Lovington couple adds four to family

PORTALES — Portales native Donavin Sanchez and his wife, Cassie, had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they decided to have a second child.

Little did they know, nine months later, their family would grow four times the amount they expected.

The couple, who now live in Lovington, became parents to quadruplets Scarlett, Cheyenne, Gunner and Arrow on May 3.

"My first time finding out about the quads was very shocking, and I was scared, nervous and confused at the time. The thought of being pregnant with four was overwhelming," said Cassie Sanchez.

"It was a very, very overwhelming day," Donavin said of the day they found out. "My wife freaked out right away thinking about the whole process of it. My wife is 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds, so she didn't even know if she could carry four. So from the very beginning, she was just very scared about it."

What makes Cassie and Donavin's situation even more unique is the quadruplets were conceived naturally, with no fertility drugs.

Donavin Sanchez said doctors gave the couple the option of selective reduction to reduce any risks to Cassie, but the couple declined, deciding they were chosen for this adventure for a reason.

"We felt like we had enough love and support from our family that we were going to take on the challenge," Donavin said. "You gotta have faith; you have to trust that it's going to be OK. I think you have to believe you were chosen for it. With four babies (being conceived) all natural, I have to believe you're hand-picked for something like that."

Donavin said he was in an accident the end of January that put him out of work, so he and his pregnant wife were laid up during the same time.

Without family and friends, the couple never would have made it through, Donavin said.

"Our family helped so much. Several of our family members have set up the baby beds in the house and cleaned up. We've just had a ton of help," he said, adding that their 4-year-old son, Hazen, has been staying with his parents in Portales during their time in Lubbock — the quads have to stay at the hospital for several weeks.

"They didn't require any oxygen when they were born; they were breathing on their own," Donavin said of the quadruplets, adding that they are all healthy. "We have had so many prayers throughout this journey, and I know that's the biggest part of it. They are at the point now where they just eat and sleep with no medication. They are doing everything on their own."

The quadruplets ranged from 2 pounds, 1 ounce to 2 pounds, 14 ounces in weight when they were born.

"They are my gift from God, my little miracles. They are truly a blessing, and I think about them constantly," said Cassie. "I wake up thinking about them. Seeing their sweet faces brings a smile and joy to my life."

Life throws you some surprises sometimes, said Donavin, but as for his family, they couldn't be more blessed.

"I had so many plans with our first son to take him out hunting and playing sports, and now, I can increase that by four," he said. "I just look forward to watching them grow up and see why we were chosen for this. We're excited."