Stocking up on miracles for Oklahoma quads
CHRISTMASHoliday caps a busy birthday time for parents of quads

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Published: December 25, 2008

THOMAS — Stunned, Rick Payne sat on the couch across from the fireplace mantle that’s decorated with holiday garland and lined with red-bodied, white striped Christmas stockings.

Rick and Jennifer Payne with quads, from left, Claire and Preston (on Rick's lap) Griffin and Carson (on Jennifer's lap) with son Parker, 4, middle, Monday , December 22, 2008. Photo by David McDaniel/The Oklahoman

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"Jen, there are seven stockings,” he said to his wife, Jennifer Payne. "Wow. There are seven.”

This is the same father who in June 2007 tried to comfort his wife in the doctor’s office. She was fearful of having twins. He said, "Jen, it’s not like you’re having four babies.”

Today’s Christmas celebration of Jesus’ birth marks the sixth birthday celebration in nine days — including four — yes, four — on one day. On Dec. 17, Jen and Rick’s quadruplets — Preston, Griffin, Carson and Claire — celebrated their first birthday. On Monday, son Parker celebrated his fourth birthday. Those just add to today’s birthday celebration for the Paynes.

The blue skirt beneath the Christmas tree decorated with user-friendly ornaments includes the image of Joseph next to Mary who is holding the infant Jesus.

Jen, sitting next to the tree inside their farm home near Thomas, mentioned reading Luke 2:19 last Sunday at church: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

"I thought, ‘Wow, I do that,’” she said. "I’m just amazed with the miracles He chose to bless us with.”

And then she started laughing while thinking about a framed stenciled saying that a friend gave her for Christmas this year that reads: "Lord grant me the patience to deal with all these miracles.”

Besides the seven stockings are:

• 24 diapers a day.

• 16 bottles.

• Four loads of washing.

"Even the little things become big things,” Jen said of the quads and a 4-year-old. "When you’re trimming fingernails and toenails, there are 50 fingernails and 50 toenails.”

It does have an educational advantage, Rick pointed out: "Parker is learning to count by volume. We count bottles and we count baby food jars.”

Personalities start to show

Even in volume, there are differences. The quads aren’t mirror images.

Preston is the leader, very strong-willed.

"When he learned to crawl, he took everybody’s toys and moved them just out of their reach,” Jen said. "Preston is also the one who taught the others how to throw things.”

Griffin started out as a "real fussy baby.”

"He’s turned into a laid-back, cuddly baby,” Jen said. "He likes to be held.”

Carson is the very vocal, "wild one.” He’s the bed rocker, likes to shake his crib. But, he’s also the happiest. Carson wakes each morning with a smile.

Claire is an observer. She studies the situation and then acts.

"She picks her battle and then goes after it,” Rick said.

"And she usually wins.”

As for Parker, he’s not jealous at all. Someone asked him the other day what he likes most about the babies, and he said, "Taking care of them.”

That’s no easy chore, as lunchtime demonstrates. The family has a V-shaped table in which each of the quads has a built-in seat. Jen resembles a poker dealer as she distributes the cheese slices and then the crackers.

Some might see it as overwhelming, but not Rick and Jen Payne.

"Christmas is my favorite time of the year,” Rick said. "God has blessed us.

"And I especially treasure it with this crew coming on.”