Wounded Marine Now Father of Quintuplets

AP ^ | 10/12/04

[TexKat]

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - A Marine who is in a hospital bed recovering from wounds he suffered in Iraq is now a father five times over.

While Sgt. Joshua Horton, 28, recuperated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, his wife, Taunacy, delivered quintuplets Monday in Naperville.

Neither the hospital nor military officials knew whether Horton was aware his babies had been born. He was heavily sedated and had not been able to speak to his wife, officials said.

Horton knew Taunacy was expecting quints when he was deployed to Iraq, but felt duty-bound to honor his commitment.

"He wanted to give some of the other fathers a chance to come home and serve their families," said Liz Robinson, his partner on the police force in nearby Aurora.

His three girls and two boys weigh between 1 pound, 9 ounces and 1 pound, 15 ounces, and were in critical but stable condition Monday evening in a neonatal intensive care unit. An Edward Hospital spokesman could not immediately provide an update on their conditions Tuesday.

Horton could have stayed home to take care of his pregnant wife and two older children, said Marine Maj. Rick Coates, the information officer for the 2nd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment.

But that wasn't in his nature. "He's just the type of guy who doesn't say no," Robinson said.

Horton arrived in Iraq a month ago and was wounded Thursday during intense fighting south of Baghdad.

The Hortons met while he was in the Marine Corps and she was in the Navy. Both completed their service and moved to Oswego, but decided after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that one of them should re-enlist. Horton enlisted in the Marine Reserves.

"They felt patriotic enough that they needed to do it, and they decided it should be him," said Anne Watts of Blackfoot, Idaho, Taunacy's stepmother.

The couple had tried for years to conceive a third child and succeeded after Taunacy started fertility drugs.

Horton is to be flown to the Bethesda Medical Center in Maryland soon, Coates said.

[TexKat]

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE ABC7 Video Clip

[Fire_on_High]

Marines don't do ANYTHING in half-measures :-)

[Brad’s Gramma]

M0sby, PLEASE add these little ones to Logan's prayer thread!! The rest of you...this is a prayer ping!!!


The quintuplets, dubbed the Horton Five by their family, were born at the 26th week of gestation, and include:

-- Baby girl, 1 lb 9.5 oz, 13 inches, critical but stable condition
-- Baby boy, 1 lb 9 oz, 12-1/4 inches, critical but stable condition
-- Baby boy, 1 lb 12 oz, 13 inches, critical but stable condition
-- Baby girl, 1 lb 15 oz, 13-1/2 inches, critical but stable condition
-- Baby girl, 1 lb 11 oz, 13-1/2 inches, critical but stable condition

[TexKat]

Thanks Brad's Gramma. What a wonderful thought.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Someone else suggested it....

[Knute]

I talked this morning to the father of the high risk OB/GYN that delivered these babies. He was at a Cheney Town Hall Meeting I attended in Milwaukee and asked the vice president about the escalating costs of malpractice insurance for doctors such as his daughter.
The answer was crystal clear- limits to punitive damages along with limits to the percentage the Edwarian lawyers confiscate. (my term, not Cheney's)

[Sally'sConcerns]

Could their Father also be added since the article states he's still heavily sedated and hasn't spoken with his wife.

Prayer's for his recovery, for Mom and for all 5 little one's.

[tiki]

Praying for this family. Now that's a family!

[ValerieUSA]

The Kerry's and Heinz's and Edwards think of the brave patriotic soldiers and Marines in Iraq as "boys and girls" being sent off to die.
These are men and women of HONOR with a sense of duty. I am grateful to them all. God bless them.

[LadyPilgrim]

Children are an heritage of the Lord!

God Bless this family!

[Angelwood]

Prayers for the whole family. May God bless them and watch over them.

[Ann Archy]

God be with them ALL! Pray to God all....they will need it.

[Pegita]

Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks for the joyous birth of these five precious babies ... may they prosper mightily from the touch of Your healing hand and from those who have charge of their medical care. Strengthen this mom daily, despite the stress of the knowledge of her husband's wounds and the birth of their children. May these parents be quickly restored to health, for great is the need of their seven children. Let not the older children be anxious or afraid, but may they know that their Heavenly Father stands watch and will guard them unto the day when the family is reunited.

Thank You, O God, for the love of country demonstrated by this family ... rally the community to their side as an expression of gratitude and as a means of sharing Your love. Greatly are You to be praised, O God, for the beauty of life that You have given to this family. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

[Focault's Pendulum]

Somewhere down the road.....Fighting Logan will be made to understand, he has nieces and nephews to fight for.

Not because they're blood....just because it's the right thing to do.

Somehow....I know you'll be there helping him along.

[Brad’s Gramma]

M0sby.....I'm a dufus...PLEASE include this special Daddy, too, on the prayer list! He's paying a huge cost right now for keeping us free...

Everyone else, such wonderful comments. God bless each of you!!!

I'd sure like to find a way to adopt this family. Wonder if they need a Grammie....Hmmmmmm.........

[Sally'sConcerns]

I personally don't think you can ever have too many Grammie's!

[Brad’s Gramma]

THAT'S IT!

I'm starting a new business.

GrammiesRUs! HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[kayak]

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for these new lives that You have created and we ask for Your special blessings on them. Watch over them and help them to grow stronger each day. Fill the medical staff with wisdom and skill as they care for these precious wee ones.

We pray for strength for their mother and for an outpouring of people to help her, both with the new quints and with their older siblings. Grant her peace and courage as she faces this wonderful event in her life in the absence of her husband and filled with concern for him.

We pray for healing for Joshua Horton and a quick return home for him that he may see his new babies and be re-united with his wife and other children. We thank You for his dedication and his heroism; and ask that You keep him in the palm of Your hand in the coming days.

Lord, we can only imagine how overwhelming it must be for this family to be dealing with the serious injuries to the husband and father as well as the blessed event of the birth of quintuplets. Work in all their lives that they may grow in faith and become ever closer to You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

[Blogger]

Prayers for the recovery of this father and for the health and growth of these precious little ones!

[Sally'sConcerns]

I really hope you aren't planning on getting dollar rich on your new endeavor. :)

However, I think there's a major potential of adding other great riches.

I'm still waiting to become a Gammy. My son is 28 and at this time there's no potential Mrs in the works even though he's still diligently looking. Is Gammy training very tough?