It’s been a Roller Coaster!

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. 

After a wonderful whirlwind few weeks together in Australia we farewelled our daughter Hannah, son-in-law Pieter and our beautiful 10-month old granddaughter who were returning to their home country – The Netherlands.

It was, as always, a terrible wrench but the good thing is that we have already planned a six week trip to see them at the end of October so it felt less heartbreaking than it could have. 

Having said that, it was particularly difficult to say goodbye to our 10-month old granddaughter when we knew she was going to discover so many new skills and grow in so many ways before we were together again. 

In the meantime, our little premmie twin granddaughters were making great progress – Eva was off oxygen and her nasal feeding tube had been removed and Matilda was on low flow oxygen and had joined Eva in the Special Care Nursery.

We were very hopeful that they would soon be released from the NICU (Neonatal Critical Care Unit) at the Mater Hospital, Brisbane. 

At the end of August – 15 weeks and one day after they were born – the twins were well enough to have their very first experience of the outside world! They were able to breathe fresh air and feel the sun on their faces for the very first time in the garden of the Mater Hospital where they were the subject of a Father’s Day publicity photo shoot. What a wonderful milestone for them and their parents!

Two days later the roller coaster took us back downhill to feelings of frustration and disappointment. Just as Ben and Sarah were busy being prepared by the nursing staff to sign documents regarding the provision of oxygen for Matilda at home, they were told that their obstetrician had reviewed Matilda’s tests and decided she wasn’t ready to go home after all. Her CO2 levels were too high, and she would need to go on back to being on high flow oxygen and would have to go from the Special Care Nursery back to a room where a higher level of care would be provided. It was a huge let down to say the least!

Then a couple of days later we were elated when Eva was discharged from the Special Care Nursery after 112 days. Ben and Sarah had one night of “rooming in” with her before taking her home on 2  September. 

What a wonderful feeling that was for them as they were at long last able to introduce Eva to the dogs and ducks and the pet lorikeet, have her next to their bed at night and feel somewhat like a “normal” family.

However, Matilda was still in hospital which meant that each day one or both of them would have to go in to be with her. 

It was a really tough week – although it was fantastic to have Eva at home, she had terrible reflux and wasn’t feeding well. So each alternate day either Ben or Sarah really struggled on their own to try to feed her while the other one drove the hour to the Mater Hospital by themselves to be with Matilda who was having her own digestive problems. 

Along with Sarah’s parents, we tried to help where we could – caring for the dogs and ducks and keeping the house straight. Jonathan and I would take over at the hospital to enable Ben or Sarah to leave early in order to support the other at home with Eva. A couple of times Ben and Sarah brought Eva into hospital to be with Matilda for the day. 

During this time Ben celebrated Australian Father’s Day for the very first time. It was a tough day having his two little girls in different places and both struggling in their own way. 

On 11 September the twins’ paediatrician decided to admit Eva into the Mater Children’s Hospital to sort out her reflux and feeding issues. 

Although it was a great disappointment that Eva was back in hospital, and a nasal feeding tube had been reinserted after some weeks of going without it, it did make it easier for Ben and Sarah. They were able to stay 24 hours a day and could also care for Matilda as there is a connecting corridor from the Children’s Hospital to the NICU. 

A few days later we had the absolutely brilliant news that Matilda was back on low flow Oxygen, her CO2 levels were where they should be and she was going to be released to the Children’s Hospital to be reunited with her twin and her Mum and Dad!

On 15 September, after four months and two days in the NICU, Matilda was discharged into the care of the Mater Children’s Hospital!

Although still in hospital both the girls are making excellent progress and hopefully should be home soon.

Since being together in the Children’s Hospital the girls have gone on their first walk outside in the fresh air in their pram which the whole family thoroughly enjoyed! This has now become part of their daily routine and is very helpful in reminding them about how life will be once they are home from hospital.

While all this was going on there was at last some real progress with our little bush cottage which had been delivered on site in a quiet corner of Ben and Sarah’s 100-acre property on 30 July.

The car port has now been constructed and progress on the deck is making headway. Just a few days ago we heard the best news – handover would be taking place and we would be receiving the keys to the door on 25 September!

A roller coaster few weeks!