Brothers Fergus and Finlay sit propped against a double feeding pillow, holding matching hammer rattles, their matching blue eyes taking in the world with six-month-old curiosity.
News they were expecting twins came as a shock for first-time Paraparaumu parents Falyn and Peter Cranston, during the routine 12 week scan.
"I think I cried and Pete had a shot of bourbon," Falyn said.
But the news that followed turned the couple's world upside down.
At 17 weeks in utero, Fergus was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a congenital heart defect.
It meant the left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped.
On February 5 at Auckland City Hospital, Fergus became one of the 12 babies born each week in New Zealand with a heart defect.
Like most congenital heart defects, the cause of Fergus' is unknown, and his brother Finlay is healthy.
"For Fergus, his left side and his aorta didn't develop properly, so it wasn't able to pump oxygenated blood out to his body," Falyn said.
"They say kids with HLHS have 'half a heart' as one side is undeveloped or doesn't work at all."
Falyn said the feelings that came with Fergus' initial diagnosis were as expected - terrifying, shocking and upsetting.
"Having twins was going to be tough enough, but knowing one of them would be unwell and not knowing if the surgeries would be successful made the news much harder.
"It was probably the toughest start to parenthood we could've imagined."
Annually, more than 550 major heart surgeries are performed on children or babies in New Zealand, sometimes within their first few hours of life.
At five days old, Fergus had the first of three heart surgeries, known as the Norwood procedure.
Stage one of the three-part procedure involved creating a new circuit for blood flow through one of Fergus' main arteries, which carries de-oxygenated blood for oxygenation.
As a result, his lungs were ready to eventually receive blood directly, bypassing the heart.
Stage two of the operation followed and involved diverting half of Fergus' body's unoxygenated blood supply to his lungs.
The third and final stage, which will be performed when Fergus is aged between three and four, will result in all of Fergus' blood going to his lungs.
Falyn said the first five months of the twins' lives were spent in and out of hospital, and having to limit visitors.
"In the stage between the first and second surgery, we had to keep Fergus from getting sick.
"A simple cold would've affected him much more than a healthy baby and he could've become very sick, very fast," she said.
While at home, the family lived mostly in isolation, and could not take the boys around crowds of people.
"We were told to avoid going out in public unless it was out for a walk in the open air.
"Anyone coming in or out of the house had to wash and sanitise their hands, and we didn't allow anyone to hold Fergus to avoid bugs being passed on."
Fergus and his family are currently one of the 400 families in the Wellington and Kapiti Coast areas supported by Heart Kids Wellington.
The organisation is a division of Heart Kids New Zealand, which has over 8000 members nationwide.
This month, Falyn attended a Heart Kids New Zealand workshop, where she met a teenage boy living with HLHS.
"It was hugely reassuring to see someone doing so well with his condition.
"It hasn't stopped him doing anything and he never wanted to be treated differently because of it.
"To hear he lives a completely normal life was great."
Heart Kids New Zealand, the nation's only organisation supporting Kiwi heart children throughout life, has been providing support services since 1984.
Without any government funding, it relies solely on public donations.
"We were told about Heart Kids by the team at Wellington Hospital and we signed up right away.
"There's an amazing team of family support officers at Starship and out in the community.
"They've all gone out of their way to help and support us, provide us with meals, lend an ear from time-to-time and give us support and advice."
Each year, Heart Kids volunteers make over 800 frozen meals for use by families staying at Starship.
In the future, Falyn hoped Fergus would attend Heart Kids camps and activities, and have the opportunity to meet other kids like him.
"Heart kids are incredibly strong.
"From the outside, you'd never know Fergus has been through so much.
"Seeing him doing so well after such a difficult start is the most amazing feeling."
Now, finally allowed to get out and about, the family is enjoying doing everyday things together.
"Of course, we're letting everyone catch up on months of missed cuddles."
For more information on Heart Kids New Zealand, or to make a donation, visit www.heartkids.org.nz, email info@heartnz.org.nz or phone 0800 543 943.
