We Won't Drop the Baby

Adele and Laurence are having a baby.

Complications when they were born mean they both have cerebral palsy.

They said that I'd never walk.

I think that they actually used the word "vegetable".

Adele is determined to have her baby naturally...

I like the idea of water!

..but has no idea what impact her condition will have on that.

I just want to try and experience it in the same way as most women do.

While stand-up comedian Laurence tries to see the funny side...

I don't know if people are clapping my jokes or my sperm...

LAUGHTER

..mother-in-law Pauline knows having a baby is no laughing matter.

Will Laurence and Adele get the birth of their choice?

The important thing is that he comes in one piece.

I'd never forgive myself if something happened.

And how will they cope with a new addition to their busy lives?

I'm just frightened, Mum, in case I can't get mobile again.

You will get mobile.

Have you got him? No, Laurie have you got him?

This programme contains some strong language

Nine years ago Laurence Clark and his wife Adele fell in love.

I think it was probably more lust to begin with, to be honest.

We went out for a drink one night,

and one thing led to another!

Laurence laughs and says, "Oh, second date.

"She was like, 'Do you want kids? If you don't, get on your bike!'"

But you know, it was really important to me,

and I guess, looking back, I realise that I was quite pushy.

Why did you climb on that side?

After a year of marriage, they had Tom,

and began life as disabled parents.

We just used to get on with it and not really see it as an issue.

It was other people's perceptions of us,

so I'd be out in the local supermarket, for example,

and complete strangers would stop and ask me how I manage,

and sometimes ask if Tom was mine.

Quite frankly, it's none of their business.

-It doesn't really come as a surprise.

-No.

You get negative reactions in all areas of life,

so I don't see why this should be any different.

Hi, Tom!

Do you want a push?

It's taken six years for Adele to persuade Laurence to have another child.

Hold on tight!

This is a bit more difficult, now Mummy's got a bump.

She's now four months pregnant.

I was really keen for him to have siblings

so, you know, that was a lot of my drive, really.

I was a bit more hesitant, just because it was a lot of work...

Still is!

You've done extra good with that pizza.

Do you think you'll have room for pud?

This is where I asked Adele to move in with me.

Before I met Laurence, I'd been in some situations

where I'd been with non-disabled men who were absolute wastes of space,

and it was just that need to feel attractive

to a non-disabled man, which...

you know, is silly really.

That said, I think we can both name

hundreds of potential disabled partners

that we wouldn't touch with a barge pole!

Six-year-old Tom likes jumping on his Dad,

dressing up,

and Doctor Who.

And he's already decided on a name for the baby.

Do you like Harry?

Do you like Harry?

Yeah.

And Dad does,

but my mum doesn't.

What does she want to call the baby?

She doesn't know yet, but if we had a girl it would be all sorted.

Laurence and Adele are about to discover

if it's a brother or sister for Tom.

Adele's mother, Pauline, is joining them at the hospital.

I'd like a girl but I'd be happy with a boy.

I just want one of each.

It's only because he doesn't want me nagging him for any more, that's why!

He can argue he's got the full set then, and get the snip.

Laurence and Adele have chosen not to have any pre-natal tests

which could predict impairments in their unborn child.

We're in a position where our impairments aren't hereditary,

so we haven't got that to think about.

And, if our baby was born with some sort of impairment,

we'd be well placed to bring them up.

I think that our biggest worry

was that he could have been born a Tory.

Your biggest worry at the time was, would he have ginger hair?

Yeah! Oh, yeah!

Heart beating.

There, you can see the spine, so the baby's lying on its back.

So, the million dollar question is,

can you tell the sex?

OK. We say it's not 100%...

Yeah.

..but it looks like a boy.

Yeah.

You were right.

I was right.

Aw, I'm a nan again!

Oh, look! He looks like Tom.

THEY LAUGH

This is Adele and I.

We went and had a makeover for her 21st,

but I love that one because I just feel dead close to her on that.

She goes, "Mum, will you get rid of the big photographs of me?"

I go, "No, I love them."

Obviously she's going to get demoted because I want one of the new baby.

When I was seven months, my waters broke.

I was taken into the hospital,

and they gave me an injection to try and stop her from coming.

Then I went in at ten o'clock on the Friday night,

and had her at 2:10pm on Saturday afternoon.

They just said the next 48 hours are crucial,

and I thought to myself,

"If this baby dies, I've got nothing to live for."

From the point of diagnosis, it's often really negative.

