them on some of the babies.
I will be holding a bow sale on my Facebook page starting this week, with profits going towards the Easter bows and bow ties. If the sale is a success, I hope to have money left over to donate to a great organization offered to moms in the Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women NICU called First Memories Texas. They go into the NICU rooms each week and take photos of the babies. Then, they print the pictures and provide scrap booking supplies for moms and dads to make a memory card for that week. I put all of the cards I made during our NICU stay into a photo album and it is something I treasure greatly.
If you would like to support a wonderful cause and get a cute little hair bow or bow tie for your little one (or the baby of a friend or family member!) please visit Amanda’s Facebook boutique page here. Thanks for your support and for making a difference for these babies and families!
I also want to mention that through my job I have worked with First Memories Texas and they are a wonderful volunteer group providing a very crucial service to our NICU families. I have done a few news stories with them on the news and I can’t tell you just how much happiness they bring to families who want to document their child’s journey. You can learn more about First Memories here.
I will absolutely check this out. Having had all 4 of mine in the NICU, even if for a short time compared to most, this really hits home for me. What a great cause. xo ~Jenn http://www.twobytwomom.com
i just bought one! thank you so much for sharing my little kinsley was in the NICU for a month and i remember how hard it was this is such a wonderful thing thank you for sharing
Thank you so much Shannon! Your bow is on it's way 😀
My Nephew was in the NICU for a while, it was such a scary time for my family. I love that she wanted to make sure that she did something for the boys as well, I'm going to have to check out her Facebook page! Isn't Texas Children's the same hospital that Jen from the show 'Little Couple' works at? I love reading your blog, my daughter was born on July 1st so just a month younger than Harper. I love checking out your monthly updates, it lets me know what I have ahead of me!
Yes! I work with Dr. Arnold sometimes on some sim center projects. I've been on a couple of Little Couple episodes but just for a second or two! I try to stay away from the cameras!
Glad your nephew is doing well!
Leah, Dr. Arnold was on call a couple of times when Cami was in the NICU. We never got her as our doctor though! Probably a good thing because I wouldn't have been able to hold back from asking her to take a picture with Cami 🙂
What an inspirational story and loved the outcome of it all! Will definitely check this out…anything for a great cause and our babies 🙂
Linh
https://abeautifulrawr,com
Cami is so cute!!! And Amanda is such a strong & generous Mama. What a great idea! We need more people in the world like her. xo
Thank you, Megan. That is so sweet of you to say! <3
I love this! I am a NICU nurse in Pennsylvania, and we love to be able to give our families special gifts while their babies are in our care. I am going to see if we can order some bows and bowties for our babies…not for Easter, but maybe for a holiday later in the year. Thanks for sharing this with us!
That would be amazing! Thank you so much for the work that you do. Cami's primary nurses were angels to us.
Aww!! I don't have a baby girl but would love to donate. My son was in the NICU for only 7 days but those were the scariest and hardest 7 days of our life. You don't ever fully understand how exhausting and scary it is to have your baby stay in the NICU. I just blogged about it all too as my son just turned a year old this past week. I always smile when I see a happy ending.
Claudia, they are definitely the scariest days. 1 day or 100, it's your babies life on the line. If you would like to donate you can send it to [email protected] via paypal or if you would prefer to send me your paypal email address you can do so through a message on the Squishy Cheeks BOWtique facebook page 🙂
Gosh I love people like this! I loved reading the light bulb moment at Christmas time, so happy for your own family but still thinking about all the other families going through such a scary time. I'm in Australia and don't have any bubs to put a bow on, any way of just donating?
That is so sweet of you! I do have a paypal account that you cand send a donation through. If you send me your paypal email address I can send you an invoice. You can message it to me on my Facebook page or transfer the donation directly to [email protected] If you prefer to message me your address just send the message to me via Facebook. Thank you!! https://www.facebook.com/squishycheeksbowtique
Cool! Just sent a message to your facebook 🙂
Wow. What a beautiful story and how inspiring! Definitely going to check her out now and like her page. What a wonderful cause.
What a wonderful shop! I hope to buy a few bows for Ellie from her. And how great that Cami is doing well and home with her family. What a little cutie!
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This is amazing Amanda! I love how you are turning such a difficult time in your own life into something positive. Great job!
What an amazing idea!
What an amazing and inspiring story! As a neonatologist and mother of a 10 month old, I love hearing about other's nicu journeys and those bows are so beautiful! I love seeing the little ones in the unit when they have handmade bows/hats on. Sometimes its the little things or a small act of kindness that helps the parents through a long nicu stay.
Thank you so so much for sharing this, ladies! It is SUCH a powerful testimony and a true miracle. Thank the Lord for your beautiful daughter, and your business sounds amazing. Keep up the great work as well as your spirits! I always admire mothers who have gone through so much hardship with their pregnancy and labor.
This is such an amazing story. I could not imagine how hard it would be to spend that much time in the NICU. My heart goes out to every family who has had to experience it – every child is such a miracle. Such a great idea – will definitely check it out!
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