issue 18 — 86+ members & growing! july/august...
TRANSCRIPT
Issue 18 — 86+ members & GROWING! July/August 2009
JULY 1st: 6:30pm, MMM Dinner Meeting Spaghetti Warehouse
4th: Independence Day
11th: 10am, MMM Play Date Rosamond Gifford Zoo
17th: 10:30am, MMM Play Date
Green Lakes
19th: 10am, MMM Play Date MOST Playhouse
21st: 5:30pm MMM Goes to Sunset Safari Rosamond Gifford Zoo
July 26th- Aug 1st: NOMOTC Convention,
Las Vegas
AUGUST
1st: 10am, MMM Play Date Kidz Club, Phoenix
5th: 6:30pm, MMM Dinner Meetng Spaghetti Warehouse
14th: 10:30am, MMM Play Date Gym Connections 2
16th: 10am, Summer Family Picnic Santaro Park
21st: 10:30am, MMM Play Date Flamingo Bowl, Liverpool
TWINS: Kaylin and Lucy, born on May 8, 2009 to Karla and John Murphy and big sister Emma.
TRIPLETS: Erin Elizabeth, 6lbs 9oz, Molly Ann, 6lbs, and Riley Marie, 5lbs 15oz born on May 20, 2009 to MaryAnne & Donald Abernethy and big brother Nathan.
TWINS: Emma Grace, 3 lbs. 3 oz.., and Tyler Ronald, 2 lbs. 6 oz. born June 6, 2009 to Carrie and John Fuller.
TWINS: Layne, 5 lbs. 6 oz., and Logan, 6 lbs. 1 oz. born June 9, 2009 to Crystal and Richard Arnold and big brother Ethan.
TWINS: Haleigh Josephine, 5 lbs. 2 oz. and Madelyn Rose, 5 lbs. 3 oz., born on June 10, 2009 to Kayla Sawyer and Jason Tinsley.
TWINS: Christopher, 1 lb. 12 oz. and Emma 1 lb 5 oz born on June 29, 2009 to Jaime and Louis Petrocci and proud siblings Kaitlin, Taylor, and Louie. ^Angel baby Addison Grace^, born June 6, 2009, is watching over mom and dad and her brothers and sisters from heaven.
Stats from paid members only, as of July 2009.
We asked our members..
At what age were your multiples
completely daytime potty
trained?.
Of those responding:
11 % said by 2 or shortly after
16% said by 3 or shortly after
22% said...we are still working on it
and 50% have not yet started trying
Lions and Tigers and Multiples … Oh My!
Rosamond Gifford Zoo | July 11th
Mixing it Up with Multiple Moms Mingle
Purchase a club cookbook today $10!
150 family friendly recipes within a
padded three-ring binder.
www.multiplemomsmingle.com/cookbook.html
2 MULTITUDES, July/August 2009
Executive Board PRESIDENT Kelly Carter [email protected] (315) 492-8453
VICE PRESIDENT Mary Wood
TREASURER Tracy Blumer
RECORDING SECRETARY Leslie Petty
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Cyndi Rizzo
Committees LIBRARIAN Amanda Fosberg
CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN Susan Hayes
MEMBERSHIP Mary Wood
BIG SISTERS Meghan Leonardis
NEWSLETTER Tracy Blumer Jen Harte Penny Meskos Leslie Petty
PUBLICITY Cyndi Rizzo Sharon Bush
MEETING PROGRAMS Maureen Bennett Lisa Vona
PLAYGROUPS Krista Selig
PREEMIE CLOSET Krista Selig
HISTORIAN Leslie Petty
STATE REPRESENTATIVE Kelly Carter
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE Mercedes Genei
Pass the Passion Kelly Carter, MMM founder and president
“There are few feelings in the world
that surpass that of knowing you’ve helped
someone…” (Dr. Roizen) Many people have asked me how I
manage to be so involved with the Multiple Moms Mingle organiza-tion, while working, and caring for my family and home. The truth is I
have been privileged to be able to do something to help others and my-
self. I am honored to donate my time and my passion to this organiza-tion. It is not “work” for me. I enjoy supporting others, and I don’t
know how I would cope without my fellow multiple moms (somehow I did for my twins first year of life, but it wasn’t always pretty). They
make me feel “normal”. They validate all of the feelings of excite-
ment, uncertainty, and on some days sheer exhaustion. They lend an ear, and offer advice and encouragement. They celebrate the mile-
stones and successes. They let me know that I am not the only one dealing with stares, questions and comments as I venture out in public
with my bright eyed, fraternal (“Are you sure they are not identical?”)
