GILBERT, Ariz. — An Austin, Texas, family welcomed healthy quintuplets July 31 in Phoenix, Ariz., and set a record for birth weight. The five babies — three girls and two boys — topped the existing record by more than six ounces with a combined weight of 21 pounds, 7.2 ounces.
Jayson and Rachelle Wilkinson live in the Austin Texas Stake but Sister Wilkinson arrived in Arizona in April to receive medical care from Dr. John Elliott, an expert in multiple births. She stayed with her aunt and uncle, Jeanie and Rick Davis of the Gilbert Arizona Stake.
Sister Wilkinson was able to carry the babies for 34 weeks, which is five weeks longer than the national average for quintuplets.
The girls have names starting with the letter "K," as does their older sister, Kaila, 4. Kassidy weighed 5 pounds-1.2 ounces, Kaydence was 3 pounds-6 ounces, Kyndall was 4 pounds-2 ounces. The boys' names start with "R" as does their older brother, Riley, 7. Rustin was 4 pounds-15 ounces at birth and Ryder was 3 pounds-15 ounces.
Their parents met while attending BYU where Jayson graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and Rachelle graduated with a master's degree in statistics. Brother Wilkinson works for National Instruments and Sister Wilkinson formerly taught statistics at Austin Community College.
Brother Wilkinson, 33, said their trying to have a third child proved difficult. Eventually they met with a fertility specialist.
"We knew there was some risk of multiples associated with doing this type of infertility treatment so we were bracing ourselves for twins," Brother Wilkinson said. The doctor had informed them that they had a 20 percent chance for twins and a five percent chance of triplets.
The treatment worked and Sister Wilkinson became pregnant. She soon had an ultrasound and, after a few minutes a worried look crossed the doctor's face. He told the couple there were five babies.
The doctor recommended reducing to twins; he explained that it was unlikely that the five babies would survive, and if they did survive, they would most likely have physical and/or mental disabilities.
Immediately the Wilkinsons felt unsettled about such a decision, and sought desperately for peace, said Brother Wilkinson.
"After we got home, we began to pray in earnest for guidance," he said.
Brother and Sister Wilkinson said that during this time of uncertainty, miracles began to happen. They learned of a Phoenix doctor with one of the best track records in the nation for delivering multi-birth babies. After speaking with him, they felt assured about Sister Wilkinson's ability to carry all five babies.
They also attended the temple and felt comfort there.
"I spent a lot of time on my knees," said Sister Wilkinson.
They met with their stake president, Stewart W. Dickson. It was during this spiritual council that Sister Wilkinson received her answer. "The strongest feeling came over me and I knew without a doubt that I was to carry these babies," she said. "All the doubt, worry and apprehension that I had been feeling was gone."
"We experienced a peace 'which surpasseth all understanding,"' said Brother Wilkinson (from Philippians 4:7).
They began to prepare for the risky pregnancy. Sister Wilkinson was asked to eat 5,000 calories a day in order to provide for the tremendous nutritional needs of her growing babies. She was on strict bed rest for the last 13 weeks — 10 at her aunt's house and the last three in the hospital.
Sister Wilkinson, who is 5 foot, 2 inches tall, delivered the babies on the morning of July 31, setting the record for the heaviest set of quintuplets born in the U.S.
The babies were released from the hospital one by one as they were able to feed from a bottle for three consecutive days. The last one was released on Aug. 19.
Brother Wilkinson left for Texas on Aug. 18 to return to work and get his oldest son ready to begin second grade.
As the babies came from the hospital, Relief Society members in the Davis' ward signed up for around-the-clock shifts to help feed and diaper. In Austin, donations of supplies began flowing in. Brother Wilkinson's employer donated a new, 12-passenger van to accommodate the family, and airline tickets to get his family home.
The family also received donations of a five-baby stroller, clothes and formula. Relief Society members at home sewed a set of color-coordinated crib bedding for each baby.
"It's amazing to see how generous people are," said Sister Wilkinson. "We have witnessed a lot of love."
The family is so grateful for all those who have helped. Sister Wilkinson is especially grateful for her aunt, who suffers from multiple sclerosis but was a second mother to her. "She's been amazing," Sister Wilkinson said.
Sister Davis said she has seen "nothing but miracles," for everyone involved in this experience.
Sister Wilkinson and her five babies, with the helping hands of family and friends, are planning to return home Sept. 1. They will return to a new, bigger house that Brother Wilkinson, with the help of relatives and ward members, moved into while his wife was in Arizona.
"It really is a miracle," said Sister Wilkinson of her babies' births. "We knew it was risky and that the odds were against me, but we hoped it would turn out like this. So much of this has been spiritual."
She found strength in her patriarchal blessing. "It doesn't mention quints," she said, "but it totally pertains to this experience — it's all there; things that have come to pass that are in that blessing."
For more on the Wilkinson family, visit their Web site at: www.wilkinsonquints.org.
'There's nothing like being a parent'
Another LDS family in Texas had quintuplets five years ago.
Nichole and Nathan Faylor, who lived in Austin at the time, but have since relocated to San Antonio, have three boys and two girls. They were featured in the Nov. 16, 2002, issue of the Church News.
The Faylors have corresponded by e-mail with the Wilkinsons, offering support before and after the delivery.
"Set a schedule; get organized," the Faylors agreed on advice for the Wilkinsons now that the babies have arrived.
"We found we had to keep our babies on a schedule," said Sister Faylor. "It was hard resisting the urge to break the schedule, but if anything got them off, it took two to three days to get them back on," said Brother Faylor.
The Faylor's quints will turn 5 years old on Sept. 1, the day the Wilkinsons' quints planned to arrive at home in Austin.
"It's been a lot of fun," says Sister Faylor. "There's nothing like being a parent."