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Sextuplet Arrives Home

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By STEVE KORNACKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - The big double doors at the front of the house opened, and Karoline and Ben Byler walked into the foyer with the first of their sextuplets to come home. Brady Christopher, toted in his car seat by mom, was quickly greeted by sister Zoe, 4, and the family dog, Sasha.

'Come here, Zoe,' the mother said. 'Come see!'

The father smiled, saying, 'There's your baby brother.'

Big sister's face lit up as her eyes twinkled, and Sasha jumped on her hind legs to get a better view. It was a Kodak moment, for sure.

Little brother, wearing an oversize blue sleeper, crinkled his face around the eyes before smiling. The whole family smiled back along with Patty Kiewra, Karoline's mother.

This was a milestone they had worked toward since the births Sept. 1 by Caesarean section at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Brady's siblings remained next door at All Children's Hospital with Mackenzie Margaret, the only girl, expected to come home Sunday.

'Brady is the big eater - that's what he's famous for,' Karoline Byler said.
Ben Byler added, 'And he's the strongest one.'

That appetite, his taking to the bottle feedings of pumped breast milk, contributed to Brady becoming the first one home. He also was the first baby delivered.

'He stepped up to be the first one out of the hospital,' Karoline Byler said at a news conference before leaving Bayfront. 'He wanted to be the big brother.'

Neonatologist Carine Stromquist, who cared for Brady at the hospital, said the four checkpoints for a baby to go home are taking every feeding by mouth, maintaining stable body temperature and respiratory functions, and weighing at least 4 pounds. Brady, now 4 pounds, 12 ounces and 16 1/2 inches long, has gained 2 pounds and 4 ounces since birth.

He wears a sleep apnea monitor in case he stops breathing temporarily, a condition he experienced several weeks ago. The Bylers were instructed in infant CPR and other care procedures while spending Monday night alone in a hospital room with Brady as practice.

'I thought he looked like Ben when he was born,' Karoline Byler said. 'But now I'm not so sure. Ryan has the longest face and looks the most like Ben. He has the biggest forehead. And Brady and Eli are the ones who look the most alike.'

Ryan Patrick, Eli Benjamin, Jackson Robert and Mackenzie are in a 'level three nursery,' according to their mother, who added that it was where babies nearing release are kept. Charlie Craig is in the 'high-end nursery' but is expected to join the others soon.

They will pair up in three cribs in one bedroom at home. The other two bedrooms in the home are occupied by the parents and Zoe.
Karoline Byler said the babies eventually will need their own cribs and more space. What will they do then?

'We haven't even gotten to that,' Ben Byler said with a smile. 'We're not sure.'

Kiewra said: 'I really do think Ben and Karoline will be able to handle this. I'd be so afraid to bring them home, but they can't wait. They are very organized.'
Ben Byler converted the garage into a playroom, and a space off the babies' bedroom now has three Pack 'n Play Playards in which infants can nap and play. The window sill of that area has six baby rubber duckies as well as momma, papa and little sister rubber duckies.

The family also will need something larger than the six-seat minivan they drive when everyone comes home. Four more green car seats and one pink one await the rest of the set.

Ben Byler's delivery truck for his Pepperidge Farms bread and bagel route broke down Thursday morning on Gunn Highway and needs a new fuel pump. He said he will take out the car seats and deliver bread in the van this morning.

But his most important home delivery came Thursday evening, when Brady came home after sleeping through his first Howard Frankland Bridge traffic jam. Everyone was all smiles.

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.

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