red headed twins. Being blessed with multiples is a rare and special event, and
having a group of multiple moms who are eager to share the trials and joys along the way is a real treat.
For all of the moms that have sent an encouraging email or post
to a mom in need of a lift, made a phone call to give advice, paid a visit
to a mom in need, sent a card to celebrate a milestone, or offer sympa-
thy, I thank you. It sure feels good, doesn’t it? And it is good. We are
priming the pump for a chain reaction that will help many more people
than just the one person that was originally targeted. Pass the passion.
Multiple Moms Splash
at
Skaneateles Pool!!!
MULTITUDES, July/August 2009 3
BIG SISTERS
Contact: Megan Leonardis We offer a "Big Sister" to paid MMM members that are pregnant and/or are new moms of multiples during the first 3 months after giving birth. We pair you up with a member that has multiples like you have (or will have). The idea is for the big sister to check in with her little sister often— to offer support, advice, help, etc. as needed. Then she reports to the group at each meeting on how her "little sister" is doing. The little sister can also contact her big sister as needed. Please contact Megan to get hooked up with a "big sister" today! If your multiples are over a year old and are interested in becoming a “big sister” contact Megan today!
CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN
Contact: Susan Hayes
We are now collecting books for our children’s lending library. We are looking for books that are gently used or new, and pertain to useful or enriching topics like potty training, multiples, multiculturalism, special needs or growing families, to name a few!
COOKBOOK FUNDRAISER
Contact: Mary Wood, Heather Hayes, Leslie Petty,
Christine Coomes, Lori McIntyre & Donna Refici As a club fundraiser we have published a cookbook with our own 150 recipes. We ask that each member sell or buy two; they make great gifts. For more ordering information please go to www.multiplemomsmingle.com/cookbook.html
HISTORIAN
Contact: Leslie Petty Leslie is gathering photos for the clubs scrapbook. If you have a photo to share, please give it to Leslie. Any "old" club photos or group photos would be great.
LIBRARIAN
Contact: Amanda Fosberg Please contact Amanda if you are interested in donating or checking out any books, videos or magazines from our library. We have many things to choose from that may be helpful to you.
MEMBERSHIP/DIRECTORY
Contact: Mary Wood If you are a new member, please download and complete a registration form under the files section of the member’s only site or under membership on our website multiplemomsmingle.com. You can send Mary a photo of your kids or family if you'd like one included in the MMM directory that gets updated every other month.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Contact: Mercedes Genei
National Convention is in Las Vegas from 7/26-8/1.
PLAYGROUPS
Contact: Krista Selig Playgroups are being formed throughout the year. Please contact Krista if you'd like to schedule a play date at your home or even a park.
PUBLICITY
Contact: Cyndi Rizzo & Sharon Bush Publicity sends copies of our newsletter and brochure to various pediatricians and OB/GYN offices. We have ads for our meetings in the Pennysaver and Family Times. Special events are advertised too.
(Continued on page 4)
Enjoying Stress-free Summer Activities
It’s summertime, school is out, and many families are at their
wit’s end about how to fill 3 months of their children’s free time. Images of
summertime are usually cast in a light of hot, lazy, relaxing days by a lake,
but the reality for most working families is the struggle to balance the de-
mands of adult work schedules with providing safe activities for children.
