Cloth Diapers and More Cloth Diapers....(and our update on Wes)

Wow...I've learned A LOT about cloth diapers in the LAST 24-48 hours!! I will admit....I've NEVER used a cloth diaper!! Ok, there...I said it OUT LOUD!!! Do yall still LOVE ME? :) So, yes, I'm NOT qualified for THIS job of ROUNDING up cloth diapers AT ALL....but hey, someone's got to do it...so WHY NOT LITTLE OLD ME!!!??? I'm willing to learn....NOT sure I'm willing to give up my wonderful Pampers just quite yet (hey, just trying to be truthful :) BUT..I'm having fun collecting cloth diapers...and BELIEVE ME....THEY WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE!!!

***A HUGE thank you ALREADY to ALL OF YOU that jumped RIGHT ON BOARD and already started mailing me YOUR CLOTH DIAPERS!!! You guys are REALLY blowing my mind!! Seriously, who would have known that SO MANY of you out there have used OR are currently using cloth diapers?? I can't wait to take a pic and post it of ALL the cloth diapers that will be making their way to ETHIOPIAN babies!! Seriously, what BETTER way to help a baby than to cover their tush!! :)

So, HOW DID THIS ALL COME ABOUT?? Well, first, my agency put out a "request" for cloth diapers..And, well, this didn't surprise me since I JUST GOT back from Ethiopia and I witnessed naked bare bottomed babies everywhere!! (not with my agency...just every where you looked) So, you don't see this in the transition homes...but you see this in the state run orphanages IN and MOSTLY OUT of the city!! So, seriously, babies are using the "bathroom" all over themselves ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT!! I held naked babies with only tshirts on EVERY WHERE i went!! And, this ISN'T to judge or cast a FROWN upon these people...THESE ORPHANAGES AND WORKERS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN!!! They are dealing with survival and are working around the clock harder than you and I could ever imagine!! They are kind, wonderful, caring people that LOVE these babies and children...but yet...when it comes to buying things for their orphanages, they MUST choose food and formula first!!! People rarely visit these places because they are so far out...so things like cloth diapers wear out and don't get replaced!! Simply that!! So, if agencies were DONATED tons of cloth diapers...well, then they'd fill the need of their transition homes in the city...then extras can start being handed out to the state run orphanages!! (and I know transition homes are ALREADY giving out their extra supplies all the time...but most of the time THEY need new cloth diapers too...so we just need LOTS) How GREAT would that be!!

So, WHY wear a cloth diaper? Well, disposable ones are just not gonna happen!! They are too expensive and they go through them too quickly..and that's just not an option!! So, what happens when a child doesn't have a cloth diaper on?? Well, then the child's waste seeps down through their clothes (or just down their legs) and NOT only are they always wet..but then their waste is always on the ground...and this causes a HUGE fly problem!! Flies are a problem really anywhere in Ethiopia...but imagine HOW bad they are when there is waste material everywhere...Well, you'd just have to see it to believe it!! Then, of course, sickness will be easily spread by "bathroom mess" being tossed about too!! So, if you've gone your entire life NOT having to realize that this was going on ALL OVER THE PLACE in 3rd World countries...WELL, I just witnessed it....AND IT IS!!

So, what can we do?? Well, we can start getting those little bare bums covered...Covered in Hope....Covered in a Cloth Diaper!! This has become my first BLOG PROJECT!! And, one of my adopting friends came up with "Covered in Hope"...and since I'm NOT very creative...I'm gonna run with it!! :) I plan on collecting new or used cloth diapers UNTIL I'm told that ALL the millions of naked booties are covered!! And every time we package these diapers and SEND them on to Ethiopia, we'll pray for that specific child that WEARS these diapers to be COVERED in HOPE...that God will protect them and bring them a family soon!! I will hand them out to my son's orphanage first (since I got the idea from their request that came out).... I'll donate to Lucy Lane's orphanage, Hannah's Hope!! And, I'll donate to any and all orphanages that need or want them!! And, believe me..NO ONE will be turning down cloth diapers....I've learned they are always NEEDED!!

What kind am I looking for?? Well, I've learned that there are TONS of different kinds out there!! It's only taken me a day or two to find out that there is an entire Cloth Diaper industry going on that I was clueless about!! So, I am collecting NEW OR USED cloth diapers of ANY KIND!! I am NOT picky...I just want to help at this point and cover those bottoms!!! :)

*Let me give you a very short picture display of some different cloth diapers:

***First, My son's agency really likes this kind....they are Chinese Prefold Cloth Diapers!! They are inexpensive and can be ordered from a number of different spots..I googled and found them all over the place...They have them on ebay right now for 7.99 a dozen!! But places like www.cottonbabies.com are selling them for 1.50 a piece ( i believe that was for one )..And these can be bleached or nonbleached:

**Another favorite from my son's orphanage is Indian Prefold Cloth Diaper!! Again, these are inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes and sell for about a dollar a piece at www.cottonbabies.com !!

