Day of Surgery

Wesley had his hypospadias surgery yesterday, (look it up if you are interested, because I'm not going to get into the details here.)  He went in with a bad case of Roseola, too, so dealing with that and confirming that he was still going to undergo anesthesia with the virus added a few more hours to our day. We were there for a little under 12 hours, and Wesley was a little trooper.  He was able to come home with us, and although he was sore, he crawled around and played for a bit last night before crashing hard in his crib.  This morning, he was in the exact same spot in his crib where I tucked him in last night!

Wesley figured out something was going on when we woke him up at 5am.

Playing in the big hospital crib.  Waiting for the pediatricians to evaluate his rash.

Finally...almost there...  Wes gets the world's tiniest hospital gown!

Wesley is taken in to surgery and we wait...

and wait some more...

Looking a little bloated. Wesley is out of recovery and back in his room.

 The Doctor had to see Wesley and change his dressings before we were discharged, but he was in another 2 hour surgery.  We wait some more...

Andrew's First Word!

Hear it?!?!?!!!!
I WIN!

Freebies for Multiples

{Wesley in his FREE Gerber onesie!}

If you are a mom of multiples, this post is a must read!  I have spent more than several hours searching the internet, composing letters and documenting results for what I am about to share.  Two words... FREE STUFF!  That's right, Mommas! There are many amazing companies out there that are willing to help you out by sending you high value coupons and even free gifts just for writing to them.  There are websites everywhere that list companies that do this.  I sent letters to well over 30.  Some were returned to me, some companies don't offer anything anymore, and some offered so little it wasn't worth mentioning (A 10% discount off already overpriced toys might be useful to some, but not me.)

My intent was not to be greedy, but to be budget conscious.  I already used many of the products that I wrote to companies about, and those I didn't use, I'll use now based on the quality and company's hospitality ;)   Every little bit of help counts when you're buying double and your financial resources are stretched to their limits.

Here are the companies, to date, that have generously provided our family with coupons, samples of goodies, one-time gifts, etc.  Send them a letter telling them about your multiples, let them know if you already use their products and what you love about them, and also include copies of your children's birth certificates or hospital discharge papers for proof...  I used a more generic letter for everyone.  Also, join their "clubs" and "networks" online.  They take down your personal information and the result is sometimes decent coupons in the mail. If anyone has had luck with companies not listed, (recent luck - lots of info out there is outdated!),  please email me or comment below!

Kimberly Clark (Huggies)
PO Box 2020
Dept. QMB
Neenah, WI 54957-2020
Rec'd 2 - $3off coupons for diapers and 3 - $1off coupons for Huggies Products (use on bath soaps, wipes, etc.)

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc
Consumer Affairs Dept.
1 Ocean Spray Drive
Lakeville-Middleborough, MA 02349
Rec'd a coupon for a free bottle of ocean spray juice (a $4.99 value) and additional coupons

Nature's Goodness
c/o Bay Valley Foods
PO Box 763
Horsham, PA 19044-0763
Rec'd coupons for 4 free jars of baby food, only problem is that Big Lots is the only place I found that carries this brand and they don't accept manufacturer coupons.

Gerber
Start Healthy/Stay Healthy Resource Center
445 State Street
Freemont, MI 49413-0001
Rec'd 2 "I'm a Gerber Baby" onesies, a coupon for a free 12.9oz can of Good Start Formula (a $13.50 value) and a coupon for a free 8-3oz bottles of liquid Good Start formula (a $9.25 value)
My little guys are strictly formula fed, and I'm lucky that I can bounce between brands with them!

{Andrew in his FREE Gerber onesie.}

Abbott Nutrition (distributes Similac)
625 Cleveland Ave
Columbus, OH 43215
Rec'd a several low value coupons for Similac (only $1 off) and Pedialyte.  Combined the Pedialyte coupon with a sale and a Target printable coupon and got it for free ;)

Enfamil/Similac - have your pediatrician's purchasing agent contact Enfamil/Similac to verify that you have multiples, and they should send you a one time gift of free formula.  My pediatrician would only do this for one brand, and we chose Enfamil at the time.  I rec'd 2 cases (12 - 12.9oz cans total) of free Enfamil ($180 value!!!!!!)  A can doesn't even last us a week, so this was a HUGE help!

