This article was originally published on Kueez
Nia and Robert had the perfect love story. Not only were they lucky enough to find one another, but they were blessed with an amazing family. However, just when everything seemed to be falling into place, the couple was thrown a curveball that would change their lives forever. What started as an innocent surprise was soon discovered to be nothing less than a medical miracle! The results of this would end up in newspapers, on the internet, and would forever change the lives of everyone involved.
1. Love At First Sight
When Nia and Robert met back in 2007, it was love at first sight! Mutual friends had introduced them and since the day they met, they were inseparable. They wanted the same things in life and this happy couple quickly decided that they would stay together forever.
Like any couple, their relationship sometimes had some difficulties. But their love saw them through the hard times and as time passed their relationship only grew stronger. A few years later and Nia and Robert were blessed with the news that they were expecting a baby! Naturally, they were over the moon!
2. Happy News
The couple hadn't planned to get pregnant and it seemed to just happen for them. For both Robert and Nia, the news that they were going to be parents was amazing. This young couple from Maryland realized that becoming parents was just the next step in their lives together.
So in 2011, the couple welcomed their first son Shai into the world. Everything seemed to feel so natural to the couple and pretty soon their little bundle of joy was the focus of their attention. With Shai, they had become a happy family and the future never seemed brighter.
3. Finally Making Things Official
Seven years after they first met, and three years after the birth to their oldest son Shai, Robert and Nia finally decided to make things official. They planned a beautiful wedding where they could celebrate their love with friends and family.
Although they were already a family before the wedding, in 2014 Nia and Robert officially became Mr. and Mrs. Tolbert. If that wasn't enough of a blessing, they had more good news on the way. Once again, they were expecting a baby!
4. The Couple Gets A Surprise Addition
As time passed, Nia and Robert couldn't wait to find out the gender of their baby. Finally, the day arrived for them to have a sonogram where they could see for themselves if they were having a boy or a girl.
While Nia had secretly been hoping for a girl, she got more than she bargained for once the scan began. The couple soon found out that they were having not one, but two baby boys! It seems their happy little family wasn't going to be so little for much longer.
5. A Dream Family
In 2015 Nia and Robert welcomed their twin baby boys into the world. The boys were identical twins and the couple named them Riley and Alexander. Now their happy family was finally complete, and with 3 children and a happy marriage, everything seemed perfect.
Of course, the twins' arrival meant that the parent's workload got much bigger. With three little boys running around Nia and her husband really had their hands full. Luckily they were the perfect parenting team and they quickly got used to their new responsibilities.
6. Hands Full
While having one baby was tough, the arrival of the twins made things even harder. With a full house and three kids, Nia and Robert felt that their family was complete. Although she still really wanted a little girl, Nia agreed that they shouldn't plan for any more children.
You know what they say, life is what happens while you are busy making plans. And it seems that no matter what the couple had decided, life had other plans for the Tolbert family. It was only a matter of time before things changed completely.
7. Best Laid Plans
In 2017 Nia and Robert were blindsided when they discovered that they were once again expecting a baby. Even though the pair had decided their family was already the perfect size they quickly came to terms with their new reality. Although it was a shock, perhaps it was meant to be.
This baby may not have been planned, but the couple accepted that this was all part of God's plan. Soon the family was excited to meet the new baby. While their boys hoped for a little brother, Nia and her husband hoped that God would finally bless them with a girl.
8. Something Strange
Having been pregnant before Nia was quick to realize that this pregnancy felt different from her other two pregnancies. As time passed something just felt very different about it. Secretly Nia began to suspect that the differences may be a sign that she was carrying a little girl this time.
Nia confided in her mom about her suspicions. Nia was so much more emotional and tired and she just didn't feel like her self. Nia preyed that finally, she would have the little girl she had always dreamed of. But Nia would have to wait to see if her prayers had come true.
9. Odd Changes
As the expectant mom got further along in her pregnancy it became even more obvious that this pregnancy was different. Her cravings were out of control and her stomach was growing at an alarming rate. Suddenly it occurred to Nia that something may be going wrong!
Nia had stuck to the same routine she had when she was pregnant before. She worked out, ate right, and did yoga. So it couldn't have been something Nia was doing wrong. Soon Robert noticed his wife distress and together they waited anxiously for the date of the next sonogram.
10. Anxiety Building
On the day of the sonogram, Nia was anxious. Not only was she worried about the health of her baby, but Robert was unable to come to the clinic with her. That meant that Nia would have to face her fears alone. The whole ordeal was almost too much to handle!
As Nia sat alone in the waiting room she was both nervous and excited. She also knew in her heart that something was different with this pregnancy so she prepared herself for the worst. Little did she know that she was in for a big surprise.
