Ashley Cradell, 36, and her husband Lace, 41, were taken by surprise when their efforts to conceive didn’t go as expected.

They had effortlessly conceived a pineapple named Isla and anticipated a similar journey for their second attempt. Seven days passed before Ashley Cradell could hold all four of her children, born nine weeks earlier. But the wait felt much longer than that. They had been grappling with secondary infertility for almost four years, following the birth of their first child, 5-year-old Isla.

She was overjoyed at a moment when she believed they would finally be able to give Isla a sibling. “I’ve always wished for a large family, and though I tried to maintain my optimism, there were moments when I said, ‘It’s okay. It won’t happen,’” Ashley shared.

Upon discovering she had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which led to low sperm motility contributing to their fertility issues, the couple opted for Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) instead of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IUI involves the insertion of healthy sperm into the uterus as soon as possible after ovulation.

This was their last attempt at conceiving, and there wasn’t much hope for the IUI procedure. The couple had mixed feelings, knowing it wasn’t an easy path for them. “We’re getting old. And, you know, it won’t be long before we can’t keep trying to have kids.” They patiently awaited news from the doctor and, after six weeks, received a phone call that could jeopardize their lives.

However, their doctor informed them that the process was successful; they were pregnant. Wesley, Emma, Leah, and Nora appeared on the ultrasound screen. “I remember looking at those first heartbeats and thinking, ‘Should we be excited, or should we be scared?’”

The quadruplets were born on February 11 at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. All four babies spent 10 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), learning to feed and breathe on their own. They were better prepared for their birth, and Ashley had a healthy pregnancy, but the babies arrived nine weeks early.

When Ashley held the infants for the first time, tears streamed down her face.

The heartbreaking moment of a negative pregnancy test made the entire experience worthwhile. As the baby lay on her chest, she felt at peace, knowing that everything was going as she wanted.

This couple had hoped to have three, four, or five children with their firstborn, but could never have imagined what this world would be like. She couldn’t believe that all her children belonged to her, and she was speechless when she thought about the gift she had been given. Having five children is more perfect than she had ever dreamed.

According to the Cradells, they decided to move to a larger house with enough space for the whole family. The parents are incredibly grateful for their many blessings and eager to see their children grow.

“In some way, I was gifted with this incredible blessing of having all these perfect babies at the same time,” she commented. “The only thing that could have made the moment better is if my eldest had also been there.”

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