... I Digress

And I do. All the time. Also, I like to say it "I digress". Makes me feel smart. Sorry for the silliness, but it's Saturday and I am in good spirits, feeling blessed in so many ways. So, this post is going to be about an uncertain number of things. I've been wanting to tell everyone (and I have) about Olivia's timely comments while Jonathan was in the NICU. During those 5 weeks, I would often explain to them why I was away so much and that I would be back as their full time mom very soon. Helped my guilt to think I was mothering them at least in spirit. As we were nearing the planned discharged date, I was doing my best to build some hype and probe for feelings, concerns, etc. One day in the car, I said "Jonathan is coming home soon. Are you guys ready?" and Olivia quickly answered in the most unexpected way. She said she didn't really want him to come home yet "because we are going to miss being excited about him coming home". These are the kinds of answers you get from Olivia and David. When we told them that I was pregnant, David was so happy because he said he had been praying for a baby brother. And just around the time that Olivia started talking, she surprised me when she replied to a question I asked [the universe] about her. I was looking at my precious little girl and out loud I asked  "Where did you come from? Where were you before you were in my belly?" and she said "I was with Jesus, Mami". David will often say things like "I dream about you every day" or my favorite: "Mami, I love you, but I love God more - sorry".

Now that we are home with Jonathan and we get to enjoy him as a family, Olivia and David have felt a little jealous at times, but we have worked through it (i think). David will let you know on the spot when he is jealous and sometimes he will walk away until I am done feeding or holding the baby. Olivia has been less affected or at least she hasn't cried about it. David did cry before he understood that it was ok to share his feelings. Olivia will sweetly talk to Jonathan. She will tell him how much she loves him and how he makes every bad thought go away and makes everything beautiful for her.

Ok so I haven't been off the subject of my AMAZING children yet. Don't you wish I had gotten off track? Well, here I go...

I love billboard ads. Yes, I said it. I love to drive down the Palmetto and see the ads. I love the ads in the highway in Puerto Rico, Mexico City and the entrance to Sao Paolo from the airport. But I don't like the new digital billboards. I have been in Marketing for a long time, but I have never been able to place a billboard ad. I am not even sure they are even effective from an ROI standpoint, especially in the industry that I am in, but wouldn't an ad about Kangaroo Care be an eye opener? I have also seen pro-life billboard ads. I would venture to say that billboard ads make the most impact, not as a sales tool, but as a reminder of things like morals, do-the-right-thing, socio-political and religious matters by causing somekind of conviction or interest in the common good.

Where am I going with this you ask? I have no idea, but I do want to "market" Kangaroo Care and I do want to use my experience in the NICU to help others and most of all to glorify the name of God. Do you have any ideas of how I could do it? If so, leave your comments or just give me a call and we can talk.

... I digress.  :)