A YEAR IN LIVING HECTICALLY
Proud parents say Burbank quadruplets are developing unique personality traits as babies celebrate their first birthday
By Jenna Bordelon, Photos by Jill Karnick and Stephen Diani
A YEAR IN LIVING HECTICALLY
Proud parents say Burbank quadruplets are developing unique personality traits as babies celebrate their first birthday
By Jenna Bordelon, Photos by Jill Karnick and Stephen Diani
For their first birthday, the Whiteman quadruplets had their cake and ate it too.
Covered in whipped-cream frosting and smacking sticky lips, the babies celebrated their first year at a bash given by Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, where they were born.
Hospital staff came to take photos and make goo-goo eyes at Katy, Cole, Chad and Garrett, who will collectively turn one today.
Proud parents Colleen and Richard Whiteman of Burbank handed the babies around so everyone could have a chance for a cuddle and a kiss.
The babies took it all in stride, or crawl, as it were.
Each child has its own distinct personality, Colleen said. Cole always smiles, Chad is serious and Garrett is the momma's boy.
But it's Katy who lays down the law.
"Katy is just a pill," Colleen said. "She picks on the boys big time."
"She's a terror," Richard laughed. "She's my little Tasmanian Devil."
The Whitemans, who have a daughter, Biana, 12, and a son, Jeffrey, 2, whose adoption was finalized in June, decided to take fertility drugs after Colleen went through two miscarriages.
They still have six embryos left.
"I would love to use them," Colleen said.
On Thursday, the couple took time out to meditate on the past year.
"The biggest challenge is being able to do it all on schedule and still have them be happy babies," Colleen said.
"I love showing them off, I just love it."
Richard Whiteman, who watched as Chad did a belly crawl across the floor, talked about his important task.
"Keeping them healthy, keeping them out of the hospital has been the biggest."
In May, Cole had surgery to remove a blockage that was obstructing his urine flow.
"It was a minor problem," Colleen said, "but it ended up with a major outcome." It could have killed him," she said.
Cole is recovering well, if his lusty interest in his presents was any indication. His parents are looking toward the future.
"We want to move out to the country and get the kids out of the city," Colleen said. "I want them raised milking cows, not racing down the streets."
Kellye Tarelka-Pitts, the hospital's director of marketing and public relations, said the staff was pleased that the first Valley Presbyterian quadruplets returned to celebrate their milestone.
"There are so many different people that helped with them," she said. They were here so long and we got attached."
A second family party will be held today. More than 50 adults and kids will join the babies for a birthday barbecue at their grandmother's home.