In an incredible turn of events, a Texas family’s joy has multiplied exponentially this summer as they welcomed not one, not two, but four bundles of happiness into their lives. Gabby Hagler, 39, and Patrick Hagler, 50, received the astonishing news during their 12-week ultrasound that they were expecting not just one baby but four.
The Haglers initially thought they were viewing different angles of the same baby on the ultrasound screen, but their excitement quickly mounted when the ultrasound technician exclaimed, “one, two, three, oh wait, no, no, wait, there’s four!” The couple was in complete shock, but their earlier experience of a miscarriage had them eagerly anticipating the arrival of their rainbow babies.
On June 22, Ada, Bennett, Coby, and Dane Hagler, the fraternal quadruplets, made their entrance into the world at 34 weeks. The Hagler family’s older siblings, including stepbrother Paxton (12), stepsister Kalleigh (13), and brother Sammy (2), had the honor of choosing names for their new siblings.
The Hagler quadruplets spent their first few days in separate NICUs before reuniting in the intermediate-level NICU. Fortunately, the babies didn’t face any complications during their stay. Despite initially planning to have just one more child, the Haglers agree that the quadruplets have brought transformative joy into their lives.
Turning 50 with four infants may not be the usual path, but Patrick, a marriage and family therapist, mentioned that it has energized him. The sudden expansion of their family did require some financial adjustments, but the couple was fortunate enough to draw on their retirement savings to accommodate the unexpected blessing.
In addition to the financial changes, the Haglers have been navigating the intricacies of managing the quadruplets’ routines as they continue to grow. On an average day, they go through approximately 45 diapers, 95 wipes, and 12 to 24 bottles per baby. About nine hours each day are dedicated to feeding, burping, changing, and tending to the quadruplets’ needs.
To avoid any mix-ups, each newborn in the Hagler family has been assigned a unique color and animal theme, making it easier for family members to tell them apart. As personalities begin to emerge, Adam appears to be “the most mature,” Bennett has taken the role of “the star of the show,” Coby is the “professional baby” who adheres to a schedule, and Dane has a theme centered on gray and elephants.
