Labor Day: Twins Born 7 Days Apart!

Bringing back our favorite labor story this Labor Day weekend! Have a great weekend!

How would you like to explain that your twins were born SEVEN days apart!? That seems impossible, but it’s not. Jenn and her husband Dennis have that very story to tell!

It all started on Monday March 22, 2010. Jenn was 28 weeks pregnant with her twins. She was at a routine Doctors appointment when she went into labor! So she was sent over to the hospital and soon after getting admitted her water broke.

Jenn recounts: “Then they sent me down to get an ultrasound to see how big the babies were. While down there I couldn’t get comfortable! I was in tears so they finally started bringing me upstairs. My butt and back were killing me and they couldn’t get the elevators to come. When I got back up they checked me again and I was dilated 10cm! I was rushed to the OR where Baby A was born at 5:13 PM, after only 4 hours of labor! She weighed 1lb 13oz and was 13.5 in long. They rushed her to the NICU before I could even see her. Then my labor suddenly stopped! I went down to 5 cm so I was started on Patocine to encourage labor and then taken back to my room until baby B was ready. But after 13 hours I was down to 3 cm. Finally the Doctor said Baby B was happy and still had all his fluid so we would call this a “gift” and let him “cook” a little longer. This is extremely uncommon! So the Dr. cut back baby A’s cord, but her placenta wasn’t delivered because they weren’t sure if it was attached to baby B’s and didn’t want to chance disturbing him.”

Don’t Judge a Book By It’s Cover

We’ve all done it. We have judged someone without knowing all the facts. Many keep their thoughts to themselves, others whisper it to their friends, and then you have those who can’t keep their mouth shut!

We are ALL guilty of judging moms and dads for their parenting “choices”, especially when we were childless. But then we had our own kids and realized how totally wrong we were! You learn that as a parent you do the best you can and roll with the punches. Kids are unpredictable, moms and dads are tired, each family has unique circumstances and their own set of values.

We asked our readers, what sort of things did you “judge” before you became a parent only to find that you would go on to do the exact same thing? When was your moment of truth?

School Bus Safety Reminders

The school year starts once again! If our kids are going back to school after a short summer break or starting school for the first time, it’s good to have reminders of how to be safe in our new routine and environment. Today we want to talk about school bus safety and how you can help prepare your children use safe tactics to get to and from school safe and sound!

Getting ready for school:

• Have your children wear bright colors or have a bright backpack to be easily seen by traffic while they walk to the bus stop.

Tree Dedication for Noah Pozner

Back on December 14th, 2012, the nation was rocked when shots broke out at Sandy Hook Elementary School. This event was the second-deadliest mass shooting event by a single person in American history. Twenty children and six adults were murdered on that sunny winter day. One of the victims, Noah Pozner, the youngest of the children killed, was shot eleven times. He stands out in our mind, not only because of those two facts, but because he was a twin.

Thousands of families of multiples around the globe felt lost; they wanted to help, but didn’t know how. After finding out that Noah’s parents had recently moved from New York City to Connecticut, Natalie started a Fundly campaign and rallied her community. She thought it would be a nice gesture to dedicate a sapling in Central Park in Noah’s memory. To plant a sampling, Twiniversity needed to raise $500.

The money was raised in eleven minutes.

Ask Joan.. About Being on the Edge

Featured in Multiplicity Magazine, Summer 2013 issue

“I have 2.5 year old B/G twins and my daughter has recently become incredibly bossy toward her brother, kicking, hitting, pushing and throwing wild temper tantrums. Other times she is clinging to me like a tree monkey. Due to a recent separation between their daddy and I, the twins don’t exactly have a routine schedule each and every dayeither. What can “daddy” and I do to make this easier on the kids?” ~ mom on the edge

The most important piece to recognize is that your daughter’s behavior is in response to her anxiety and distress over the changes at home. Because younger children have limited language and underdeveloped cognitive capacities, they communicate what they are feeling through their actions and affect. Younger children are greatly agitated by changes in their routine and need repeated explanations and preparation as to what will be different and what to expect. The following suggestions are guidelines to help your daughter feel more capable of regulating her feelings and moods:

