-Hunter p.o.v-
Seb was taking all the kids bar Calo to his Aunts. Usually we all go but this year I am not sure I can handle the journey because this pregnancy has been one of the worst which is saying something considering I have carried quadruplets. Calo is staying because he has had almost a constant fever over the past 2 weeks and he had random bouts of sickness. Seb and I discussed it and we decided therefore that the two of us would stay at home. It was the morning they were leaving, an at least 8 hour journey ahead of them. Thomas and Luke are going to drive as well as Seb. The house was in chaos, Calo was still sleeping thankfully and he would stay in his room until it was time for them to go because we did not want to run the risk of him getting trampled.
I was sat in the kitchen with the youngest 9 who were all messily munching their way through breakfast. As each of them finished their breakfast I set about beginning to do their hair. For the boys I just brushed it but for the girls I plaited each of their hair into various numbers of plaits, the years of practise had definitely paid off. I then waddled into the lounge when Seb called them all to grab their travel bags. My husband came into the lounge with Calo and he deposited him on my lap gently. Calo groggily rubbed at his eyes and Seb smiled down at the two of us.
Before long each of the kids was coming in to say goodbye before they one by one headed out the front door to one of the 3 vehicles waiting to set off. Nick gave me a gentle hug and then took Calo cuddling him close while Tom, Luke and Seb all gave me a hug, Seb adding a soft kiss on the end. Nick and Calo are extremely close and Nick is very protective of Calo and always ensures that Calo is included which is amazing. He set Calo down and then waved to us both before slipping into the minibus. We then both watched through the living room window as they all set off waving madly.
The two of us lounged in our PJs for a few hours, until 11, before we headed to the downstairs bathroom to get washed. Calo went upstairs to grab us both some clothes while I had a shower and filled the baby bath for him. While he was washing I changed into the sweats and t-shirt he had brought me and once he was dressed, I waddled back to the lounge, following him. We decided that we would just lounge around and watch movies while we waited for the others to arrive at Seb's aunt's house at which point he would text me.
I was stirred from sleep by the text tone of my phone. I grabbed the phone and smiled contentedly as I saw it was Seb letting us know that they had arrived safe and sound, if a little grouchy. I glanced down at Calo who was curled up next to me with his little blanket wrapped round him. It hasn't been easy, my kids are amazing and it was our choice to have so many don't get me wrong I love all of them and wouldn't change them for the world, but sometimes I just wish it was a little easier.
I remember the day Calo was born. I was so panicked because he was 7 weeks early. Seb couldn't leave my side without me going into a full scale panic attack. He was whisked away immediately and that made me panic even more, I had been able to hold all the others just after they had been born. The only comfort I had until I saw him was Seb telling me that he was tiny but absolutely perfect. By the time I was being wheeled down to see my baby I had burst into tears numerous times. When I first saw him I bawled my eyes out, he was so tiny but so perfect and I knew he was going to be special.
Throughout his infant years we visited so many doctors and specialists that we lost count. Calo didn't grow and by the time he was 4 he was still only 17 inches tall, 3 inches bigger than when he was born. By that time we also had another daughter and I was stretched way too far some of the time causing me to snap or breakdown. Calo never complained and the other kids, especially Nick were amazing with him, they understood that they had to be careful with him although they were a bit confused when their new baby sister, Alessia, came home and she was bigger than Calo.
Over the years we have been told numerous times that he won't live to this point and he won't live to this point but the doctor who gave us the diagnosis finally is the doctor we have always gone back to, he told us that Calo would live a full life because there was nothing wrong with him, he was like any other child just pint sized. It has never been easy and the house we moved into a year ago, just after Cai was born is still not quite equip for some of his needs but we are getting there and he never lets that stop him.
School wise we have tried to spread the kids out a little, I know all too well what being at the same school as your siblings is like, constantly being compared to them and all so they are scattered around. When Calo started school we had a lot of trouble finding a school that would take him due to his, as they called it, disability. He got through primary school relatively unscathed, the teachers all told us that he was bright beyond his years and we began to notice it at home when he would pick up Nick, Tom and Luke's books and read them with undivided attention.
The most stressful time was definitely this past year. Calo was moving up to high school, and that presented its own set of problems. Along with that we had noticed that Nick seemed to be struggling and at school and that it seemed that he was getting bullied. One day we were called into school, Nick's English teacher was very concerned about Nick, we had a meeting and he told us about how he wanted Nick to take some tests. We agreed only wanting what was best for him, he had always been a slow reader and lagged behind the others when it came to writing and spelling. So amongst searching for a high school suitable for Calo we also tried to sit down with Nick and talk to him regularly about school and how he felt about class and friends and so on.
The night we got the results of his tests he broke down and told us about the bullying. He also came out to us that night and we were both so proud of him. The test results showed us that Nick was actually moderately/severely dyslexic. I remember watching Calo as he gently hugged his older brother trying to get him to stop crying. After that night we had a lot of things to think about. Seb had heard about a school called Dalton academy and we had looked into it. Dalton was an all-boys private school with a zero tolerance harassment policy. Sebastian and I went for a meeting and Calo insisted that he come as well to ensure that the school was okay for Nick. The staff at Dalton were amazing; the headmaster was so good with Calo and didn't treat him like a baby as most people do. We discussed everything with him and he explained to us about the policies and how they would be able to get Nick a tutor student or teacher to help Nick with his dyslexia. He then began to ask Calo about his school and Calo, our shy little boy, happily chatted all about school and how they were looking for a high school. The headmaster listened to his every word before calling for a student to give Calo a small tour. Once Calo was gone the headmaster told us all about a programme the school had for boys like Calo, he introduced us to some teachers and I have to say both Seb and I were very impressed.
At the start of September both Calo and Nick started at Dalton. Calo has private lessons with his tutor and Nick is in regular classes. Both of them are so happy and we wouldn't want it any other way. So as I said it hasn't always been easy but I know that neither Seb nor I would change any of it for the world because it is our family and our kids and they are all perfect just the way they are.
So, what do you think? Let me know.
Just for clarification here is a list of all the children…
Thomas 18
Luke 18
Nicholas 16
Seraphina 15
Calo 14
Alessia 10
Apple 9
Blue 7 (girl)
Beau 7
Hayden 6 (girl)
Sunday 5
Maple 5
Honey 5
Cieron 4
Noelle 4
Isabelle 4
Snow 4
Roman 3
Isla 3 (pronounce Eye-la)
Cai 1
Baby on the way