It will be ʜᴀʀᴅ to impress Digna Carpio this Mother’s Day – the Queens mom already has six jewels.
Digna gave birth to sextuplets in October, six healthy babies who are really something to celebrate.
“Just being together, having a quiet and relaxing day with all of my babies, is enough,” Digna, 31, said in Spanish. “But ‘relaxing’ and ‘quiet’ do not come easily to this house anymore,” she added with a giggle.
Digna and her husband, Victor, are getting used to having such a full house. The couple also has an 8-year-old son, Jhan Carlos.
“It’s tough going out with six babies,” Digna said. “Just knowing they are with me, happy and healthy, is the best feeling.”
On a recent afternoon, the babies rested in six bassinets lined up in two neat rows in the family’s living room. Genesis smiled, anticipating her mealtime. Justin, always the quiet one, waited patiently. Once Jaden started crying, Joel, Jezreel and Danelia followed suit.
“Each one is developing their own personality,” their mom said. “To others, they look the same. I already know who is who.”
Digna and Victor’s joy has not come without sacrifices, they admit.
The bills continue to pile up. The big expenses – $5,000 for electricity, money for baby food and all those diapers – can be tough to cover on the $900 biweekly salary 35-year-old Victor makes as a maintenance worker.
The Carpio babies are only the second group of sextuplets born to a New York couple and are believed to be the first Hispanic sextuplets in U.S. history.
Two nurses from the Visiting Nurses of New York help the parents care for the babies. But once they leave at 6 p.m., both Digna and Victor know sleep will be a luxury.
“I don’t want to get overwhelmed,” Digna said. “I’m already thinking I’m going to need a van or a bus to take them to school.”
While Digna and Victor know money will be short for a long time to come, looking at the adorable faces of their babies makes it all worth it.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m going to go crazy and then I look at them. It’s the best feeling,” Digna said. “It’s the best gift for a mother.”
