Quads against all odds

10:27 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2005

By JEFF BRADY / WFAA-TV

The Dixon family broke new ground at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano on Wednesday with four new additions at once.

They're the first set of quadruplets in the hospital's history - and though the premature babies have a long way to go before doctors release them from intensive care, they are already winning the hearts of those who meet them.

"Hudson is the boy, and then the girls are Madison, Candice and Samantha," said mother Liz Dixon.

"They were born at 2:13, 2:14, 2:15, and 2:16," said father Donny Dixon.

The children were born by Caesarian section thirteen weeks early, and all conceived naturally.

"Not only no fertility drugs, but also they were actually on birth control pills, trying not to get pregnant," said obstetrician Dr. Chris Riegel.

David Carter / WFAA-TV

The quadruplets are under special care at a Plano hospital.

Their combined weight, about 6.5 pounds, is less than most single newborns. The hospital had to summon extra staff to handle the delivery and help run the neonatal ICU.

"We definitely can see how God has worked in this," Liz said.

The Dixons' first son had kidney trouble, and needed special attention too.

"The medical bills just skyrocketed," Donny said. "We ended up in some debt - quite a bit of debt, actually - and moved in with her parents, so we don't actually even have a home to go home to."

Still thankful for their new offspring despite the challenges ahead, the Dixons will stay at the hospital for at least another eight weeks. Consider it time enough to get used to one miracle after another.