Now...I'M NOT A SHOPPER!! So, if you like to google around...then i'll promise you'll find them on sale and at better prices and such!! Just giving you somewhere to start:

Someone asked...Well, do they need pins?? How will they keep the diaper closed?? Well, yes, they'll use pins, I'm guessing, if they have to...but I've learned that there are these awesome new devices (ok, so I really don't know how new they are...could have been around for a hundred years for all i know) BUT..they look like this:

So, if you can get these donated for us...well, then by all means, send them my way!! I called a couple of companies yesterday..and well...with LL and Georgie hanging on me and yelling in the background, I couldn't hear anything they were saying..and well..I got no where as far as a company "donating" them!! So, if ANY OF YOU have success in this line of "begging" for donations...well, then GO FOR IT..and send them my way and I'll see they get to Ethiopia!!

****Now, just so ya know...there are VERY cool new cloth diapers out there now:

Yes, your baby can be VERY posh and HIP in their cloth diaper if you want them to be!! I found out that these are quite pricey...and well...IF you want to send them my way....WELL, we'll have some VERY cool and hip Ethiopian babes going on!! An agency can't even request OR say they like these kind..cause well, at almost 20 bucks a piece...I'm sure they've probably never even tried them!! BUT, know I'll take ANY OF YOUR USED ones and I'm sure those nannies will want to throw their cheaper prefolded ones out the window WHEN they realize these cool things exist!!! :)

And, yes, they come in a variety of colors and patterns and some have cool snaps and come have cool velcro...Ya know...NOT YO MOMMA'S cloth diaper!! :) So, if you have these...YES, we'd LOVE THEM TOO!! :) I'm sure they'll be in heaven with these little jewels!! :)

**So, a sweet, kind reader that has a monogramming business and buys cloth diapers in bulk for her business PUT THIS OUT: www.carabellas.net She is going to match THE MONEY that comes in through her shop through donations for CLOTH DIAPERS!! So, sweet and generous and amazing!! Wow!! Thank you so much!!

**And, I've even had people write me saying they'd like to "sew" some cloth diapers for the babies of Ethiopia!! Wow, who would have known that you could even do that!! Yes, I don't sew either!! So, I googled "free cloth diaper pattern" and found all kinds of patterns!! One was this one: www.zany-zebra.com/free-cloth-diaper-patterns.shtml

I read how people were sewing cloth diapers OUT of their husbands OLD shirts...it was kind of cool!!! So, yes, IF you like to sew..then have at it!! I'll take them too and PUT THEM TO GOOD USE!!

**Other questions I got:

*Would I take money donations for them?? No, cause I have no way on here to collect money...and I'm so disorganized that i'd not keep up with money well!! So, I'll just stick to collecting the cloth diapers and distributing them out to travelers...cause I know what I can handle and what I'd be a disaster at!! :)

*Do you want diaper covers or pins? Sure if you have them, and don't want them, or can get them donated....then send them to me...I'll get them to the right places!!

*Can you just order new ones and send them to me?? Yes, sure...some that I listed are very inexpensive..so yes, if you DON'T have cloth diapers BUT would like to order some and send them...then by all means, KNOCK YOUR SELF OUT!! Find the best deal out there..and send them my way!!

*Where do you ship them to? Well, one gal emailed me and said she lived NEAR CCI's home Florida office..so she'd run hers on over!! Some folks said they'd mail them directly to their office...great too!! But most folks are sending them to ME..I'll organize them out and distribute them accordingly!! I know tons of people traveling to Ethiopia ALL the time...so I'll get them there easily!! :)

**So, to get the address to send them to...email me at

weloveourlucy@gmail.com

and I'll give you the address!! I'm NOT collecting them at my home...I have a safe spot (thanks safe spot person) that will collect them for me and BRING them to me!!

***SO, i'm sure i'm forgetting something...so shoot me a question IF you think of one...and this will be the beginning of my first blog project: Project "Covered in Hope"

***Now, on to the BEST part of this post: "our update on Wes!!! " Oh, he is just the sweetest, cutest little guy ever!! And....the big news is....They GOT HIM TO TAKE A BOTTLE:

Yes, our director sent me these pics yesterday letting me know that they got him to take a bottle!! Ya know, introducing a little guy OVER 12 months to a bottle for the first time..ISN'T EASY!! I'm so thankful that the loving nannies and staff kept trying KNOWING that he'd get the most nutrients and fluid by sucking a bottle down!!! I'm so excited...You might see my guy holding a bottle until he's 5 and going to kindergarten!! :) Seriously, I'm praying this will help him grow now and become stronger!! And, I'm SO thankful for all the updates this week...I know he gave everyone a good scare with HOW poorly he was doing...so I'm so thankful for the wonderful care and extra love and attention he's been given to NURSE him back to health. I know he still has a long ways to go...but he's headed in the right direction now!! Will post more on our little LOVE as we learn it!! :)

**wow..this might be the longest post ever...So, it's late..and well...I still have ONE LITTLE GUY up that fell asleep and took a nap LATE and now can't sleep!! Story of his life...So, he's on the couch and begs for me to come and snuggle with him...and who could turn down the cutest 3 year old in this world!!?? :) So, I'm outta here...thanks again guys...and happy Saturday to you all, kj