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I want to give a big thanks to everyone who came by during The Vespertine week here at Tattooed Books! A very special thanks goes to Saundra Mitchell for writing such an amazing book & offering up such wonderful help & guidance during this process.

On to the winners! Your item will be shipped out within the next week. Please let me know if you do not receive it by March 18th (some winners are international, therefore the extended date).

Pendant: Zombie Girrrl

Signed Book: Savs

Bumper Stickers:
Lawral
Alyssa D
Rachel Y
Anne A
Karen W
Sara L
Stephanie (IN)

Again thank you for everyone who helped make this a success!

Winners from The Vespertine Week!

I came across this article when researching information for you. This is a great list of what you should expect from nurses and medical professionals in a NICU. I remember wondering at times what I should or shouldn't do or say in the NICU when dealing with the staff. I wanted to be as involved as possible, but I also didn't want to get in the way of my baby's care. Towards the end I was extremely comfortable as most people are, but it would have been nice to know early on what behaviors were expected from the NICU staff, what was permissible, what I could ask or do without feeling intimidated. Feel free to print this out, keep it with your information, and use it when you need it. Remember you are in a unique emotional situation and parenting your baby in a NICU is very important for both you and your baby. I hope this list gives you a boost.

The Do's and Dont's of NICU - for Medical Professionals

The experience of parenting a premature infant in the NICU is often overwhelming. Although the health of our baby(s) is our greatest concern, in the day to day life in the NICU, it is the little things that medical professionals do that make a difference. Preemie parents from all over the world came together (viawww.preemie-l.org) to create a list for nurses and doctors that will help them understand the intricate needs and desires of parents and families. Please feel free to print this list and give it to anyone who may benefit from it.
NICU
Please Do...
Do: Ask me what I like to be called. I may or may not want to be called "mom." I would like to be called by my first name.

Do: Send me a Polaroid of my baby when I can't get out of bed because I have had a C-section.

Do: When referring to my baby, please don't call him "your baby" (as if he is your baby) or "the baby." He is your patient, but he is my baby. The best possible way to refer to my baby is by calling him by his first name.

Do: Give me a tour of the nursery soon after I arrive so I know where the pumping room is, where to store breast milk, the lounge, bathroom, etc. (Remember if I am groggy or having a difficult time coping, I might need a second tour later.)

Do: Make a cute nametag for my baby's bed.

Do: If you are the nurse caring for my baby, acknowledge me when I come in the room so I know who you are.

Do: Tell us when I can speak with the doctor.

Do: Promote attachment between parents and their babies. Show me that you are confident I will not cause my child any harm.

Do: Tell me how to read stress cues so I know the best time to touch my baby and when to stop.

Do: Show me how to do things that I can do to help care for my baby.

Do: Realize that once I am able to do some kind of activity for my baby, it is really stressful to have a staff member decline my doing it because they are unable to help.

Do: Acknowledge when we do things correctly, praise us, thank us!

Do: Tell me how to touch my baby in a developmental and soothing way.

Do: Allow me to hold my baby as early as possible-it is the best part of being a parent.

Do: Help me to do Kangaroo Care as early as possible. Please check on me during this time to make sure I am okay.

Do: Encourage us to make a tape to leave in the isolette; singing, talking, or telling stories for my baby. Tell me what I can do to decorate my baby's bed.

Do: Create an environment for my baby that seems healing and supportive (ie. No harsh lights or minimal noise, but cluster care when possible).

Do: Put up a big sign that says, "SHHHH…BABIES ARE SLEEPING!!!!"

Do: Quietly set things down on the isolette---remember the sound inside is much louder!

Do: Take pictures (with a Polaroid or with a disposable camera I have left for you) of our babies when we're not there, or when we're cuddling or spending time with our babies. We may not think to get our cameras out at those special moments, and we may be missing some big ones when we can't be there.

Do: Talk to my child and explain that you are about to touch them.

Do: If you find it necessary to shave my baby's head for an IV, please save a lock of hair from the "haircut."

Do: Provide support without judging.

Do: Realize that every parent is different and responds differently. Find out how we want to deal with things.

Do: Understand that parents, like our children, will have "crisis days" and they may not coincide with the status of my baby.

Do: Work to build genuine connections with parents. Even when there is nothing concrete or specific that you can do, your presence, attention, and compassion bring strength and comfort.

