Molly and Jake, now 11 months old, were born 10 weeks prematurely, weighing just 1lb11oz and 3lb5½oz on their parents' Michael and Danielle's second IVF attempt.
The tiny youngsters will spend their first Christmas opening presents with their proud mum and dad after a year-long battle for survival.
Michael and Danielle, both 29, were terrified the twins wouldn't survive when they were born on January 28, after Jake's lung collapsed and Molly was so tiny.
But both babies have bravely fought on and will celebrate their first-ever Christmas Day on Monday.
Danielle said: "It's been a really difficult year and we didn't know if we'd ever have Christmas with the twins so it'll be lovely.
"We're having all the family round and, with it being their first Christmas, we're really looking forward to spoiling them."
Danielle says the twins' health is improving and they are gaining weight every day.
She said: "They're coming on really well. Jake is 14lbs 6oz now but Molly is still on the oxygen and she's having trouble feeding and only weighs 11lb 6oz, but they've started crawling."
After spending four years trying to conceive, Michael and Danielle, of Druridge Avenue, Seaburn, suffered a failed IVF attempt before they were blessed with the twins.
But the couple were hit with more tragedy when Molly and Jake were born 10 weeks prematurely causing Jake's lung to collapse and Molly to have difficulties breathing because her lungs were underdeveloped.
Doctors attached a tube to drain fluid from Jake's lung and he was put on a ventilator to help him breathe.
The twins were in the high dependency unit at Sunderland Royal Hospital for nearly five weeks and were then moved to low dependency for another four.
Michael and Danielle – who both work for Sunderland Social Services with adults who have learning disabilities – say their first Christmas with their precious babies will be extra special.
Michael said: "Because of everything they've been through we're just going to have a quiet Christmas, but it's just going to be so nice to have them here with us."




Births ended couple's years of heartache

MICHAEL and Danielle have been together since they were 16 and married in April 2002 and started trying for a baby almost immediately.
But when they failed to conceive, tests showed they both had health problems.
The couple went to the Cromwell Hospital in Darlington for fertility treatment, and were heartbroken when their first attempt failed in February 2005.
On their second attempt, doctors collected 20 eggs from Danielle and fertilised 11. Two were implanted and when she took a pregnancy test on July 29 last year it finally proved positive.
The first scan showed just one heartbeat but when they went back a fortnight later doctors told the stunned couple there was a second baby.
Danielle had to have regular scans at Sunderland Royal Hospital during her pregnancy but at 20 weeks doctors told them that Molly was "growth retarded".
Doctors told the couple the babies would have to be delivered early because Molly wasn't growing properly but they would have to wait until she weighed more than 600g.
The twins were given steroid injections to help develop their lungs in preparation for a premature delivery.
On January 28, Michael and Danielle, who was showing signs of distress, were told the babies had to be delivered within the next five hours.