A story about six very active brothers and sisters who just so happen to be sextuplets, as told by their mother, Elaine.
My name is Elaine Carpenter, and we ("we" being my husband, Mortie, myself, and our children) live in a suburb of San Francisco, California. This is our story.
Call me a glutton for punishment, but I was the one who had wanted kids, but after years of trying, it seemed that Morton, my husband, and I would remain childless. But then we tried fertility drugs, and...the rest is history, as they so often say.
We not only have the family we have always dreamed of, but we have been blessed with not one, not two, or even three, but SIX children...AT ONCE!
We are the parents of sextuplets, Morton and myself; and ever since we have had them come into our lives, well, we haven't had much time for ourselves! But it is a life we wouldn't trade for anything, and our children are all doing very well and are growing up so fast!
Our children are named Zoey Michelle, Zachary Michael, Zinnia Melaine, Zander Matthew, Zynthia Michaela, and Zacinthe Maureen; and they are all now two years old. Now two (Zinnia and Zander) DO have some lasting handicaps due to being born so early (they were the lightest, and the littlest of our crew; at birth, both weighed less than two pounds each); but they are coming along quite well in their therapies. Zinnie is walking on a walker, and Zander is now sitting up by himself and will probably be walking himself before years' end. Both also have some ongoing respiratory concerns and wear oxygen at night or when they are sick; but other than that, they have come such a long way, and they never cease to amaze us with their courage or spirit.
As for the others, they are typical two-year-olds: ever exploring, ever inquisitive, and somewhat shy at times, and prone to meltdowns at a moment's notice. They also have their own distinct personalities that makes it easy to tell them apart. For example, Zoey and her sister Zacinthe are both chatty, lively little girls while their brother, Zackary, is as shy as shy can be; it takes him quite a long time to warm up to strangers. Zander is the gregarious one, and Zinnie is the giggle box; she is always laughing. As for Zynthia, she is the little flirt: she is always showing off for people, and she is NOT the least BIT shy. She is a champion hugger, and she knows how to wrap her little self around people's fingers.
We didn't plan on having sextuplets: it just happened. And when it did, boy were WE ever surprised! But we got through the pregnancy (as difficult as it was), and we made it through many hurdles once the sextuplets were born. They had many problems at first (Zander and Zinnie having the hardest time, it seemed), but they overcame their early births, and are now developing normally. Now, as I said, Zinnia and Zander DO have some problems, but doctors are hopeful that they will catch up to their peers once their therapies are completed, and they HAVE come so far already. Zinnie is now walking on a walker, and Zander MAY be doing so himself by the time December rolls around. (What a WONDERFUL Christmas gift THAT would be!)
Mortie works as a lawyer, but I stay home with the children. I want to be there for all their milestones, and I don't want to miss a thing! I want to help them and to teach them as best as I possibly can, and I want to enjoy my children while they are still little; before you know it, they will be in school, and then they will be off to college; and pretty soon, after that, they will probably spread their wings and fly away, to start new lives (and possibly) families of their own. But that is a very long time off now, and for now, all I can do is be there for my six Miracles and be the best Mama possible to them.
Because the children ARE little, they DO take a lot of my time; free time is NOT something I get to enjoy all that much. I am spending most of my waking hours with the children, taking care of them, wiping their tears (or their noses), taking care of any bumps or other "booboos" they may suffer in their attempt to explore, holding them and lavishing them with hugs and kisses; and helping them with their colors and naming of objects, amongst other things. I am also helping them with learning how to feed themselves, and it makes for a very messy time in the kitchen; but as a mother, any time I can spend with my children is time very well spent, and I couldn't have been more blessed than I am right now. My children are my LIFE, and I would DIE for my children! That is how much they mean to me, and these past two years since they have been in our lives has been the best times EVER!
one would make me pull my hair out (especially when the little darling hits the terrible twos)...can NOT imagine six *brrrrrr* just call the men in white suits to take me to the funny farm
excellent story of a parent's love and courage to raise six kids (all at once)
(((HUGS))) and love,
karla. :)
Reviewed by Kate Clifford
1/24/2004
Wonderful story. Can't imagine six children at the same time!
My name is Elaine Carpenter, and we ("we" being my husband, Mortie, myself, and our children) live in a suburb of San Francisco, California. This is our story.
