After seven months in hospital, babies will be home for Christmas; 'Emotional roller-coaster' ends in joy for the couple whose twin boys were born 10weeks early.

Byline: Sarah Miloudi

GAZING down at their newborn twins, Darren and Rachel wondered how their children had arrived in the world.

It's not unusual to see parents marvel at what must seem like a miracle - the start of two new lives - but for this Caerphilly couple having two healthy sons lying in their arms really is one.

Just 25 weeks into her pregnancy 37-year-old housewife Rachel Carter went into labour. According to doctors nothing could have triggered a surprise delivery, but after previous pregnancies the mum of seven knew the series of sharp pains she felt inside her stomach were a sign her newest children were on their way.

After spending fewer than 15 minutes in labour at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital, on May 3 Mason, the first of the couple's baby boys, was born.

"It all happened so fast we didn't even know if he was breathing," said delivery driver Darren Woods, 39.

"At about 25 weeks women can still have abortions and there we were, seeing one of our sons being wrapped up in plastic to keep him warm. The labour had lasted minutes - I think about 10 in total - then the midwives rushed our baby away.Weknew one of the twins had arrived but it was two hours before I could see him and longer for Rachel because she was still to give birth to our second son."

Rachel delivered the second of the couple's twins Morgan, who weighed 1lb 11oz, four days later. Their sons spent the next seven months living in incubators in the hospital's intensive careunit, and Mason, who weighed 1lb 9oz, underwent three operation during the time - two at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales so a tear in his stomach lining could be repaired and another, a two-hour procedure in theatre at Bristol's Royal Infirmary, to close a valve in his heart.

Both babies were equivalent in size toasmall bag of sugar, but remarkably, smaller and younger infants had been born at the hospital.

Darren said: "We could have slipped a wedding ring over their hands and wrists if we could have held them; one baby would have fitted into the palm of my hand. That's how tiny they were.

"Because they needed to be in incubators we couldn't do any of these things for quite a few weeks. After aboutamonth myself and Rachel were allowed to pop two fingers through a hole in the side of the incubator to say 'hello' but we had to develop our own Morse code because our children thought the only thing coming into their incubator was needles for injections.

We used to tap their tiny hands twice so they knew it was us."

Both infants received round the clock one-to-one hospital care due to their fragility and because Morgan was born with cerebral palsy - a condition affecting the muscles down the left side of his body. Mason had chronic lung disease, which he is thought to have developed after swallowing fluid during his delivery.

It will take about two years before the couple will know the true extent of their infants' conditions, to discover whether their hearing, which only Morgan appears to have in his left ear, will develop further.

The pair must also have their sight checked at six-monthly intervals, but neither Rachel nor Darren is concerned about what life has in store for their blue-eyed, brown-haired twins.

Rachel said: "In our eyes, these boys are perfect. They laugh, giggle and can see us smiling down at them.

"We are still verymuch at a time with them where we take every day as it comes, and will wait to see what the future holds for them. The most important thing is that no matter what the future brings for our children they will never face it alone. My mother always toldmethatGoddoes not give you what you cannot handle, and I am a big believer in that."

After spending almost four months in hospital, on August 27 Morgan was allowed home in Maesycwmmer, Ystrad Mynach, which the couple share with their nine-year-old son Sam Carter.

And today Mason will be discharged after spending 205 days in hospital.

"We cannot believe this day is finally here," said Darren.

"There were moments, like before Mason's operation, when we were told not to be too hopeful. Yet I can sit here with one beautiful boy and hear his little cries, and we will soon have his brother beside him.

"There are both a lot heavier now, around about 12lbs thanks to the wonderful care they have been given by the hospital staff, and the nurses, who we came to call aunties.

"The journey to get these babies home has been like an emotional rollercoaster - a long, but beautiful journey and it has been a privilege to watch them grow stronger."

"Every high and low has been worth it," Rachel added.

Due to problems with Mason's lungs, he will remain on oxygen 24 hoursaday at home, and must take a cocktail of five different drugs to boost his breathing and aid his digestion.

The twins will also receive regular home visits fromaphysiotherapist who will monitor their growth, but it is thought many of their medical conditions will improve with age.

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CAPTION(S):

JOY: Twins Mason, left, and Morgan, who will be reunited at home this morning after Mason finally leaves Royal Gwent Hospital, with parents Rachel and Darren PICTURE: Peter Bolter; FIRST BORN: Mason pictured at one week; TINY: Morgan, who was born four days after his brother