Murphy Quads & Parents Doing Well but Still Facing Challenges
http://www.murphymessenger.com/articles/859/1/Murphy-Quads--Parents-Doing-Well-but-Still-Facing-Challenges.html
Sarah Toth
Although Sarah Toth graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Journalism, she has spent the last nine years working in special events and public relations. She worked in Washington, DC for five years before moving back to Texas in 2004. Sarah is a volunteer at the SPCA of Texas and has a passion for photography. Sarah and her husband Mark moved to Murphy in April 2007 and could not be happier with their decision.
By Sarah Toth
Published on 07/17/2008
Murphy residents Rob and Casey Gerwer are counting their blessings – which happens to total four. On January 16, 2008, Casey gave birth to quadruplets – Trey, Reid, Cameron and Brady.
Born eleven weeks early and weighing around two pounds each, the quads have come a long way from their days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.
After arriving home in March, the babies and their parents adapted to their new schedule very quickly. Casey said the most difficult thing for her has been finding time to spend alone with her husband. “I also have had a really hard time leaving my kids with other people,” she said. Rob said his biggest challenge has been adjusting to the financial aspect of raising four babies. The quads go through approximately 220 diapers and 28 bottles of formula every week.
The last few months have been full of milestones for the quads. After months of sleep deprivation, Rob and Casey are finally getting a full night’s sleep. “We still get up to check on them,” Casey said, “but not having to get up for an hour and half twice a night has really improved our sleep schedule. We can actually get six to seven straight hours of sleep now!”
Other milestones include holding up their head during “tummy time”, grabbing their toys, babbling and smiling. “My favorite part of every morning is when they smile up at me from their cribs,” Rob said. “And I can’t wait to watch them all play together.”
Casey said that developmentally and physically the quads are doing really well. Developmentally they are a little bit ahead of their adjusted age, which is four months,” she said. “Their adjusted age is how old they would be had they gone full term.”
Additional milestones to come in the next couple months should include laughing, sitting up and playing with each other. Casey added that it is common for multiples to develop their own language in the early years that only they can understand. “I’m really looking forward to seeing them crawl,” Casey said, “although I’ll probably regret saying that later.” She added that although the quads are small for six-month-olds, they should be caught up to other full term babies by the time they are twelve months old.
Unfortunately the quads still have some challenges ahead. They will receive cranial bands on July 24, which will help reshape their heads. Premature babies often need these due to the fact that their skulls are still not developed when they are born. The bands will be worn for six to eight weeks and cost $3600 each.
The Gerwers feel it is important that the quads get to experience the things that any singleton would. “It’s important to take them out so they know how to act in public and so we know how to deal with them in public,” Casey said. “We have taken the quads out to eat, to a neighborhood party, walked in a Fourth of July parade, gone shopping and have even taken them swimming.” The quads were also baptized on May 18 at a private ceremony at their grandparent’s home in Murphy.
Although the Gerwers do not know what the future holds for them and their four little miracles, they are taking things one day at a time and hoping for the best.
For more information about the quads, please visit http://gerwerbabies.blogspot.com/
Murphy residents Rob and Casey Gerwer are counting their blessings – which happens to total four. On January 16, 2008, Casey gave birth to quadruplets – Trey, Reid, Cameron and Brady. Born eleven weeks early and weighing around two pounds each, the quads have come a long way from their days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.
After arriving home in March, the babies and their parents adapted to their new schedule very quickly. Casey said the most difficult thing for her has been finding time to spend alone with her husband. “I also have had a really hard time leaving my kids with other people,” she said. Rob said his biggest challenge has been adjusting to the financial aspect of raising four babies. The quads go through approximately 220 diapers and 28 bottles of formula every week.
The last few months have been full of milestones for the quads. After months of sleep deprivation, Rob and Casey are finally getting a full night’s sleep. “We still get up to check on them,” Casey said, “but not having to get up for an hour and half twice a night has really improved our sleep schedule. We can actually get six to seven straight hours of sleep now!”
Other milestones include holding up their head during “tummy time”, grabbing their toys, babbling and smiling. “My favorite part of every morning is when they smile up at me from their cribs,” Rob said. “And I can’t wait to watch them all play together.”
Casey said that developmentally and physically the quads are doing really well. Developmentally they are a little bit ahead of their adjusted age, which is four months,” she said. “Their adjusted age is how old they would be had they gone full term.”
Additional milestones to come in the next couple months should include laughing, sitting up and playing with each other. Casey added that it is common for multiples to develop their own language in the early years that only they can understand. “I’m really looking forward to seeing them crawl,” Casey said, “although I’ll probably regret saying that later.” She added that although the quads are small for six-month-olds, they should be caught up to other full term babies by the time they are twelve months old.
Unfortunately the quads still have some challenges ahead. They will receive cranial bands on July 24, which will help reshape their heads. Premature babies often need these due to the fact that their skulls are still not developed when they are born. The bands will be worn for six to eight weeks and cost $3600 each.
The Gerwers feel it is important that the quads get to experience the things that any singleton would. “It’s important to take them out so they know how to act in public and so we know how to deal with them in public,” Casey said. “We have taken the quads out to eat, to a neighborhood party, walked in a Fourth of July parade, gone shopping and have even taken them swimming.” The quads were also baptized on May 18 at a private ceremony at their grandparent’s home in Murphy.
Although the Gerwers do not know what the future holds for them and their four little miracles, they are taking things one day at a time and hoping for the best.
For more information about the quads, please visit http://gerwerbabies.blogspot.com/