ONE YEAR OLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 11

ONE YEAR OLD

THE JOHNSON QUADRUPLETS HAPPY AND HEALTHY INFANTS A BUSY HOUSEHOLD To-day the Johnson quadruplets will celebrate their first birthday, 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 of 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 arid healthy. For the.first nine months the quadruplets were cared for in the Tniby King-Harris Hospital, where every facility was available for the scientific care which was necessary for prematurely born infants. Just six weeks ago the babies, well started on the way to healthy childhood, were taken to.their home at 20 Aberfeldy street, Caversham, and now they are settled.and contented in their new environment and receiving the loving attention of their parents. BONNY BABIES Yesterday a Daily Times reporter called at the bright and tidy home, which has a. pleasantly sunny situation, to inquire after the babies and to extend to Mr and Mrs Johrison the greetings which so many in Dunedin and further afield would welcome the opportunity to give in person. Both parents were at home, ana were proud to introduce their celebrated babies. When -the * reporter entered the nursery two of the four were sleeping, but before long all were awake and sitting up and taking a bright interest in the proceedings, despite the fact that they were all slightly affected by the coming of their first teeth — a troublesome stage for infants, and for their mothers, too. In their white silk dresses and baby-blue jackets, the quartet made a happy picture as they played with their toys. Mary and Kathleen are very much alike—so much so, in fact, that their mother often has to look closely into their eyes before she can distinguish them. At present, however, the fact that Mary' lias cut two teeth and -Kathleen is • the possessor of only one is a more,convenient means of identification. Mary also has a charming little dimple. Both have clear blue eyes and fair, curly hair which is darkening as they grow older. Vera is different from her sisters and is more like Bruce in appearance, although she is of a much more serious and placid nature. Bruce is a sturdy youngster so much heavier than his sisters that he appears to be several months older than them. His hair and eyes are darker, and at present he strongly resembles his eldest sister. who is nine years of age. Bruce and Vera have not yet cut any teeth, but the former's are expected to come through within the next few days. Bruce is the most forward of ttvi four and takes a leading part in their little amusements, and he never fails to do his best to attract attention when visitors are present. Kathleen, however, keenly resents his assumption of leadership and indignantly protests if he encroaches on her possessions. There is already between the two a definite rivalry which Is highly amusing. Bruce is able to crawl, and, when supported, he puts down his feet very firmly. Kathleen is not so advanced in this respect, but she also possesses vigorous limbs and greatly enjoys trying to follow the actions of one of her older sisters in step dancing. Music possesses a strong attraction for all the children, and. especially for Vera, who is in most ways less animated than the others. Mary is farthest advanced so far as talking is concerned and has mastered the first words in baby vocabulary, although when she- is invited to say "Ma-ma" she exhibits a contrary humour and calls for her father. All have the gift of gay, infectious laughter. STEADY PROGRESS The babies' day commences about 6 a.m., and after sleeping at intervals during the day they arc finally put to bed about 7 p.m. They now have four meals a day, their diet including oatmeal porridge, bone and vegetable 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 the hospital, compared with their weights on admission to the hospital, are given in the following table: —

PARENTS' BIG TASK Naturally the taking charge of the four babies has meant that Mrs Johnson has become a busy woman with an unusually heavy responsibility, but she possesses energy and a keen sense of humour, and these faculties have enabled her to undertake cheerfully the care of her larse family and to perform her many duties in a manner which reflects the greatest credit on her. Mr Johnson has proved himself an adaptable and helpful husband, and, with his assistance and that of a nurse during the day, Mrs Johnson manages to care not only for the four babies, but also for their two older sisters and to carry out the multifarious duties of the housewife. That her task is no light one is shown by the fact that she usually retires about 1 a.m., and by 0 a.m. she is once more busy about her work. She chatted freely about the doings of the family of which she is obviously very proud—a feeling which her husband shares. She said that already she had received a number of birthday greetings from various parts of New Zealand, and that to-day she intended to hold a quiet little birthday party at which the piece de resistance would be an iced cake. The quadruplets, however, will have to be content with looking on when this is dealt with. WIDESPREAD INTEREST In the daily mail delivery there is ample evidence of the wide interest taken in the quadruplets, as Mrs Johnson 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 the strangers to see the family. Local residents have respected the privacy of the home, and it is probably for this reason that the number of local visitors has been surprisingly small. On a recent occasion, however, 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, eo that the parents have had some moments of

worry about what will happen when the four babies commence to take their first airings abroad. The parents appreciate the expressions of public goodwill, and the attraction exercised by such a group of bonny children can easily be understood, but it is to be hoped that it will not be necessary for the parents to take any unusual precautions in the upbringing of their children.

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