ideas needed: my pregnant best friend is very sick

[KappaTarzan]

my best friend is 5 months pregnant with identical twin girls, and the father isn't a part of the picture thats a different story though... she was recently admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery because she started have VERY early labor.. she needs to be on complete bedrest now so it doesn't happen again.. she can't even stand up for more than 15 - 20 minutes at a time, at MOST..

any ideas on what to put in a basket i'm making her of stuff to keep her occupied? i live about 45 min away at school so i want to give her something to keep her company all those times she's lonely and i can't be there...

[LuaBlanca]

wow- i hope everything works out!

giving her something to keep her occupied is a really cool and thoughtful idea! *props to you*

you might want to try the usual things that occupy time: books, crosswords, etc. but those get old fast. Try some hip magazines, or a book of poetry? Those "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books might be appropriate. Maybe loaning her your personal CD player, with a few mix cds you can burn? Movies? Maybe like a low-impact do-it-yourself kit? (*my mom was on bed rest once, and she sewed throw pillows out of fabric, and then used fabric paint to write inspirational quotes on them. When she got better, she gave them to all the people that had helped through the illness....an idea?*)

Maybe an at-home spa kit? But low-key stuff: like nail polish, things for her hair, make-up, body lotion, a hand/personal massger-esque thing....etc.

I hope it works out!

[xo_sue]

I hope she is feeling better really soon!

One thing I missed in the hospital was my own pillow and a really comfy pillowcase. Those clubs - like Costco, BJ's- they have them really cheap. Also- I loved doing the "spa" thing- my sister brought a bunch of trial size things that I could pamper myself with.

Best best gift of all- get in her house and clean! How nice it would be for her to come home and not have to clean her house. She will be thrilled!

Keep us posted-
Sue

[Heather]

The above ideas sound great! (and included almost every one I thought of!) If she's into writing letters, fun stationary or a journal and cool pens. (Even taking notes in class is more enjoyable when I have a cool pen. It costs a bit more but a phonecard could help her stay in touch with those long distance friends. I'm sure I'd feel "distanced" enough just by being on bedrest. Don't laugh but I also like to color.

Not that you'd want to use this for your basket but I discovered books on tape this summer. Our library has tons that you can check out so maybe someone could do that for her.

[pinkyphimu]

what about getting a bunch of scrapbooking materials together (fun scissors, patterned paper, die cuts, etc) so she can organize some of her pics? she could also get a headstart on the scrapbook for the babies....

-her favorite movies on video or dvd
-write her letters weekly (like real ones that come in the mail...lol)
and have your other friends do the same. she will have
something to read for a few minutes, but will know you
are thinking of her.
-pretty scented candles
-if she has a hobby, you can get magazines or books that give her
new ideas
-get her something indulgent that she would never buy for herself
-a body pillow (my friends w/ children have said it is a necessity)
-call her often
-maybe (you will have to check this out) you can find someone who will go out to her house & give her a foot massage or pedicure

i got one of these for a friend once, (but you can definately make one).....it was a glass jar filled with quotes to get you through a day of work. they were funny little sayings or quotes from famous people about their worst jobs. you could fill a jar with jokes or memories from your friendship.

i hope that your friend and her children are ok!!!!

[chideltjen]

get her some crafty stuff...

Maybe she can learn to knit or crochet. Scrapbooking is always relaxing for me. Painting, sewing, paper crafting, rubber stamping, latch hook, quilting...

Just be available for her. SOunds like she needs someone there for her. Good luck.

[KappaKittyCat]

Adding to what Chideltjen said, at most craft stores and even the craft sections of WalMart or whatever you can get "starter kits" for knitting and crocheting. I have one called I Taught Myself Knitting (dorky title, I know), that came with a starter kit of different sized needles, a crochet hook, threaders, darning needles, stichholders, a cable needle, etc. Pick her up one of those, some cute yarn, and a baby pattern book. They're great.

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by chideltjen
get her some crafty stuff...

Maybe she can learn to knit or crochet. Scrapbooking is always relaxing for me. Painting, sewing, paper crafting, rubber stamping, latch hook, quilting...

Just be available for her. SOunds like she needs someone there for her. Good luck.

I totally agree with all the ideas given here esp. all the crafty stuff! (I'm a crafty person myself ) Scrapbooking would be really cute so she could prepare a scrapbook for her twins. Cross-stitching is always fun too & an inexpensive hobby to pick up!

Best wishes to her.. I hope things work out!

[aephi alum]

Hope all is well with mother and babies. If her doctor has ordered bed rest, be sure she doesn't push herself.

I love the crafts idea - a good cross-stitch kit is exactly what I'd want if I were in her shoes. But it has to be something she wants to do.

I also love the spa idea. Maybe you can include some differently-scented soaps or hand creams?

This is not so much in the "helping her pass the time" category as the "being a good friend" category: How about a basket of food, or some nice herbal teas? And if you can cook at all decently, how about coming in once in a while and cooking her dinner? (When you can - you said you live some distance away.) But be careful - pregnant women generally get given a long list of dietary restrictions.

[CrimsonTide4]

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