"Your son or daughter won't achieve A, B and C.

"Your son or daughter will always have a level of reliance on you."

I was hard with Adele when she was little because I had to be hard,

because...I wanted her to be hard,

and think, "Yeah, I am like everyone else."

I used to say to her, "Go on in the street and play with the other kids,"

and I'd just shut the front door on her.

If she fell over, I'd go, "Get up", and then she used to look at me

as if to say, "God, you don't care about me", but I did care about her,

but I thought that's the only way that she's going to learn.

Adele and Laurence are having their home extended

to make space for a nursery.

The baby is going to go in here,

which is currently the dining room.

This is a spare room,

and this would logically be where the baby would go

but as you can see it's really tight for me to get in there.

If we had used the spare room for the baby,

it would have been my perfect excuse

for not getting up in the middle of the night.

This is day two of many.

At least it's getting done.

You all right?

It'll be fine. Come on.

I reckon the next couple of weeks will be hell.

Just, you're not sleeping properly

because obviously your body's getting prepared for the baby coming.

You're trying to get on with stuff,

but it's just...

easier said than done, isn't it?

I brought the whole roll.

HE LAUGHS

I anticipated more grief.

Although his wife doesn't always find him funny...

Laurence Clark!

..it's Laurence's job to make people laugh.

No, I'm not pissed.

He spends over 100 nights a year

touring the UK stand-up comedy circuit.

This is actually how I talk all the time.

Glad you find it funny.

Bit of a plus as a comic, I find.

I wanted to do drama but I was put off that at every turn

by parents,

by teachers, by careers advisers,

saying, "You'll never get any work".

After several sell-out shows in Edinburgh,

Laurence is set to spend a month at the festival later in the year,

just weeks after Adele's due date.

When we tell people we're expecting - my wife has cerebral palsy too -

and you get two reactions.

You get the people that assume we've had it on IVF

because we couldn't possibly have had it the natural way, could we?

Or, you get the others that smile and say congratulations,

but their eyes...

Their eyes are saying, "How the fuck did they manage that?"

I've always had cerebral palsy. I've always been like this.

I've got nothing to compare it to,

so I don't really spend my life thinking, "I wish I could walk",

or "I wish I could do this or that", because...

I'm happy the way I am.

Like Adele, Laurence's cerebral palsy was caused by complications during his birth.

It was New Year's Eve and, when she went into labour, my Mum,

the doctors and nurses were celebrating New Year

in the time-honoured tradition.

She buzzed for help and the staff were drunk,

and didn't take her seriously,

so I moved into the breech position.

A lack of oxygen during the birth

caused my cerebral palsy,

and she had to argue to get them to resuscitate me.

They said I'd probably have learning difficulties,

wouldn't be able to get around,

wouldn't be able to take care of myself,

and be incontinent.

In fact, I think they actually used the word "vegetable" to my mum.

I think at the time for her it was obviously pretty traumatic.

It's something that I think she still struggles with.

I think those are both in Florida, aren't they?

It's Busch Gardens.

Yes, Busch Gardens.

I never looked to the future at all

because there was a lot of negativity in those days.

I think everybody's a lot more enlightened now,

but I didn't look to the future, and the only way I could deal with it

was to deal with what was going on at the time.

But my one hope inside was that you would meet somebody one day -

I wasn't even thinking of marriage - but have a partner,

and have a healthy sex life,

and for your mother to think that is horrific!

Most young men would cringe at the thought but I really, truly...

I probably would have!

You would have done! You would have done!

It was the best day of my life when you brought Adele home to meet me.

Stand there and I'll see if I can kick it to you. You ready?

Yeah!

For Tom, the fact his mum and dad are disabled

is just part of everyday life.

That's Mum, that's Dad, that's baby.

Is Daddy in a car?

It's his wheelchair.

It's his wheelchair.

So, do you know why Daddy has a wheelchair?

He didn't come out of Grandma's tummy in time.

And do you know why Mummy has a stick?

Because...

I don't know exactly.

Can you tell me?

I don't think it's been really since he's gone to school

and started forming, you know, friendships and interacting, really,

that he's begun to recognise any difference.

Because I remember not long after him starting reception,

round the tea table one night,

he asked when he was going to get his wheelchair.

Yeah.

-Is this a bib?

-Yeah.

Put them all in neat for Mum.

What do you think it's going to feel like when the baby's coming?

