After four weeks at home altogether, it becomes timely to wind down our blog focus on the twins' progress and start to check out what's happening with the rest of the family. So we are beginning a new 'chapter' in the blog called "Hoffs All-In" - not to be confused with a 7-day "all-in" break to the Dominican Republic (though that would be nice too;)
I think the most important element in our little family's dynamic these last couple of weeks has been the fact that both Chris and I have had enough energy and time for Nikita and Joakim, in spite of the obvious 24/7 demands from Jules and Louie.
Nikita's hearing problems continue but we see major improvements in her self-confidence and speech capabilities these last couple of months - it's fantastic! The best part is she is so motivated herself to improve. She's teaching herself how to write (she'll take books and copy out words), she goes thru her speech therapy exercises even though Chris and I have already gone thru them with her and her vocabulary is increasing no end! We couldn't be prouder of her:)
Jojo is a real little boy. He's discovering all the super heros and his current fav is anything Star Wars (a subject very close to mine and Christian's own hearts;) So, we are planning a Star Wars movie sit-in this weekend. 
Despite all his bravado though, he's still a very sensitive child and we've had to spend some time de-dramatising situations which see him otherwise go into a corner and cry to himself. We had to pay particular attention to him when the twins arrived. It took him a couple of weeks to accept the twins really. But now he's cool being big brother. On that note, we've managed to find little ways for Nikita and Joakim to get involved with Jules and Louie. Although I'm breastfeeding (4-hrly intervals now - woo hoo!!), we'll do the 5pm feed via a bottle for example. That way Nikita and Jojo can also help with feeding. Actually it's pretty cool because we never have any fights over who gets to hold the baby since there are two of them after all:) And at this stage they can't tell the difference between the twins, so there's no favouritism....yet;)
Chris and I, in contrast, have not had much time together since the twins arrival. Yes, yes, I know some of you will laugh and say that given the number of children we now have, that some time apart is perhaps a good thing LOL! Well all I can say is that we're doing fine and looking forward to when we will be able to sit down simply to watch a movie together. Ahh life with plenty kids eh;) LOL!!
So, Hoff family projects for the next two weeks:
- Nikita has a school play end of this month so she's busy learning lines. She's playing the role of Mama Rabbit. Suits her well. She gets to tell all her baby rabbits not to go into the farmer's garden and eat his vegetables....of course they DO! so she gets to 'whoop their asses' ;) LOL
- Joakim's 5th birthday coming up (7 April), so some seriously planning/organising required there. He'll be wanting to plan the whole thing down to last detail (ahhh, my son!)
- Louie and Jules have a 'sleep test' to look forward to end of this month (just to make sure sleep patterns are all well and good). They've also got first paedetrician appointment next week, which will undoubtedly mean a jab in the butt for something - poor blighters:/
- Chris is off to the UK to pick up a Lotus Elise for a customer - and some bacon from the farmer's market for me! It's the only condition under which I let him go;)
- Chilli is in the dog box (literally!) for getting into one of our rubbish bags the other day
- As for me?.....oh same old, same old: cook, clean, feed, wipe bottoms, make milk, make a rabbit costume, and take 5mins to sit down and drink that re-re-RE-heated cup of tea.
Life is very full:) And we couldn't be happier.............we could be RICHER! but not necessarily happier;)