11. Facing Her Fears
As the technician began the scan Nia preyed that everything would be alright. But as the scan continued the room grew quiet. As the technician focused intensely on the ultrasound screen, Nia looked desperately to see what the technician was seeing. Then suddenly the technician turned to her.
According to Nia ' the technician that was doing the ultrasound asked if multiples ran in our family'. Nia was speechless. Then she remembered that when she had been pregnant with her twins she had been asked the same thing. Immediately Nia realized that she must be having twins again!
12. Amazing Blessing
The technician confirmed that Nia was going to have twins again. Understandably Nia was shocked by the news, after all, how often is it for a woman to get pregnant with twins twice? But Nia's shock turned to joy as she realized what an amazing a blessing this was.
As Nia walked toward the elevator with the sonogram in hand she couldn't help but look at the image of her unborn babies. This was really an amazing gift from god to be having twins again. But just then the technician and doctor called her back for another check.
13. Hopes Dashed
With the doctor standing by this second scan was more thorough than the first. Nia just didn't know what to expect next, but the doctor assured her that they just didn't want to miss anything out of the ordinary. Nia waited with bated breath for the results.
To Nia's surprise, she was then told that the technician's initial assessment of twins had been wrong. Upon hearing the news that she wasn't having twins, Nia's heart sank and her excited faded. However, then the doctor told her that she was actually having triplets!
14. A Rare Case
According to the doctor, it was extremely rare for a woman to get pregnant with triplets, let alone triplets after having twins. Nia's pregnancies had defied the odds. First, she had had one child, then twins and now triplets! In his entire career, the doctor had never heard of such a thing.
Despite how rare it was, Nia still felt overwhelmed by the news. After all, how were she and Robert going to handle three more babies? Quickly the mom-to-be realized that something so unique must have happened for a reason.
15. It Runs In The Family
Multiple births had run in both Robert and Nia's families. With a history of twins on both sides this increased NIa's chances of having multiples. Still, no one in her or Robert's family had ever had triplets. The family was now in virgin territory.
For now, Nia kept the news to herself and she decided that she needed to find a good way to break the news to Robert. After all, she didn't want to give her husband a heart attack! So Nia waited for the perfect moment.
16. Planning The Announcement
Nia thought about how she would break the news to her husband. Knowing that she would be leaving for a weekend away in Tampa with her girlfriends, she made a plan to leave Robert a surprise package for him to find. However, she never expected him to have such a funny reaction.
Inside the surprise package, Nia included a sonogram of all three of their growing babies. If that wasn't clear enough she also included three identical onesies. The card on the gift read 'please accept this gift from her and God'. Now the stage was set for the big reveal.
17. A Big Reaction
As Nia traveled to Tampa with her friends, she wondered why Robert hadn't called her yet about her news. She wasn't sure if he had found her surprise, least of all how her husband would react.
Meanwhile, Robert had found the gift and when he opened it up he saw what the sonogram contained. As soon as he saw the onesies Robert knew that his wife was expecting triplets. He was so shocked and excited the next thing he knew he had fainted!
18. Not What He Was Expecting
While it is not unusual for dads to faint in the delivery room, poor Robert had fainted just at the news of the babies. Once he regained consciousness he was so excited he immediately called Nia. While he too was worried about the challenges ahead, he was overjoyed by the news.
Nia couldn't help but laugh when Robert told her he had fainted. According to Robert, he had expected the gift to be an early birthday present. He never imagined that after already having twins he would soon be the proud father of three new babies. Imagine his surprise then when he found a sonogram of triplets instead!
19. Surviving The Initial Shock
With such amazing news, Nia and Robert could hardly believe it was real. The news still hadn't sunk in and it took a while for the shock to wear off. Despite their fears and concerns, the couple were overjoyed at the news and immediately got to work preparing for their little darlings.
A lot had to be done before their little angels were born. With three babies arriving soon they had to work three times as hard. They cleared out one of the spare rooms and began work on the nursery. Now all they needed to know was the gender of their triplets.
20. The Gender Reveal
Nia admitted that she was dying to know the gender of the babies. From day one she had been hoping for a daughter. To keep the surprise special Nia and Robert decided to not find out the genders until the gender reveal party just before the birth of the triplets.
After long months of waiting the day of the party finally arrived. Now the couple had to pop balloons to reveal the babies' gender. Simultaneously Nia, Robert, and Nia's mom popped the balloons. To Nia's delight, all the balloons contained pink confetti. It was official, Nia and Robert were expecting three little girls!
21. The Perfect Balance
The couple was thrilled when they learned they were expecting girls. With three boys at home and three little girls on the way it was going to be the perfect balance. While their parents were happy with the announcement, telling the boys was a different story.