Well, I think when he's coming out of Mummy's tummy,

it might hurt a little bit because he's got to find his way out,

but I hope when he does come it'll make us all really happy.

You said the baby has to find a way out -

the doctor can't just get it out?

Well, it's a bit of both.

He has to wriggle down so he can get out.

So you're saying the doctor makes a special hole in your belly

and then the baby can get through?

Um, sometimes. That's how you were born. You were born by caesarean

because you were lying the wrong way round,

so they gave Mummy a little operation

where they cut her tummy and reached you out,

but this time the baby will try and find his own way out,

with a little bit of help from the hospital.

Adele doesn't know what impact her cerebral palsy will have

on a natural birth.

My impairment mainly affects my lower limbs,

and one of the things that does worry me a little bit

is whether my hips will cope with the pushing mechanism.

You've got to be able to push and use gravity to get the baby out.

I just want to try and experience it in the same way most women do.

She says, "I really want to try, Mum.

"I really want to try and have this baby naturally,

"and not have any pain relief."

I'm made up that she's going to try,

but I'm also really worried

because I don't want her to suffer, and I don't want the baby to suffer.

Laurence and Adele are meeting the hospital's consultant midwife

to discuss a birth plan.

I'm really keen to try naturally because this baby will be our last,

and, from our point of view, we don't want anything spectacularly different

than what any other family would want.

OK. What sort of labour did your mum have?

I was early. I was two months prem.

The labour was pretty traumatic, hence my impairment.

That's what caused the CP.

OK. Was it a vaginal birth then?

It was, yeah.

I was only two pounds, so there wasn't much of me to get out.

OK, OK.

You said that your mum had a traumatic time -

are you anxious about going through it, or are you quite chilled?

I'm chilled about it.

-And how are you about it, Laurence? Are you quite chilled?

-Yeah, fine.

So, the options really...

Unfortunately, I don't think we'd be in a position to offer you water.

So, why is that not an option?

Well, mainly because the issue would be you getting in and out of it,

so we could explore that and try you getting in and out of the pool.

As far as...

What about armbands?

You can wear armbands if you want to.

You won't be getting in the pool, my dear.

-People do get their partners in.

-Gross!

-It's something to think about.

People do get their mum in or their partner in... It's a big pool.

Let's hope I don't go blooming flying now.

Can you lift that leg on your own, or would need to help you?

TOM: Are you going to put water in?

No! I hope not.

How was your hip during that?

It was fine.

If you just lower yourself down...

that'll be it.

I like the idea of water.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I think that'd be fine.

I mean, obviously I haven't got labour pains at the moment,

so getting in might not be as smooth as it was just then.

As you can see, it'd be big enough for you, Laurence, if you wanted to.

Yeah...

We decided to opt for a water birth

and the hospital asked,

did I want to get in the pool with Adele during the birth?

I have to say, I wasn't that keen.

I can't swim.

I just sink like a stone

and I didn't want the first thing my newborn son saw

as he came out

to be his father in kids' arm bands.

LAUGHTER

Or, for that matter, his father drowning

-whilst choking on his afterbirth.

-LAUGHTER

Aw, that's nice. I like that.

-It's 55, though, Mum.

-That's all right.

I can't wait for the day she goes into labour though because

I'm looking forward to going in the room with her just holding her hand.

Not that she'll hold my hand, like.

She'll probably shout at me.

You just have to put up with it, don't you? Go in one ear, out the other and over the top of your head.

-I'm getting them!

-Oh, just throw them on.

-No, you're not.

-Just leave it.

Mum, stop it!

I think when Adele goes into labour I will worry

because I think it's only a mother's way to worry.

You know, you're worried about her

because you don't want to see your little girl in pain.

At the end of the day, she's still my baby having a baby.

-Thanks, Mum.

-Don't cry. What you crying for?

-They're guaranteed five years.

-Yeah.

Over the last couple of days, we've kind of had a little bit of a wobble

and thought, "God, I don't know whether I'm better opting for a section."

I don't know whether it's just me having a panic moment,

but obviously my condition affects my hips.

And obviously I'm quite small in stature,

so maybe my pelvis isn't designed to get something this big

out of something this small, do you know what I mean?

So... Oh, I don't know.

So, do you know how many sleeps it is till your brother comes?

-Mum knows.

-25 sleeps if he comes on his due date.

-I hope he doesn't come out like Daddy did.

-What do you mean?

-He didn't come out in time.

-Oh, you mean Daddy was late?

-Yeah.

