New Mom Delivers In Style In the "Isabel" Hospital Gown

We received another very nice testimonial from new mom, Jackie. Jackie delivered in style with our "Isabel" hospital gown. She delivered a beautiful baby boy who decided to make his grand entrance a little early. He had to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit but he is home and doing great now. I just love this picture because you can see how proud and happy this new mommy is!!!

Here is what Jackie had to say about having her very own Annie & Isabel hospital gown:

"I absolutely loved my gown! It made me feel stylish and completely covered at the hospital compared to the normal hospital gowns. Plus I received so many compliments from all of the nurses on how cute it was!"

Jackie is also a photographer so she has been busy taking lots of pictures of her new bundle of joy. If you want to see some precious pictures of her baby boy that are sure to make your heart melt then click here: JACQUELINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Congrats Jackie and enjoy the journey of parenthood!!

Inspirational Mom Delivers Her Third Child & Deals With A New Diagnosis Of Multiple Sclerosis

This testimonial is such an inspirational one. Megan wore

our Annie designer hospital gown for the recent birth of her third child.

We love to connect with people who wear our hospital gowns

because we find their stories to be so inspirational. In purchasing

a gown for her upcoming birth, we learned that Megan also lives

with Multiple Sclerosis. She shares her beautiful

family and life with MS on her blog

"It's Megan Not Megan ~ A Wife and Mom With A Weird Name."

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It can be difficult to diagnose, especially because it presents itself around the age of 20-40 years of age in most people. Megan's journey with MS began in the fall of 2004 and wasn't diagnosed until the summer of 2009. To read more about Megan's story and battle to diagnosis click HERE.

Here is what Megan had to say about wearing her "Annie"

Annie & Isabel Hospital Gown,

"Getting pregnant with our 3rd child came on the heels of a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. When I heard of the Annie & Isabel gowns I knew I needed one. After a long hard delivery, it was so nice to recover in something clean, beautiful, and way cute! I received so many compliments on my Annie gown. After the year I had with my diagnosis, I felt everything came full circle the day our second daughter was born. It's nice to look back on that day and see myself in the cutest gown EVER! Thanks girls for making my memories extra cute and extra special".

The Giants Win the World Series and a New Fan is Born in Style

In case you are not a baseball fan or didn't hear.... THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WON THE WORLD SERIES! This may not sound that impressive to the average person, but the Giants have not won a World Series in 56 years. The team moved out to California from New York in 1958, winning their last World Series title in 1954. The love of a team and organization is something that can bring complete strangers together.

My (Selena's) husband and I are a San Francisco Giants family because my husband has been a fan ever since he can remember and has worked for the organization for over 15 seasons. I had the pleasure to meet Victoria in passing at a Giants game and could tell she was such a special person. She loved the idea of our company and quickly ordered a gown for a friend. I learned she was pregnant also as she said she would be buying a gown for her upcoming birth in October. October came on with a furry in our baseball worlds... we all sat at the edge of our seats in disbelief! We all were hoping that this just might be the season when the Giants go all the way! They did just that and faced the Texas Rangers in the World Series. Games 1 and 2 were set to be in San Francisco and my husband wanted to take our 2 little boys, ages 2 and 4, to a World Series game because as all Giants fans know.. this is a once in a lifetime experience! At the hot dog stand (where I was breaking up a fight between my boys over a balloon a kind stranger handed only one of them- ugh), I was so surprised to see Victoria again! She was radiant, like most Giants fans, but she was STILL pregnant! I couldn't believe it as I had seen on Facebook that she was due before this date! I knew at that moment...that this baby was going to be a Giants fan for sure! Here she is at game 2 of the World Series... how cute is she?!

I thought it was so wonderful that she was able to attend the World Series games, so I thought it would be fun to have her tell us a little bit about her pregnancy and her Giants winning season story.

