Danville couple expects quintuplets

BY DANA SCHAUMBURG

DANVILLE September 08, 2006 10:40 pm

— Jenny Ferrill looks like she is nearing the end of her pregnancy, but that is not the case at all.
That is because Ferrill, who is in her 16th week of pregnancy, plans to have quintuplets later this year. Ferrill and her husband Pete were shocked, to say the least, when they found out they were expecting a full house.
“We knew we were going to be dealing with twins at the beginning,” her husband said.
Ferrill had fertility injections to enhance the quality of her eggs after two miscarriages in the past two years, but she didn’t have the type of injections that would cause multiple births.
So when the couple went for their sonogram at about six weeks, they found out that they were expecting four babies.
“That was a very big shock,” he said, adding that according to the doctors, it wasn’t even possible.
Then the couple went to their next sonogram and found a fifth baby had been hiding before. So now they must prepare for an even bigger homecoming, but the couple and their families are just taking it day by day.
“We’re not dealing with a normal multiple pregnancy,” Pete said, explaining it is extremely high risk.
Jenny travels to Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis for checkups every two weeks, but she will probably have to stay in the hospital from sometime in October until the delivery.
Everyone involved hopes the babies — three boys and two girls — will make it until 31 weeks, which is the week of Christmas.
“Our main concern through this whole time has been their health and mine,” Jenny said, adding the goal is to have a successful delivery.
“My main focus is prayer every day that we get them here and they’re healthy,” she added.
But the realization that they will have five babies to bring home instead of one prompted a total mindset change, Pete said, explaining they have grown as a couple since beginning two years ago to try to have a child.
The change brought with it a drain on their energy, resources and emotions, he added.
That’s where their family, friends and coworkers come in.
Jenny’s mom, Karen Butikas, has organized a benefit for the couple on Oct. 29 at Turtle Run Golf and Banquet Center.
But the thought of having five grandchildren at once takes its toll on Butikas, too.
“I’m overwhelmed. I marvel at the two of them. Their strength is just unreal,” she said.
Butikas just wonders how they are going to fit five beds into two bedrooms when the babies come home. Jenny hopes to be involved with decorating the children’s rooms, but doesn’t know how much longer she will be home.
“I’m just more nervous about the babies,” she said, but she’s beginning to feel ripples of movement, and they have the heart monitor so they can listen to the babies’ heartbeats.
“I also feel blessed at this time that all the babies are doing well,” Jenny said. “They’re all growing at the same rate.”
Besides local support, Jenny joined a support group online, which has been very helpful with dealing with all the changes.
For right now, Jenny can work from home after her doctor advised that she needed to stay off her feet at her Sept. 1 appointment. She works full-time at Catholic Charities and said her coworkers have been very supportive.
Her husband works full-time at the Center for Children’s Services while also going to school online to get his master’s degree.
Jenny also can’t drive and must relax as much as possible.
She goes to water therapy four to five times a week to prevent pre-term labor and high blood pressure, but she’s already experienced contractions.
But the couple feels like all the medications, the trips to the hospital, the changes in work schedule and everything else they are going through is worth it to bring all five babies into the world safe and healthy.

COMING UP
A benefit for Pete and Jenny Ferrill will be from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 29 at Turtle Run Golf and Banquet Center.
Anyone wanting to donate can call Karen Butikas at 267-3829 or make a deposit at the Education Personnel Credit Union in Danville.

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