This dilemma often results in hectic, stress-filled days comparable to those
during the school year. While summer camp is an option for some, the
cost of day and overnight camps can be too expensive for many families
budgets. Structured activities are beneficial, but parents and caregivers
should also keep in mind the advantages of unstructured time for children.
So what do we do to keep young children busy, yet also allow
them to enjoy the summer months? Whether your child is a preschooler or
school-age, a wealth of opportunities for fun, educational, and even relax-
ing activities are possible. Here are some tips that may be useful for fami-
lies and caregivers:
Visit the Library –Until recently libraries offered little or nothing
for children below the age of 3, but in the past few years, many have intro-
duced programs for toddlers. Children and adults can participate in activi-
ties that may include reading aloud, storytelling, fingerplays, rhymes and
songs. Pre-schoolers usually enjoy the group activities offered by librar-
ies, where they can participate in puppet shows and arts and crafts activi-
ties. For elementary school children, there are variations of the read-
alouds and storytelling hours that often include discussions and presenta-
tions by the children themselves, as well as summer reading programs.
Many public libraries also offer training courses for children in using differ-
ent software or educational programs.
Discover Geography-What makes a place special? What are
the physical characteristics of your hometown? Take children for a walk
around your neighborhood and look at what makes it unique. Point out
how it is similar to other places you have been and how it is different. If
you live near a park, a lake, a river, a stream or a creek, take your children
there and spend time talking about its uses. Read stories about distant
places with chi ldren or sing songs to teach geography, for example “Home
On the Range or “California, Here I Come.” Make a wish list of places you
would like to visit with your child. Look them up on a map and plan a trip
there-real or pretend.
View and Create Collections-Go to a chi ldren’s museum to
view hands on exhibits or suggest that your children start a collection and
build their own museum. They can collect natural materials, such as
acorns and leaves from a local park or sea shells from the beach.
Nature’s Best– Older children can learn about weather by using
a map to look up the temperature of cities around the world and discover
how hot each gets in the summer. Watch cloud formations and imagine.
Do the shapes look like horses, ducks or other animals? At night, children
can collect fireflies in jars, or depending on their age, camp out in a tent in
the back yard. Create a treasure map for children to find hidden treats in
the yard. Read about your state bird and state flower, and if possible,
bicycle ride to a nearby park to find them.
Rainy Day Activities-Summertime often brings thunderclouds.
On days when outdoor activities are not possible, you can share family
history and photos with your children. Pull out the old videotapes of past
family gatherings and events. Prepare an indoor picnic with your child or
cook dinner together.
Whatever the activity, children can enjoy and appreciate the
summer months in ways that are both educational and stress-reducing for
all involved.
Credit: National Association for the Education of Young Children
Web: http://www.naeyc.org
4 MULTITUDES, July/August 2009
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Contact: Kelly Carter
SUMMER FAMILY PICNIC
Contact: Kelly Carter & Krista Selig
Save the date, this year’s picnic will be on Sunday, August 16th 10am-1pm at Santaro Park. Volunteers needed to help organize!
Help Wanted: ● Big Sisters ● Clothing & Equipment Sale Fall '09 ● Adult Holiday Party 2010 Please email Christine Coomes to volunteer. Consider your own talents and interests, as well as how much time you will be able to invest.
(Continued from page 3)
Multiple Moms To Be…...
Ola El-Zammar, Expecting Triplets, Sept '09
• Karla Murphy
• YOUR NAME HERE!
Welcome NEW moms to
Multiple Moms Mingle!
86 New
Members &
Growing!
Polar Express Ticket Information Polar Express Ticket Information Polar Express Ticket Information Polar Express Ticket Information
It may only be July...but we are always
thinking ahead!! If you are interested in taking
the Polar Express train ride with your children
this November/December, then you should look
into getting your tickets NOW!!
The most popular trains (Saturdays/
Sundays at 4:30 or 7:00) will sell out fast. This is
a very popular holiday time event!!! They do not
offer group discounts but if MMM members want
to sit together, just enter Multiple Moms Mingle
in the comments section when you buy your tick-
ets. For more information you can go to:
http://www.adirondackrr.com/polarex.html
Check this out!!! Be sure to try this
healthy recipe that Kelly, Cyndi and Tracy
sampled when they attended the New York
State Mother of Twins Convention in April.