Super MoM :: August 2013 :: Colleen Jacks

Twin mom Lisa Paddock nominated her friend Colleen Jacks to be this months Super MoM (sponsored by MAM) Lisa and Colleen met when Lisa assisted with a photo shoot of Colleens newborn twins. ” and they became friends. “Since then, Colleen has become a wonderful friend and a great inspiration,” says Lisa. “In addition to being an incredible mom, she is also a labor and delivery nurse and super wife.” What sets her apart? Lisa continues, “Shortly after Colleens twins were born, her husband’s rare cancer returned in full force. He has had numerous surgeries, numerous hospitalizations, and long travelsacross the country for doctors appointments and treatments. This young, beautiful family is facing a very difficult and uncertain future. But Colleen is incredible. To be honest- I don’t know how she does it all. I know at times she feels like she’s drowning, but I don’t think she would ever say such a thing. She just continues to plug along, excelling at everything she does- most importantly in her roles as mother and wife. And through it all she is positive and always holds out hope. I would love for you to honor her during this difficult time. I know she could use an extra smile and super hug from all the twin mamas out there!!!”

Into the World with Food Intolerances

By: Kerry Bergeman

It is that time of year again, time when the kids head off to school.  A little freedom for Mom or Dad!  Or so one would think. But when you have a child with food allergies or intolerances, it can make life very difficult.

The constant worry if your child remembers what they can and cannot eat.  The constant worry that someone will misunderstand what is in a particular food.   These thoughts weigh very heavy on a parent’s mind.

Oh Sweet Minivan!

By: Kerry Bergeman

If we are going to be frank, I don’t think I’ve met a person that dreams of owning a mini-van.  I certainly never did.

We were SUV and truck people.  However, when I found out my SUV was dying on me around the same time I found out I was pregnant, I obviously had to start the vehicle search.

Milk Matters: Is Skim Milk as Good as We Thought?

By Rebecca Hughes Parker

Once a child passes the two-year old milestone, skim or low fat milk is better than whole, right?  After all, skim milk has 80-90 calories and no fat; whole milk has 150 calories and 8 grams of fat – isn’t skim milk heart and diet friendly?  New research reveals that the answer, for kids and adults, may be more complicated than an overburdened parent may hope.

iTwinsDay: Safari UNLIMITED

Well, Safari Ltd. But there are so many things you can do with their products — unlimited possibilities, as it were. They promote education, exploration, and imagination with all of their products!

Playing with dinosaur toys encourages not only imagination, but also the concept of research.  That they might find out something new that no one has found out before.  So if they have not yet been exposed to the dino itch, or if they have full blown dino fever take some time to play and share with your children this wonderful world of dinosaurs with the amazing toys that help bring dinosaurs to life from Safari Ltd. In addition to dinosaurs, they also have models that show how plants grow under the earth, cracking seeds and all!

For going out to dinner, it’s always a good idea to bring a little something extra, just in case the crayons and the word search on the back of the placemat aren’t doing it for your kids that night. Better too many toys on the table than having to leave with a squalling child under each arm without having eaten anything! Our family favorite are small toys like Safari Ltd’s TOOBS. They come in an easy-to-carry case to take with you wherever you go. I recently brought them out to eat with my daughter and some friends, and they were clearly fully occupied until their food came. They made zoos!

As a parent, imagine the power of this question on your child: “What could happen?”  Some of history’s greatest thinkers were not afraid to ask that question.  At one time flying or walking on the moon would have been considered fantasy.  But due scientists, inventors, and engineers, what was once considered magic, is now reality, and supports the livelihood of millions.  Fantasy play encourages a playful questioning of reality in your children, a skill that will continue to serve them well as an adult, and who knows “what could happen” from that. Safari Ltd. has pirate packs, fairy packs, and even really awesome, incredibly-detailed dragon packs for your budding storytellers!

Safari Ltd. is one of the finest companies we work with. They’re incredibly family-friendly, and best of all, educational and their minis are beautiful to look at. They’ve been creating their products for over thirty years, and are partnered with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, which allows them to produce authentic, scale-model dinosaur figures in collaboration with their paleontologists. They also promote recycling and a number of wonderful conservancy groups throughout the United States.

So today, enter to win a fun prize pack from our friends at Safari Ltd. Fill out the form below!

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