"A little bit of the back story... My husband and I are huge San Francisco Giants fans (we actually met on the field at AT&T Park in 2007!). This past spring we were at Spring Training in Arizona and I was newly pregnant and I said to my husband, "We're having a World Series baby and the Giants are going to be in it!" - at the time, a VERY bold statement to make. Fast forward 9 months and sure enough, the Giants did make it to the World Series and our running joke during the month of October was that my water would break at a playoff game. No such luck on the water breaking at a game, but the Giants DID go on to win the World Series! After all of the festivities and the parade, it was finally time to welcome our little Giants fan into the world - 2 weeks late! He didn't want to rain on the Giants parade - literally and figuratively!"

Now how does this all relate to Annie & Isabel hospital gowns?

"I checked into the hospital to be induced and they handed me the standard hospital gown and right then I thought, "how could I have forgotten to get one of those adorable Annie & Isabel gowns?" In the weeks leading up to the birth, I'd been in total World Series/baby mode, waddling to playoff games and getting everything that I could possibly need for a newborn but realized that I had completely neglected to think about what I might need - a cute, stylish hospital gown being at the top of my list. Right then, I sent an email to Selena, one of the brilliantly creative and stylish ladies behind Annie & Isabel, promising that I would never let one of my girlfriends ever go without an A&I gown for all future baby deliveries. I figured if I put it in writing, to the inventor no less, then I would absolutely live up to my pledge!"

BACK TO MY OWN THOUGHTS HERE: I was just about to go to bed for my early morning at the hospital and I received this message from Victoria. I drive an hour and a half to work and have to get to San Francisco an hour early to miss all the bridge traffic. I thought, what a wonderful way to waste an hour before work.. hand delivering a gown! I totally understood her pain, as I too was handed that same standard gown for the birth of my first son. This is obviously not something we can do for everyone, but if you read along with this story.. I think it was all meant to be!

"Well... then came the best surprise ever!! A beautiful Isabel gown was hand delivered to my hospital room the very next morning, just in time for the delivery of my precious baby boy, Sean Michael. I was completely overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of Selena to make sure that I, too, would be stylishly outfitted for my son's arrival into the world. It was a token of generosity that won't soon be forgotten. Not only did I feel pretty for the most amazing moment in my life but I felt the LOVE behind Annie & Isabel and all of the passion that these ladies have poured into the creation of these gowns. I give thanks not only for appropriately dressing me for the occasion but also for giving me my new "go-to-gift" for all future moms-to-be! I'm happy to report that I've already held true to my promise, gifting an Isabel gown to my dear friend Ashley who delievered a beautiful healthy baby boy, Jack Edward, just four days after Sean arrived!"

We will forever cherish your words Victoria! We are so happy that we, even at the last minute, were able to provide you with the style and comfort that all women deserve in the hospital!

The most touching part to us was seeing all the beautiful pictures of you on Facebook later that day as you received special visitors to meet Sean. You looked SO gorgeous in your Isabel gown and it was such a beautiful backdrop to all of your first photographs! We look forward to seeing little Sean next season at the park!

Beautiful Mother Of Twins Cristie Wears The Isabel Annie & Isabel Designer Hospital Gown

We have another wonderful testimonial with gorgeous photographs from Brenda Bisharat Photography. Brenda gifted one of our gowns to a client giving birth to twins. We were so impressed when we emailed Cristie to follow up with her experience in her Isabel designer hospital gown and she emailed us right back! She was so cute because her only hope was to finish the email before one of her new babies woke up! Thank you Cristie for taking the time out of your busy new-mom-to-twins day to give us this lovely testimonial. The photographs that Brenda Bisharat took of Cristie are some of our favorites!

Love this moment between Cristie & her sweet newborn!

Here is what Cristie had to say about wearing her Isabel

Annie & Isabel designer hospital gown,

"Shortly after giving birth to my son and daughter at the hospital, I could not wait to get into my beautiful Annie & Isabel gown I had been given as a gift by amazing photographer Brenda Bisharat. I was uncomfortable and hot in the standard hospital gown, but as soon as I changed into my new gown I felt cooler and more fashionable. All of the nurses loved the gown. The snaps and ties are placed perfectly making it easy to nurse and cover up a lot more skin than the normal hospital gown. I wish all the hospitals would carry these gowns so every other new mom and patient could feel as wonderful and special as I did on my twins' birthday".

Congratulations to Cristie and her beautiful family! We want to thank you for sharing your experience wearing an Annie & Isabel gown. To see more of Brenda Bisharat's work or inquire about having her photograph your birth or child in the Sacramento area please check our her website below...

www.bisharatphotos.com

If you have an Annie & Isabel gown and are interested in having Bisharat Photography come to the hospital for complimentary day after photos read our post about it here..

http://annieandisabelblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/exciting-partnership-with-brenda.html

A Heartwarming Story for the Holidays...A Teenage Star Soccer Player Beats Her Toughest Opponent...Hodgkin's Lymphoma

We'd like to introduce you to Lauren. She is someone who has been in our hearts and prayers over the last year. Lauren is every parent's dream come true. She is wholesome, athletic, intelligent, beautiful and motivated in life. A year ago, Lauren seemed to have a clear path to realizing all her hopes and dreams for the future. For Lauren, those dreams included being part of an exciting soccer season, thinking about college and enjoying her senior year at St. Francis High School in Sacramento, CA.

Nearing the end of Lauren's Junior year of high school, she felt a lump near her collar bone. Her parents took her to the doctor to have it checked out. An ultrasound was ordered and then they waited for the results. I am sure they were thinking there was some simple explanation for the lump, hoping it would be nothing serious. On April 15th, 2010, two days after Lauren's 17th birthday, they received the call that changed their lives. They were told that Lauren had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Lauren's cancer was found to exist in her lungs, spleen and bones. While this seemed like devastating news, Lauren and her family were told by their oncologist that this cancer was very treatable. Lauren, always trying to keep a good sense of humor and remain strong stated, "Basically my cancer has spread everywhere but my brain and as you may recall from last night's update....I do have a brain."

This was a tough diagnosis for Lauren and her family. It meant that a year which should have been one filled with so much excitement and anticipation would be something very different. Lauren's life would become a maze of doctor appointments, lab tests, chemo infusions and hospital stays. Her days would be full of emotional and physical highs and lows.

Much of Lauren's joy in life had revolved around the sport of soccer. Lauren was the goalie for St. Francis Varsity soccer team as well as a competitive soccer team. Having lymphoma meant that Lauren would surrender her positions and miss her Junior year in soccer, a year when many college coaches scout for the future players. It meant she would give up a part of her independence, something that is so important for teenagers. Having lymphoma meant that the beautiful hair, that framed her face in her senior portraits, would be something that she would lose in the weeks following the beginning of her treatments. Having lymphoma would mean that she took her college SAT exam on a day that she did not feel well. Having lymphoma meant that although she planned and shopped for that perfect dress for the junior prom, when the big day came, she was too sick to attend the event that is the highlight of most girls' junior year. The amazing thing is that, with so many negatives on this list, Lauren decided she was going to fight this battle, hold her head up and BEAT CANCER! "I'm fine" became Lauren's mantra, and, in the end, Lauren has maintained her honor roll status and she is hoping to be able to compete on her beloved soccer teams this year. As for being "just fine".......Lauren truly is...FINE!!!.

In Lauren's own words, "This summer I lost my social life, hair and spot on the team - but I gain so much more." This was her opening statement for her college essay and how amazing is that!!

We were able to follow Lauren on her journey through the beautiful and amazing blog that her mother, Dawn, wrote using "Care Pages". The blog is the story of Lauren, but it is also the story of the faith, love, sorrow and courage of Dawn. Through this blog a community came forward to rally around Lauren and her family and extend to them their prayers, well wishes and also many other tangible demonstrations of their love. You are invited to read Lauren's story. It is an inspiring one, and as you know.....It is always good to read a story with a happy ending!

LAUREN'S STORY

Jesuit High School Friends Getting Ready to Shave Their Heads in Support of Lauren

The Post Shave Look and Lauren is All Smiles!!

Throughout her battle, Lauren wore an Annie and Isabel gown at times and in these last pictures Lauren wears her gown on a hospital visit that marked the official end of her chemotherapy infusions. She is preparing here for the removal of the line that provided access for these infusions. Her mother, Dawn, jotted down her reflections on having a personal hospital gown and wrote in her Care Page blog:

"Lauren sported her Annie & Isabel gown for the "big day" which stirred up a lot of talk among the nurses and surgeon. I joked that the gown got more attention than Lauren. I tried to capture all the comments while I reflected on how much hospital gowns seem to irritate the medical staff. Funny, this whole time I thought it was just the patients who disliked the scratchy, drab green, see-through-thin, and stained hospital attire. Some of the comments I did manage to capture were 'Wow, so soft.' , 'Ties that stay tied.' , 'It snaps on top, brilliant.', 'A pocket, how perfect.' , 'What a great gift.', and my personal favorite........'These gals are really smart!"

"As a parent I loved the gown because you know it's clean, soft and its appearance brightens a very difficult time. Not to mention the patient feels so special!"

Lauren's last chemotherapy infusion was October 18th, 2010 and her latest PET scan shows that she is cancer free!!!

I want to share with you Lauren's words just prior to her last chemo treatment. It is a true testament to Lauren's strength during this process:

"Dear Chemo,

This relationship has gone on far too long. Six months too long. It's been real. But it's over. Tomorrow is the last time we will see each other. Drop my hair off on the porch..."

Lauren, you have been a true inspiration to so many around you. Your strength and positive attitude throughout this journey have been amazing. We continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers as you begin your adjustment back to being a normal senior high school student. We can't wait to see what the future holds for you as it can only be as great as you already are!!

The Best of Sacramento Party benefitting The March of Dimes Is Tomorrow!

We are so honored and excited to have been chosen by Sacramento Magazine as the 2010 Best of Sacramento Editor's pick for "Best Gift for Expectant Moms." This really means SO much to us, as we are both Sacramento natives and love living here!

Sacramento Magazine's Best of Sacramento Party is tomorrow,

Thursday, December 2nd from 4:30pm to 10:00pm at the Sacramento Convention Center. We have talked to so many people who have attended this event in previous years and they say it is THE BEST party in Sacramento!! We will have a table at the event displaying all our stylish hospital gowns!!! Hope to see you there!

To watch a video to see what this event was like in past years and

to find out more information on the event, click the link below.

MORE INFO HERE

It's Thanksgiving...We're Working and We Are Thankful!!

Today is Thanksgiving. On this day, it is customary to think of all the things we are thankful for. As nurses, we often must work on holidays and today is one of those days. We are both working this Thanksgiving day, yet we are so very thankful. Here are the many reasons we are thankful:

We are Thankful for our health.....we will see many patients today whose health is a part of their distant past.

We are Thankful that we are not faced with a serious diagnosis.....we will take care of patients today who are newly diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, heart conditions and many other tough illnesses.

We are Thankful that we have a home to live in and food to share.....we will see homeless men and women today who are just looking for someone who will care about them, give them warmth and food.

We are Thankful that our minds are sound and that we, ourselves, are not dealing with a mental illness.....unfortunately mental health funds have been severely cut so many people come to hospitals, instead of mental health facilities, in a time of crisis, often feeling hopeless....we will see some of these people today.

We are Thankful for our parents.....it is very possible we may be helping families say good by to their beloved parents today.

We are Thankful for our healthy children.....today we will take care of sick children who have not always had the gift of health.

We are Thankful for all the health care professionals we collaborate with....we love that we have compassionate nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, physical therapists etc. that work beside us on a daily basis.

We are Thankful that we do not suffer from addictions like alcohol and drugs.....alcohol and drug addiction is a disease and we are often faced with seeing the side affects of these horrible addictions.....we will welcome these poor souls who find their way to us today.

We are Thankful for our loving immediate and extended families who will be waiting for us when we finish our shifts today.....many times we take care of patients that have never been surrounded by the love of family. We will be their family today.

We are Thankful that we have the privilege of working and taking care of people on a day that most would have loved to have spent with family, enjoying some good food and fun family stories. We hope that we can bring some comfort to those who are struggling today.

What are you THANKFUL for???