saville

Would like to congratulate you on your news, I have twin girls aged 7 and although it came as a shock as we had 3 children already I think they are very special and the bond they share is amazing. Mine are identical and are extremely close and still sleep in the same bed and if you ever upset one of them then you will be in trouble with the other. At first I dreaded it and didn't know how I would cope, but to be honest it was no where near as bad as I was expecting it to be, my advice is just be ready for an arrival as early as 28 weeks as mine tried to arrive early at 30 weeks, but I managed to hold on til I was 35 weeks and they were very good weights and very healthy. Just try to get as much help as possible as it can be quite tiring, also be prepared to be stopped in the street all the time for people wanting a look.

Baltibabe

Big congratulations! You are truly blessed! Keep us updated

ian_s

Thank you all for your good wishes. We are anxious to say the least because of the high risk scenario. My wife really wanted to go back to the UK as we had planned in November but by this time she will be about 26 or 27 weeks gone. Due to see consultant on the 18th so will go on medical advice. Its hard really as she really wants to see her mum. I'll just have to send the MIL on a guilt trip to see if that makes her decide to come here instead. Once again thanks for all your comments and kind words.

Ian.

sammyg

Whayyaaahaayyy
Congrats

That's wonderful news!!

So it's going well in South Australia???

sam and stu xx

ian_s

It certainly is. Toni is still feeling a little homesick. All that work to get us into the country as childcare co-ordinator went to waste because of all the red tape here in SA. She still hasn't worked because the licencing authority insist she do some managerial units at TAFE. This would mean working as unqualified and she doesn't want to do this when there is a so called shortage for qualified childcare workers. Other than that we doing well, eldest settled into school and youngest into playgroups. Me, gave up on going for an apprenticeship and am now qualified as a driving instructor. Total seachange.

Hows are the banana benders treating you and yours?

Ian.

Buzzy--Bee

Congratulations Ian!

We have a pair of 3-year olds.

The Australian site for Multiple births is www.amba.org.au , they have a very useful forum at http://www.amba.org.au/forum/ .

I also started a twins for Australia thread on British Expats when ours were only a few months old, here's the link - http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331703

and here's the 7 seater car thread - http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376751

Hope that lot helps!

Buzzy

ian_s

Hi Buzzy,

Thanks for the links the multiple birth one was really useful. With regards to the cars I have just read all NINE pages of the original thread. Which car did you buy in the end? As we've already got two bin lids and two more on the way we're looking more towards the MPVs. At the moment its a toss up between the Grand Voyager and the Grande Carnival as they seem to to provide more boot space. You'll appreciate that a double pushchair isn't the smallest thing you will put in the boot! I would also like to take a look at the Ssanyong(sp) Stavic, doesn't seem to many about though. My issues with the Voyager and the Kia stem from been a bit of a car snob in the UK (Beamers and Audis). Although saying that we bought a Hyundai Tuscon when we got here and had no problems with it and also teach people to drive in a Ford Focus. Just don't want to splash out $25000+ on a Kia for it not to hold its value in a years to come. Hope this makes sense, its late, its Friday and off to bed am I.

Ian.

Kim67

We have friends with six kids (have quite a few actually - shouldn't send our kids to catholic schools i suppose). They have the Grande Carnival and the dad gave the kids and I a lift to the airport when we left Brisbane. I was really surprised how huge the boot space is - much more room than our Kluger or Landcruiser with extra seats in use.

Buzzy--Bee

Ian

We bought the Pathfinder. Various reasons, but the main ones being -

- Once you have all 7 seats up there's still enough space behind the third row for a pram and some shopping (this is rare in 7 seaters)
- The 3rd row of seats folds into the floor so you don't lose boot space if you're not using them
- side curtain airbags to all 3 rows of seats.
- diesel (11.5litres/100k)
- loads of other features. The one we didn't care about but really appreciate now we have it is the DVD player - the kids can now go for 3 hours or more without a boredom stop whih is very handy in Australia!

HTH

Buzzy

Mally Lass

totally agree with this as another mum with twins, it's easier when you have 2 at once

CONGRATULATIONS

Bernieboy

Did you hear about the irish guy who's wife had twins,Paddy went out with his shotgun looking for the OTHER fella

crocodileseamus

Many congratulations!!!!!!

Twins are wonderful, mine are now 6 and so close to one another.

It is hard at the beginning, but they play together and entertain each other, which is great.

Well done, x

desperatehousewife

Congratulations to you and your wife.

I have 4 year old twinnies, their older sister is only 1 year and 1 week older than them and wasn't walking when they were born so hubby had to diy a toddler chair for a double pram! We were quite a sight walking along the street. We were once stopped in Edinburgh city centre by a family of japanese tourists who wanted to take pictures of us, think(as many do) they thought the wee ones were triplets but still it was surreal

My advice for what its worth,
Tell your wife to allocate twice as much time to do anything like shopping as the wee ones attract all the attention of a newborn only it lasts for years not just a few weeks!

Prepare a few standard replys for the well meaning though not very original comments like "Double Trouble" , "Surround sound" and "you've got your hands full" cant tell you how many times I've heard these and it becomes difficult to keep kidding on your amused!

But most importantly Enjoy! As others have said it's not as hard as some would have you believe, in fact I think my first was the hardest as it's all new. I can't think of a day when my twinnies haven't made me laugh with the things they say to each other, and at least you know they'll always have someone to play(or fight) with!

Oh and on the car front we got a Chrysler grand voyager the week the twins were born at the time it was the only car with the boot and passenger space we needed and I find the layout of two captains chairs with a centre aisle and a triple bench at the back much easier than the other config of three seats then two at the back so the kids either have to clamber over or fold down one of the middle row to get to the back seats, with the voyager everyone can climb in and walk to their seats, I've got 5 kids now and the Grand Voyager still works for us. Sorry that turned into a bit of a ramble hope it makes sense!

Lindsay x

Mally Lass

Oh yes and be prepared for people to to ask if they are boys/girls regardless of what they are wearing !!

I lost count of how many people said "Awwww girl and a boy is it ?" when they were identical and both wearing pink

Ozzidoc

And then there are those who say..."ah, a boy and a girl - are they identical???"!!!