SHE GAVE BIRTH TO THE WORLD’S FIRST SEPTUPLETS – SEE HOW THEY LOOK NOW

A woman from Iowa made history in the fall of 1997. Bobbi McCaughey was left in shock after the doctors informed her she was pregnant with septuplets. No woman before managed to give birth to seven surviving babies until then.

Bobbi and her husband Kenny were over the roof to welcome their seven newborn babies. Naturally, the story exploded all over the world. Thought they weren’t famous before, the story about their kids went famous overnight.

Three girls and four boys arrived in less than 10 minutes, weighing between 2.5 and 3.4 pounds. The fact they all survived surprised the doctors – the babies arrived two months premature. ‘Seven From Heaven’, as they became known, were named Kenny, Kelsey, Natalie, Brandon, Alexis, Nathan, and Joel.

And that wasn’t all for the McCaugheys. At the time of septuplets’ birth, they already had a daughter Mikayla. Imagine how the girl felt when she found out she got seven little brothers and sisters!

Time magazine featured the parents on the cover and various media have been following the family ever since. There has been one woman pregnant with septuplets in America before, in 1985, however, one of her babies was stillborn and three others didn’t make it through their first three weeks.

Their first year went by in a typical chaotic way. The parents had to juggle between 7 infants, 30 bottles, 40 diapers, a few laundry loads, and several volunteers who helped. Kenny would work until 6 p.m. and it was impossible for Bobbi to make it all by herself.

Mikayla, only a year older than her siblings, even offered to help her mom. At such a young age, she realized that the number of little kids in their family is bigger than usual and that every help is welcomed. Such a great big sister.

In 1998, the family celebrated the septuplets’ first birthday on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The whole America got to peek into their daily lives and see how the parents handled 8 small children on a daily basis.

The family had help from generous people and they got a 5,500 square foot home, a van, a year’s worth of mac and cheese, and free diapers for two years, to name a few.

While they were in kindergarten, the kids got to meet with President Bush. Later on, when they were High School Seniors, they all got offered free college educations from universities all around the country. The Hannibal-LaGrange University in Missouri has offered free admission to all seven of them, and two apparently plan to attend.

This big, loving family grew bigger day after day. The septuplets will be 20 years old this fall and they’ve all grown up into great young adults. No wonder, as they had the role models you could only wish for. The lack of financial and material goods could never get between the ten of them.

Time goes by quickly in a good company, and Bobbi and Kenny are facing an empty nest. It won’t be easy having an empty house after decades of raising children. As Bobbi said, “It’s sad to see things end, but there will be a lot of firsts coming. You have to get to the lasts to get to the firsts.

In fact, grown-up life has already started for the McCaughey kids with the older sister Mikayla getting married. Naturally, her sisters Alexis, Natalie, and Kelsey were the bridesmaids at the wedding.

Unfortunately, not all of the seven kids were born perfectly healthy. Alexis and Nathan suffer from cerebral palsy. That didn’t stop them from living good lives – Alexis graduated top of her class and was the co-captain of the cheer squad. She wants to be a teacher. Nathan wants a career in science after high school.

All seven of them wore their black and red gowns at the graduation. It was certainly an emotional moment, especially for the parents. “It will be pretty drastic. Everyone gone all at once,” Bobbi said.

On their eighteenth birthday celebration, Bobbi spoke for Today: “The [years] have flown by. There have been so many things that have happened.

Everything is a last. The last marching band performance. The last cross country meet. The last choir concert. It’s sad to see things end, but there will be lots of firsts coming.”

The septuplets were certainly born into the spotlight, but they had pretty normal lives nevertheless. They are just another big family – only a slightly bigger than we’re used to. Each of them is an individual person, with their own interests and hobbies, not much different than any siblings.

You may be wondering about their relationship with the older sister, Mikayla. In fact, since she’s only a year older than them, it didn’t take long before they all started acting like they are the same age. Mikayla had some struggles at first, as she explained: “When I was really young, I liked being the boss. But as we’ve all gotten older, I think we’ve all just become equal.”

After all, not everybody is so privileged to get seven siblings, let alone septuplets nearly her age. If that’s not friends for life, we don’t know what is!

In the top row from left to right, meet Brandon, Alexis, Joel, and Nathan. In the bottom row, there is the mom Bobbi, Natalie, Kelsey, Kenny Jr., and the dad, Kenny Sr

Once little kids are ambitious young people today. Alexis hopes for a career in education; Brandon wants to join the Army; Natalie wants to teach kids in elementary school; Kenny Jr. wants a career in construction; Kelsey sings in a choir and wants to be a professional singer; Nathan and Joel are about to become programmers.

Kenny Jr. spoke for NBC News last year. He said: “I honestly think it will be good for all of us to be on our separate ways. I am not worried about not seeing everyone that much. We have been around each other the past 18 years. I am ready to be on my way, and I think everyone else is, too.”

But how about mom and dad? What do they think about the change?

“It will definitely be weird at first,” Kenny Sr. told NBC News. “It will be easier in the sense of (less) groceries and more freedom to do things, but harder in the sense of wondering how each is doing with classes, basic training and just daily concern for their well-being.”

“When they all will leave, it’s gonna be really drastic,” added Bobbi. “Indeed, the house that was never quiet will become empty at once.”

It’s still hard to imagine living in a family this big. The number of laundry loads may serve as an illustration. Back in 1998, when they were Oprah’s guests, Bobbi said they have approximately 15 loads of laundry every week. The situation hasn’t changed much, with 15-17 loads week after week as 10 adult people live in the same house

Looking back, having such a big family is something to be grateful for. They all appreciate the help they received throughout the years.

Kelsey shared her feelings recently: “I feel like I am starting my life. But they are my best friends. When you need someone to talk to, they are there to help you.”

Kenny added: “What I’m not going to like is we won’t be around each other. I couldn’t be where I am today without them.”

Natalie added what they were all thinking: “It’s sort of going to be a new, fresh start.”