Kim and Vaughn Tucci hover between the five bassinets lined up in a row before them. “We love seeing the connection they have,” says Kim adoringly as she watches baby Keith stretch his arm towards his sister Beatrix. In the next bassinet, tiny Alison lets out a giant yawn.
Earlier this year, the Aussie couple became proud parents of quins. And although the journey hasn’t been easy, they couldn’t be more in love with them.
“I’ll get five times the amount of cuddles,” beams Kim, 26. “And I’ll get to watch all of their firsts five times over – their first steps and first words. I’ve loved them deeply since I was about nine weeks pregnant and already I can’t imagine life without them.”
Mum to three other children – Kurt, nine, Aiva, five, and Indiana, two – Kim and handyman Vaughn, 32, were hoping for one more child to complete the family when their five non-identical newborns were naturally conceived.
Their arrival, on January 28, was hailed as a one-in-55 million miracle, but it wasn’t without its complications. Kim was admitted to hospital at 27 weeks with a resting heart rate of 170 beats per minute, as her body struggled to cope with the weight of carrying five children during the final months of her pregnancy.
The couple chose the birth date in advance to guarantee that a staff of 50 would be present at the hospital.
“I got my game face on then and got in the zone. Not even Vaughn could get a hug out of me. I’d felt such pressure for so long to deliver them all healthy. I couldn’t wait to meet them and relieve myself of that burden,” Kim says.
Despite the challenges of raising their large family, Kim and Vaughn say having the quins has only brought them closer.
Love times five
Now safely settled in at home, the quins – Tiffany, Penelope, Beatrix, Keith and Alison – have all started to develop distinct personalities. Despite arriving last, Kim says little Allie is “definitely the leader of the pack”, while Tiffany is a “quiet achiever” who doesn’t demand attention.
Little Beatrix is the most well-behaved when it comes to eating, sleeping and waking routines, while Penelope is “the first to want a cuddle”.
Kim also has a special bond with the only boy, Keith, who “only truly settles down” for his mum, Vaughn confesses.
As you can imagine, however, looking after five babies – not to mention their three older siblings – is a round-the-clock task, so Kim and Vaughn have an army of caregivers helping them. There are always four carers at any given time in the house, stepping in to assist with baby duties.
While there are likely to be many challenges, Kim and Vaughn know they have each other to rely on. “Having quins has brought us closer,” says Vaughn. “I thought Kim was strong before, but she’s my hero now.”
