National Premmie Day 2009

 read the full article here at the Herald Sun News

was wonderful catching up with these bubs and mums

 NATIONAL PREMMIE DAY 

 As a mum of 3 premmie babies, I know how small and how hard it was at the time our premmie babies were born.  This is an amazing premmie doll that’s a keepsake doll to remember just how small premature babies are.  I was explaining to Tiana, our 6 yr old daughter about how small she was and she was amazed when she saw the keepsake doll of one her size, but especially the smallness of her sisters.

Zoe, the maker of these gorgeous premature baby keepsake dolls and owner of “Tummybear”, is extremely talented and she makes each and everyone with a tenderness and care like no one I know.  Zoe makes each keepsake doll to the size, length, weight of your own premmie baby, so its customised and so meaningful to you.  Each one comes with a cute little nappy and baby singlet and even has a hospital issued ID band.  I am delighted to be showcasing this great product for premmie baby families at La Toriana.

 TummyBear specialises in cloth keepsake dolls hand made especially for premmie families. The dolls are custom made to your baby’s actual birth measurements and weight.
The premmie keepsake dolls have sculpted and painted faces, sculpted toes and metal joints in the arms and legs. The dolls are made from a ‘skin’ tone fabric and are stuffed with a combination of new stuffing and metal pellets.  There are even different skin tone available too.

As each one is made to measure, please allow 4 – 6 weeks for each one to be made. 

The dolls provide an excellent way for you to show and remember your baby’s birth size.  They make a great gift no matter what age your baby is now.  I recently had an order for a 55 yr old lady… she was born premature at 30 weeks… and she was so thrilled with it she purchased another for her grand daughter who was born premature and was 32 weeks.  Her grand daughter is only 5 months old.

Tomorrow is NATIONAL PREMMIE DAY.  Celebrating the amazing journey premmie babies go through, and their familes and also the wonderful premmie support groups available in local areas as well as online.  Please support these wonderful premmie baby support groups below.  

They have all been a wonderful support to me personally and professionally.

see these support sites and join in the National Premmie Day events in your area.

 Warmly Elizabeth xx

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La Toriana’s Profile

At La Toriana we have a passion for kids fashion.

Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Princess ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa and so many more!

We have one of the most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and keepsakes available to buy online. 

We showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique.  If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early.

Premmie Support Comes in Three’s

With thousands of premature babies born throughout Victoria yearly and in conjunction with National Premmie Day being celebrated on Friday 31st July 2009 three of Victoria’s amazing and dedicated support networks have joined together to help celebrate our little aussie battlers. All run by parents of premature babies themselves, Lifes Little Treasures, L’il Aussie Prems and La Toriana offer support to families through their unique experiences.

Lifes Little Treasures (LLT) is a charity funded by private donations and run entirely by volunteer parents who have experienced the rollercoaster ride of premature birth. They provide a number of services including support groups throughout the Melbourne suburbs and Greater Victoria, a quarterly newsletter, 24 hour support phone line, social occasions, informative parent resource guides morning teas at hospitals with Neonatal intensive care/Special care Nurseries, as well as providing the much needed practical and emotional support to prem families. LLT is a founding member of the National Premmie Foundation and looks forward to this year’s National Premmie Day running two events in Victoria. For further details please visit www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au.

L’il Aussie Prems is a not-for-profit website founded by Julia Toivonen offering support to families from the comfort of their own homes through their online support forum. The site features information through articles, birth stories, galleries, live chats and birth announcements. With over 860 families registered on the forum Australia wide families can find information and the support they need from others who have been through this life changing journey. L’il Aussie Prems is a major supporter when it comes to premature babies and National Premmie Day and will be holding a live online chat for families who cannot attend celebrations throughout the day starting from 7pm. For details please visit www.lilaussieprems.com.au.

LaToriana is an online baby boutique that caters for premmie babies up to children 8 years of age. With a passion for organic and premmie baby clothes La Toriana specialises Australian and New Zealand baby and kids fashion with new and established designers. Founder of LaToriana, Elizabeth, understands the struggles to find premature clothing suitable for these tiny miracles. Elizabeth, a volunteer and sponsor of local and national premmie baby groups, donates a % of sales from her Premmie baby category. www.latoriana.com.au

“As parents offering support we have truly walked the path and understand the raw emotions parents and families feel after the premature birth of their children. It is a hard, over whelming and heartfelt journey, one that we hope to make easier through our dedicated & supportive network” said Julia Toivonen founder of L’il Aussie Prems and mum to two premature babies.

