I hope you have all had a good week. After the drama, worry and excitement of last week and the arrival of two more grandchildren for me things have continued at quite a pace.
I'm thrilled to say that today, Sunday, and just 12 days after they were born, both Phoebe and Sam are about to spend their first night together at home tonight with their Mummy and Daddy. Sam went home with Mum and Dad last Monday and has settled really well. Mummy, Daddy and Sam have made daily visits to the special care baby unit at the hospital that the twins were born in to spend as much time as they can with Phoebe who has made really good progress but who has needed a little more monitoring before she too was allowed home.
Yesterday the family were able to spend their first night as a foursome together in the transition room at the hospital and then, this morning, I got the call to say that Phoebe has been discharged and they were all going to go home. I got into the car and drove to the hospital and, along with my daughter's Dad and his wife, we got the babies to their new home. Yes, we needed two cars! Transporting two babies in car seats with all of the paraphernalia that goes with them - and with the added bits and pieces for Phoebe's extra care- plus their Mummy and Daddy is more than one ordinary car can adequately deal with.
On their way home - together!
Once at home, Mummy took no time in getting things organised and within the hour both babies had been changed, Sam bottle fed, Phoebe a mix of bottle and tube fed, and in their Moses baskets and settled for a couple of hours before they do it all again.
It is a massive responsibility to take a baby home from hospital who still requires special care - especially when that little baby has extra problems with feeding etc. I remember the feeling well from 32 years ago. However, my daughter and her husband have proved their capabilities to the medical specialists who are confident that the couple are very able to look after their daughter and her brother. I take my hat off to them both. The new parents have grown in stature and confidence over the past 2 weeks. It is quite amazing to see how they are coping. When you hear the noises that a tiny baby makes when she has a cleft palate it can be very frightening. I am sure that my daughter made the same noises when she was a little one but I don't remember them very clearly. To hear my granddaughter spluttering whilst feeding was very disconcerting for me today. It was the first time that I have seen her bottle fed or, indeed, heard her cry but my daughter and her husband just got on and dealt with her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I felt in awe of them both, especially as they also have a second baby to look after as well.
Brother and sister.
Last week when I blogged, the news had been announced that Terry Wogan had died earlier in the day. Following so close on the heels of the news about David Bowie, it was a piece of news that really shook me. Yet again I was reminded of my Mum. She adored both Bowie and Wogan and when we were younger Wogan was on the radio each weekday morning. Mum used to laugh out loud throughout the hours he was on and she really enjoyed the handover between Wogan and Jimmy Young. We all used to laugh at his Janet and John stories that were so full of innuendo that it was amazing that they were allowed to be broadcast at all!
Mum loved Terry so much that she had a golden retriever that she named Wogan. We used to feel foolish when we called him back when we walking him. 'Come here Wogan!', 'Good boy Wogan!', 'Wogan! Heel'. You can imagine I'm sure!
Mum had her vinyl copy of 'The Floral Dance' which was played regularly and every year I used to buy her the TOG's (Terry's Old Gals/Geezers) calendar at Christmas. I remember thinking that something must be seriously wrong with him when he pulled out of presenting last year's Children In Need at the last minute but then it was reported that he had severe back problems and that was that. To hear that he had died was just really very sad news and yet another reminder of our lovely Mum and how much she influenced our lives.
In other news, my attempt at Weight Watchers is going fairly well. In my first week I lost 4lbs and the second week I lost 7 lbs so that's 11 lbs in 2 weeks. A bit extreme I feel. However, last week I actually put on 1lb which I was not perturbed about to be honest. I'm in this for the long haul so we will see what our coming Thursday night weigh in brings. A steady 1 or 2 lbs a week loss would be very welcome.
It has been lovely to see the love and support that has been received by my daughter and her husband from family and friends over the past week or so. They have been inundated with presents, cards and good wishes from many, many people. They have a wall full of cards - 8 of which are the same as 'twin' cards aren't that usual it seems- and the babies have more clothes than they will ever wear. My daughter was very concerned about how people would react to Phoebe and the news that she has a genetic condition that will need ongoing treatment but she needn't have worried. Every single comment about the babies has been positive, supportive and loving. I have been so happy and proud that my other children have been on hand and provided love, support, laughs and even food for their sister and her husband and I know that their support and love will be ongoing. To see each of my children having cuddles with their new nephew Sam and, while not being able to cuddle niece Phoebe, actually being able to go into the special care unit and see her was very touching and made me feel very proud of all four of them.
I know that it must seem to many who read this that I have made a superhero out out of my eldest daughter and not mentioned my other three and that is truly not how I want it to seem. This has been a highly emotional few weeks and my daughter deserves every bit of love and support that has come her way. My other three have been amazing during this period. They have provided me with a shoulder to cry on at my emotional moments (and there have been a few), they have given me support and an ear to bend when I've needed it and they have been nothing but loving towards their big sister and towards me and I love them very, very much.
So, that's it for now. Let's see what I have to feed back next week.
I wish you all a happy and healthy week. Stay safe and look after each other. Be kind.
xxxxxx
Night night xx
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