INDIANAPOLIS -- Its a big birthday celebration at the Baker house.
Victoria is turning 5, along with Madison, and Hope, and Connor.
The four children are siblings, but they are not quadruplets because they were not all born at one birth.
"We sing four times at this house because we have four birthday kiddos," Misty Baker said
They are two sets of twins. Baker carried one set, while her best friend Amber Pluckebaum carried the other set.
"I think the greatest thing about our story is all the layers to it," Pluckebaum said.
Try to follow along:
Brian and Misty Baker struggled with infertility for many years.
Misty's best friend Amber Pluckebaum, married with her own two young children, offered to be their gestational surrogate. Pluckebaum was implanted with Brian and Misty's embryos, and got pregnant with twins.
At the same time, Misty was again implanted with her embryos.. and surprise.. this time success! She got pregnant too, with twins!
Brian and Misty, both Indiana natives, were living in Seattle, Washington, while Pluckebaum and her family lived in Kokomo, Indiana. The four siblings were born 2000 miles from each other -- and just 35 hours apart.
"I can't believe they're 5 now," Misty said. "When I think about when we found out we were pregnant, and then all the preparation that went into that and then we brought them home and we're like in survivor mode with these tiny babies. Figuring out feedings and diaper changes and all that stuff and here we are now. Five years old and they're going to start preschool this year and they got new bikes."
The Bakers moved home back to Indiana a few years ago.
Pluckebaum and her family have since moved out of Indiana, but visit often. At the birthday party, both families reflected on their five-year journey. a beautiful story they say -- with triumphs and challenges.
"The sad thing for me is I had a traumatic delivery with the girls," Pluckebaum said. "Out of it came PTSD for me.. That's been an ongoing battle."
But Pluckebaum said the patience and loving, unwavering support of her husband and kids through it all has been tremendous. It's comforting seeing the Baker kids, including the twins she carried, doing so well.
"What she's been through I see it for her -- the validation," Amber Pluckebaum's husband, Brian, said.
"No, I'm not their mother," Amber said. "No, I don't feel like their mother, but there's still a really deep connection and I think about them everyday. I love them so much. I know they're going to be amazing people."
Both families have been in this together and stand strong every step of the way.
"Like we knew going into it we were we had this deep friendship," Misty said. "But it's going to be stronger even on the other side of this."
They're beyond best friends, forever connected in a very special way. Together welcoming four little miracles into the world. Five years later, parenting has been quite the learning experience, the Bakers say, and such a blessing.
"But still when you're tired and it's hard when you have four kiddos fussing or grumping, but the joys are so wonderful too," Misty said. "When they're happy and excited and learning so much, it just fills your heart with joy."
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