Do: Help parent of preemies build a community by removing obstacles preventing families from finding comfort in the experiences of others. Do what you can to create an environment in which parents can talk and support one another.

Do: Provide honest information and clear explanations. Please allow us to ask questions.

Do: Let us know when tests are being done on our babies (even if it means a quick call to home) and explain what they're for-in parent's terms. (Also let us know if any scheduled tests/procedures have been cancelled and why.)

Do: Let us know that we are allowed to read our baby's chart.

Do: Give us access to as much information as possible. Have a parent library with current books, videos, and a list of websites available. We would love to be able to buy books right there in the hospital-please encourage your gift shop to stock a supply of books and resources that we may purchase to help us through this process.

Do: Give us complete information that is significant to future possible outcomes (concerning all drugs, procedures and alternatives that we can choose from).

Do: Realize that the truth is always easier for us to deal with in the long run. If a bleak prognosis can be expected, that prognosis won't be any easier if it comes as a complete and total shock later on.

Do: Respect parents enough to allow them to feel all their jumbled emotions without running away or minimizing what they feel.

Do: Talk with us about other things than our baby to help us pass the time and get our minds off things (maybe even ask us about the birth or things unrelated to our baby). It's nice to be treated as a friend.

Do: Support us if we are unable to breast-feed/express milk and must use formula for whatever reason.

Do: Refer me to a lactation specialist if I am having trouble lactating or feeling uncomfortable with pumping milk or breast-feeding.

Do: Please respect my efforts in pumping my breast milk and breast feeding my baby. Thaw only what breast milk is necessary for each feeding-it is a precious commodity! Please say only encouraging remarks about my breast-feeding efforts.

Do: Do ask me if I would like to have a screen put up when I am trying to nurse my baby, as it is a very exposing experience with these tiny babies. Please check in with me often when I'm behind the screen, especially when the alarms are going off.

Do: Make sure to let me know when my supply of breast milk is running low so I can make sure to bring some in.

Do: Dress my baby in her own clothes whenever possible.

Do: Find out our schedules so we can be there for feedings, baths, and maybe even a quick holding during weights and isolette changes.

Do: Encourage me to write notes to be left on my child's bed that share my special knowledge of my child with the staff.

Do: Give credence to a parent's intuition about their child. If I tell you, "Something is wrong", act on that information as if it were true.

Do: Congratulate us on our baby's milestones! (Diapers finally taped on, larger diapers, changing to a new type of bed, going to a lower oxygen setting, getting off the vent/CPAP, wearing clothes, learning to suck/swallow, being held, etc.)

Do: If you have not cared for my baby before, please read the chart carefully and note what times I usually come by.

Do: Put graduate pictures of former patients in the waiting room.

Do: Laugh with us.

Do: Cry with us.

Do: Treat us like real parents.

Please Don't...

Don't: Call me "Mom." Please ask me what I would prefer to be called.

Don't: Move the baby without telling me ahead of time, or at least meeting me at the door.

Don't: Tell me how I should be feeling or that I "need to be patient."

Don't: Dismiss or diminish my concerns. I am not used to seeing my baby have bradycardias or color changes.

Don't: Assume that I don't care for or love my baby if I don't touch him. I may be very scared or overwhelmed.

Don't: Tell me my baby had a bradycardia because I was touching him, feeding him, or doing something wrong.

Don't: Please never treat me as if I am stupid. All of the medical terms and information are very difficult to understand and comprehend at times, especially since I am probably feeling a tremendous amount of stress.

Don't: Write harsh judgements about me in the nurse's notes, unless the information you are recording is known to you without question from both observation and communication.

Don't: Assume anything about me or my family if we are unable to visit regularly. My family may be very loving and supportive, but cannot come to the NICU for other reasons.

Don't: Sound annoyed or make insensitive comments when I call to check on my baby. The phone is sometimes my only connection to my precious baby.

Don't: Do the tasks that I have already been doing (bath, diapers, feedings, etc.) if you know I am on the way to the nursery. It takes away what little parenting I can do.

Don't: Act as if breast-feeding is not crucial for my baby. There is enough scientific evidence of its importance to preemies that it should be encouraged to breastfeed. However, if I am unable to produce milk, please do not make me feel inadequate by comparing me to all the other mothers who have no problem with lactating.

Don't: Talk loudly or keep the lights on unnecessarily.

Don't: Please be careful to not share information about a baby with the wrong person. Please check and double check that you have the correct information with the correct parent.

