Mum Carla Crozier tells of joy and exhaustion as quads reach third birthday through tears, tantrums and promises of help which ‘never materialised’
As Corrie mum Gemma Winter’s struggle to cope with her quads grips millions of viewers, Carla Crozier knows what she’s going through. And, as her own four celebrate their third birthday, the whirlwind of joy, tears and exhaustion that lies ahead for her.
Like Gemma’s babies, Carla’s four girls were born 12 weeks premature. But unlike the Corrie mum, played by Dolly-Rose Campbell, Carla’s were the result of a final I.V.F attempt with husband Paul to give their daughter Darcie, now six, a sibling.
And the couple beat odds of 70 million to one by ending up with two sets of identical twin girls.
On their birthday on Friday, Carla dressed Isla and Demi and fellow twins Alyse and Milla in rainbow colours. Just as she does every year in memory of two ᴍɪsᴄᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇs in 2015 in her bid to add to Darcie, also born through I.V.F.
But the quads can be far from as sweet as they look. “They fight over anything,” said Carla, 37, who juggles potty-training, tantrums and teething. “Paul and I average two hours sleep while they’re teething. It’s tough. I get teary then I remind myself what I’ve got. Last year Paul struggled with the constant noise and temper tantrums. He was put on ᴀɴᴛɪᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssᴀɴᴛs. Now he has more patience.”
After the births, which were premature, the couple was able to extend the house and build a garden, both of which are now very useful. Mrs. Crozier now advises families with multiples, triplets and quadruplets.
She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “Everything can be overwhelming, but happiness is the reward.” Even sleep two hours a day. “It makes me want to cry, but then I see what I have”
She and Paul have passed many milestones, including the girls starting nursery and potty training – saving £50 on 140 nappies a week. Carla has been self-isolating with her brood, so the girls’ birthday felt strange. “Seeing my rainbow babies at three makes me so proud.”
