Thanks And Giving: Let's Do This

Nearly 2 years ago I started this blog as an outlet for myself. I have always enjoyed writing and even though I had forgotten most of what I had learned in High School, I decided to give it a try. I had proposed that after 3 months I would decide if I really wanted to keep at it. Being stuck at home with a Preemie who had a delicate immune system, and not adjusting well to having 5 kids was beginning to put me in the danger zone. The danger zone is when my mental illness goes Mach 9 and implodes into my every waking moment and I was slowly getting there. Writing funny statuses was a way to relieve some of that pressure. I enjoyed the feedback from friends and family, and it made me feel a little less alone. After I started the blog, I started the page, and again told myself maybe I would quit after a few months. I didn't expect to gain anything other than just having an extra spot on the Internet to make people laugh. In the beginning, that's all I wanted. "Your smile is my smile" I say that a lot, and it's true. I didn't want to be a mommy blog, a funny blog (because sometimes I didn't feel so funny), or really any particular subject. I didn't want to limit myself from the get go just in case I came up with a crazy idea that didn't fit with the theme.

After 3 months something amazing happened. I still didn't really know what the hell I was doing, but people seemed to like it. They were okay with no set theme, no set rules, and they were completely okay with me just being myself. Even bigger than that, they opened up to ME, and I began connecting with people from all over the world. What started as "I'm just going to make some people laugh because I don't even feel like getting out of bed today", turned around on me. You made me get out of bed because YOU were getting out of bed. Does that make sense? You inspire me. You really do. You have helped me, you have been there for not only me, but my family, and you give me so much more than a laugh and a smile. You give me a reason to believe in myself. For that, I am eternally grateful. So fucking thankful. And so gahdamn honored.


And now I am here, nearly 2 years later.
Almost 50,000 followers on the page. Thousands of reads every month on my blog. And I feel like I am in a place where I feel I can do more.Where I can say more, work harder, and expect that the things I say will have reach, and the things I do will matter.
And I am so fucking ready.

One of the more awesome benefits of having my page and blog, is connecting with people. I have loved meeting new friends from all walks of life, and learning from people. A lot of you have reached out to me, and although I don't have the time to connect with every single one of you, I really do try to give most of you individual attention. You are the reason I am here after all. One of the friends that I have met, is my dear friend Gretchen or "Gretty". She reached out to me quite awhile ago and we had a nice email exchange. We both have Preemie babies so we instantly hit it off in a "I've seen the same bullshit and miracles that you have" way,  and I began following her on Instagram. She was starting a clothing line and I promised that I would help promote it in any way I could, as soon as she was ready. I began following her business Instagram and showed my support by liking her Facebook page. In between working on her business and being generally awesome, Gretty is a stay at home mom to 2 beautiful children, Zoey and Jax. Homeschooling and being a Preemie parent are not easy but she had the love and support of an amazing husband to get her through the hard days and help with her business. The love Gretty and her husband Eric have, was shown in the lovely faces of their adorabley happy children.

But a few nights ago Eric was in a car accident. He didn't make it. Gretty is heartbroken and when I read her status on Facebook, I cried. "He was my everything" she said. Those words repeated in my head from the moment I found out, to the following day. Thankfully, I saw a friend start a Give Forward for her and her kids and there is even a Facebook page to support it. I hope that you will visit both and do what you can to help Gretty and her family.

If you are a small business or a blogger that wants to have a spot on my blog AND help the Lach family, please check out my *Advertising Page* with details on how to purchase a one month ad or a 3 month ad, ALL proceeds will benefit Gretty (the Lach family)

If you are interested in participating in the giveaways planned for next month please click *here* for details and to purchase. I have 20 slots available and it's going to be MASSIVE. ALL giveaway proceeds will benefit Gretty (the Lach family)

Note: I have 2 scheduled blog posts a week from here on out, so be assured that your business or brand will be seen by thousands.

Also if you are a Humbler who is interested in VTF memberships click *here* for those details and how to purchase. ALL proceeds will benefit the Lach Family. Plus, I am sending all that purchase a VTF membership a super cool certificate, a thank you note with a crappy drawing done by me, and a small gift to say thanks.

Thank you Humblers, for giving me a voice and an opportunity to help Gretty and to help others. This is why I am here. Other than, yanno....cats and beards and junk.



XOXO
Humble


 The Lach Family

 

JeweleryUDesign Giveaway!

