Saturday 2nd May 2015

Finally, after months of concern, Jac had booked an appointment with a paediatrician to investigate why Emma and Anna hadn't said their first words yet. She had been worried since their first birthday, and Jonny seemed to put her worries at ease. But when they had reached 16 months old, even Jonny had gotten a little concerned so he'd agreed that there was no harm in going to see a children's doctor about it.

"Emma and Anna Maconie, go to room 3."

"Come on girls, that's us." Jonny said softly to his children who had been playing on the play mat with the box of toys in the waiting room. "I want you both on your best behaviour." He stated as he lifted Anna up onto his hip, and then he lifted Emma up too and he followed Jac to the consult room.

"Mr and Mrs Maconie, I presume. I'm Mark and I understand you've had some concerns about your daughters." The friendly man greeted the family of four as they entered the room. Jonny then placed his children on the examination bed and sat them next to each other before he leant against the bed so they couldn't tumble off whilst Jac sat down in a seat.

"Yeah, we're just a bit worried because they're 16 months old but they haven't said their first word yet." Jonny stated. "I mean, it's not as if they're quiet babies – they don't stop babbling away but they don't seem to be trying to communicate with anyone besides themselves at all and they're not making any sense." He explained.

"We're just worried that maybe something's wrong because we try to encourage them to talk all the time; we read to them, we talk to them, we listen to them but it's just like something's stopping them from speaking." Jac added. But before the paediatrician could speak, Emma and Anna started babbling away to each other for almost a minute before they started smiling and laughing.

"I think I know what's going on here." Mark stated. "Have you heard of cryptophasia before?" He asked.

"No." Jac replied confusedly.

"No, what is it?" Jonny asked.

"Don't worry, it's nothing to be concerned about. It's basically when twins create their own language between themselves and only those two can understand it." He stated. "It's thought that cryptophasia occurs in almost 50% of twins, but it generally phases out before the age of one. Obviously, that hasn't happened with Emma and Anna but it isn't anything to worry about when they're this young."

"Wait." Jonny frowned. "So they aren't speaking English, because they're too busy talking to each other?" Jonny grinned.

"Basically, yes." Mark confirmed.

"So what can we do?" Jac asked.

"Well, from what you've said you're already doing everything that you can; reading with them is a good way to encourage them to speak. But may I ask, are you reading to the twins at the same time? Or are you reading to Emma and Anna separately?"

"I normally read to them together." Jonny replied. "Why? Is it better to read to them individually?"

"If they babble to each other whilst you're reading then yes. If they're read to individually then they don't have the option to talk to their sister and they have to try and communicate with you. It's not that they don't want to though, they just find it easier to talk to each other than they do to learn a new language."

5:30pm

"Look at this." Jonny smirked as he and Jac sat on the sofa watching how their children interacted with each other whilst they played with some plastic shapes – but given the recent diagnosis, they were watching more intently to see how they were communicating. Jonny however had found a humorous video on the internet. "The Dad put the twins to sleep in their own cots, but he forgot to turn the light out and then he heard giggling. He got his phone out to film what was going on, and he found the girls playing peekaboo with each other when they were meant to be sleeping!" Jonny chuckled as he showed Jac the video on the iPad but once she looked at the bright screen, she grimaced. "Hey, are you alright?" He asked concernedly as he paused the video.

"It's just a headache." Jac replied simply.

"Have you taken some paracetamol?" He asked gently as he put the iPad aside because clearly the bright screen aggravated her pain.

"Mmhmm."

"Okay. Why don't you go and have a lie down then? And have an early night." He suggested.

"No, these two have still got to have their bath before they go to be and–"

"Jac, I can do that." Jonny stated. "Come on, these two giggling together and splashing about in the bath is not what you need right now. Go and get into bed, I can manage these two." He ordered softly as he placed a hand on her back.

"Don't forget to use the E45 bath oil." Jac prompted.

"I won't, go on." He ordered.

"You two have been worrying your mum and dad, all because you're busy gossiping to your sister." Jonny chuckled as he settled his children down for the night. "So now that we know what you two are really up to, I'd appreciate it if you tried to speak a word or two to us." He chuckled as he switched the main light off, leaving the dim night light on in the corner. "Honestly, just the word 'mama' or 'dada' and I'd be ecstatic." Jonny said with a hint of sarcasm. "Now, I'm going to go and check on your mummy because she's got a headache. So please, stay asleep tonight." He pleaded before he exited the nursery and walked to his bedroom where, despite it being only 7pm, Jac was laid in bed with a cool flannel on her forehead. "How're you feeling?" He asked softly as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Alright." Jac sighed. "How was bath time?" Jac asked with a bemused smile as she noticed the wet splashes on his grey t-shirt.

"The girls loved it." Jonny chuckled. "I, on the other hand– well that's a completely different story." He smirked. "What do you want for dinner?" He asked softly. "And I know you might not be terribly hungry but you've got to eat something because you've already skipped lunch." He said sternly. "We could order in a takeaway now that Emma and Anna are asleep."

"No, I don't want a takeaway." Jac sighed.

"Chicken soup?" He suggested.

"Nope."

"Toast?"

"Um… go on then. Toast." Jac nodded.

"Ooh toast. It must be bad." He said with a hint of sarcasm. "I can always tell because when you're not well because when I bring up food, a takeaway is in need if you're just tired, if you're a bit unwell then it's chicken soup but if you're 10/10 on the pain scale then it's always toast." He smiled. "Or if it's 11/10 then it's nothing so I suppose this isn't too bad."

"You try having a constant feeling of pressure in your skull and tell me you could eat a takeaway. Actually, I take that back because for the pressure, you'd have to have a brain bigger than a peanut." She quipped.

"And I know nothing is terribly wrong as long as you keep on insulting me and being sarcastic." Jonny smirked. "I'll go and make that toast for you." He added softly as he leant down and kissed her gently on the lips before he left her alone and headed to the kitchen.