Mother of quintuplets looks forward to return to Nevada

The Associated Press

12 years ago

Evonne and Deon Derrico, of Las Vegas, nearly doubled their family of six in less than five minutes after ushering in a set of quintuplets at an Arizona hospital. (azcentral.com)

This photo undated photo provided by Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. shows Deon Derrico and his wife Evonne Derrico, with their four older children in Mesa, Ariz. Evonne Derrico, 33, her two newborn boys and three baby girls were recovering Wednesday Sept. 11, 2013, at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. The babies were born Friday morning, all delivered between 11:17 and 11:21. In keeping with family tradition, the babies’ names all start with the letter "D." Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten, each weigh less than 3 pounds and were being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Banner Desert Medical Center)

This photo provided by Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. shows Deonee, one of five quintuplets born Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in Mesa, Ariz. Evonne Derrico, 33, her two newborn boys and three baby girls were recovering Wednesday at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. The babies were born Friday morning, all delivered between 11:17 and 11:21. In keeping with family tradition, the babies’ names all start with the letter "D." Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten each weigh less than 3 pounds and were being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. They’re joining an already-full house that included the Derricos’ 7-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twin boys. The family of 11 will have to make some adjustments. The babies are expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks, but the family plans to return to Las Vegas after they are discharged. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Banner Desert Medical Center)

This photo provided by Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. shows Deniko, one of five quintuplets born Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in Mesa, Ariz. Evonne Derrico, 33, her two newborn boys and three baby girls were recovering Wednesday at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. The babies were born Friday morning, all delivered between 11:17 and 11:21. In keeping with family tradition, the babies’ names all start with the letter "D." Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten each weigh less than 3 pounds and were being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. They’re joining an already-full house that included the Derricos’ 7-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twin boys. The family of 11 will have to make some adjustments. The babies are expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks, but the family plans to return to Las Vegas after they are discharged. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Banner Desert Medical Center)

This photo provided by Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. shows Dariz, one of five quintuplets born Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in Mesa, Ariz. Evonne Derrico, 33, her two newborn boys and three baby girls were recovering Wednesday at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. The babies were born Friday morning, all delivered between 11:17 and 11:21. In keeping with family tradition, the babies’ names all start with the letter "D." Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten each weigh less than 3 pounds and were being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. They’re joining an already-full house that included the Derricos’ 7-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twin boys. The family of 11 will have to make some adjustments. The babies are expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks, but the family plans to return to Las Vegas after they are discharged. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Banner Desert Medical Center)

This photo provided by Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. shows Daiten one of five quintuplets born Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in Mesa, Ariz. Evonne Derrico, 33, her two newborn boys and three baby girls were recovering Wednesday at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. The babies were born Friday morning, all delivered between 11:17 and 11:21. In keeping with family tradition, the babies’ names all start with the letter "D." Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten each weigh less than 3 pounds and were being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. They’re joining an already-full house that included the Derricos’ 7-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twin boys. The family of 11 will have to make some adjustments. The babies are expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks, but the family plans to return to Las Vegas after they are discharged. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Banner Desert Medical Center)

This photo provided by Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. shows Daician one of five quintuplets born Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in Mesa, Ariz. Evonne Derrico, 33, her two newborn boys and three baby girls were recovering Wednesday at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz. The babies were born Friday morning, all delivered between 11:17 and 11:21. In keeping with family tradition, the babies’ names all start with the letter "D." Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten each weigh less than 3 pounds and were being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. They’re joining an already-full house that included the Derricos’ 7-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twin boys. The family of 11 will have to make some adjustments. The babies are expected to remain hospitalized for several weeks, but the family plans to return to Las Vegas after they are discharged. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Banner Desert Medical Center)

PHOENIX — A Las Vegas mother who delivered quintuplets in a suburban Phoenix hospital is looking forward to taking her newborns back to Nevada.

Evonne Derrico said doctors will start the paperwork Monday for the infants to be transferred to a hospital closer to home.

Derrico, who delivered three girls and two boys Sept. 6, said physicians at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa were impressed at how quickly all five had stabilized.

She said the babies look healthy and are now breathing on their own.

“It’s as if we had five full-term babies,” she said. “I’m so excited. If I could do a cartwheel right now, I would.”

Derrico carried the babies for eight months, about four weeks longer than the national average for quintuplets. The family moved to Arizona 22 weeks into her pregnancy to be closer to doctors specializing in multiple births. The babies were delivered by Caesarean section.

The 33-year-old mother and father Deon Derrico have a 7-year-old daughter, 3-year-old son and 1-year-old twin boys.

Derrico said she cried happy tears the first time she saw the quintuplets and still wants to have more children.

“Watch out Duggars, we are on our way,” Derrico said, referring to the Arkansas family comprised of 19 kids. “I’m not crazy. I’m just helping make the world a better place — one Derrico at a time.”

While she admitted to being overwhelmed at times at the prospect of juggling nine children, Derrico said she’ll feel better once everyone is settled back home.

“One of the things I look forward to is cooking good meals with them — just being able to sit and watch what my husband and I created to with God’s help,” she said.