Totally Toddler
PO Box 227215
Dallas, TX 75222-7215
Rec'd coupons for 2 free products valued at up to $12.99 each!  This company offers several types of infant-safe cleaning products, from nursery stain sprays, to dryer sheets to detergent.  I opted for 2 free 1-gallon stain spray refills (a $22.98 value)

Learning Curve Brands
Attn: Multiple Birth Program
2021 9th Street SE
Dyersville, IA 52040
Rec'd 2 Disney snuggle friend blankets (Pooh & Eeyore), and 2 sets of disposable sippie cups!

Boudreaux's Butt Paste
c/o Blairex Laboratories
1600 Brian Drive
PO Box 2127
Columbus, IN 47202-2127
Rec'd 2 Boudreaux bibs and 2 samples of diaper rash ointment, dry skin ointment, body wash and lip/cheek moisturizer.

Proctor and Gamble Distributing, LLC
Luvs Multiple Birth Offer
PO Box 599
Cincinnati, OH 45011
Rec'd coupon for a free box of LUVS (no maximum value!)!  I went to BJ's Wholesale and walked out with a $40 box!  My time spent printing these letters and filling out envelopes just paid off!  I also rec'd a $5 off coupon, 2- $2off coupons and $1 off wipes, plus BOGO coupons for dog food (how did they know I have 3 other babies? Hehe!)

NEW FREEBIES (rec'd 4/26):  Wrote to Ella's Kitchen (Makers of great organic baby food) via their website and specifically told them what products my boys loved.  They sent me 3 coupons (1 FREE product!, $1 off one product, and .55 off one product) as well as a magnet and sticker!

Seventh Generation sent me a few $1 off coupons.

I still have a few other companies that I'm waiting to hear back from (MAM, Ella's Kitchen, Beechnut, Earth's Best, Seventh Generation, etc.).  I will edit this post if there are any other companies worth adding to the list ;)

Anyone that knows me is probabaly aware of my recent addiction to coupon clipping.  I'm a novice, but with the help of Money Saving Madness and Hip2Save, I've saved a lot of dough in the past month, and even got a bunch of free things just by clipping coupons and stacking them with a store coupon and store sale (Thanks Michelle & Collin!).  If you have a few hours each week to dedicate to this practice, it'll be well worth it in the long run! Especailly if you are buying for 2 or more little ones!  Some of the coupons I've received by writing all my letters have scored us a bunch of really affordable everyday baby necessities!  Even if you don't have twins or supertwins, and you are fond of a specific brand of product, write to the company and tell them.  They're likely to thank you for your loyalty in coupons.

Fun Outdoors!

{It's finally Springtime in Buffalo!  Andrew & Wesley, 7 months old.}

It's finally nice here in Western NY.  The winter is over and spring is here to stay, (I say as I cross my fingers!)
Working full time again after being home for 6 months has been a hard transition for me, so today was just what I needed.... Time with my boys - who were both in GREAT moods!  I packed up a mini go-bag and we ventured out into the backyard for some sunshine and fun.   Due to the cold, wet mud seeping through the blanket, our time was limited, but we still made the best of it.
Here are some pictures (of course) that I took while the boys "played outside" for the first time.

{Andrew touching grass for the first time.}

{Andrew eating grass for the first time. I informed him that he wasn't a goat.}

{Nature vs. Technology... Wes chooses Technology.}

Honey Bunnies

I really wanted to take Wesley and Andrew to see the Easter Bunny this week, but somehow they've contracted the Rotavirus.

Not. Fun.  We've gone through more outfits and diapers in the past four days... ugh.

I just figured I'd get a nice picture of them with the Easter Bunny before they're old enough to be completely petrified of him (or her...?).  These pictures of my little honey bunnies will have to do.  There's always next year, EB.

Have a happy Easter!