Couple stunned after welcoming two sets of identical twins within 13 months: 'Like a circus'
By Naomi White|
Imagine finding out you're pregnant with twins... when you already have twins.
That's been the reality for Britney, 27, and Frankie Alba, 25. The couple from Alabama in the US are parents to toddler sons Luka and Levi and now Lynlee and Lydia - with just 13 months between the sets.
As they told PEOPLE, Britney suspected she may be pregnant when the boys were just six-months-old, but were shocked when they found out they were again expecting twins.
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Sharing their story with the University of Alabama, they said they thought the sonographer was joking when she mentioned twins.
"We were like OK, we just had two, we can handle one more," Britney said of the pregnancy news. "When they did the ultrasound they said there was one baby. [The technician] said 'Let me double check, and she was like, 'Oh my goodness... there's two.'
"And we start laughing because we think it's a joke. And she's like 'No. I wouldn't joke about this. There's two.' "?
While the couple? has been coping well with the sudden leap from two to four, they showed just how chaotic life can be after appearing on the TODAY Show (US) this week with the boys, now 18 months, and girls now four months.
As they sat chatting about the challenges of raising twins, Luka and Levi decided they'd had enough of sitting patiently, and hopped off the couch to play with some toy cars.
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Until their curiosity got the better of them and they decided to run off set to explore the studio, leaving co-host Sheinelle Jones, herself a mum of twins, to round them up and bring them back. Multiple times.
The couple also gave an insight into how they cope with the logistics of caring for their tribe. As Britney could not access paid maternity leave, the teacher's colleagues donated their sick leave days so she could take time off.
As did Frankie's fellow fire fighters. Now back at work, the couple take one set of twins to their paternal grandparents, and the other to Britney's parents.
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But even with this help there are moments where it จC understandably จC becomes overwhelming.
"A lot of times there's definitely that 'Oh, snap' moment. 'Oh, I'm by myself,' but with each other and by the grace of God, we're doing great," Britney shared.
"It was definitely shocking when we were told."?
And as Britney also told TODAY, their brood draws plenty of attention when they're out.
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"People gawk at us when we're out in public. I used to get stopped all the time when it was just Luka and Levi - you know, people asking, 'Are they twins?' Now it's like a circus," she said. "Everyone wants to get a look!"
But the proud mum said despite the challenges she wouldn't have it any other way.?
"Before it was like 'how are we going to have two babies,' and now it's like 'two babies, that's nothing. It sounds like work but we love it. It's just become a new normal and it's good."?
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