 

I am always happy to help a family owned business by giving them a little spotlight on my blog and I extra lurve it when they are passing out prizes to Humblers! I mean who doesn't love a prize?! When Adrianna from JewelryUDesign contacted me to promote her bizz I was extra extra excited because I really think her business is unique and many people would love what JewelryUDesign offers. Everything they make is 100% designed by the customer. Medical ID bracelets, footprint key chains, engraving, they can even turn a photo of someone you love or a drawing into an amazing piece of jewelry. The creative options are ENDLESS. The photos you see here are just a drop in the bucket compared to everything JewelryUDesign can do.

When I asked Adrianna what inspired her to start her business she explained that it started with loss. At 20 weeks pregnant with her first child, her and her husband were devastated to learn at a routine ultrasound that their baby was gone and walked out of the appointment in disbelief. In the weeks that followed she wanted a piece of jewelry that she could wear that would honor her sweet daughter and keep her memory near her always. She was disappointed that the footprint necklaces that she had found were impersonal and generic and the custom options were really overpriced considering the quality. And that is how her and her fiance decided to start their business. Their goal is to help people get creative and give them high quality jewelry that they will cherish forever.

Just this past June they started the business and were able to create the pendant that Adrianna has always wanted to wear to remember their angel. It is a pendant of the only thing I have left of her- a 3D ultrasound image. Since then, they have grown tremendously from just an idea to over 31K+ fans. Isn't that amazing? To stay updated about special offers and see lots of designs you can click right HERE and follow them on Facebook!

You can also find JewelryUDesign on

Twitter
Pinterest
and
Pinterest

To see ALL THE POSSIBILITIES FOR INFINITE CREATIONS visit their site at www.jewelryudesign.com

WANNA WIN?

Here's your chance!

Winner has a choice of a custom designed necklace, keychain, or charm.
Free shipping only available in the lower 48 states and winner must place order within 7 days of receiving prize

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Humble Reviews: React Mobile App

 

When I was contacted to review this app I have to admit my first thought was that I already owned all of the most important apps in existence. I've got photo apps, frames for photo apps, music apps, news apps, 4 different social media apps, game apps and on and on. Unless of course, this one could make me pancakes, I don't see how it's going to earn a place on my home screen. But after further review of the information sent to me, I knew that this was an app that I would not only install immediately but also recommend to my family and friends. No it can't make me pancakes (dang it), edit my pores before posting to Instagram, or even grammar check my Facebook updates, BUT it does turn my phone into a powerful lifeline. Which, let's face it, is more important than pancakes and filtered photos of what I am eating.

The React Mobile app works like this:
After creating a self selected contact list you can utilize the "Follow Me" feature at the touch of a button. This sends a link via SMS, that allows your selected contacts to track your whereabouts in real-time whenever you are concerned with your safety. 

 

For example:

 *When you have an early morning or late night walk/run, meeting a client or someone you have not met face to face with (online dating, meet ups,etc.)

 *When traveling to unfamiliar neighborhoods or when you have a tendency to become lost (that'd be me)
*Keeping track of kids that are walking to and from school

  *For college students/late night workers

*Anyone who wants the extra assurance that trusted friends are "in the know" of where they are in the case of an emergency

When the React Mobile user has reached their destination safely, they can press the "I'm Safe" button to let the contacts know that they arrived at their destination and are safe. The selected contacts don't need to download the app in order for this to work though, since a link is sent to the contact through text.

 

In the case of an emergency, pressing the "SOS Shield" will send a panic alert through text and email to the selected contacts alerting them of your GPS location. Optionally your alert and location can be posted on Facebook and Twitter. After the "SOS Shield" is pressed the user would then automatically be prompted to dial 911. 

If you are not in North America, the app allows you to select what country you live in or are traveling to, in the settings tab. When the SOS is triggered, you will be prompted to call the appropriate emergency authority.  

React Mobile is incredibly easy to use and upon installation it gives step by step instruction on how to input contacts and how to use both the "Follow Me" and "SOS Shield" features. If you download React Mobile on to your child's phone, I highly recommend you have them watch the tutorial video, to further explain how to use the app. Both my 10 year old and 8 year old were able to use it in less then 5 minutes after they watched the video and followed the on screen instructions.

To watch an overview video about React Mobile you can click here:vimeo.com/61906781 

And to watch a tutorial video on how React Mobile works, you can click here:vimeo.com/61927390 

And for more information on React Mobile you can visit their site at www.reactmobile.com

This truly invaluable app can be downloaded for FREE on both iPhone and Android
Isn't that awesome!?

