Making their return to Ohio for the reunion were former Madison Twp. residents Tom and Amanda Barnhart, with son Thomas, 4, and 1-year-old quadruplets Ashlynn, Beau, Christian and Dakota.
In a matter of three minutes and five seconds on Sept. 23, 2012, the babies became the hospital’s first quadruplets in 30 years, said Miriam Cartmell, administrative director of women’s and children’s services at Kettering Medical Center. She said the hospital can handle any high-risk pregnancy since becoming a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in January 2012.
A team of more than 20 doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists worked to deliver the four babies, Cartmell said.
“They were everything to us,” Amanda Barnhart said of the NICU personnel. “They were wonderful and always there for the kids.”
Amanda Barnhart said all the babies are healthy as they enter their second year. Amanda Barnhart said she always envisioned herself having a big family, and now with five children the couple says “no more.”
Tom and Amanda Barnhart moved back to their home state of Pennsylvania in June after living in Butler County for about seven years. The family lives in Greensburg, Pa. — with both sets of grandparents living within 45 minutes, as well as a network of nieces and nephews at the ready, Amanda Barnhart said.
“It’s come in very handy now,” Tom Barnhart said.
Daily care for the quadruplets includes up to 25 diapers, 16 bottles of baby formula and at least one load of laundry. Tom Barnhart said while the babies do follow a routine, it’s still a task to get them all awake and fed in the mornings, especially before Sunday church.
“They all have their own look and are their own little person,” Tom Barnhart said.
Amanda Barnhart said the couple has actually been able to sleep more after the birth of the quadruplets than after their first child Thomas was born early inside the NICU at Kettering Medical Center. She said the quadruplets are sound asleep from 7:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m.
“It’s 12 crazy hours when they’re up and then 12 peaceful hours,” Tom Barnhart said.
For older brother Thomas, responsibilities include playing with the babies and helping out during feedings. But Thomas’ favorite part of being big brother is “protecting the babies,” he said.
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