since you didn't answer your phone when i called you last night (i guess you weren't home-- babies were at your mom's when i called her instead!)
i finally got coupons for you--- i will drop them off!!!!!

(oh sad, i am posting you a message and you live a mile from me)

Thanks
 

I would love to get diaper coupons...we are using Huggies and Pampers (getting ready to move to the cruisers and some coupons are specific). As for clothes, I am all about red tag clearance. We bought lots of summer outfits at the end of last year for 99 cents each. I would be happy to pay anyone back for clothes up to $10 with no notice and more than that if you let me know ahead of time. Guessing sizes ahead of time season wise isn't the easiest. At four months Christian is in 6-9 month clothes already although Patience is pretty on target. I would guess that we can use winter clothes in 12 months and 18 month sizes. If they are a little big on her oh well, for next summer 18 to 24 months I would guess.

Thanks! Email me at hyphenatedlady@yahoo.com and I will send you my address!

Tina

The ball is rolling
 

Well, the babies are growing so fast...check out their website. Christian has his consult with the Pediatric Plastic Surgeon next week for his helmet. They will set a time for the fitting and at that point we have to start paying. Keep your fingers crossed that the surgeon can get it written up so the insurance company will pay at least part of it. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers everyone.

Both babies are doing really well. They are so big. Christian started rolling from tummy to back a couple of weeks ago and Patience can roll both directions from tummy to back and back to tummy. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

Update
 

Well, we had the casting done Wednesday...my little man was not happy about having plaster all over his head but we got through it. Poor little man. The Dr. was so spectacular. I loved her. We go in on August 4th for his first fitting. DH already has great ideas for decorating the helmet (he is an artist). I think my poor baby will be wearing a helmet that looks like it is from Star Wars at least for a while. We are planning to redecorate it regularly.

Also, the Dr. encouraged us to appeal the insurance again because he was a multiple birth and born this way and it wasn't a result of positioning after birth. I am going to start the process this weekend while DH is home to entertain babies.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...edlady/1-2.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...edlady/1-3.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...edlady/1-7.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...edlady/1-8.jpg

Here is Patience:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../crawlbaby.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ady/helmet.jpg

Today is his first day in the helmet.

Tina, I just sent you a pm. I'm not an Alpha Gam but I'm offering to help in any way I can. I don't know if you still need formula or diaper samples, but I work in a hospital in pediatrics and I may be able to help out. I spoke with a man at my work who said that he can definitely get me formula coupons and he's going to see if he can get me samples. There are two main companies that make formula- Mead Johnson and Ross. You just need to look on the back of one of the bottles of your formula and see what kind it is and if it's anything special (like extra iron, calcium, etc.). If you let me know I will pass the information on to him and hopefully can get you some things. Congratulations on your children, they're beautiful!

One of the attorneys here at work had to have the same thing done for his daughter. Their insurance company wouldn't pay for it either, and I remember they had a long, drawn-out battle before they finally won. So, it can be done! Good luck!

Hey everyone. So far Christian is adapting to his helmet well. I also wanted to tell everyone who has PMed me in the last year that I am STUPID and didn't realize we had PMs so I hadn't checked them.

Lots of you suggested an SIS grant to help pay for the helmet. I received a grant from the Fraternity in November when I had to go on bedrest and quit work 8 weeks early. It was a wonderful blessing to our family and helped relieve a lot of stress. I think it was a major contributing factor in my being able to carry the babies to 37 1/2 weeks. I feel that since I was blessed by the giving hearts of the board already I should leave the SIS money for someone who is desperate. We are really tight and things are hard but I don't want to take money from someone who needs it more.

six month pictures:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/57RC3952.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/57RC3959.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/57RC4014.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/57RC4007.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/57RC3944.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/57RC3934.jpg

HI!
Oh, they are so beautiful!!!! What cute pictures too! If there's anything we can do now to help you, please let us know!

What beautiful babies! Makes me wish mine were that age again (in some ways anyway!). They are so much fun at that age! I loved watching them develop and learn new things so quickly. They are absorbing the world around them like a sponge.

You're really going to have your hands full when they are fully mobile!

Dee

Cuties!
 

Yea, I can see you will probably be running around, lol.

Any help would be appreciated. Anyone willing to snip coupons for pampers or huggies diapers (of course my babies get rashes in the less expensive brands) and send them or register at www.verybestbaby.com and send those formula coupons would be well appreciated. Also, baby food coupons are few and far between so I would love those as well. If you would do this send me a PM and I will send you my address. I can't tell you how grateful I have been to be an Alpha Gam especially over the past year. This is such an incredible journey. Some days I can't believe I am finally a mom and a mom of twins to boot. Christian and Patience are such great babies. I can't believe how fast they are growing. They are learning new things every day.

HI!
Unfortunately, I'm actually already signed up at that website (I have a little one also)!

Have you checked on ebay? They have a lot of formula and diaper coupons.

Do you have any Mom's Clubs (www.momsclub.com) near you that you could join or another mom's group? I know we used to have some women inour group who always seemed to have coupons, formula, etc that they wanted to give away.

Quick update...we have already seen a major improvement in the shape of Christian's head. It is amazing. He has been in the helmet for 3 weeks now. Both babies have said their first words. Christian said "dada" last Saturday and Patience said "dada" today...neither one has come through with mama but we are working on it. Patience is trying hard to crawl. I can't believe she is almost ready. She gets around really quickly already...I can't imagine. I have to figure out how to get things arranged where she can't get into them.

