Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

triplets-Bowden-Newell

Full Text:

For Two Local Families, The Good News Always Comes In Threes

(with photos )

BY STEVE BIGHAM

For the average parent, the thought of raising triplets may seem like a

daunting task. But for two Newtown moms, it has become a way of life.

In fact, Kellie Bowden and Sara Newell often forget that they are in this

unique situation. For them, it is just like having three children who happen

to be the same age.

"I sometimes forget that I have triplets," said Mrs Newell, 43. "They are all

very different. Their needs are all very different."

Mrs Bowden, 37, agreed, pointing out that each of her three sons has his own

personality. In the Bowden family, Matthew is the leader. Despite being the

smallest, he's a take charge guy, according to his mom. Christopher is more

sensitive and tends to follow his brothers. Andrew, on the other hand, is the

most active, the natural athlete, who sleeps the least. The three boys were

born March 14, 1994.

Kaki Newell, the only girl in the bunch, is very nurturing. She calls her two

brothers "my boys." Will is the snugly, sensitive type, while Alex tends to be

more independent. The Newell children were born August 5, 1994.

All six four-year-olds are currently enrolled in the same class at the

Congregational Church Co-op Nursery School. All were born prematurely at 27

weeks back in 1994. And though there were some complications early on (the

largest Bowden baby was just two pounds, two ounces), all seem happy and

healthy.

More Multiples

These days, there are more twins, triplets and even quadruplets being born

each year, thanks mostly to the increased use of fertility drugs, according to

Robert Golenboch, MD of the Center for Pediatric Medicine in Danbury and New

Fairfield.

"It's very rare to have more than one fertilized egg under natural

circumstances," Dr Golenboch said.

In the past, doctors assumed that multiple birth babies could not survive.

They hardly ever made it to term and often died from being tangled up in a

sibling's umbilical cord.

"Today we've gotten better at keeping babies alive," the doctor said.

Multiple births due to natural causes was once so rare, the children were

often treated like circus animals. Take, for example, the Dionne quintuplets,

born in the 1930s. They were taken away from their parents and paraded around

the country for all the world to see.

Things have certainly changed. Today, you have to have at least seven children

at one time, like the woman in Iowa last year, in order to make the news.

Both the Newells and the Bowdens say raising triplets offers them an unusual

perspective on the dynamics of childhood development. They are better equipped

to get a measure on each child's personality and how he or she reacts to the

world around them. However, just when they think they have got their kid

"pegged", everything changes.

"My children are constantly changing personalities. One will be the instigator

for a week, then it will the other," Mrs Bowden explained.

Life changes pretty quickly with three additions to the household all at once,

but neither the Newells nor the Bowdens had any children previously. That made

it much easier.

"We didn't know any different," Mrs Newell said.

For the kids, they get to grow up in a world where they always have a

companion. They are constantly with their best friend. The first day of school

won't seem as lonely knowing their brothers and sisters are along for the

ride.

But the mothers say with triplets, it is difficult to hold on to the joyous

moments of rearing children. Time goes by so fast. You are always busy, they

say. Both moms say they dread the day all three go off to school together,

leaving behind an empty house. The thought of all three leaving for college at

the same time is hard to fathom.

"We're experiencing it all at once. Then it's over all at once," Mrs Bowden

said.

Having triplets isn't cheap, either. Fathers Keith Newell and John Bowden are

reportedly already worrying about college tuitions. A trip to the mall for

back-to-school shopping is three times as expensive. With triplets, there is

no such thing as a hand-me-down.

John and Kellie Bowden moved to Newtown just over a year ago from New Jersey.

John works for Pepsi in Somers, N.Y. Keith and Sara Newell also moved to town

a little over a year ago from Michigan. Keith works for IBM in Somers, N.Y.

The six children were down at the playground behind the Congregational Church

House Tuesday morning. When it was time to go, the mothers rounded up their

children 1-2-3.

When you have triplets -- everything is 1-2-3.