Fullerton Couple Grateful For Healthy Quintuplets, Community Support « CBS Los Angeles

Fullerton Couple Grateful For Healthy Quintuplets, Community Support « CBS Los Angeles

Birthday festivities

Sorry it's been awhile since we've posted. Mommy has finally recovered from all the festivities that's been going on since the end of Sept. To recap the last few weeks, we've had a number of birthday celebrations. So without further a due, here are a bunch of our favorite pictures. Enjoy!

Presents!

Gabby- "This ball is pretty tasty!"

I'm the birthday boy!

Addy- "Why are you taking my picture?"

Cooper- "Is it time for cupcakes yet?"

Emmy rockin' the pigtails!

Gianna getting excited for cake!

"Are we done with pictures? We wanna eat cake!"

Emmy- "Why can't I eat my cupcake yet?"

Addy- "Ooohhh...it's time!"

Gianna helping Gabby blow out her candle.

 "Gimme gimme gimme"

Gianna helping Riley blow out his candle.

Gianna helping Addy blow out her candle.

Addy- "This is aMAAAzing!"

 "What do I do with this thing?"

"Mmm...not too bad."

"Squishing this feels weird."

G.R.A.C.E. plus One enjoying their cake!

"More please!"

"Heh heh heh....I like making a mess!"

"Check these babies out!"

"We survived the first year!"

Happy 1st Birthday G.R.A.C.E.!

WOW! Really....WOW! I am still pinching myself that I have not 1, not 3, but 5, 1yr olds!!!! The biggest shocker is that I'm still alive and smiling as I reminisce over the last year. Please bear with me.

I woke up around 5ish this morning cause one of the girls was fussing a little. I went into their room and turned on the sound machine and went back to bed. Looking at the clock, I thought to myself that Gabby's bag of waters had broke a year ago at that time. That started a roller coaster of emotions the whole day!

At 7am, I greeted the boys first by slowly opening their door to see their smiling faces and excited screams (favorite part of day is getting them up in am/naps). I sang "Happy Birthday" to them and they just laughed cause they thought I was being silly. Then I went up to the girls room and was greeted with an odor I'm sooooooo familiar with....poop! I started singing to them and they were all giggling, except Addy (the poopy one) who was crying cause she was mad and wanted to be changed and fed.

If you had told me a year ago, that this is what it would be like today, I would have had less fear and anxiety, knowing that we had ALL survived and still have smiles on our faces! I could not have asked for a better outcome as far as health for the babies and their big sister. And if I had to do it all over again (relocating to AZ for 3 mos), I would, even though that was THEE most difficult physical and mental time of my life. The physicians, nurses, nurses' aides, ultrasound techs, and other staff made the time go by fast and for the most part, enjoyable. I do miss my weekly Dunkin Donuts that Dr. Elliott brought me in the hospital and other food brought by the nurses and Dr. Mourad's wife.

Of course, it literally took a village to help us get through this year! And we are so grateful for everyone  who have helped and continue to help us! The kids have a lot of "adopted" aunts, grandmas, and grandpas and you will always be a part of our extended family!  I must apologize that the first 3-5 months was just survival mode and frankly a blur, so I don't remember everyone that helped during that time but we appreciate so much your willingness to serve our family!

As of today, all five babies can take steps/walk. Emmy and Addy decided that they would take a few steps on their birthday so that they aren't lagging behind their sister and brothers, Gabby, Riley, and Cooper, who are walking 5-7 steps.

I was calculating a few stats for the past year and here is what I came up with:
We changed over 10,500 diapers.
GRACE consumed over 600 cans of formula (45,000 oz).
We hand washed over 10,500 bottles.
Two parents and a toddler still sane and smiling.....PRICELESS!

Happy birthday Gabrielle, Riley, Addison, Cooper, and Emerson! You definitely make this world a better place to live in! We love you soooo much! You are such a blessing to our family and everyone you touch. - Daddy, Mommy, and Gianna

p.s. Pictures to follow after birthday celebrations :)

Riley's first haircut!

So of us all, Mommy didn't think I would get the first haircut. But when Gianna asked Mommy why I don't wear a clip in my hair like my sisters, I knew my days as a surfer dude were numbered. So Daddy decided yesterday that he'd give me a buzz to make my head a little lighter =) I did really good! I sat still with no entertainment for 5 mins, then got a little bored. But overall, I did super! Daddy is not looking forward when Cooper needs a haircut cause we know he will not be as mellow as me!

Before 

After (Am I too young to enlist?)

Mommy decided it's time to do something with the girls' hair. We'd like to thank her for letting us  not look like Riley anymore!

Check out my 4 teeth!

Emmy sporting her new hairstyle

Cooper showing off his 4 teeth

Riley

Addy showing off her 6 teeth....and clip  =)

Gabby showing off her top 2 teeth....and of course clip  =)

We'll have more pictures and stories to show and tell after we celebrate our 1st birthday at the end of the month!

GRACE is standing....Watch out!!

Yeah!!  We are standing!! This is fun!!  Soon, we'll all be walking!!

Gianna - Big Sister

Gabrielle "Gabby" - Am I in trouble?

Riley - I took my first step today!!

Addison "Addy" - See my smile!!

Cooper - I took my first 2 steps today!!

Emerson "Emmy" - Check out my 2 bottom teeth!!

Happy 40th Birthday Meryl

We celebrated Mommy's 40th Birthday on August 2nd all weekend!!  Doesn't she look good for 40?  We think she will continue to stay young chasing us around over the years!!  We got a cake for her, daddy did a BBQ, and we even had fireworks!! Yeah!!  We LOVE our mommy!!

 

Lunch Time for 5  (Riley, Emmy, Gabby, Addy, and Cooper)

 

Happy 40th Birthday Mommy!!

Gabby (H), Riley (A), Addy (P), Cooper (P), Emmy (Y), Gianna (40th)

  

 

Yummy Cake!!  Mommy Blowing out her candles!!

 

Daddy's Fireworks Show!!

Happy belated 4th of July

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Since our last post, we've had a few more milestones.

We have a new favorite snack called puffs. Here we are experimenting with the apple strawberry flavor for the first time.

Are you trying to poison me?

Hmmm....what do I do with this?

Okay....I'll try it.

A few of us went swimming for the first time. Cooper was not digging the water AT ALL! On the other hand, Riley and Emmy are Olympic material...:) Our big sis Gianna is like a flying squirrel when it comes to water.

"I can't believe you dunked me Daddy...I told you I didn't like the water!"

Emmy-"Hang on for dear life Riles, hang on for dear life...."
Riley- "You need to relax Ems."

"Wheeee....."

Mommy caught us on film...

Waiting our turn for a diaper change

Emmy's favorite "Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful" pose.

Cooper always trying to get out of "jail".

Cooper and Riley jamming on the piano.

Emmy- "I swear Mom, I wasn't bulldozing Riley."

Gabby- "Look Mom, I stole Gianna's Doc McStuffins stethescope."

Addy crawling (But she looks like a robot when she does it.)

Gabby (thanks Auntie Liz C. for taking this pic!)

 We ALL went out for the 4th of July to our family picnic. Unfortunately, Mommy and Daddy didn't get any pictures at the picnic, except for Gianna in a rolling ball,  so we took some at home in our patriotic outfits.

"This is super duper awesome!"

Emmy

Gabby

Addy

Riley

Cooper

Everybody say "Cheese!".....or just cry.