MOST eNews: November - Giving Thanks

November 2012

Hurricane Sandy-Give Help and Receive Help
Multiple Birth Awareness Week & MOST Research
RSV season is here
Adopt A Family
Stories from the Heart blog
MOST Family Forums
MOST Membership
Amazon and iGive

Hurricane Sandy – Give Help, Receive Help

Each day we continue to receive news about MOST families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Some, thankfully, are doing well. Others are having challenges. Please read this blog In Hurricane Sandy’s Path? and How to Help After a Disaster to see how you can help. One of our families needed gasoline to run their child’s ventilator, others will need to rebuild or repair. It will take MANY months for these families to rebound from all of the chaos, change, loss and anxiety caused by this hurricane.

If you know of any multiple birth family that needs assistance because of the impact of this storm, please contact the MOST office. Our volunteers, members and families are willing to help. We followed the same protocols as we did after Hurricane Katrina also and were happy to do so again. The biggest difference this time has been the enormous assistance we received via social media.

A big shout-out to our members and friends who gave to these families –food, money, time, delivery of needed items, and overall support!

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Multiple Birth Awareness Week & MOST Research

The focus this year is “School Placement – To Separate or Not?” MOST has various articles and blog posts about this subject. Some families keep their multiples together, some seperate them, others change year by year. Some families have their multiples in different class years because that was what is best for their children.

Are your multiples separated in school? Share your experiences on facebook or the MOST Family Support School Age Forum.

Next week we will launching our latest research project related to this topic! Be sure to look for an email from us about how you and others can participate.

Check out:

Classroom Placement of Multiples blog post
MOST’s Policy on Classroom Placement of Multiples
Together or Apart Checklist for Parents and Teachers
Articles from the MOST Supertwins Store
Resources for Educators (good for parents too)

Did you know that there is a MOST Families of Supertwins Bill of Rights? MOST answers the top 100 FAQs on Multiple Births

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RSV season has begun

For otherwise healthy children, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) usually amounts to little more than a cold. However, for preemies and other at-risk infants (including multiple births), the health consequences can be much more serious. To avoid RSV:

Have family members and caregivers wash their hands with warm water and soap before touching the babies
Avoid being around the babies if you have a cold or fever
Avoid exposing the babies to other children with cold symptoms
Keep the babies away from crowded places
Never smoke around the babies
Talk to your babies’ primary care physician about RSV risks, and if your children are at risk, about medications available to prevent RSV complications.

RSV resources on PreemieCare
RSV Awareness Button for your blog
RSV articles from the MOST Supertwins Store
The Importance of Hand Washing MOST blog article

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Adopt a Family

Adopt A Family (AAF) is gearing up! The list of families to be adopted will be posted soon. Thanks to your donations, MOST is helping families in need right now due to Hurricane Sandy.

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Stories from the Heart Blog

Check out the recent articles posted on the MOST Stories from the Heart blog. Feel free to share, pin or link your favorites through Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, by email, or using your favorite social networking site with family members, friends and professionals. Each post has an easy-to-use ‘Share’ button at the bottom. The most recent titles include:

Have an idea for an article you’d like to read about? Have an article to share? Please let us know. Here are some helpful links associated with the MOST blog:

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MOST Forums The MOST forum has both public and member only sections. Visit the MOST Family Forums to read, reassure others or post your question!

Public Forums: forums are open to anyone
Member Only Forums: provide a more private section to post questions and concerns.

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MOST Membership

What does MOST offer? Some of the programs offered include one-on-one support, the MOST website, in-depth blog articles, advocacy efforts, outreach programs, development and provision of quality resources and more. MOST membership dues also allow us to maintain secure, moderated members-only forums* and extend invitations to members for special events like the MOST Wonderful Carnival. We invite you to join us! Join MOST for one-time only dues of just $45.00.

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Holiday Online Shopping to benefit you and MOST!

Make your back to school shopping easier by buying online! At the same time you can help MOST. Lots of supplies, clothes and other items are available on Amazon.com. Or shop through iGive.com. There are many stores that will give a percentage of your purchase to MOST! Many stores participate including: Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, jcpenney, Macy’s and Staples.