They had to put Christmas on hold last year as they dealt with new arrivals George, Fredrica, Francesca and Grace.
So Tracey and Stephen Britten are determined to make up for it this year – four times over.
Mrs Britten became the oldest woman in Britain to give birth to quadruplets when her IVF brood were delivered by caesarean section nine weeks early on October 26. She was 50 at the time.
The quads came home from hospital just days before Christmas and, with 168 nappies to change, 224 formula milk bottles to make up and 28 baths to give in the first week, there was little time to celebrate.
This year the inquisitive 13-month-olds have grown enough to join in the excitement of it all.
Mrs Britten, a grandmother of eight who turned 52 earlier this month, said: ‘They keep me busy, but it’s all worth it to see them so happy.
‘I wouldn’t change a thing for the world. They are all really, really good most of the time and to have them here with us at Christmas is wonderful.
‘It’s a lot of work, and I started getting ready for this Christmas buying bits for all the kids and grandkids in September.
‘This is the first Christmas when they can sit up and open things. As kids do at their age, they will probably be more interested in the wrapping paper and the boxes. But it will be so lovely to see them enjoying it all.’
Tomorrow, roofer Mr Britten, 40, will cook a turkey crown and all the trimmings for his wife and the quads, who can now eat solids.
Former drugs counsellor Mrs Britten went ahead with the IVF procedure – implanting four embryos – after ignoring warnings that the pregnancy was likely to go wrong.
Desperate for a child together, the couple went to a clinic in Cyprus as the procedure is not permitted in the UK to prevent risky multiple births.
The quads, including identical twins Fredrica and Francesca, were born 31 weeks into the pregnancy at London’s University College Hospital after a scan showed one was suffering circulatory problems, and went straight into intensive care.
After being discharged from hospital, Mrs Britten said: ‘I only wanted one child and was blessed with four.
She faced criticism from those who say her pregnancy is irresponsible, but said: ‘I’ve had lots of people messaging me through Instagram telling me what an inspiration I am to older women.’
