One stranger sent me a private message. She makes blankets, adorable flannel ones that she embroiders the edges with names, birthdays, whatever you like. She wanted to send me one for free. For my dear sweet Parker. I was aghast. Do strangers do that? Yes, yes they do. Especially strangers as sweet as Janelle.
I remember getting it in the mail. I pulled the package open and just stared at it. It was so small, but I knew it'd be so big on him. I imagined my itty baby boy using that blanket, I imagined holding him in it and kissing his forehead. And I cried. I started to look forward to meeting him. I couldn't wait to meet my little guy.
I started sleeping with it at night. I wanted it to smell like me, so that if he ended up in a NICU incubator, he'd remember me. More than once I held it tight crying. When I spent 5 days in the hospital? It was in my hospital bag. When Kim Orlandini Photography did my maternity pics in my hospital room? It was there. It was just waiting for him.
The day he was born, they hurried him to the other hospital. That night when I was feeling a bit better, I folded the blanket in my lap and my husband wheeled me down to meet my son. I wrapped it around his little body, the day I had been waiting for.
He used it while meeting grandparents.
He was so tiny.
After heart surgery? Yep, it was there.
As he started getting stronger and more alert? Right by his side.
As we oohed and aahed over every inch of our son, it was there.
And when Colby got to finally meet Parker. Yep, there too. And then one day at the hosital, we arrived and it was gone. We searched his entire room, the nurse's station, everywhere. Apparently Parker had dirtied it, and without thinking they had put it in the laundry. They had whisked away such a small blanket that had meant so much to me. I was more than a little heartbroken. Grant was MAD. It was crazy. He would inquire about Parker's status, and then immediately inquire if they had found it. They had sent it to Central laundry, that services all the laundry for 5 different hospitals.
We called and they said they couldn't make any promises, but they would keep their eyes open for it. And then, they found it. The only way they could find it? Because his name was embroidered all around it. I'm sure as they were folding it, maybe one of the ladies couldn't help but admire it. Grant immediately went to pick it up. I was so glad to have it back.
Parker using it again, after a long day up at Primary Children's. So nice to have it back!Well, today I got a wonderful surprise. When my husband brought in the mail, he found a package. I opened it up and pulled this out.
Its a new blanket for Parker, a bigger one to fit my growing baby. It has his full name embroidered along with his birthday. Such fun colors too! I have not spoken to Janelle since receiving the first one. But she thought of me enough to send me this sweet gift for Parker. 
I am speechless.
Thank you Janelle. For your kindness and charity. I wish I could fully express how this means to me.
(If you would like to check out Janelle's other blankets, her website is http://nameblankets.webs.com/ . She did not ask me to promote her, but I can't help it. They're beautiful blankets and I am so grateful.)