Don't: Talk about a baby in a negative way when the parents are gone. It is morally wrong, very unprofessional, and may also hurt other parent's feelings (wondering what they say about my baby when I am not here).

Don't: Try to instill your personal views (philosophies, religion, or ethics) on us. Allow us the same freedom to choose and have our views, as you were allowed to choose and have yours. (This includes miracles happening in the NICU.)

Don't: Be afraid of my emotions, or of your own.

Don't: Let me travel this difficult journey alone.

Do's and Don't For Medical Professionals

Donor Milk Making Headlines

Welcome back to The Vespertine Week at Tattooed Books! Today I'm featuring something new that I've never tried before. When I did a Soul Screamers week I created my very first music playlist for a book. This time I decided I would try my hand at casting the main characters. I only chose four as this is my first time & I didn't want to overdo it. After presenting my case & giving you two options, feel free to use the poll to choose who you think would fit the part best!

Zora Stewart is described as having a heart-shaped face, with bisque skin, small freckling & colorful cheeks. My choice actresses are:



Kate Mara or Kaili Thorne






Amelia van den Broek,as the narrator, is never really described in detail, but I pieced together her likeness by comparisons. I'd say she had a petite frame with a rounder face & darker hair & mesmerizing eyes. Naturally I chose:




Alexis Dziena or Ashley Rickards





Thomas Rea is described as rather tall, with a lean frame. The best I could determine for his hair was that it glinted in the sunlight (telling me sandy brown) and that it was a bit shaggy. I played it safe with these two:




Liam Hemsworth or Gregory Smith






Finally, Nathaniel Witherspoon (sigh...) is the rogue of the group. He is described as an artist, with a sculpted jaw, thing lips & a relatively flat nose.My favorite guys for the part are:




Patrick Fugit or Gaspard Ulliel






So now you get to way in on your thoughts! You can vote below, or if you don't like the options, leave a comment with your thoughts! Thanks for stopping by & be sure to enter the giveaways that END TODAY at 5! THE GIVEAWAYS ARE CLOSED. Check back on Monday for the winners of the giveaways!


Casting of The Vespertine

UC San Diego Health System has launched a new program called the SPIN (Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition) Program. Their mission statement reads, "To create a Center of Excellence in neonatal nutrition focused on the provision, analysis, and research of human milk to improve nutritional and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm babies." Their website includes many useful tools for parents and NICU staff about making milk, pumping, logs for moms, maternal education hand outs, crib cards, and milk recipes.

One of my favorite finds on the website are the crib cards guiding a new breastfeeding (pumping) mom from step 1: skin to skin contact through step 5: Getting ready to go home. The cards make the entire process easy to understand for an emotional and tired new preemie mom. The cards could be attached to an isolette or handed out by NICU nurses. We will be including these cards from the Spin Program in our binder of information contained in each NICU gift bag.

Download Crib Cards Here: http://spinprogram.ucsd.edu/nicu-staff-resources/Pages/maternal-ed.aspx
For more information visit their website at http://spinprogram.ucsd.edu/about/Pages/default.aspx

SPIN Program And Crib Cards

In the larger-than-life land of La La, one would expect every interaction between celebrities to be as dramatic and cataclysmic as on the big screen. Sometimes, they are, but mostly they are just downright comical. Here are a few of the most infamous and entertaining tales of movie star meetings:


Young ingenue, Marilyn Monroe.


When Marilyn Monroe was a young, hopeful starlet just starting out in Hollywood, she used to make the rounds at various cocktail parties and shindigs. Sometimes, this was merely part of the job description-- being paid to smile at executives while handing out cigarettes-- and other times it was part of her ploy to meet as many important people as possible and get her name and face out there. Well, her gorgeous face did catch the eye of many men, one of whom was so taken with her that he asked her to sit down beside him on the staircase, where he was getting sloppy drunk. After introducing himself in the distinguished and sardonic voice that she recognized, Marilyn told him her name as well. He then surprisingly asked her to marry him, to which she politely answered "No." He took the rebuff admirably, responding that he understood her hesitancy to marry an actor for "An actor is not quite a human being-- but then, who is?" Then, he passed out right next to her in an abrupt snore. Ironically, Marilyn would meet George Sanders again when they performed in All About Eve together, one of her big career-boosting films. In it, they would share another scene on a staircase.


Marilyn and George Sanders relive the old days
in a scene from All About Eve.