Thanks everyone! I am so grateful for the support.

My boyfriend works for Pampers, and I learned that Luvs is pretty much Pampers two years ago.
Still high quality, just less expensive- maybe something to keep in mind!

Thanks, Luvs give Patience a rash and Christian pees through them almost every time at least that was the case a few months ago. I think I am going to buy a package again and try them...maybe we can use them during the day.

Okay, I just had to show this picture of my little legacy trying to crawl...what a cute little butt!!!!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...kedcrawler.jpg

And me with her:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...mommypate4.jpg

and sweet little sleepy boy:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...helmethead.jpg

Cuties!
 

And mom too!!!

Get some sleep while you can!;)

I try to get sleep...they are doing better at night but still wake fussing a few times but no bottle until 5 a.m.

sorry for the crash...but i have to tell you how absolutely adorable your children are!! one of my sisters is going through the same exact thing with the helmet and ins co for her grandson. i had suggested that she check with easter seals for possible help with payment. i don't know if she did or what the result was, but it is worth checking into...especially since your son is receiving pt, it might be something they can help with.

best of luck

Thanks, I will check into it. We are borderline for most aid. My hubby makes too much for anything need based but not enough for us to be able to afford things like this.

GREAT NEWS!!!
 

We found out that Christian only needs anothe 3-5 weeks in his helmet. This will be almost half the amount of time that they originally thought. Yippee!!!

Next, I redecorate his helmet every week here are some pics:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...dlady/what.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...dy/helmet4.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...helmet3jpg.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...y/drhelmet.jpg

I want to make one with Alpha Gam on it before I am done...should I do "Future Alpha Gam Man" "My Mom's an Alpha Gam (or AGD)" or "Son of a Squirrel"? Anything else that is cute. It needs to be about 16 letters at most. I can use small letters and fit more on but I want the Alpha Gam or AGD to be big.

TOO CUTE!

I swear I will get my stuff out to you soon!

SQUIRREL POWER
 

:)

I like SQUIRREL POWER. I will have to go find some cute squirrel stickers!!!

Okay, I was going to do SQUIRREL POWER on Christian's helmet but can't find squirrel stickers anywhere...I don't want to order online...it seems like too much of an extravagance to pay shipping costs...I looked at Michael's anyone have any other ideas???


Here is Patience finding the stairs...God help me

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ady/stairs.jpg

Here is Christian in the newest helmet design


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ady/monkey.jpg

Hmm..I would have thought Michael's or another crafts store since it is fall time. Will keep a look out for you!!

Do you have a color printer? I thought if you got some label paper and then found a cute non-copyrighted (okay I had to get that in, lol)(perhaps on-line..maybe Alpha Gam chapter websites) squirrel pics, you could customize some.

I really wanted to do my own stickers but they just won't work...I need something that has a professional finish on it. I have to clean the helmet daily and although rubbing alcohol doesn't bother professional stickers it does run printer ink. That was a great idea though...I really wish I could find a way to make it work. Thinking in print...maybe some self adhesive laminate over the printed sticker??? I will have to play around with it.

Your kids are adorable!

Have you tried Costco diapers, or are they even an option? I was at a baby shower today for a Gamma Phi and a few of the current moms were saying that they were a great buy.

They also said formula is cheap there too.

We are slowly switching to the Walmart brand formula and it is supposed to be just like Similac but is almost half the price. Patience is allergic to almost all the diapers except pampers and huggies...every time we try a cheaper brand she breaks out in a rash.

Sorry for the crash, but those are 2 of the cutest babies EVER! :)

If you are goinng to say things like that feel free to crash any time...thanks.

Sorry for the crash too...

Your lil ones are really cute by the way ;-)

I can't help you with coupons since I have a lil one the same age as yours but have you tried www.1800diapers.com

They are competitive with prices and I can refer you to get a discount on your first order. The best part is they deliver so you don't have to carry those big bulky boxes ;-)

Costco is also probably the cheapest place unless you live near a military base and can get someone to go on base and buy you some.

Try going to enfamil and similacs pages and registering. They usually send a free sample and coupons monthly. Usually a buck or two but that adds up when you are buying as much as you are most likely buying.

Good luck to you. I have 3 but only one that little and I can't even imagine how hard it is to have to have 2 9 month olds cruising around :-)

Thanks for the suggestions...we generally buy diapers at Sam's Club (just like COSTCO but closer) but sometimes with coupons we can get them cheaper at Walmart. I am registered at Similac but the babies don't do well on enfamil...we have been using the Walmart brand Parent's Choice formula for about a week and both of them have done great with it!!!


I had to post pics of my little winter babies...they look so sweet all bundled up.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...wintergirl.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../winterboy.jpg

There is a story on CNN today about a family whose 8 month old son has a similar helmet. Their insurance wouldn't cover the helmet either, so they are selling advertising on Ebay...with the advertising going on their son's helmet. They will only accept kid friendly advertisements. So, his helmet will be a walking bulletin board.

Dee

Crashing...


Your babies are adorable. I love the custom designed helmets btw. Winter babies are soooo cute. :)

Dee....I heard about that story...what a great idea...hopefully we will only have a few more weeks in the helmet...I wish I had thought of the idea first.

Great news
 

We found out today that Christian is officially done with the helmet...here are before and after pictures...they are each labeled. We ARE still fighting with the insurance company so keep your fingers crossed and prayers headed out about that.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...etresults2.jpg

Cutie both before and after... thank God.