Couple Welcomes Quadruplets Years After Birth of Twins

Callie and Gabriel Smith’s Quadruplets

Callie and Gabriel Smith, parents of three, experienced the birth of their quadruplets, Norah, Selah, Ezra, and Abigail, in June, making them feel like new parents all over again. “It feels like they’re our first kids because they’re our first preemies,” Callie, 36, shares exclusively with PEOPLE. The couple, from Upland, California, has had to adjust their expectations and learn as they go along.

Premature Birth and NICU Stay

Born nine weeks early on June 16, the quadruplets’ birth was described as seamless by neonatologist Dr. Huy Truong. The delivery went smoothly thanks to thorough preparation and precautions. The babies required oxygen and feeding tubes initially and spent over 40 days in the NICU at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, learning to breathe and eat on their own. Norah and Selah were discharged together at the end of July, while Ezra and Abigail followed a week later. Abigail had to return for surgery to close a blood vessel from her pulmonary artery to her aorta but recovered successfully.

Adapting to Life with Seven Kids

The Smiths are now settling into life with their expanded family, which includes Ariella, 7, and twins Noah and Samara, 4. Initially planning for one more baby, Callie underwent seven IUI rounds and experienced an ectopic pregnancy before discovering they were expecting quadruplets. Gabriel, 37, describes the news as miraculous but notes the need for extensive planning.

Coping with Loss

A week after the quads’ birth, Gabriel’s older brother passed away from a heart attack at 49. Gabriel spent time with his family in San Diego while Callie managed the children at home. The couple acknowledges the difficulty of this period but has received support from friends, their church community, and a GoFundMe campaign to help purchase a new van.

Moving Forward

Despite the challenges, the Smiths are finding joy in their journey. “Every week, it’s kind of an uphill battle,” Callie says. “We’re getting very little sleep, probably like two or three hours each night. But we know it’s a season.” She adds that having older children helps them see that things will get easier, and they cherish seeing the babies’ personalities emerge.

Support from the Community

Gabriel appreciates the support they’ve received: “They’ve really reached out. We were like, ‘We’ll figure this out, and we kind of got this.’ And then it’s like, okay, we don’t got this.” Callie concurs, emphasizing the importance of their support network during this challenging time.

The Smith family’s story highlights the joy and trials of welcoming quadruplets and the strength found in community and resilience.