Marilyn's meeting with Bette Davis was not as hilarious as her interlude with the humorously snide Sanders. A huge fan of Bette's, Marilyn was nervous to meet her for the first time on Eve, but she tried to impart her deep appreciation for her work. Bette, being Bette, saw only a beautiful tart who, to her, was just one of a zillion pretty faces trying to make it in Hollywood. To a great actress like herself, Marilyn was a hack-- a little girl who just wanted to be famous and had no respect for the art of performance. For this reason, Bette shunned her, although that may too have had a lot to do with her own insecurity and the fact that she was being eclipsed by a younger, more beautiful woman. Throughout the shoot, Marilyn would overhear Bette taking out her wrath, most particularly during the theater lobby scene. Between takes, Bette could be heard saying (purposely loud enough for Marilyn to hear ),"That little blonde slut can't act her way out of a paper bag!" Such altercations depleted Marilyn's confidence and increased her terror of the infamous Bette. In the end, Marilyn had the last laugh, for although Bette churned out another flawless performance, Marilyn stole every scene she was in (as seen left). The camera loved Diva Davis, but it was in love with Monroe.


Ava Gardner (right) had a meeting with Bette that was not completely dissimilar. Ava was also agog at the movie queen's power. When she met her at a particular soiree, she told Bette that she was truly honored to meet her. Again, Bette raised the classic eyebrow, but perhaps sensing that Ava had a great deal more bite than the timid Marilyn, she offered only the crack:  "Of course you are," and walked off. (Bette is perhaps the only woman in history who can be perfectly bitchy and still perfect).




Bad, bad Bette.


Bette's meetings with men were different. A bit of a sexual tigress, Bette enjoyed the company of attractive leading men like Paul Henreid or George Brent. However, during her early film days, she often complained that she was cast opposite lackluster actors-- rising stars who had not yet reached their summit. She felt snubbed and craved an actor with whom she could go mono e mono. For this reason, she was ecstatic when she learned that she would be starring opposite the great Charles Boyer in All This and Heaven Too. Finally! A handsome talent that she could sink her teeth into. However, on the first day she was to perform opposite Charles, Bette was confused. She scanned the set, but didn't see him anywhere. When she saw a pudgy, balding Frenchman intruding on the sound stage, she tried to have him removed, only to discover that he was, in fact, Charles Boyer! Turns out that good ol' Chuck had to wear a toupee and a girdle for his film roles to appear more dashing, making his offscreen appearance almost unrecognizable. Shocked, Bette didn't think she could feign attraction to, well, a schlub! But, in a magical way that only the classy Boyer could do, he was able to transform into a heroic, charming, and handsome romantic as soon as the director called "action." Bette had no further complaints.


Ironically, Bette was to play the more matronly character
in All This and Heaven Too opposite an elegant Boyer.


Another case of mistaken identity occurred for Grace Kelly. She and Cary Grant became great chums on the set of To Catch a Thief (left). For this reason, Cary decided to invite her to a party being thrown by Aristotle Onassis on his yacht. The two arrived together, with Cary looking his usual, elegant self, but Grace looked more like a school teacher in her casual wear and thick eyeglasses. As glamorous as she was onscreen, away from the cameras she was down-to-earth and shy, becoming somewhat of a wallflower. An unaffected person, her beauty was something she merely turned on when necessary, not something she luxuriated in. For this reason, Onassis didn't even recognize the great movie goddess! When she and Cary made their exit, Onassis pulled Cary aside and thanked him for coming. He also told him to feel free to bring his charming "secretary" along again next time. That he did, for Cary and Grace remained close pals until her untimely death.


Groucho Marx (right) also had a bit of trouble recognizing a certain actress the first time they met, but for very different reasons. While in the Thalberg building, Groucho once entered the elevator to find it inhabited by a woman with a very large hat. From what he could make out of her profile, she looked familiar. Was it? Could it be? Not one to be shy, the funny man reached over, lifted the woman's hat, and took a peek. Sure enough, it was Greta Garbo. You couldn't mistake a mug like that! Of course, being the aloof and socially awkward woman that she was, Greta offered little in the way of conversation. Thus, to neutralize the situation, Groucho simply said: "I'm terribly sorry, but I thought you were a fellow I knew from Kansas City."


Greta ponders Groucho's quip.


