Dad's home from Afghanistan to await quads' birth

Daddy's home.

Two-year-old Zowie Shatswell greeted her father, Army Spec. Joe Shatswell, at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, carrying a sign that read, "Looking for my Daddy, Army Spec. Joe Shatswell."

There was a small welcoming party including Zowie, her grandmother Pam Fredline and aunt Shauna Brink before they were off to Renown Regional Medical Center to see mother, Darah Shatswell, 24, hospitalized in anticipation of the birth of the family's quadruplets.

"The plane arrived at 9 p.m., and Zowie was so excited to see him," Darah Shatswell said Thursday.

Zowie has been staying with her grandparents in Gardnerville since her 22-year-old father left for Afghanistan in July and her mother was hospitalized Sept. 1.

"It was so exciting to see him," Shatswell said of their hospital reunion. "It was real quick. He was tired and he has a cold from all that traveling and stuff, but he's fine. The doctor cleared him to be here for the babies' birth."

Shatswell will mark her 30th week of pregnancy Oct. 21.

Doctors hope the babies " identical twin girls Kaylee and Rory and fraternal twins Myleigh and Joseph Jr. " weigh at least 3 pounds each.

Shatswell hadn't seen his wife since the young couple found out they were having quadruplets. The pregnancy was a surprise, since the Shatswells decided to wait until after his deployment to Afghanistan ends in July 2009 to expand their family.

Without fertility drugs, the chance of conceiving quadruplets is one in 1 million.

"At first, Joe was afraid to touch my stomach. He is amazed by it," Shatswell said Thursday.

She said her husband would be able to stay home until the end of October before he returns to Afghanistan where he is in the infantry.

"We're kind of nervous and excited," she said. "You wait forever for something, then it is just around the corner. The faster, the better, but whatever is best for the babies."

The Shatswells, stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, relocated to Gardnerville over the summer after they discovered multiples were on the way. At first, they thought it was triplets, but a fourth baby was discovered in July.

Since the impending birth of the quadruplets became news earlier this month, people have stepped up to help the family who will live at Fredline's home while Shatswell is overseas.

Several residents have dropped by The Record-Courier with disposable diapers and baby wipes.

Amanda Dobbs, owner of Mommie and Me consignment shop in Gardnerville, donated a $100 gift certificate, and offered the Shatswells anything she had in the store.

A group of quilters in Carson City has made quilts for each of the babies and Zowie.

And the Douglas County Sheriff's Office donated four car seats specially sized for tiny babies, with the promise of more.

Capt. Mike Biaggini said the seats " that look more like beds " will hold the babies until they weigh 9 pounds.

"I told their grandmother when the babies grow out of these to come see us again," Biaggini said. "We'll take care of them."