I hope he doesn't come late either. Jeez...

He's heard your mum say things like, "Oh, Daddy was overcooked."

Yeah.

He doesn't mean it with any malice, does he?

He doesn't mean it with any malice and he is only young

so, yeah. It doesn't upset me or anything.

Two days before the due date and Adele has gone into labour.

As soon as she phoned, I jumped out the bed.

I said, "I'm coming down right now!"

I'm like this with the eyeliner, putting the eyeliner on!

I can hear someone screaming. That's not what I need right now.

-NURSE:

-Don't listen - it puts people off!

Do you want to stand up?

Because Tom was a planned caesarean,

this is the first time Adele has experienced contractions.

Breathe in. That's it.

I get the better end of the deal, don't I?

I was thinking in the house,

"God, if they're this painful now how the hell am I going to get him out?"

With the aid of drugs and water hopefully!

If someone else comes in and gets that pool, they'll be murder!

Maybe we can go and put a towel down?

Stake a claim!

Just sit there for a minute while we get your thing, Adele.

Adele's waters have just broken.

It's still slippy.

-It's a bit wet still.

-Oh, is it?

-Yeah, on the floor.

But it looks like there might be a problem with her labour.

Unfortunately the baby's had a little poo inside Mum

so that does tell us that the baby's been a little bit unhappy at some stage

for whatever reason, so as a precaution we're just putting her

on the monitor just to assess the heartbeat continuously just to make sure everything's OK.

OK? Come on. You'll be fine. This is just all precaution.

Only a boy would open his bowels in his mother.

THEY LAUGH

The most important thing is that he comes in one piece

and I'd never forgive myself if something happened.

If the baby's situation improves,

then Adele still has a chance at a natural birth.

You go down and get some food.

You need to eat cos you're going to need your energy.

-Trust me - when I'm pushing, you cannot move away from my side.

-OK.

I'm just absolutely exhausted.

I wish I could sleep for an hour without the pain

and then wake up feeling a bit more vitalised.

After 18 hours of labour,

the consultant midwife has bad news for Adele.

Not progressed.

So, no change in the cervix, in fact Jo's saying it's going the other way

which fits with a baby's head that isn't sitting nicely on your cervix.

So if we go for the decision for a section now,

Jo and I can talk to delivery suite. We can get that moving.

It's not going to be classed as an emergency section, Adele, because we're not concerned about you

but I'm conscious it's now 5:30pm and we want the consultant

to do it, so I suspect we'll be taking you over in the next hour.

You did really well, Adele.

I just can't...

Bit disappointed because

obviously we wanted a natural birth

if possible, but also gave it the best shots.

Laurence, we've just twigged actually that it would be better for us

if we could put you in one of our wheelchairs to take you into theatre.

-Is that going to be difficult?

-It really is.

-That's why I'm asking the question.

Because that's like surrendering all my autonomy.

-OK. Don't worry.

-Thanks.

-OK.

They'll be concerned about the wheels

because obviously you can't put these attractive polythene bags

on the wheels.

-I'm just going to wipe the wheels.

-OK.

-Is that OK?

-Yeah, fine.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah, yeah.

And I'll just get you to move in a second.

-It's very clean.

-HE LAUGHS

Very clean.

-Thank you.

-No problem.

HE LAUGHS

Moments after, Laurence is called into theatre. His son is born.

Oh, he's beautiful, love.

BABY CRIES

Wave to Daddy. Say hello to Daddy.

Oh, he's beautiful.

He's breathing and he's all right.

It felt like an eternity, waiting for him to cry.

-Hello!

-He's lovely.

-Are you all right taking him a little bit closer to Adele?

-Yeah.

I can't get over how much like Tom he is.

Well, we were going to name him on what he looked like,

but he looks like a Tom and we've got one of them.

-Adele?

-Yeah.

-Ten pounds, one and a half ounces.

Well done.

-Which way do you want him?

-Erm, with his head this side.

-Thank you.

-OK?

-Yes.

-Proud Dad.

I'm sore and exhausted,

but I'm made up with him.

I just can't stop looking at him.

I was pleased with how I was supported

cos they really did support me to try and do the whole natural thing

and it just wasn't to be in the end.

In the end I thought, "If she doesn't have a caesarean section now

"something really bad's going to happen." I really had that horrible feeling.

I just felt... It was overwhelming

because she'd been in that much pain all day

and she'd struggled and didn't really have any pain relief.

She had just paracetamol, really.