Some of the most interesting cases of star meetings occur on the set. When paired up for the first-- and sometimes only-- time, the nature of an introduction says a lot about the relationship two actors are to have with each other. When Clark Gable finally and begrudgingly took on the role of Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, the punctual pro was irritated that his leading lady was late to their first publicity photo shoot. Pacing back and forth, he muttered to the photographer something to the effect of, "Where the Hell is this lady? If this is the way she works, I'll walk off right now!" Suddenly, ringing out behind him as clear as bell, came a sweet, English voice saying, "I quite agree, Mr. Gable...  I'd tell that Vivien Leigh to go straight back to England and f*ck herself!" Clark turned around to see his stunningly beautiful co-star, Vivien, and offered her a big grin. All anger was forgotten, and after taking her hand, he led her to their place in front of the camera and started the romance to crush all movie romances (left). Their relationship remained contentious: one minute they were locking horns about a scene and the next they were playing Battleship together.



Katharine Hepburn had wanted to act with Spencer Tracy for some time by the time they were both cast in Woman of the Year (right). Kate had great respect for Spencer's straight-shooter acting style, and-- though a confident lady herself-- she was surprisingly nervous the first time the two were to meet. Prior to shooting the film, Kate happened to be on the backlot when she bumped into Spencer and Joseph L. Mankiewicz on the stairs. After an initial "Hello, nice to meet you," Kate, who was in heels, found herself surprisingly tougue tied, and after referencing their upcoming film together, she spit out: "I'm sorry, with these shoes I'm afraid I'll be a bit tall for you." Spencer just mulled her over, not saying a word, trying to make out the strange but intriguing woman in front of him. Finally, Joe piped in with, "Don't worry, he'll cut you down to size." Indeed he did. The confusion and butterflies initially felt turned to love once the cameras rolled.


William Powell and Myrna Loy are remembered as one of the greatest film teams of all time, portraying most infamously the madcap couple Nick and Nora Charles of the Thin Man series (left). Their initial meeting was just as chaotic and hilarious as any of their crime solving buffoonary. Things were moving rapidly their first day of shooting on Manhattan Melodrama. In fact, the two didn't even have time to be properly introduced by W.S. Van Dyke before they were rushed into "take one." In the scene, Myrna's character was to rush into Powell's cab, so William sat waiting in the car for her to enter. Van Dyke called "action," but instead of saying the written lines when Myrna entered, William quipped: "Miss Loy, I presume?" Myrna burst out laughing. The two became fast friends, and the wisecracks and hijinks ensued throughout their numerous films together.


A less gentlemanly handshake occurred when legendary screen siren Joan Crawford met hot new leading man John Garfield. The two were assigned to do Humoresque (right), a film about a wealthy patroness and her kept man/musician. The lusty Joan was excited to work with John, who had become the talk of the town with his bold and earthy characterizations. When introduced their first day on the film, Joan held out her hand saying, "It's very nice to meet you." John responded by reaching out and pinching her breast. A moment of silence passed. Joan then calmly looked up, met John's gaze, and responded: "You know, I think we're going to get on just fine." That they did, performing superbly and sensuously on film and off, enjoying a brief and amicable affair. Only in Hollywood...

MENTAL MONTAGE: When First We Met

Good day ladies & gentlemen! I am very pleased to bring you some background information on the lovely setting of The Vespertine. I will be focusing on Victorian society in general & also commenting on Victorian society specifically in New England.

A young lady could aspire to no higher station than that of a dutiful wife & engaging mother. These ladies were expected to be well-bred, mild-mannered, capable in matters of the home, involved in charitable pursuits & virtuous. Women of stature were not to work outside of the home, but some of the middle class women would work as seamstresses or laundresses to made ends meet at home. As Lynn Abram reports, "...the ideal woman at this time was not the weak, passive creature of romantic fiction. Rather she was a busy, able and upright figure who drew strength from her moral superiority and whose virtue was manifested in the service of others."

At home, women were expected to maintain a tightly run household. Many affluent families filled their time with social dates, well-prepared meals (either made with their assistance or by the help), neatly groomed children & charity work. Maintaining a home was a full-time job in and of itself, so many women could still find themselves over-loaded with tasks. It's interesting to note that, "It is a fallacy that most middle-class women were able to afford sufficient servants to allow them to spend their lives in idle leisure. Most middle-class households had just one servant - sufficient to give the woman of the house a certain status, but insufficient to allow her to spend days doing embroidery and playing the piano."

