Everything Changed
She had waited her whole life to have babies of her own, and now the mother-to-be was racing to the maternity ward after repeat IVF treatments finally took.
But after doctors told her husband to leave the room, she felt all alone. Then she realized it was probably for the best that he wasn’t there.
Big Dreams
Carrie had always dreamed of having a big family. Before tying the knot with the love of her life, Craig Kosinski, the couple had discussed their hopes of becoming parents.
Once they were married and had their house in order, they thought they were finally ready. But as is often the case, life had other plans.
Worries
After a year of trying, Carrie still hadn’t fallen pregnant. At first, she put aside her worries. But deep in her heart, a little voice was telling her that this wasn’t normal.
After one particularly sleepless night, she decided to take the plunge. She set up an appointment with a fertility specialist - for both of them. She had to know.
Shattered
When fertility doctors broke the news that the couple wouldn’t be able to have children naturally due to various medical conditions, the Kosinskis were devastated.
The dreams they had of having little feet pitter-pattering through the house were suddenly brought crashing to Earth. But they weren’t the kind of couple to give up that easily.
Weighing Her options
Carrie tried to stay positive, but one day the reality of it all hit her hard. The test was, once again, negative.
A stream of tears ran from Carrie’s eyes as she considered all her options. They couldn’t take out another loan for another round of IVF, they had barely been able to afford the first treatment. They couldn’t keep doing this. Then, she got the news that changed everything.
Reaching Out
In 2013, one of Carrie’s old friends contacted her via Facebook.
Carrie was very happy to hear from her after all these years, but she was confused about why she would be reaching out after such a long time. Carrie was suspicious. She knew something was up, but never expected the favor she was about to ask.
An Agenda
The couple was desperate to have children, so when Carrie heard her estranged friend was pregnant, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
The old friends continued to make small talk, chatting about how their lives had been going. It was strange that her friend had suddenly reached out. Then, Carrie discovered the reason behind it.
A Question
Carrie’s friend opened up and explained that she couldn’t really cope with another child. She and her husband had been struggling, emotionally and financially.
They hadn’t planned on becoming pregnant again. Then, she made a startling request. When said that she had hoped that the Kosinskis might adopt her baby, Carrie was ecstatic. But she could never have imagined the consequences that would follow.
Adalynn And Kenna
On February 28, 2014, the twins Adalynn and Kenna were born in an Ohio hospital. Carrie and Craig couldn’t wait to see their babies for the first time.
However, they were prudent and decided to adopt the children on a trial basis only. Then, one year after the start of the trial, Carrie called the birth mother with some news.
A Big Ask
Carrie and Craig had no doubt they wanted to be the twins’ mom and dad for the rest of their lives.
But when they told the birth mother their plans, she confided in the couple that she was having a really hard time raising her other children – another set of twins, coincidently born exactly one year earlier on the same day, February 28. Carrie recognized the tone of her voice. What exactly was she asking for?
Cece And JJ
Carrie and Craig barely hesitated when they were asked if they would take on the other set of twins. They wanted a large family and were financially secure enough to support one. Within just a few weeks, Cece and J.J. joined the family.
Even though they always wanted a big family, taking on two sets of twins is a huge challenge for any couple, but there was a reason they could never have made a different decision.
A Difficult Decision
Carrie explained to reporters that the decision was tough, but one that had to be made so the kids weren’t split up. “It was difficult. We were trying to get pregnant ourselves."
“But they were siblings, so that was definitely part of our consideration – we wanted to keep them together,” Carrie told The Journal Times. But life had a surprise for them.
Feeling Off
Despite the rambunctious household they now had, Carrie and Craig still wanted kids of their own and hoped that one day a miracle might happen, despite what the doctors had told them.
Then, just one year later, Carrie felt something she never thought she’d feel. She threw on her coat and asked Craig to drive her to the doctor.
"Could You Give Us A Moment?"
When the doctor returned with paperwork, he was silent. Then, he turned to Craig and told him to leave the room.
Carrie was confused and frightened but when the doctor looked up and said the three words that sent a shiver down her spine. Then, she realized that it was probably for the best that her husband wasn’t there.
Surprising News
Carrie and Craig were super nervous. They never imagined they would even be in a position to take a pregnancy test, so the idea that the result might be positive put butterflies in both their stomachs.
The positive test result was a miracle, but what the doctor had to say next really turned their lives upside down.
A Miracle
The couple jumped for joy when they were told Carrie was finally pregnant – but the really big news was that it was another set of twins! Overnight, the family grew from an already healthy six to eight members, finally completing the picture with a baby of their own.
Everything was going great for the Kosinskis, until Carrie started feeling twinges just over halfway through the pregnancy.
Emergency
Carrie was only five-months-pregnant as she sat on her sofa folding clothes and felt she might be having contractions. Both her and Craig were desperately worried that something might be seriously wrong.
Craig raced home and got Carrie in the car before heading to the hospital as fast as possible, but they were afraid they might not make it in time.
Acting Quickly
Once Carrie was at the hospital, the doctors realized they needed to act fast. Carrie would need an emergency procedure if the twins were to come into the world this early.
They asked Craig to leave the room so the doctors had space to work. The father-of-four paced up and down the waiting room. Then, the surgeon approached the desperate father with the news.
Success
Although they arrived prematurely, Carrie was relieved to see the doctors had successfully aided the birth of their tiny, but healthy babies.
The family had once again grown by another two children – and they couldn’t be happier, despite never dreaming they would ever be parents to three sets of twins. But the fact the couple now had two babies of their own isn’t even the biggest coincidence of the Kosinskis’ story.
Amazing Coincidences
Although it may be hard to believe, the end of that six weeks just happened to be a very special date on the calendar.
It was February 28, which meant that all three sets of twins shared the same birthday! The chances of that are highly unlikely, but it made the Kosinksi clan that much more special and unique.
Intensive care
Some felt at the time that the new babies’ survival was a little touch and go.
After all, they had been born at just 25 weeks, and the babies weighed a mere 1 pound, 6 ounces at the time of delivery. They were immediately transported to a special neonatal intensive care unit as they needed special care as well as surgery.
Progress
After a few weeks and a tough time in intensive care, the babies began to show signs of progress.
Despite having undergone numerous surgeries and suffering viral infections, the twins are doing better and have gained 1.5 pounds. They remain stable but in a critical condition due to being born so premature.
Visits
Despite having a lot on their hands at home, both Carrie and Craig tried to visit the twin girls at the hospital as often as possible.
Carrie would make her way once a day to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. At the same time, Craig visited the girls three times a week when he could get the time off work.
Faith
The Kosinskis are very religious, pray regularly, and have a deep faith in God.
The fact that all six children share the same birthday proves, in their mind, that it was all part of God’s plan. Cece and J.J. were born on Feb. 28, 2013; Adalynn and Kenna on Feb. 28, 2014, and Karraline and Clarissa, on Feb. 28., 2016.
Divine Plan
As Carrie told The Journal Times: “We think it is definitely meant to be that we would have all of them. It’s just God’s way of saying here I’m giving you these children as a blessing..."
"... and I am going to make it interesting and fun for you by having them all born on the same day. … It just kind of happened all at once. You can’t fuss with the stuff too much. You’re just trying to put out the big fires and hope that the little fires aren’t too serious.”