Changing diapers is becoming old hat for an Alberta couple who recently had their third set of fraternal twins.
Two-week-old Maverick and Blakely were born to Pam and Taylor Armstrong April 20. The babies were welcomed into the world slightly early, at 37 weeks, at Red Deer Regional Hospital.
Waiting for them at home with great anticipation, were the coupleB次元官网网址檚 five-year-old twin daughters Brynlee and Adileigh, as well as their nine-year-old twin son and daughter Parker and Emery.
Pam said the coupleB次元官网网址檚 four older siblings are B次元官网网址渁bsolutely thrilledB次元官网网址� to help out with the new babies.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e going to have one set of twins,B次元官网网址� why not have more, reasoned the stay-at-home mom.
Pam said her kids will each now have a same-aged sibling to play with and nobody will feel left out.
All the Armstrong twins were conceived naturally, without the use of fertility drugs. The odds of a mother giving birth to fraternal twins thrice is one in 500,000, according to HealthResearchFunding.org.
| Maverick and Blakely Armstrong. (Contributed by Loni Bourne Photography). |
A former labour and delivery nurse, Pam was aware her chances of delivering multiple multiples went up after she gave birth to her first twins. But having three double births wasnB次元官网网址榯 something she ever thought would happen.
PamB次元官网网址檚 grandma was the only known relative on her side to have a previous set of fraternal twins, which means two eggs were fertilized by two sperm.
While thereB次元官网网址檚 identical twin cousins on her husbandB次元官网网址檚 side, Pam was told that the twin gene is passed down only from the mother.
If she and Taylor, a middle-school teacher, hadnB次元官网网址檛 known before how strongly twins run in the family B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渨e do now!B次元官网网址� said Pam, with a chuckle.
The couple greeted their latest double blessings with excitement and good humour: B次元官网网址淲e thought, this is what we know B次元官网网址� and weB次元官网网址檙e now getting pretty good at this, so we might as well do it again,B次元官网网址� said Pam.
Raising six kids is going to be more expensive, however, and has required the family to move into a five-bedroom house from their previous townhouse.
| The Armstrong siblings get their first look at the youngest twins in the family. (Contributed by Loni Bourne Photography). |
Pam said a lot of baby equipment has been brought out of storage and the family is getting lots of support from relatives, as well as friends and fellow members of CrossRoads Church.
Getting a new baby brother and sister to play with is a B次元官网网址渄ream come trueB次元官网网址� for the ArmstrongsB次元官网网址� five-year-olds, Brynlee and Adileigh.
B次元官网网址淎ll they do is play (with doll) babies all day, so they think having real babies in the house is pretty great,B次元官网网址� said Pam.
Parker, formerly the ArmstrongB次元官网网址檚 only son, had felt out numbered. Pam said heB次元官网网址檇 even threatened to move in with his three male cousins unless at least one of the new babies was a boy.
Since bonding with Maverick, heB次元官网网址檚 decided to stay, she added, with a chuckle.
All the older siblings are helping out with diaperings and B次元官网网址渁re adjusting pretty well B次元官网网址� although, I have to keep reminding them that they canB次元官网网址檛 fight over the two babies,B次元官网网址� said Pam.
B次元官网网址淚 tell them theyB次元官网网址檙e lucky, since most people only get to bring one new baby home.B次元官网网址�
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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