Women were not "confined" to the home as many of us mistakenly think, they were actually quite active in the community. While "motherhood was idealized as the zenith of a woman's emotional and spiritual fulfillment," many women spend time visiting, not only with friends, but also with the less fortunate, volunteering with different organizations, & spending time with their church. One of the more fascinating parts of this custom was the need for calling cards. If you were to "call on" (go visit) someone, it was expected that you have a calling card to announce your intent. Your admittance would be conditional based upon your station & card.

In The Vespertine we watch the main characters emulate many of these specific patterns of behavior. Zora, Amelia, Sarah & Mattie all spend time practicing their etiquette at teas & balls, while expending their energy in the park with archery. I personally loved the scene where Zora & Amelia are choosing new calling card patterns & all the rules you hear in the shop. Thomas & Nathaniel are very representative of two very different societal classes with Thomas apprenticing his father in the medical field & Nathaniel making do on his own through art & sporadic side work. Zora's mother, Mrs. Stewart is seen working on embroidery & assisting her cooks to make her household run smoothly.

Baltimore was a fabulous setting for this book! As there is a harbor, this town was poised for change. While the Victorian age was rather strict & regimented, as the era came to a close and industry started to really grow, Baltimore would be one of the first places affected since it was a major port. New ideas, fashion, & people came through this area allowing for change & influence to transform the area. Mr. Stewart (Zora's father) was an impetus to this change as he wanted gas lighting in his home & his daughter to receive a co-educational experience! Quite a happening time period!

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little history about this setting & I hope it gives you a deeper appreciation for the novel. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for more happenings during The Vespertine week here at Tattooed Books!

Victorian New England


Pre-Term Babies At Higher Risk For Rare Form Of Hearing Loss
Wednesday, February 23rd 2011
February 19-23, 2011, Baltimore: National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported scientists will be presenting their latest research findings at the 2011 Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO).

Selective Inner Hair Cell Loss in Premature Infants
Selective loss of key sensory cells is possible sign of auditory neuropathy

premature babies hearing lossIt’s well known that premature babies have a higher risk for hearing loss, but what’s been unclear to this point is the reason why. NIDCD-funded researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard University, and Universidade de Sao Paolo, Brazil, set out to find the answer by conducting a postmortem examination of the temporal bones—the part of the skull that houses the inner ear—of 50 infants from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital in San Jose, Costa Rica.
They found that in four out of 27 pre-term babies—eight ears in all—the sensory cells that help amplify sound vibrations, called outer hair cells, appeared healthy, while the sensory cells that convert those vibrations to electrical signals that travel to the brain, the inner hair cells, were preferentially destroyed. Conversely, in the 23 full-term NICU babies, only one ear out of 46 ears showed this selective inner hair cell loss.
The findings are surprising, since outer hair cells are very delicate and most hearing loss in people is due to dysfunction, damage, and death of these sensory cells, in comparison to inner hair cells, which are much more resistant to damage. When inner hair cells are destroyed, the hearing signal never reaches the brain, even if the outer hair cells are still functioning normally. This condition is known as auditory neuropathy.
The findings help explain why other researchers have observed a higher incidence of auditory neuropathy in pre-term babies and suggest that the underlying pathology in auditory neuropathy is not actually due to loss of neurons, as the name implies, but to loss of the inner ear sensory cells that drive them.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

article from http://www.healthyhearing.com/releases/47721-pre-term-babies-hearing-loss

Rare Form Of Hearing Loss In Preterm Babies

Preemie Prints is giving away an Angel Care Monitoring system to a deserving family ($120.00 value). My twins were sent home on pulmonary heart monitors and after they were taken off we moved to the angel care monitoring system. This monitoring system monitors sound and movement. If your baby stops breathing for 15 seconds the alarm will sound. Please read more about the monitors here. I love this monitor and have recommended them to new moms ever since finding out about them. It gives me peace of mind to actually get some rest at night. Since we highly recommend them, one of our donors has graciously donated two systems to us. We are so very appreciative of his donation and thank him! We received our first monitor yesterday and are ready for our first giveaway.


If you meet the following criteria please contact us and share your story about why you would like this monitor. We will choose a deserving family in the next two weeks and deliver the monitor to you. Thank you for participating and cheers to restful sleep and peace of mind...





