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American Morning
Alabama Couple Proud Parents of Sextuplets
Aired July 10, 2002 - 07:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: There is a baby boom going on in one Alabama household. Diamond and Christopher Harris are the proud parents of sextuplets. Their two girls and four boys were born on Sunday morning at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, and the Harrises join us now -- good morning and congratulations.
DIAMOND HARRIS, SEXTUPLETS' MOTHER: Good morning.
CHRISTOPHER HARRIS, SEXTUPLETS' FATHER: Thank you.
ZAHN: So, Diamond, how are you feeling?
D. HARRIS: I feel good. I feel real good today.
ZAHN: And both of you have got to be very relieved. You've got some healthy babies you brought into the world. How are the little ones doing?
D. HARRIS: They are doing good. They are doing good. They are doing better than I do sometimes.
ZAHN: Well, you've had a lot of work to do over the last 20 weeks or so. Christopher, what have doctors told you about your children? What is their prognosis? They all came in at a little less than 2 pounds.
C. HARRIS: They all came in, and we are all so happy to have them just here. And we were celebrating so, but they also want us to be cautious about their health. Their main concern was that we were -- we keep all of our options open. We realize that all things could change at any moment. But right now, they are all -- they are fighters. I believe they are more like their mom. They are very resilient. And they're just doing great.
ZAHN: Boy, in that picture, you get an idea of just how tiny they are. Now, Diamond, is it true they are all breathing on their own at this point?
D. HARRIS: Yes, they are.
ZAHN: And that, of course, had to be one of your biggest fears as you went into this delivery. That's a very good sign indeed, isn't it?
D. HARRIS: Yes, it is.
ZAHN: Now, we are looking at...
D. HARRIS: It wasn't a big...
ZAHN: Go on.
D. HARRIS: It wasn't a big fear. It wasn't a big fear. I mean, they did so well in the womb, so you just about knew when they came out, it was going to just about be the same way.
ZAHN: Have you named...
D. HARRIS: It was always me getting...
ZAHN: Well, of course.
D. HARRIS: It was always me getting sick.
ZAHN: Well, you have the burden -- the burden of a belly there.
D. HARRIS: Yes.
ZAHN: Have you named them yet?
D. HARRIS: Oh, yes. We had their names picked out since about the second month -- the first, second month.
C. HARRIS: Right. We had to work on the middle names a little bit, but we had the first names worked out.
ZAHN: Can you share some of the names with us this morning?
C. HARRIS: OK. I guess that's -- all morning long, that's been my responsibility, so I guess I'll try to tackle it again. I have two girls, that's Kiera and Kaylynne. They came first. And then there came Kaleb, then Kieran, and Koby then Kyle.
ZAHN: Those are some great names. Now, the bigger challenge for dad at this point, can you tell your babies apart?
C. HARRIS: You know, a couple of them look very much so alike, but Kaleb and Kyle are very distinguished.
ZAHN: How so? Is there a distinguishing feature on their face...
C. HARRIS: Well...
ZAHN: ... or physically?
C. HARRIS: Yes, definitely. There is a distinguishing look on their face.
D. HARRIS: Kyle has big hands and big feet, and he is very long.
C. HARRIS: Right. And...
D. HARRIS: Now, as far as the girls, Kiera is the smallest, so...
C. HARRIS: She is feisty.
D. HARRIS: That's kind of...
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: So, Diamond, you have been a practicing nurse, and you certainly understand how to take care of children. You have a 7-year- old at home. Have you thought much about the daunting task ahead, once these babies are healthy enough to go home? What are you going to do?
D. HARRIS: My task -- the hardest thing probably is going to be changing Pampers and getting up early in the morning trying to get everybody a bottle before they get to hollering.
ZAHN: And how much help are you going to have around the house? Do you have relatives that are going to fill in around the clock?
C. HARRIS: Yes. We have already talked about we only have a pullout cot, and we have a pullout sofa, and we're going to wear them out.
ZAHN: I bet you are. Now, Christopher, how is this going to affect your work? Are you going to take some time off, so when Diamond comes home, she doesn't feel like she's going it alone?
C. HARRIS: Oh, yes. I have already taken a little time off, and my employers have been so understanding through the whole thing. Most of the time, if I say I have a doctor's appointment while she was pregnant, they would kick me out the door. I am a teacher, so they would hold my class, and so when -- if the substitute wasn't quite there yet, someone would come up there, and they'll put me out the door.
ZAHN: That's terrific.
C. HARRIS: Everyone was real -- it worked real good with us.
ZAHN: Finally this morning, Diamond, your 7-year-old son, how is he reacting to the news of six bros and two sisters coming -- or four bros coming home and two sisters?
D. HARRIS: He has always been happy about the idea, but what we tell everybody, the first thing he asked me coming out of the anesthesia was, "Momma, will I have to change Pampers, because I don't want to change Pampers?"
ZAHN: Well, guess what? I bet you're going to induct him into service. Diamond and Christopher, thank you very much...
C. HARRIS: Oh, yes. ZAHN: ... for sharing your story with us.
D. HARRIS: Thank you.
C. HARRIS: Thank you.
ZAHN: Congratulations, and we hope the babies continue to gain strength and get to come home soon.
D. HARRIS: Thank you.
C. HARRIS: Thanks
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