A common complaint of working parents is that life is so busy it can be difficult to take joy in the everyday.
For Erin and Daniel Pead, the uneventful everyday is something to be celebrated.
In 2014 their twin boys Lachlan and Xavier were born 15 weeks premature and were given a 50 per cent of survival.
The twins could fit in their mother's hands.
"For the first month for Xavier it was 50-50, it continued nearly up to two months until he was actually safe," Mrs Pead said.
"The boys were 577 grams, 30 centimetres tall and fitted in the palm of my hand."
She was just 25 weeks pregnant when she experienced an amniotic fluid leak and, despite bed rest, went into labour three days later.
Those three days were important.
"They don't like to resuscitate under 24 weeks [so] we were very, very lucky that we went an extra week," she said.
Royal Hobart Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit director Peter Dargaville said babies born at 25 weeks faced an uphill battle just to survive.
"They were right on the cusp for us of being babies who we would hope would survive, but by no means a guarantee," he said.
Xavier had to endure multiple surgeries and was fed from a tube for a year.
During that time Mrs Pead's mum died.
When Xavier was finally discharged from hospital after six months, he was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy.
"It was two steps forward five steps back, but you just go in for that day and start again the next — [it] was the only way that got us through," Mrs Pead said.
Her experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit inspired her to re-train as a nurse so she could support other families on difficult journeys.
"Their support was amazing," she said.
She now works at a regional hospital.
"I cannot explain how well and how good I feel at the end of the day looking after the patients I look after, but the best part of my job is seeing them go home," Mrs Pead said.
Xavier and Lachlan have come a long way since they left hospital.
They've both reached every milestone with the help of intensive therapy for Xavier.
"[They're] ready for primary school next year or kinder, which is a really exciting step for us as a family," Mrs Pead said.