You can choose from the following to download immediately:

 Apple iTunes Download 

 Google Play Download 

(available on select Smartphones)

Do you think React Mobile app could be useful to you and your family? After downloading the app, did you find it easy to use?

 Let me know in the comments!

xoxo Humble

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and although I was compensated for my time and effort, my opinions of the product/service are 100 percent honest and I believe that the product/service would be beneficial to Humble Writes Words subscribers

Meet Leah

 A few weeks ago I was browsing Instagram after hashtagging one of Jedi's pictures with #preemie, I saw many very small babies and some big kids that were NICU graduates and as I scanned the feed of all the thousands of photos, one stood out to me. I clicked it to enlarge it, and I gasped. The sweetest little eyes staring at me.

 

And after viewing more photos like this:

I had to know more about this baby. In all honesty, I have seen LOTS AND LOTS of babies, but none like this baby.

JUST LOOK AT HER 

  Her sweet face and delicate features had me right from the get go. And it wasn't just her insane yummyness that had me in a tizzy....the love that I could feel from the pictures and perhaps from the photographer, made me NEED to know more. I was set on finding out. I commented one of the photos asking for her parent to email me and I was really relieved she got back to me quickly. I had this baby on my brain and I wanted to know exactly what was going on in her life.

Here is what I found out from her blogs about section (click HERE to read more)


Leah Valerie was Due July 4, 2013. Born May 8, 2013. 3.5lbs, 16.14in, 10 fingers, 10 toes, 47 chromosomes. Oh – and she has 2 mommies. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. 

 

I need a tissue.  My heart may explode. Right out of my eyes.

Her mommies, Lisa and Mandy have been together for 11 years and after finishing college and post grad school they decided it was time to start a family. Mandy became pregnant quickly and at 20 weeks they found out their baby had markers for Down Syndrome. Just a couple of weeks later they were given news that it was absolutely certain. Shortly after that, they discovered that there was a blockage in her stomach and plans were made to have Mandy deliver baby Leah at a bigger more distant hospital because she would likely need surgery right after birth. They forged ahead and planned to take Bradley classes and do all the things expecting couples do towards the end of a pregnancy. But on the morning of May 8th, Mandy had found that her water had broken. Just a couple of days before, Lisa had been diagnosed with chronic stomach paralysis and had been incredibly ill. She had hoped she would have her own surgery well before Leah's arrival, but baby Leah had other plans!

 In the days that followed they learned that Leah had esophageal atresia, which means her esophagus and stomach do not connect. Leah's form is especially rare because there is a large part of her esophagus that is missing entirely. This makes for a much more difficult procedure. Until the atresia is repaired or she is able to swallow, Leah cannot go home due to the potentially-fatal risk of aspiration pneumonia and because she has Down Syndrome, her recovery from surgery would take longer than a typical baby. This means that Leah has to work extra hard before and after surgery and will need to stay in the PICU for at least a month after surgery before she can go home to her adoring mothers. And Leah's journey doesn't end there! Leah will need in home care for quite awhile along with many different therapies that will both help her heal, and get her moving on the right track.

Why am I sharing Leah with you? Well other than "this is the cutest most hardcore baby in the history of adorable", you can help her Mama's help her heal. Leah had surgery on November 1st and seems to be rocking it out the best she can and I am sure her Mama's are both incredibly relieved that the surgery part is over with, but also a tad anxious about what will happen next. As a state employee Mandy did not receive the state-funded disability and maternity benefits that keep most California workers afloat during times of pregnancy, parental bonding time and family medical leave.

Additionally, two days before Leah was born (as mentioned before) Lisa was in the emergency room due to a neurological condition that causes stomach paralysis. She has lost over 45 lbs in just a few months and has been too ill to work. She is still recovering from an abdominal surgery meant to help her manage this difficult condition.

 To help the Mama's stay with Leah as she recovers in the  PICU and help them manage costs when they finally go home (they have been staying at the Ronald McDonald house close to the hospital) a fundraiser was started for Leah and her Mama's. I have been incredibly blessed by having followers that have been there for me and helped me receive our Rainbow (that thank you post is coming up!) and I would be honored if I could send some of those kindnesses to this family. If you are moved to, please donate to Leah's fundraiser by clicking HERE. They are pretty close to their goal already but could use more! If you can't donate, you can still visit Leah's blog and read about her progress by clicking HERE (be prepared for a MASS amount of baby cuteness)
you can also follow Leah's Facebook page by clicking HERE
and her Instagram
and her Twitter

And if you are just over the moon about Leah as I am, could you please share this post? The world needs a little more sunshine and I think she's just the girl for the job.