When I first started the “Preemie Twins” website back in 1998 on Tripod.com, I had a guestbook where others could share their preemie and/or multiples stories. I have saved those hundreds of entries, but have been a bit lazy in adding them since I upgraded the site to a Wordpress blog.

But with some encouragement of my friend, Andrew Wee, I have decided to get motivated and add the stories, as it really is encouraging and comforting to read about other people that have endured similar experiences. Be patient as it may take me a bit of time to transfer them all. And knowing me, I’ll want to re-read them all again.

I encourage new visitors to submit their story as well for inclusion. This is will save me time using this new site, so your story should appear rather quickly on the site. I look forward to reading your stories! Here’s Macy & Mallory’s Story (my million dollar miracle babies).

I’ve been enthralled by the Jon & Kate plus 8 show on TLC, the family with 7-year old twins, and 3-year old sextuplets. They even have their own website at SixGosselins.com. The last episode I watched was when plastic surgeon, Dr. Lawrence Glassman performed a complimentary tummy-tuck on Kate after the doctor’s wife saw her disfigured belly and felt sorry for her. Will any plastic surgeons feel sorry for me if I expose my stomach? I need a tummy tuck after having my four children (including twins), but need to save a few more dollars first.

Anyway, back to the show… Nannies4Hire.com will be featured in “Kate Hires a Nanny” airing February 10 and 11, so I plan to watch that episode. Even though my kids are all in school, I’m still considering hiring a nanny to help with the kids after school and on weekends. And if they can cook and clean, all the better!

I wish 13 years ago there was such a thing as this Memory Baby Handprint and Baby Footprint Mold Keepsake Kit so I could have made a mold of Macy and Mallory to remember just how tiny their little fingers and toes were when they were born at 2 lbs. each.  It is hard for others to comprehend that you really could fit a wedding band around their ankle.  This would have proved it.  Available to mold in plaster, silver, bronze, gold and/or clear crystal from BabyImpressions.com. Make a 3-D mold of your infant or toddler’s baby handprint and baby footprint. Each baby handprint and footprint kit comes with everything you need to make 2 molds.  So realistic! Captures every detail! Make a baby handprint and baby footprint mold with the included extra supplies!

While at Famous Footwear yesterday, the cashier asked if we’d like to donate $2 to the March of Dimes and in return, we’d get 250 Free Bonus Rewards Points. Well, not only am I big fan of Famous Footwear, but I’m a bigger fan of the March of Dimes since my twins were born premature over 3 months early.

Dr. Scholl’s designed the official shoes of March of Dimes WalkAmerica (Dr Scholl’s Men’s Miracle and Dr Scholl’s Women’s Hope), and they are available exclusively at Famous Footwear. $5 from every pair sold will be donated to the March of Dimes (up to $50,000) for the campaign against premature birth. Looks like I definitely need a pair of these, especially since I’ve been walking to try to lose weight.

Source: Shoeaholics Anonymous

Wow, I got my DVD copy of Little Man the Movie and watched it last night. I didn’t read the “our story” preview on the website first, and living a sheltered life here in the middle of the midwest, I was surprised at the lesbian love story that went along with the story. I could have done without some of that. But I can relate with the toils that premature babies put on relationships. I remember after my twins were born, one nurse told us to get counseling right away because 50% of parents of preemies get divorced. I wrote it off because isn’t 50% the going rate nowadays anyway? Well, we did end up getting divorced, but it was over infidelity (yes, I’m still bitter) and not our twins’ prematurity. Anyway, the movie made me cry as it brought back so many memories of my girls’ struggles in the NICU. I could relate to everything from be called to the hospital right away because a baby crashed or needed emergency surgery to trying to line up quality home nursing care. I think Nicholas is going to have rougher roads ahead, and I will keep him in my prayers. I thank God that although my girls were extremely sick as infants, they are pretty medically sound now. Their main concerns now are that they are developementally delayed. I could be less stressed without Macy’s Bi-Polar / Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but she inherited that from her father, and has nothing to do with being a preemie. All in all, it is a good documentary of Nicholas’s life so far. I’ll look forward to updates.

I got an email today that I wanted to share:

Hello, my name is Katy and I would like to tell you about a new film called “little man”. “little man” follows the journey of Nicholas Baba-Conn, a micro-preemie born 100 days early at 1 lb., 1 oz. Nicholas faced tremendous odds, all of which were captured on-film by his mother, documentary filmmaker Nicole Conn. The story is inspiring and insightful, and a must-see for anyone involved in the world of prematurity. If you would like to learn more, please visit LittleManTheMovie.com. While there, you can learn more about the film’s subject, join the film’s mailing list, and pre-order a limited-edition DVD (to be released June 15, 2006).

Thanks Katy! I hope to watch and review the movie when it comes out.