Kimberly Fugate and her husband Craig were shocked to learn they were having identical triplets. On February 8, 2014, following the delivery of three infants, Kim overheard a doctor declare, “I have more feet,” implying that there was one more child on the way.
She gave birth to unusual identical quadruplets at the age of 42 after the last child was overlooked on ultrasound. In this article, Kimberly discusses the four young daughters’ health issues, how she can tell the quads apart, and how helpful their 11-year-old sister is.
“I believe I am the luckiest mother in the world.”
“I never intended to start over with more kids, and a lot has changed since I gave birth to my quadruplets Kenleigh, Kristen, Kayleigh, and Kelsey. Even one infant requires a lot of care, let alone four, but I don’t mind. They’re the ones who make it all worthwhile, and it’s a lot of fun.”
“When I get up in the morning, the joy of seeing their smiles, hearing them coo at me, and hearing them babble to one another is overpowering. Every mother has a special place for her kids, I know, but I think my kids are the prettiest with the prettiest smiles. And those dimples…”
“I couldn’t imagine my life without the babies, who had taken me completely by surprise.”
It’s been a year that has flown by. I found out I was pregnant at 13 weeks, and the babies arrived at 28 weeks and one day. I didn’t have a lot of time to think about having another child. Everything took place in a split second. “Is this real or am I dreaming?” I occasionally still have to pinch myself.
The newborns, who ranged in weight from around 212 pounds, were severely ill and were delivered more than two months early. They spent more than three months in the NICU because their lungs could not support their breathing and they need ventilators.
They are doing wonderfully since their return in May and June. Since they weigh between almost 18 and 22 pounds, their doctor is delighted with their growth. They generally have strong health. One quad has a moderate form of a developmental anomaly that must be monitored on a regular basis.
“I believed that since God had selected me to be the mother of these quadruplets, He would take good care of them and enable them to live. I’m quite fortunate to see how far they’ve progressed.”
However, their first six months were a roller coaster with many scary moments. It’s possible for one baby to be having an excellent day while the other isn’t. At times, I worried about their security. I held my breath when I saw two of the females being revived after several of them experienced drops in heart rates. Before Kayleigh could go home, she needed to have eye surgery.
I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House to be close to the hospital. The other parents of sick children staying at the Ronald McDonald House were like family to me even if my blood relatives were not there. The NICU nurses were outstanding as well. They wept when I wept. They kept saying, “We’ll get through this,” assuring me. “We’re going to make it.”
We did, and ever since then, life hasn’t been the same as we knew it. In the vicinity of Jayess, Mississippi, my family of seven moved from a two-bedroom trailer to a four-bedroom, double-wide mobile home. We also needed a bigger vehicle.
Since the infants were tiny babies, their developmental milestones are calculated starting from my due date, which was May 2. That places them at a developmental age of about seven months. They each have many teeth and have just started to sit up on their own.
They couldn’t see one another since they were kept apart in isolettes in the hospital. At home, though, it is obvious that they are familiar with one another. When they chatter, it sounds like they are having a discussion.
The infants wore name bracelets for a while, but I removed them out of concern that they would be swallowed. Without a doubt, I can identify each infant. They differ in terms of personalities and appearance, with Kenleigh having shorter stature and Kristen having longer hair.
The babies continue to eat every three to four hours throughout the night, and if they all wake up at the same time, I try to feed them simultaneously. I position them in their floor seats and take turns serving meals to each of them. They have a lot of patience. Additionally, they are beginning to handle their own bottles, which is a tremendous help.
They are happy, calm babies. It can be upsetting if they all start crying at once, though. I do my best to keep them interested while still bringing them what they need as soon as possible. Despite my tiredness, I remind myself that “this too shall pass.”
They attend daycare on some days, and I use that time to run errands or sleep. When I’m alone at home with them, it’s just babies all the time.
Katelyn, my 11-year-old daughter, is a big help. In the evenings, she helps with feedings and bathing. She makes it easier for them to sleep. She plays with them to keep them amused. In addition, my family is close by and ready to help if I need it.
“Only 60 to 70 sets of identical quadruplets have been found globally, on average. I feel like I’ve made it big with mine. We got a lot of attention after the babies were born, and their Facebook page currently has more than 77,000 likes.”
Everywhere I go, people ask me, “How are your babies?” I don’t, however, feel any differently. I always say to people, “The babies are the celebrities.” This is as a result of their exceptional rarity. Being their mommy makes me happy.
