FIRST BIRTHDAY TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 10

FIRST BIRTHDAY TO-DAY

The Johnson Quadruplets

CHILDREN ALL NORMAL AND HEALTHY

Dominion Special Service.

Dunedin, March 5.

The Johnson quadruplets will celebrate their first birthday to-morrow, and although to the bright little babies themselves the day will be just as happy and busy as any other, for the parents the occasion will be welcomed with thankfulness that the first milestone in the* lives of their children has been successfully reached, and that this most critical stage in their existence is over.

The babies have had minor attacks of infantile complaints, but apart from this their progress has been rapid and steady, and they are in every way normal and healthy.

For the first nine months the quadruplets were, cared for in the Truby King—Harris Hospital, where every facility was available for the scientific care which was necessary for prema-turely-born infants. Just six weeks ago the babies, well started on the tfay to healthy childhood, were taken to their home at Caversham and now they are settled and contented in their new environment and receiving the care and attention of their parents.

The babies’ day commences at about 6 a.m., and after sleeping at intervals they are finally put to bed about 7 p.m. They have four meals a day, their diet including oatmeal porridge, soup and vegetables, and crusts of well-baked bread. They also have an afternoon drink of orange juice. The babies have not been weighed since they left the Truby King—Harris Hospital, but there is every indication that they have all put on weight. Their weights when they left hospital compared with their weights ou admission to the hospital were as follow: — Brace, 18 J lb. (41b. IJoz.) ; Kathleen, 181 b. (31b. llioz.); Mary, 1741 b. (31b lOJoz.) ; Vera, 181 b. (41b.). In the dally mall delivery at the Johnson home ample evidence is provided of the widespread interest taken in the quadruplets. Their mother has received letters from many parts, of the world, particularly from America, and many of the letters have enclosed newspaper cuttings showing photographs of the babies. Visitors from Australia and from all parts of New Zealand have called at the house, and Mrs. Johnson has always gratified the wish of strangers to see the family. On a recent occasion Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who were visiting a picnic with the family in a closed car, found themselves the centre of an embarrassingly interested crowd, so that the parents have already had some moments of worry about what will happen when the four babies commence to take their first airings abroad.