Christmas 1996

Dear Friends,

Be careful what you pray for... God is listening! We had prayed for 5 1/2 years to have a child, or even a few children. But due to infertility issues (caused by a ruptured appendix when Patty was six years old), we were not able to conceive children. Well, this has all changed!

When our fertility doctor said he thought he had found the solution to our problem, we were cautiously optimistic. Well, he fixed the fertility problem, but opened up a new challenge: Quintuplets! His next medical solution was recommending to "selectively reduce the pregnancy" (translated: abort two or three babies). But we knew God was answering our prayers with these children (although much more abundantly than we ever dreamed), and that we should trust him. If some of these babies were not to live, it would be God’s choice, not ours. We would do everything within our power to create a healthy pregnancy (including Patty’s leaving work, enduring four months of bedrest and eating a 4000 per day calorie diet... gaining 75 pounds!).

Patty felt God gave her two words of encouragement: Obedience and Honor. If she were obedient to God (protecting the lives of these unborn children), then He would honor her decision. And God is faithful! Patty surpassed all medical expectations by carrying the pregnancy to the end of 33 weeks (a record!). She also delivered the largest (18 lbs, 7 ounces) and healthiest (required no intensive care) quintuplets on record!

We have had the opportunity to share our story with a multitude of media, including: "Good Morning America," "The Today Show," "Extra," "The Mike & Maty Show," CNN, local & national news, People Magazine, Los Angeles Times, and others. Our babies were even on the cover of the Smithsonian magazine! The Family Channel’s "Home & Family Show" has had us on every few weeks to follow our developments (we’ll be on Dec. 26th!). We’ll also be on the "Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends" show (2nd week in January).

When the hospital told Patty she could go home and that the babies would be coming soon after her, we panicked! We had no nursery nor any concept of what to do. But God met our needs through Hope Chapel (our church in Hermosa Beach) and many people from the community (including several from Patty’s work at Hewlett Packard). Kelley Mayeda (dubbed "Saint Kelley" in our home) coordinated over 100 volunteers: They transformed our guest bedroom into a 5-crib nursery and our den into a feeding/play room. They provided meals for six months. Thirty-five women came weekly into our home to feed, change diapers and play with our children. They even insisted Patty and I go out on a date every week! They were our salvation during this first year!

I must also give credit to a seminar program called "Growing Kids God’s Way." It taught us how to lovingly put our children on a feeding/playing/sleeping schedule that had them sleeping 8 hours per night within three months. By six months, they were all sleeping 12 hours through the night, in addition to two 2-hour naps during the day ! All pregnant moms should read the book, Baby Wise, by Gary Ezzo (it covers almost everything taught in the seminars).

We knew our children were a special gift from God, so we wanted to give them names that would remind them (and us) of their special heritage. The girls names are all women in the Old Testament Bible who struggled with infertility and cried out to God for help. And in God’s timing, he blessed each of them with awesome children who grew up to be used greatly by God. The men were also from the Old Testament. They each trusted God to lead them to victory, when everyone else said the odds were impossible!

From their moment of birth, each of our children has displayed a unique personality. Sarah (our first born) is the most patient and good-natured. She loves to stand and clap while displaying her four new teeth. Since she was home for a week before the others, she made parenting look easy! Joshua, however, came into the world feet-first, hollering and wetting on the doctors! He is quite feisty and quick to let you know his feelings with either a cry or his toothless smile. He was the first to crawl and is still the fastest! Rachel, the "middle child," is our smallest at 14 pounds 14 ounces. She is quite content to quietly play by herself, while figuring out what makes a toy work. She has a coy way of burying her head in your chest when getting a big hug. Hannah is our family comedian: Full of laughs (which can quickly turn to cries), she also was the first to "talk. " "Gabosh" (which means "Good Day") was her first word and she now loves "gabbing" with her brothers and sisters (or any one else who will listen). Jonathan was the smallest at birth, but now leads the pack at 18 pounds 14 ounces. Nicknamed "Bam! Bam!," he loves anything that makes a noise. A favorite past-time is to slam the floor in front of Hannah and watch her laugh! He grins ear-to-ear, showing off his seven pearly whites, and is oh so close to walking (life is about to change in our house... again!). He is also the only baby in need of a hair cut (but Patty says we have to wait until their birthday).

As you can imagine we have proud grandparents, and a great-grandmother! Patty’s folks, Jim and Connie Payton, have been down several times, including Thanksgiving. They even threw a party for us in Monterey when we went there in June for a "Triplet Connection Convention. " Connie enjoys playing "peek-a-boo!" with Jonathan.

My mom, Pat, can hardly stand being away from the babies. After her first visit with my dad, Al, and grandma Lolita (which was covered by the show "Northwest Afternoon" in Seattle), mom was diagnosed with colon cancer. She has completed her chemotherapy with flying colors, attributing her success to a need to be with her grandchildren. We look forward to them spending Christmas with us. Mom is planning to stay through the babies’ first birthday, January 23rd.

I have gotten off easy (so I’m told) by getting to leave the house each day and go to work at Dean Witter. Financial planning and investing is a lot easier than handling the relentless demands of five dependent children. Patty has officially left the "work place" after 17 years at Hewlett Packard, just to enter a more demanding environment at home. I admire her and thank God for her every day. Our children are blessed to know her as "mom." (Note: Patty does get out once a week... to teach the three year olds at Sunday school class!).

Well, 1996 has been exciting and exhausting. We have learned to more fully trust God and be thankful for every day he gives us. We pray you will all enjoy His blessings this new year!

With Five-Fold Love,

Scott, Patty, Sarah, Joshua, Rachel, Hannah, & Jonathan
Linus & Lucy (the cats) and Toby (the dog)

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. " Isaiah 9:6

p.s. Could you identify each child by name in the photo? Left to right: Sarah Elizabeth, Rachel Ann, Jonathan Andrew, Joshua James and Hannah Rose.

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