And then seeing her struggle like that just made me really feel sick.

Brought back memories of when she had all her operations

and all the pain she's been through throughout her life,

but she held on in there. I thought she done really well.

Hello, baby. Oh, my God...

Oh, isn't he gorgeous?

Oh, my God. He's little Tom all over again!

Are you all right? Eh?

Oh, isn't he lovely?

Probably need a bit of help to get off the bed.

That's absolutely fine, honey.

It's always a bit scary at first getting out the bed

cos you've got a scar and it's the second time for me.

And on top of, like, having mobility issues anyway

I know I'm going to be sore.

-I'll work with you as best I can.

-OK. That's fine.

We just need you to bring your legs round.

Adele is getting out of bed in the hope of taking a shower.

But it quickly becomes apparent

that it might be too soon for Adele to become mobile.

It hurts.

-The pain.

-I know, Adele, I know.

No. No! I'm going, I'm going, I'm going...

-NURSE:

-God, you've been through hell and back, Adele.

-NURSE:

-I'm not surprised you feel dizzy.

Adele just goes pale when she's going to faint and I just thought,

"She's going to faint any minute."

She couldn't get in the shower, so we just rung for the nurse

but she was screaming for me, so...

We just got her in the wheelchair.

She's desperate for a shower and she's panicking now

that she's not going to get well to look after the baby.

She did it all with Tom. She can do it again, can't she?

Come on. You're going to be all right.

Come on. Your mum's here.

I'm not going to leave you on your own, am I?

I'm just frightened, Mum, in case I can't get mobile again.

You will get mobile. Don't be daft.

God, you've done everything else in your life, haven't you, without help?

You've missed it all, mate. You've been asleep.

My legs are heavy anyway

and they're still like lead from the epidural

plus I've got the section scar.

It all builds on top of one another.

I'm just really frightened.

I did admire her for really wanting to try,

for wanting to experience a natural birth.

Were you relieved Adele had her caesarean in the end?

Definitely, yes. Because I've done it both ways

and obviously when it was Laurence that's what happened

and so Laurence had to be resuscitated.

OK, we've just got a few boring questions before we start.

How's he feeding? Is he feeding well on the breast?

Before Adele can leave hospital, the paediatrician

-needs to examine the baby.

-Have you seen a baby check before?

-Yeah, it's a little while, but yeah.

-OK.

OK. So he holds himself really beautifully.

Nice and bent arms and legs like that. The mouth is good.

He's got a nice palette with no holes or clefts or anything like that.

He doesn't have any turning in of the feet or...

As he was doing it I was wondering, "God, I wonder what mine was like!"

HE LAUGHS

Hello, sweetheart. Your brother's home.

He's never seen our house before, has he?

I'm happy the baby's come home.

And Tom's little brother now has a name - Jamie.

He's cute.

He might be dreaming of drinking milk.

BABY POOS

HE LAUGHS

I like to stand back and just see where help's needed

and stay in the background and let them get on with it.

They're both so capable and so confident

when they're in their own home.

I just want to be there and mostly I'm making sure Tom's OK.

Laurence and Adele need to find an accessible way to bath Jamie.

-How's that look?

-That should be fine.

They've decided the rise and fall worktop in the kitchen is a good place to start.

Run out of workspace - as big as the kitchen is.

This will be Jamie's first bath at home.

I'm nervous.

It's been a long time since I've done it.

BABY CRIES

Please take it to Mummy. It's giving me a headache!

Ta.

-Do you want me to help?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I don't think he likes baths.

-Neither do you.

-HE LAUGHS

Aw...

OK? BABY CRIES

I'm sorry, sweetie. Can you hold that?

You've got to give him right.

-Go on.

-You've got to give him right.

-It's just not working for me.

I'm frightened of that there.

I'm really conscious we're on a tile floor, you know,

and I'm only just mobilising but...

BABY CRIES

There you go.

Just hold his head up.

I'm just really worried, Laurie.

-I don't like handling him when he's slippy.

-OK.

Have you got him?

No, Laurie, have you got him?

I'm slipping.

-Have you got him?

-Yeah.

-Oh, my lovely!

-I've got him. Got him.

Hooray! First bath!

This kitchen's sort of new, so they're, like, exploring

new ways of doing it and only they can do it.

It's awful for me, cos I stand in the wings

and I want to go and help, but I can't.

You find the best ways to do things

and they may not always look to other people

the best way,

but I know my own body, I know my own balance,

obviously, I'm not going to take risks with my newborn son.

