Keeping up with the Koohpaimas

The kingdom’s fantastic four of Anya, Connor, Aidan and Rory are stepping out into their sixth year in style and their boisterous ways are constantly keeping mum and dad on their toes.

According to parents of the energetic quadruplets, Zall and Cynthia Koohpaima, there is never a dull moment in their home and they have actually forgotten what quiet sounds like.
 
Cynthia, a board secretary and executive personal assistant to the deputy chief executive officer of a telecom company, said: “People always seem to talk about the terrible twos, but personally, I find this age they’re at is considerably more challenging than ages two to three ever were.

“Half the time I feel like the referee at a mixed martial arts event or a World Wrestling Entertainment match, complete with battle wounds! 

“Anytime, anywhere – and for any reason that will usually leave your mind boggled – chaos will ensue. Even so, these ‘smackdowns’ amongst them are short-lived and quickly forgotten and 10 minutes later they can be seen laughing, playing and having a good time together.

“It is LOUD in our house with running being the operative – and accurate – word. My favourite moment though is when I arrive home from work and they come running to the door for a cuddle or to give me hugs, kiss or snitch on one another. It’s the best feeling in the world, unless someone has ended up injured or something broken, as usual.

“Honestly though, their personalities haven’t changed much at all from when they were smaller – except they’ve become naughtier as they are testing and learning their boundaries in the world around them, which is totally normal.”

Since their birthday on February 1, which was celebrated in class along with their peers at the Modern Knowledge School, the fearsome foursome have been discovering what they love out of life and what they would like to do when they grow up.

Connor is fascinated with food and its preparation. He has already told his mum that he wants to be a famous TV chef when he grows up although he has also shown interest in being a doctor. Cynthia, however, believes that as tall as he is now, he could also have a future as a professional basketball player.

Rory, who has the brain and personality of a diplomat, has recently spoken of his interest of becoming a jewellery designer as it appeals to his artistic side. He is mesmerised by the beauty of colourful gemstones and precious metals. Although, he could just as easily go into architecture as he is also interested in the design of houses and buildings.

While Rory is busy designing, Aidan is bringing the family tears of joy and laughter with his comedic routines and bursts of random singing. Cynthia said: “He could surprise me and be an astronaut but he should really go into performing arts as a comedian, actor or both. He has a natural talent for it. 

“Both he and Rory have amazing comedic timing. They are so funny, entertaining and are both extremely creative and dramatic. Aidan is the one that, for years, will wake up at about 2am, sing every song that he knows for about an hour, then go back to sleep. That sounds like future rock star conditioning in my opinion!”

As for the leader of the pack, who always keeps the boys in line, Anya has the capabilities of being a scientist, an engineer or even someday finding a cure for some horrible disease.

Cynthia said: “Still very much the boss, Anya is such an old soul and has a strong personality. She is very intelligent and quick-witted, bossy, hilariously sarcastic and is not one to hold back from setting her brothers, or big sister, Arianna, straight.

“She is naturally extremely mechanically inclined and has been taking things apart and putting them back together since she was very small.

“She also loves sports like football and basketball and has a natural affinity for it. Add to that her razor-sharp intellect, analytical and logical thought processes, competitive nature, determination and charm … the possibilities are endless really. She told me the other day that she will rule the world when she is big. Never underestimate the power of a determined woman. But whatever they choose to become when they are older, I hope that they will love what they do and do what makes them happy.”

While they set on their path, big sister Arianna, 21, continues to attend the Bahrain Polytechnic University in search of hers. Until then …it’s still one very big, loud and happy family.

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THE first quads born in Bahrain for 15 years made a surprise appearance at the International Hospital of Bahrain and on the front page of GulfWeekly back in 2009.
Parents Zall and Cynthia Koohpaima were overjoyed to find they were expecting after many years of trying for a sister or brother for daughter, Arianna, 14.

After years of trying for more children and suffering the heartache of miscarriage Zall and Cynthia suddenly had their hands full when three became four … and they could not be happier.

Cynthia recalls: “I had a miscarriage 10 years earlier and after that I just couldn’t get pregnant. I tried IVF years ago but it didn’t work but we weren’t ready to give up.

“I went back to the International Hospital of Bahrain intending to try IVF again but my doctor had left and I saw a new man, Dr Mohammed Rocca. He said that in his opinion I didn’t need IVF and asked if I would be prepared to try his way which involves monitoring the cycle and assisted ovulation and then just letting nature take its course.

“We were ready to give anything a go and I actually became pregnant three times but each time I miscarried; now I’ve got all four babies at once!”

But those four babies, Aidan, Anya, Connor and Rory came as quite a surprise to the stunned parents. Zall said: “All along we had been told we were expecting triplets. Initially, they said a girl and two boys then they said three boys so we took back all the girlie things we had bought!”

The fabulous four were born on February 2. And, GulfWeekly has kept an annual update on their progress ever since. Here are our flashback memories …