PARENTS WELCOME FOUR SMALL WONDERS

11:47 AM CDT on Sunday, April 17, 2005
by Jennifer Stewart Ball, Dallas Morning News



PLANO – In four minutes, the Dixon family grew from three to seven members in a jubilant labor and delivery room in west Plano.

With her husband, Donny, standing by, Elizabeth Dixon brought three tiny girls and one little boy into the world Wednesday.

In doing so, the preemie Dixon quads beat the odds.

Ms. Dixon, 25, said she was on birth control pills and busy caring for the couple's then-6-month-old son when she learned she was pregnant with five babies.

"It was a huge surprise to us," she said.

Only one in 780,000 pregnancies results in spontaneous quads – those conceived without fertility drugs, said Dr. Christopher Riegel. Not to mention that Ms. Dixon was on "anti-fertility drugs," he said.

Spontaneous quints occur in one in 55 million pregnancies.

Ms. Dixon miscarried one of the five babies in December. She was placed on bed rest Jan. 10 and has been in the hospital since Feb. 28, battling early contractions.

These were gifts from God, so we just held on," Ms. Dixon said. "We just really felt like God was in this from the beginning."

Weighing in from 1 pound, 14 ounces, to 2 pounds, 1 ounce, the Dixon four are the first quads born at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, hospital officials said.

Hudson, Madison, Candice and Samantha each have a head of dark brown hair and a fighting spirit.

"They're doing fantastic," Dr. Riegel said. "I'm thrilled."

Still, it will be several months before they're strong enough to leave the warmth of the hospital's incubators for their Irving home.

The couple are living with Elizabeth's parents in Valley Ranch. More grandparents, who are missionaries in France, are flying in to help.

Mr. Dixon, 26, a salesman for a church fundraising firm, said he and his wife have suffered some financial setbacks.

Their son Logan, who turned 1 on Thursday, was born with kidney problems. Medical bills from his birth and various specialists outstripped their health insurance, placing them deeper in debt.

But the Dixons, who are members of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, have faith that God will continue to provide.

In the meantime, the family needs to figure out how to cart their little blessings around. Only three car seats will fit in their Honda Accord.

To watch the babies' progress, go to www.dixonquads.com.