'That, I think, is hard for some people to get their heads around.'

There we are.

Shaken but not stirred!

It's two weeks since the birth,

and Laurence is about to change his first nappy.

This could be a disaster.

How come you haven't changed a nappy so far?

Cos I'm good at avoidance!

Actually, this is the really easy part of it,

but so is being a bloke.

Here she is.

BABY GRIZZLES

It's hard when he wriggles.

Oh, Daddy's gagging, Daddy's gagging!

Oh! Oh, dear!

Daddy has to do it sometimes.

That was a bit of a nasty one, wasn't it?

I just had my baby delivered

at an NHS hospital.

As you can probably imagine,

the wife is over the moon that I'm here with you tonight doing comedy,

instead of back home on baby duty.

Laurence is rehearsing the show

that he's about to take to the Edinburgh Festival for a month.

I mean, I knew he'd do the Fringe this year

and his comedy's developed so much lately as well,

it would have been a missed opportunity for him not doing it.

But I'm obviously going to be more emotional and stuff this time,

because when they're babies, they change so much as well,

so I feel like it's going to be a big chunk

that Laurence is going to miss.

'It will be hard. I mean, I'm a wreck when he goes anyway.'

Sshh, sshh, sshh.

Hi, Laurence.

-Hello, darling. Are you all right?

-Yeah.

It's Laurence's last morning at home before he leaves for Edinburgh.

-I just need space.

-Don't cry.

Come on.

-I'm only putting my arm around you.

-Mum, I just need space.

-I just want to be left.

-Do you want me to go, then?

No, I'm just saying, don't overcrowd me.

You look after Mummy.

Yeah, and watch this.

-TOM BLOWS A RASPBERRY

-Thank you.

'If he didn't do it, we'd be up the stream without a paddle.'

He has to do it, you know. When I married him, in our wedding vows,

we said we'd support each other to do what we wanted to do,

but it doesn't make it any easier.

-SHE SOBS

-Come on.

'Adele was very upset.

'Yes, it's hard leaving them for four weeks,'

but it's part of the job as well.

'I suppose I have got the luxury'

of four weeks of uninterrupted sleep at night,

which... Yeah.

BABY CRIES

I'm also going to be reading funny stuff as well,

such as this quote from that well-known luminary...

Duncan from Blue,

who said recently,

"A lot of my fans have got cerebral palsy, but you know what?

"I love people with disabilities.

"It's just in my nature. I'm like a magnet to them."

LAUGHTER

And if all his fans are in wheelchairs,

how come his most famous song is called All Rise?

All right.

Tom!

That's a lot better.

What the fuck is a normal mentality?

PHONE RINGS

Hello, Dad.

Hi, Tom. What are you doing up this late?

'It's past your bedtime.'

-Past mine? Yeah, way past.

-Come on, Tom,

-I need to talk to Dad.

-OK, bye.

-Say "love you".

Love you, bye.

Bye. Love you.

-Ooh, hello.

-You all right?

Knackered! I need my bed now, but all right.

I managed to get a three hour block

last night though. And I went to my mum's for some tea,

so at least I've had a meal today.

That's good.

-'And...'

-Sorry, Laurie. Tom, you need to go in bed.

No, you have to leave it now, it's far too late. In bed, please.

I think I can hear Jamie mooching anyway,

so if it's all right with you,

I'm going to go, cos I haven't had a sleep today.

OK. Love you.

OK, love you. Miss you.

Love you. Bye.

After three weeks apart,

the family are reunited with a trip to Edinburgh.

-Hi!

-Hi!

Hi, Daddy.

Some people will be of the opinion that we shouldn't have kids,

but, you know, what can you do to change that?

We've chosen to have a family and we manage just fine.

A lot of children don't get the things they need

from the parental home, like love and attention

and our boys will always get that,

so is our impairment an issue?

I don't think

we're particularly special or unique or anything,

but I do think,

because of the perception

that less disabled people have kids,

it's fine to have kids and relationships.

I would never want my experience to be viewed as triumph over adversity,

cos I'm not doing anything extra special.

I'm just living my life, you know,

I've got a loving partner and two kids and that's it.

You know, when they come to leave home, they might buy houses

that are completely inaccessible so we can't get in

and see what they're up to, you know what I mean?

But hopefully, they won't make a big issue of it.

We'll just be Mum and Dad.

LAURENCE CHUCKLES

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd