In This Issue:

SUPERTWINS Volume 17 1

FEATURES

Love Languages of Marriage

Article available for individual purchase

A father of 8 year-old quadruplets shares his insights on marriage and love. He outlines 5 ways that couples show love and respect, based on the book The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman.

Resources for:

The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman

Welcome to Cold & Flu Season, Multiples Style

Article available for individual purchase

Dr. Ross, pediatrician and mother of triplets, offers her advice on coping with or avoiding the winter sniffles times 3, 4, or more.

THAT WAS THEN-THIS IS NOW

Article available in our Then..Now article bundle

A mom of 3 year-old surviving quadruplets born at 24 weeks gestation, looks back on the short life of their brother, as well as the triumphs and setbacks of their birth and battle to survive in the NICU.

A mom of 14 year-old triplets also looks back on the early days with her babies born 8 weeks premature.

FATHERS FORUM

The Stay At-Home Parent

Article available for individual purchase

Read how this special father of 2 year-old quadruplet daughters and a five year-old son manages life in the fast lane as a stay-at-home parent. Mom explains why this arrangement works best for their family, and how they successfully manage their different parenting styles.

Big brother Collin offers his perspective on the addition of triplet siblings to the family including how he feels when other make a fuss over them, and his favorite activities to do with his, now 16 month-old, little brother and sisters.

A Tale of Three Babies

Article available for individual purchase

A Tale of Three Babies is a birth story of triplets told from the point of view of their proud and loving grandma.

Recipes:

• Sausage and Egg Pie
• Taco Pizza
• Crock Pot Lemon Chicken
• Monkey Bread

Edible Craft Projects

• Homemade Dog Biscuits
• Soft Doggie Cookies
• Shaped Bird Treats
• Bird Biscuits
• Me Doll

Visiting Disney

Article available for individual purchase

Read how this Tennessee family of 7, including triplets, loaded up their van and headed to Disney World. Taking along the children's grandparents and planning ahead made their trip a great success. If you are considering a family vacation with a large family, don't miss this mom's tips.

Resources for Traveling with Multiples:

SUPERTWINS articles on traveling with multiples

A Child with Special Needs and Access to Extra-Curricular Activities

Article available for individual purchase

If you have one or more children with special needs, you won't want to miss this article by a mom of 7 year-old quadruplets, and how her children participate on a local baseball team and at church.

Resources for Special Needs Extra Curricular Activities:

Embracing the Spirit of the Child by Sally Patton
National Organization on Disability
The Christian Council on Persons with Disabilities
The Federation on Children with Special Needs
Don't Laugh at Me by Peter Yarrow

Early Intervention

MOST looks at several statistics from both the MOST Birth Survey and on MOST Website Poll on the use of Early Intervention by Members.

Resources for Early Intervention:
MOST's FAQs on Multiple Births and Developmental Delays
SUPERTWINS articles on Developmental Delays, Early Intervention, and Parent Advocacy

Preterm Labor and Putting the Dreaded "Mag" Into Perspective

Article available for indivdual purchase.

Pre-term Labor and Putting the Dreaded “Mag” Into Perspective is an excellent resource for expectant families who may require this uncomfortable but critical treatment for preterm labor.

Surviving Colic Times Three

Article available for individual purchase

One family of triplet girls offers their story of coping with three small babies dealing with colic. Learn what worked and what didn't work for them. This article contains some invaluable advice from parents who have been through this trying experience and lived to tell about it.

Resources for Colic:

American Family Physician: Infantile Colic
Bupa Colic Fact Sheet

Area Coordinator from Hawaii

Read the inspirational story of MOST's Area Coordinator from the beautiful state of Hawaii.

• Antenatal Corticosteroids for Accelerating Fetal Lung Maturation for Women at Risk of Preterm Birth
• Periconceptional Multivitamin Use Reduces the Risk of Preeclampsia

Bathing Toddlers by Yourself - It Can be Done

Article available for indivdual purchase.

Slippery little bodies have you frazzled? Have no fear! 9 mothers of multiples share their favorite bath-time routines, tips, and product ideas to help other parents of multiples manage this daily challenge.

Resources for Child Water Safety:

American Academy of Pediatrics Water Safety page
National Safety Council's Information on Baby-proofing

Help for the Struggling Readers: Two Teachers' Perspective

Article available for individual purchase

A mom of 5, including triplets, and an elementary school teacher for 12 years offers her list of 13 reading strategies, reading homework tips, and a suggested list for independent reading time based on the child's grade level. Another mom of mom of 4, including triplets, who is a reading specialist offers her list of 11 strategies for children who struggle with reading as well as tips for helping a child read on grade level and finding age-appropriate reading materials.

Resources for Reading:

Scholastic Book Clubs
Read Write Think
Enchanted Learning

Homework Woes

A mom of 7th grade quadruplets needs help during homework time, including how to handle the dreaded middle school math assignments. She finds answers from another mother of multiples who is also a long-time school teacher. Read what she finds out about coping with everyone needing attention at the same time, homework tips for children in Kindergarten and 1st grade, as well as how much a parent should be helping a child with his or her with homework.

The Woodpile

Article available for individual purchase

Some lost trees and a day's work organizing a woodpile, turns into a chance for one triplet to conquer his fear of spiders and bugs.

Yes, You Can Have Time for a Shower

Article available for individual purchase

A single mom of twins, entering parenting for the first time in her fifties, shares both her surprise and joy at the role of motherhood. As the sole breadwinner, she understands the value of a building a support team, and offers her perspective on managing life and enjoying every minute with her beloved children.

Resources for Single Parents of Multiples:

MOST Single Parent Forum

Moms of QQS Enjoy a Welcome in Nashville, TN

The MOST Quadruplets, Quintuplets, and Sextuplets (QQS) group meet in Nashville Tennessee for a weekend of fun, food, and networking. Read about their adventures at the Wildhorse Saloon and the special song dedicated to them by Steve Wariner at the Grande Ole Opry.

Marital Status and the HOM Family

Curious about how marriages for parents of multiples compare to other families? MOST examines statistics from our Member database to see how the challenge of parenting 3, 4, 5, or more children at the same time affects a parent's marital status.

Giving Smart Answers to Unwanted Questions

Article available for individual purchase

Dreading going out with your multiples because of all the unwanted questions or comments? Take heart; many MOST members feel the same way. MOST offers this list of ideas for responding to the personal, and often invasive, questions and comments made by well-meaning people about multiples.

The Roller Coaster Ride of a Lifetime

A family of surviving quadruplets details their incredible journey through birth, medical close calls including their experience with ECMO, the loss of one of their beloved babies, and the ongoing challenge of caring for special needs children. Their story is a poignant reminder to all parents of multiples how precious children are.

Updated 5/9/08