The quadruplets born prematurely to Kimberly and Craig Fugate of Jayess in February have blessed their extended family in the form of four bundles of joy.
They also quadrupled work in the house.
Mom Kim said her babies — Kinleigh, Kristen, Kayleigh and Kelsey — go through 40 to 50 diapers a day. They also drink four ounces of formula every three hours — consuming a whopping 128 ounces daily.
To say that’s a lot of work for their immediate family is an understatement.
But Kim’s family is taking it all in stride and dealing with the extra work load day by day.
“Our garbage has really grown,” Kim’s mother, Kathy Reid, said with a laugh. Kim’s parents live nearby and often are host to Kim and her girls. And that includes the quadruplets’ older sister, Katelynn, 11, who has been an enormous help at home this summer.
In fact, family members are plentiful when it comes to caring for the newborns.
When a baby starts crying, someone — be it grandparents, Katelynn or any number of loving aunts, uncles or cousins — picks up the child and either feeds, changes or comforts her.
The fact that the children are doing so well is a miracle in itself. Kimberly found out about her surprise pregnancy at age 40. That stunned her, but she was truly shocked to find out she was expecting triplets. When she gave birth in February at University of Mississippi Medical Center, the doctors had three warming beds ready for the babies. Then came baby number four — a complete surprise to everybody in the room, doctor included. The quads also were identical — a medical rarity, the hospital personnel told the Fugate family.
Kim said her doctor told her that Kayleigh was a donor baby and supplied Kinleigh and Kristen with everything they needed while in the womb.
All are getting bigger and stronger every day. Baby Kayleigh has had the most trouble. She came home on oxygen and has had some health problems, including colic. All weighed less than 2 pounds at birth, but all except Kinleigh weigh at least 12 pounds now, and she’s close behind.
Perhaps the biggest challenge is making room for the whole family.
Kim, Craig and Katelynn live in a two-bedroom mobile home, and there’s not enough room for four baby beds. They’re working hard to get into a much larger home.
The Fugates also purchased an older model van so that when they have to go to the doctor, they can all ride in the same vehicle.
In fact, everything they buy must be quadrupled. Every baby has her own pacifier, clothes, bottles.
Financially, it’s rough on the family. Dad Craig works for R.K. Wallace, and Kim worked part-time for the U.S. Postal Service.
Right now, the harried mother is just trying to keep her head above water.
“When they’re all screaming at one time, it can be overwhelming, and I just have to stop and take a deep breath,” Kim said.
Mrs. Reid said the whole family has learned a lot about patience.
“We’re so blessed to have a large, loving family,” she said.
It’s made all the difference in the world, she said, knowing that Kim’s sisters, sister-in-law, aunts, cousins and good friends from Calvary Temple Pentecostal Church are there to step up to the plate.
Right now, there are a few size differences in the babies. Kinleigh is the smallest, and Kayleigh has a slightly different look than the other girls. Kelsey and Kristen are the two the family have trouble identifying. Kelsey wears an arm band and Kristen has on a leg band, to help the family keep up with who’s who.
