Friday 24th December

It might be Christmas Eve today, but it's a standard day for our little bundles of joy in the NICU.

This morning I went for a flu jab. I wouldn't normally, but thought I'd better this year; I don't want to risk anything hindering our babies' progress, or any others in the ward. The doctor's waiting room was typically grim; the 'computer says no' lady behind the desk, talking patronisingly to an elderly customer as usual. The room was filled with keen coughers and splutterers, dispersing their germs as far as possible. And to top it off, Cliff Richard's 'Mistletoe and Wine' was spewing out of the cheap, tinny speakers. To make matters worse, it wasn't even the original version - but a panpipe tribute. That is seriously not what you need to hear if you're feeling even slightly unwell. Thankfully, my wait was short - so I got injected with my protection against the influenzas of pigs and birds and whatever else, and left as quickly as possible.

I managed to fit in some quality working from home today, so I can relax a bit more with five continuous days off with the wife and children.

Willow and Stanley were being particularly amazing today. I fed Willow for the first time, and she handled it really well; hardly needing any additional oxygen to keep her going. After she was fed, she was wide awake for a few hours and being more alert than we've ever seen her. In fact, she's so much more lively that she seems like a different baby. Let's hope that this was the final corner she needed to turn.

It was so difficult to leave them tonight; they were both awake and lying in their double cot, checking each other out. It's like they've decided to put this show on for us especially for Christmas. We eventually left the hospital and went for our traditional Christmas Eve meal out, for the last time as just the two of us. We can't wait now for the New Year, when it will no longer by the two of us doing everything together, but the four of us.