Its sure sounds good to me!!!
Buffalo Chicken Chili
2 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil
2 lbs. raw chicken, chopped small
2 lg. carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1 lg. sweet onion and 1 green pepper, finely chopped
4 celery ribs, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbls. paprika and 1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cups of chicken stock 1/4 cup Franks Hot Sauce
1 15 oz. can of each tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz. can of great northern beans (or other favorite), drained and
rinsed
Garnish: handful of chopped fresh flat leaf parsley and 3/4 lb. of
crumbled blue cheese
Heat olive oil in lg. pot over med. high heat. Add chicken and
brown lightly, breaking up pieces with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
Add chopped vegetables along with garlic, paprika and bay leaf.
Season with salt and pepper. Cook stirring frequently for 7-8 min-
utes. Add chicken stock and stir to scrape up any brown bits on
bottom of pan. Add hot sauce, beans, tomato sauce and crushed
tomatoes. Bring chili up to a bubble.. Simmer for 8-10 minutes
more. Discard bay leaf before serving. Garnish with parsley and
blue cheese. Serves 6
MULTITUDES, July/August 2009 5
Big Sister/Little Sister Program
Among the many advantages of membership in Multiple Moms Mingle is our Big Sister/Little Sister
Program. Members who are currently expecting or are new mothers of multiples have the opportunity to
be paired with an “experienced” mom of multiples. We try to pair up moms with similar situations, twin
moms with twin moms, triplet moms with triplet moms, and moms who have other children in addition to
their multiples with those in the same boat. The big sister checks in on the little sister, offers advice and support and
often….becomes a great friend!! Cyndi Rizzo and Susan Hayes were paired up when Susan was expecting her boy/girl
twins and here is what they have to say about the experience.
I joined MMM while I was pregnant for my B/G twins,
Jack and Selina. I was so happy to be involved in the Big/Little
Sister Program so I could dialogue with a mom who had already
been down the road of carrying a twin pregnancy. I'm the type
of person who asks a lot of questions, and Cyndi is the type of
person who likes to talk, so we were actually a match made in
Heaven!
After we were matched up, Cyndi sent me an introductory
email and told me all about her pregnancy, her breastfeeding
experience and how she eventually went back to work. We had so
much to talk about! All through my pregnancy, I asked her about
things like fetal movement, OBGYN visits, the NICU and delivery
procedures.
We also talked at length about equipment like strollers and
swings. Cyndi was right-on about the Snap N Go and the Twin
Savvy LX strollers. They proved to be both lightweight and
convenient. Her advice on swings was a different story! She
once told me, "If I had sextuplets, I would buy six swings", so I
naturally bought two for my twins. Neither of them went for the
swing and I still have a brand new pink one in it's box in the
basement! Oh well, she has come through in many other ways:
When I was frustrated about giving in to "binkies" or letting my
babies sleep in my bed (occasionally!!!) Cyndi would assure me that
it was okay and that sometimes you have to make decisions in the
moment and not always think of the long-term effects. She
also let me borrow her Vera Bradley diaper bag, she picked me up
a double grocery cart cover for the store, and as everyone who
goes to the meetings knows, she always saves me a
spot because she knows I can't make it until 7:15 pm!
Cyndi and I have become very good friends over the time
I've been a member of the club. We have expanded our emails,
texts and phone conversations to talk about more than just c-
sections or complain about our husbands. But, when I am stuck in
the sippy cup aisle at Target, and can't make a decision on what
to buy, Cyndi is only a phone call away with her twin mom
advice, and I feel much more confident in my choice with her
voice of experience behind me! Thanks Cyndi, for being such a
great Big Sister!
Susan Hayes
Mom to Jack and Selina, 14 months old
(Big Sister to Sarah Yaw!)
Not having joined Multiple Moms Mingle until after my
twins were born, I had a lot to learn on my own. That is why I
took the opportunity to be a “big sister”.
When I first received Sue’s names and contact
information I sent her an email telling her about myself and my
twins. She wrote back and explained that she was a teacher.
Come to find out she taught at the same school as a friend of
mine.
I love talking, especially about my kids and having
twins. Lucky for me, Sue was also a talker. We had a lot in
common and I was happy to answer any questions that she had.
We talked about equipment, breast feeding, c-sections, doctors,
etc. We finally met at one of the dinner meetings and had a
great time. Once her babies were born our conversations
evolved to cover sleeping, supplementing, schedules and our
husbands!! We have met up a few times for a walk at the park
or a trip to the mall.
We continue to meet each month at our dinner
meeting, where I always save her a seat since she gets there
late. (I call her my invisible date when I order her food.) Even
though her kids are a year old now, she continues to call for
advice or information on the lastest stage. A Big Sister’s work
is never done!! (She wasn’t kidding about the calls from Target!)
I am glad to have met and befriended Sue. I look forward to
what the future holds for us and our families.
Cyndi Rizzo
Mom to Victor and Maddox, 2 2/1 years old
If you would like to
participate in this
great aspect of our
group either as a
Big or Little Sister,
don’t hesitate to
contact Meghan
Leonardis and she
will set you up!!!
6 MULTITUDES, July/August 2009
Multitudes, Multiple Moms Mingle newsletter, happily accepts suggestions, tips, articles and information for publication from members... although we do hold editorial rights. ;) We did our best to get all of the information correct and up-to-date. If you notice something that is incorrect or was left out, please let us know.
A special thank you to Dr. Robert Kiltz, CNYFC, for his kindness and generosity with the printing of the Multitudes newsletter.
Please submit information and materials to Leslie Petty or Penny Meskos by the 10th of the month prior to publication.
KIDS— JULY
1st Nicolas Cerimeli's 5th Birthday
2nd Audrey & Riley Blumer's 3rd Birthday
9th Cooper & Maxin Calvert-Minor's 2nd Birthday
11th Alexander Petty's 8th Birthday
13th Brady Graff's 3rd Birthday
14th Molly & Ian McIntyre's 4th Birthday
15th Jordan & Ashton Miller's 1st Birthday
Douglas & Catherine Rouselle's 2nd Birthday
16th Sara & Michael Godleski's 2nd Birthday
18th Ayla Genei's 7th Birthday
24th Owen & Cameron McQuiston's 1st Birthday
25th Nicholas & Michael Sheets' 2nd Birthday
28th Emma Murphy's 2nd Birthday
31st Darren & Brenden Genei's 3rd Birthday
AUGUST
10th Benjamin & Morgan Callaghan-Kirkland's 3rd B-day
13th Jacob & Elizabeth Soucia's 2nd Birthday
14th Jack Kaftan's 9th Birthday
16th Ruby Kaftan's 5th Birthday
17th Michael, Tyler & Sarah Coomes' 4th Birthday
21st Jenna LaVancha's 5th Birthday
31st Jeffrey Bush's 9th Birthday
MOMS— JULY
2nd Aimee Zeman's Birthday
6th Denise Harrington-Nicita's Birthday
8th Margaret Sheen's Birthday
10th Melody Bennett's Birthday
16th Alexia Conrad's Birthday
20th Meghan Leonardis' Birthday
21st Katie Caraher's Birthday
26th Jill St John's Birthday
AUGUST
4th Carrie Fuller's Birthday
5th Kelly Carter's Birthday
Kayla Sawyer's Birthday
11th Jennifer Gryzlo's Birthday
12th Lynne DiGennaro's Birthday
13th Kelly Somerlot's Birthday
17th Andrea Chiaramonte's Birthday
22nd Elizabeth Davis' Birthday
29th Karla Murphy's Birthday
30th Jaime Petrocci's Birthday
Stephanie Johnson's Birthday
31st Amanda Fosberg's Birthday