1. Are you a new parent of a preemie in the Brazos Valley, Houston, or Waco area?
2. Are you close to being discharged or recently at home?
3. Have you joined our network?
4. Would you like an angel care monitoring system for your baby but due to the financial constraints of having a premature baby and spending time in a NICU have not been able to purchase one? 

If you answered yes to all 4 questions please share your story with us here.

Please forward and share this with your friends!

Angel Care Monitor Giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Obviously since this is The Vespertine week on Tattooed Books, I'm featuring the namesake book for my Waiting on Wednesday. Harcourt Children's Books has slated this wondrous book for a March 7th release & I for one cannot WAIT to get my hands on a finished copy.

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

From Goodreads

Obviously I've already read this fantastic book and you can check out my thoughts here. I must admit that, as far as historical fiction in YA goes, this makes the top of list along with Anna Godbersen's Luxe series. While their time frames overlap, the divergent settings allow for a different experience. I assure you that this book holds up to its competition.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Vespertine

Your wedding day is the day you never forget. Getting ready for it is another memory you will not soon forget as well. While there are those stressful times during the planning of this special ceremony, the fun and excitement you feel will prevail. The most fun and exciting parts of the preparations you might enjoy is making your own wedding cake.

Start your plans ahead of time so you do not have to be stressed at the last minute. Check recipes to make sure you have all the ingredients you will need. Make sure you know the flavor you want for the cakes while also thinking about the best tasting icing as well. These are two of the most important decisions about this project you have to make.

Many people have recipes for their favorite icing. However, you can visit a bakery shop to get some great selections ready to use. While at the bakery, make sure you get the square pans you may need for creating the unique masterpiece. The baker can help you in choosing the right ingredients and let you know if you are missing an important part.

One way to help you remain organized throughout the planning of your ceremony is by making check lists. This is especially true for the ingredients and items needed for making cakes. You should look through online websites for the exact type of cake you would like to have. This will help you to know the pans to get, whether square or round, the colors you will need, and the other vital ingredients.

Fondant black and white square wedding cake.

Those unusual cakes you might have seen were made using a square pan. This is a great way to add a dimensional difference to your creation without it being hard to do. Check the bakery shop about the pans you need for making your sweet creation.

Many designs are out there for these types of cakes that are out of this world and sensational. Indeed, the cake you want will need to fit into theme of the entire ceremony. Many couples have made the ceremony around a certain design in cakes they favored.

Making Your Own Wedding Cake Is Fun And Exciting

Today we are very fortunate indeed to have an interview with The Vespertine creator herself, Mrs. Saundra Mitchell! Let's dig right in!

1. What made you choose Baltimore as your story setting?

I love Baltimore. It's an extraordinary city with extraordinary history. And because it hasn't been used often as a setting for 19th century fiction or film, I felt like readers wouldn't be coming to my book with any expectations. We have a sense of what Gilded Age New York was like, but Baltimore, not so much.

2. The details in your novel are spot-on for the time period from the séances to the calling cards.
How did you research Victorian New England? Did you read a lot, visit the area, just watch a lot
of period movies?

Thank you very much! I did my research in the usual ways—I read a lot of books, I put in a lot of hours at the Maryland Historical Society, I did a lot of reading online. Plus, I dug into period newspapers and magazines, and, of all places, e-Bay, to get a look at actual period dance cards and calling cards!

3. Where did you inspiration for Amelia’s ability come from?

I don't remember! I think it must have been one of those things—to badly quote Neil Gaiman—that I made up in my head.

4. Of all the wonderful events & interactions, what was your favorite part of the story to write?

I really enjoyed writing Zora and Amelia's friendship. They had such great chemistry and so much fun together. It was easy to get carried away on their adventures.

5. In The Vespertine you have a wide variety of personalities. Which of your characters do you
identify with most & why?

It would be cheating to say Nathaniel, because you guys don't actually get to know much about him. He has this whole other life that Amelia can't even imagine. But I feel like I'm most like him—I don't care about convention, except when I do.

6. Any hints about the companion novel The Springsweet, due out Spring of 2012?

Yes! The Vespertine was about fire and air; The Springsweet will be about water and earth, and it takes place in Oklahoma Territory, in 1890!


7. Tell us something unique/intriguing about your writing style or process.

I usually start my day by reading and editing the words I wrote the day before. That way I can slip back into the same place I left off.

Thank you so much Saundra for taking time to let us in on your story secrets! Folks, be sure to check back for more this week celebrating The Vespertine.

Saundra Mitchell Interview