Events details for National Premmie Day celebrations around Australia are available through the Premmie Foundations website www.prembaby.org.au

For further information, interviews and photographs please contact:

Shusannah Morris – Lifes Little Treasures
contact_us@lifeslittletreasures.org.au
0437 254 360

Julia Toivonen – L’il Aussie Prems
admin@lilaussieprems.com.au
0412 248 583

Elizabeth Murphy – La Toriana
info@latoriana.com.au
0408 489 268

La Toriana are fast becoming a leader in providing stylish, affordable quality premmie baby clothing, premmie baby comforters and premature baby accessories to family and friends touched by the birth of a premmie baby.

At La Toriana we have a dedicated category for premmie babies called “Premmie Baby” online on our website.

Our blogis a way of reaching other premmie baby families and we will bring you news of great prem baby  support sites like

National Premmie Foundation,+ National Premmie Day July 31st

Lil aussie prems,

Loddon Mallee Kids,

lifes little treasures,

miracle babies  

and more. We will continue to dedicate our time and a percentage of sales from La Toriana to amazing not for profit groups who are a wonderful support to friends and families touched by the birth of a premature baby.

On a regular basis we will bring news and stories about premmie babiesand their journeys, news and tips, ideas and support from these amazing online prem baby support groups.  So keep checking the La Toriana BLOG, and feel free to add and comment at anytime… we love hearing from our readers.

La Toriana showcase only quality suppliers in premature and low weight baby products,  and hand picked premmie baby clothes so you can be assured of quality…. after all your little  prem baby deserves every chance. 

Great prem baby wear suppliers like, Teeny Weeny,  Earlybirds range including the  premmie organic baby clothing, Lambykins Organic premmie baby wear and soon gorgeous clothing from Tummy Bear too.  We will continue to source great quality premmie baby garments, accessories and comforters and hope to be known for an extensive and quality online premmie baby clothing.

La Toriana not only stocks a large range of premmie baby clothes, we also stock premature baby positioning pillows, premmie baby comforters and prem baby accessories that all help make their little lives a little more easier.  Products like Cuski, The Zaky,

So.. if you know someone touched by the birth of a premature baby….  we have great prem items and accessories great as a baby gift.

Also remember too… the above support groups are a treasure… full of amazing support and information for any one touched by the birth of a premature baby.

warmly

elizabeth xx

Tiana arriving on a magical unicorn.. I do believe that our angels helped to create a miracle for us. Thanks to Argnesh for this pic of Tiana and our angels. Its priceless. See more of her work here  and also here

another year passes this week

Its 8 years since my girls lost their battle with prematurity and became angels…

… I still feel like it was only last week, the excitement of knowing we were having twins, then “everything happened”

… I still will “never” get over their loss

… I still often look into the back of the seat and think there should be 3 little girls laughing and giggling

… I still cant go past the hospital where I had to leave empty handed… I will never forget that drive out of the carpark, it was the hardest thing in my life.  I wanted to run all the way back inside and get them

… I often stammer a little when a stranger asks “oh, how many children do you have?” do I tell them I have 3? and fear their reaction or lack of, if I tell them that only one lives at home as 2 have passed away? or do I not tell them and feel I have done an injustice to my girls?

… I still feel the softness of my girls and can smell their scent when I close my eyes

… I still cry, and sometimes really sob when I hear the song “fly” by Celine Dion.   

… I still remember that first mothers day… with a heavy heart and empty arms. The pain all over again. Read a bit more about that here

… I still feel the loss so terribly

… I still visit the cemetery every week and pop flowers in their graves and clean their plaque, and wonder  “what if….”

… I still get angry at ladies in the supermarket who yell or smack their kids for just “being kids”… (If only my girls were here)

… I still cry when listening to the news… at the abandonment of babies, and the neglect and the emotional and physical trauma many kids go through

… I still feel very close to my girls and always use their names when talking about our family. They ARE part of our family.

… I still have a photo of them up at home, and no longer feel I have to make other people feel “comfortable”

… I still talk about them and answer questions as they arise by our 6 yr old daughter.  She has grown up always knowing, and knows she has 2 gorgeous special angel sisters watching over her

… I still feel angry about some of the management at the time

… I still feel saddened by how some friends “left me alone” feeling I needed time.  and how one friend took 6 years to talk to me, see me and talk about it as “she” was uncomfortable

… I still remember being so so scared… more scared than anything in my whole life

… I still miss a heartbeat and hold my breathe when I hear a friend having dramas in pregnancy

… I still wish, I REALLY wish ….things were different

.. I still long for and wish my girls were here with me

Warmly Elizabeth xx
mum to 3 beautiful prem girls

“some can only dream of angels, we created 2, and they sent us an earthly miracle”

 soon…  one day… will tell the whole story….

 remember July 31st is the NATIONAL PREMMIE DAY we are giving a % of sales to

and also National Premmie Foundation

  please support your local group or www.prembaby.org.au