Kim Tucci and her husband were happy to have two children, but wanted just one more to complete their little family – specifically, a boy.
The couple from Australia got their wish, and then some. They welcomed one boy and four girls (there’s a 1 in 60 million chance of having quintuplets).
But getting there wasn’t simple, according to the couple’s “Surprised by Five” Facebook page. Along the way, Tucci and her husband, Vaughn, had to make important choices regarding their health.
“After my first ultrasound, I was advised to think about using the selection process to offer my two future children the best chance for survival… I watched a YouTube video on the procedure and I cried, I could never do that!
“Was I selfish for not giving two the chance of 100 percent survival? All I knew is that I already love them and that every heart beat I heard I connect with them more,” she wrote in a post.
And while all babies were born healthy, today, Tucci must take care of the requirements of all five newborns as well as her two girls, who are 2 and 4.
“For me, the biggest challenge would be having to split myself into so many people just to give enough time and attention to everyone. And of course my lovely husband who has supported me from day one. He needs my time and attention too,” she told.
Adjusting has been difficult for all, but Tucci’s elder daughters have especially struggled.
“They do love them, but it has been a huge learning curve for them. They’ve had to learn how to share mommy, share daddy and learn that the babies do need a lot of time and attention,” she continued.
The Tucci family’s main issue right now is how to efficiently transport the quintuplets to and from the doctor’s office because doing so with just one automobile is next to impossible.
Grandma Tucci created a GoFundMe page, where more than $38,000 has already been raised for the family’s needs.
Hoskins, who frequently works with newborns, spent 2 1/2 hours photographing the babies.
“The fact that we got a shot with them all sleeping at the same time in one bowl is a flat- out miracle,” she said.
That focus is something they’ve likely picked up from their parents, according to Hoskins.
“It was an absolute pleasure to see how beautiful Kim and Vaughn handled all of this ‘organized chaos,” she said.
“They were so calm and confident, while handing a monumental task that most of us couldn’t even begin to fathom…such an inspiration.”