Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The kingdom’s fantastic foursome - Anya, Connor, Aidan and Rory - are proving that being eight is great as they explore their passion for food, sports and arts … all the while keeping the Koohpaima household entertained with their everyday antics.
Parents Zall and Cynthia are proud of how the energetic quadruplets are loving, affectionate and ‘not-so-little individuals anymore’ and how they fill their hearts with joy with every laugh, smile and hug.
And although both agree that this is a challenging age, mum and dad still can’t deny that there is never a dull moment that passes by in their Saar home.
Cynthia, a secretary for a telecommunications company, said: “We find this age infinitely more challenging as parents of quadruplets than it ever was with their big sister, Arianna, or when they were toddlers, oddly enough.
“People always say the ‘terrible twos’ but that was an absolute breeze compared to now. We are both praying for a little reprieve, hopefully somewhere between now and before puberty kicks in!”
Some things, however, never change. The fabulous four may be a little taller, a degree or two more boisterous and a whole lot cuter … but their personalities remain the same, if not a shade slightly louder.
Cynthia said: “Despite varied and consistent mutual efforts, they still seem to enjoy a favourite pastime of fighting with each other over the most absurd things you can imagine. Basically, we act as the referees.
“You ask a question to one of them and two others talk over the child you asked trying to put their own two-cents in simultaneously. They always seem to be talking over each other at the same time. I’d say to them: ‘One at a time, please. You don’t do this at Modern Knowledge School to your teachers, do you? No? Then, the same goes for home’.
“They appear more wily and obstinate now. They try – and often do - divide and conquer. They test the boundaries at every turn which is totally natural at this age, sure, but not easy to handle with four going through the same milestone.
“Unfortunately, they still haven’t figured out that throwing a big old tantrum doesn’t work with either of us, even when their big sister tells them: ‘Trust me, don’t EVEN waste your time with that, it doesn’t work with either mum or dad; it just makes them say NO even more because you’re misbehaving’.
“But despite all the refereeing and the games, we wouldn’t have it any other way because they are amazing children and we love them to bits.”
Cynthia describes Aidan as still very shy unless he really gets to know someone and then it’s good luck ungluing him from hugging you!
She added: “He is a perfectionist which can be a blessing and a curse because he gets frustrated if he doesn’t do something perfectly on the first go.
“He is simultaneously sensitive and very loving and can be mercilessly ruthless and stubborn if he feels he’s been slighted in any way.
“Aidan is a real trooper; he does what needs doing, albeit obviously a bit reluctantly, with little complaint. My biggest accomplishment with Aidan this past year has been getting him to be somewhat less of a picky eater.”
Anya is still the boss of the boys with a real ‘take charge’ personality. She is also very helpful and enjoys spending time with her mum in the kitchen while she is cooking. She loves the Food Network on TV.
Cynthia added: “Anya is an excellent student, mechanically-inclined and inquisitive and if she hears something even in passing on any topic that catches her interest, she will go to the school library to research it and then come tell me what she learned.
“A few months ago, she told me she has decided to work at NASA when she grows up. I said: ‘Oh you will work there? As an astronaut or physicist, or …?” to which she raised her chin and replied with deadly serious certainty: ‘I’m going to be The Boss at NASA, in charge of everything’. I believe her because once she sets her mind to something, her determination doesn’t let her stop.”
Anya enjoys playing football and basketball and excels at it, just like her brother, Connor. However, Connor is happiest reading, eating or playing sports. He loves PE day at school and playing basketball with the neighbour’s children who also happen to attend the same school. Cynthia added: “Connor is also very helpful, bringing in the groceries and putting them away, for instance.”
Rory continues to be the charmer of the group, just, exceedingly more charming than before. He is still a real character and also likes to help.
“They all are to an extent but this boy takes the cake and can lay it on thick!” explained Cynthia. “He is still very much a planner as he has always been to the point of obsession. He gets very passionate and stubborn about certain things. He is most definitely the ringleader of their little mafia. Don Rory!”
Rory remains an artist and from time-to-time, Cynthia will find little notes and drawings from all four quads – particularly from Anya and Rory – tucked away in her handbag or left on her bedside table.
Although there is definitely a lot of love running throughout the home, it’s not all smiles and roses as when one gets sick, like a stack of dominos, the rest follow.
“Honestly? It’s a nightmare when your child is unwell for any parent really, but it is particularly tough for parents with more than one child,” said Cynthia.
“I have rather serious health issues that I have to stay constantly vigilant about as is and me being sick is the last thing anyone in the house needs!
“When the kids get sick, it naturally, despite all efforts to the contrary, will make its way to everyone in the house. Sometimes it starts with just one of us, other times, it’s two-by-two. When I’m really ‘lucky’ it’s all four at once!
“Back in March, it was the most bizarre thing. Anya and Connor fell sick with one thing at the same time that Rory and Aidan fell sick with something completely different. Then as one pair got better from what they had, they came down with what the other two had and vice versa!
“All this while I was in a dangerous medical state that required my own hospitalisation for several days during which I also came down with the bronchitis and throat infection the quads had.
“Fortunately I ended up in a hospital room at a point in their overall recovery where they were almost completely well. With school age children, it isn’t a question of IF they are going to get sick, but rather, WHEN next.”
Unfortunately, parents had a horrible scare last year when Aidan, who is mildly asthmatic, suffered serious complications. She said: “One of his lungs collapsed in a matter of a couple hours and he was moved immediately from the ward he had been admitted to into ICU for a week. Some children are not so lucky to survive this, thankfully we were.”
Cynthia and Zall still feel grateful and blessed every day. In 2009, the children were the first quads born in Bahrain for 15 years and made their surprise appearance at the International Hospital of Bahrain and on to the front page of GulfWeekly.
Zall and Cynthia were overjoyed to find they were expecting after many years of trying for a sister or brother for daughter, Arianna, who was 14 at the time.
It was a momentous occasion for both Zall and Cynthia as they had been suffering from the heartache of miscarriages for years before their bundles of joy turned up.
The four were born on February 1 and decided to hold a low-key birthday celebration this year at Dairy Queen with a small family gathering.
The quads are excelling at school while big sister is doing well with her business degree studies at Bahrain Polytechnic.
GulfWeekly hopes to continue to update readers on their journey to adulthood.
