The Giggle Story
It's a Journey !
Working in a NICU brings a lot of opportunities to collaborate, teach parents, and share with others how preemies and newborns can adapt to their new environment. For babies, It is a great transition to the outdoor world from the comfort of the amniotic cushion that newborns and preemies were surrounded with. It was full of nourishment and protection, and yet, the infant was allowed to thrive in the environment without dealing with sensations that could interrupt their growth. Processing these sensations of touch, smell, taste, and even the surrounding energy takes a lot of strength while still trying to maintain the needed growth to develop both inside and out.
Many babies meet milestones on the journey and these little warriors and the milestones need to be celebrated!
It all began, by celebrating one little 34 weeker, who had a light bulb moment when feeding. He finished his bottle of an ounce and a half, where before he would only drink 5 cc's. He had to be celebrated ! By tracing around the bottom of a suction cannister, the milestone badges were born. Since then, these little characters with their big bright white smiles ( and usually no eyes!) have grown and added fun and whimsy to a lot of families.
They had to be let out for the world to see. What's better than starting your day with a smile?
The Giggles want you to find your smiles, inspire a positive outlook, and find joy in the journey of whatever your are experiencing.
It is a journey.
A journey of learning and growth,patience, smiles, and giggles. But a journey of love!
The Giggles are Global
The Giggle Network MIlestone Badges are available for NICU and healthcare facilities worldwide with just a click and download.
These are copyrighted but are available for free and will always be for NICUs. They have been downloaded from all parts of the global community from Okinawa to Africa to Europe to California since 2019 and are now available in Spanish as well.
If you are a NICU facility or healthcare facility specializing in preemies and newborns, please contact me for a special code so you too can be a part of the Giggle Family! Happy Giggles!
Email me at info@thegigglenetwork.com
Laurie Repetto, RN
Laurie began her nursing career in 2015 after a 40 year career as a commercial artist, specializing in illustration and murals. Her styles of illustration not only includes realism and whimsical cartoon characters, but she also creates formal calligraphy for wedding and special events. Those services are available at Repettopencraft.com
She currently works as a NICU RN in metro Atlanta, where she created these characters in 2017, and has been able to share them globally with NICU and healthcare facilities caring for the littlest of patients and their families.
The Giggle Network (TM) and her Milestone Badges are trademarked and Copyrighted with the Library of Congress and the United States Patent and Trade Office.
Because art is a part of who she is, she is constantly creating new ideas and artwork.
Laurie has been married to Jay Repetto for 42 years and has 3 children and the proud grandmother of 5 grandchildren. She shares her home with 3 dogs and loves the RV camping lifestyle. She looks forward to retiring where she can start to travel and see the best of nature and the country.