The boys had been hoping for more brothers and the news of having little sisters wasn't received well at first. But eventually, their mom was able to change their minds about their new little sisters. Now the entire Tobert family was ready for the arrival of the girls.
22. Girls Vs Boys
The couple had never parented girls before. Nia was curious about how the girls would change the dynamic in the home. The boys clung to their mom and Nia and Robert wondered if the girls would instantly become daddy's little girls.
The more they thought about raising girls the more they worried about how different it would be. After all, little girls may need more care and attention. Luckily Nia was confident it would all work out well in the end. After all, it would be nice to no longer be the only girl in the house.
23. The Big Day Approaches
While technically the girls were due on February 9th, the doctors had warned the family that the babies could arrive early. Still, Nia was caught off guard when weeks before the due date she began having contractions. While they soon disappeared, suddenly things became serious.
Soon the contractions were five minutes apart and getting closer still. Not sure what to do, Nia called her mom for advice. Her mom explained that it was probably just a false alarm and to go to the hospital just in case. When they arrived they were astonished at what the doctor told them.
24. Show Time!
Instead of being sent home for a false alarm, the doctor on duty proclaimed that the babies were ready to be born. Caught off guard Nia wondered if it would be ok to deliver so soon. Most importantly the doctor she had chosen to deliver the babies was yet to arrive at the hospital.
Frantically Nia refused to go on until her doctor arrived. After all, delivering triplets can be tricky. As if it was fated, just as Nia's doctor arrived her waters finally broke. The triplets were finally going to arrive.
25. Finally Complete
With Robert by her side, Nia steeled herself for the long night ahead. As their family stood by in the waiting room, Nia gave birth to three beautiful baby girls. After 34 weeks of waiting her angels had finally arrived!
When Nia saw her little girls for the first time she couldn't get over how cute they were. When the doctors asked Nia how she was feeling, she joked and said 'Im finally alone'. At last, the Tolbert family was complete, but for Nia and Robert, their new adventure had just begun.
26. Meet The Girls
Despite being born at 34 weeks, all three babies were healthy and weighed between 4 and 5 pounds. Peculiarly only 2 of the triplets were identical while the third was a fraternal triplet. Now all these babies needed were some names.
The identical sisters were named Zuri and Bailey, while their fraternal sister was named little Mackenzie. It didn't take long before the papers picked up the story of the unusual birth. Nia become known as the 123 mom because she had given birth to one child, then twins, and then triplets. Before they knew it the family had made the front page.
27. One Day At A Time
During one interview a reporter asked Nia and Robert how they planned to cope with another 3 children. The couple admitted that they didn't have a concrete plan. Instead, planed to deal with things one day at a time. After all, they had made plans before and those hadn't exactly worked out.
Knowing that life is what happens when you are making plans, Nia and Robert decided to just let go and embrace their new life. Yes, it would be tough at times, but their family and community would always be there to help.
28. Embracing The Chaos
These parents knew it would take a village to help raise their kids. But their family, friends, and even neighbors were happy to help whenever possible. With half a dozen kids, Nia and Robert were willing to take all the help they could get!
Most importantly the parents realized that things were going to be different and at times chaotic. They knew that they would have to accept this or they were gonna drive each other crazy. As Nia explained ' we're not going to get sleep for a couple years, our grocery bill is going to go up, and our house is not going to be quiet and that's ok'.
29. Every Little Bit Helps
To help raise funds for their family, Nia and Robert decided to set up a funding campaign online. While their friends and family helped out as much as possible, the family still needed an extra bit of help, The couple hoped to earn some money for a new car, but they were surprised by the response.
With a family of eight, it was no wonder they needed a bigger car. After all, where were they going to fit all those car seats! Pretty soon their online campaign built momentum and every day they got closer to their goal. The Tolbert family was excited about what the future held.
30. Would The Family Continue To Grow?
As the family's story spread many began to wonder what would happen if the couple got pregnant again. Would Nia have multiples again and become the 1234 mom? Nia had already broken records with her rare births and it was possible it could happen again.
But this time Nia and Robert were determined not to have any more kids. After three pregnancies and six kids, they were done. Still, people were eager to find out more about the family. As minor celebrities and everyone wanted updates about this extraordinary family. Luckily Nia had a great idea to make that happen.
31. Going Online
When Nia realized how eager people were for updates on the family she decided to take action. She created the brand nickname Totally Tolbert and used it to set up social media accounts and blogs to spread the news about the family.
Online Nia shared the amazing story about how her family had grown. With updates, regular updates and beautiful pictures Nia was building a fan base and also helping raise the money for the family's new car by spreading awareness.
32. Getting Physical
Nia's pregnancies had been tough and they had affected her physically. But Nia made a resolution to get back to her fit and fabulous old self. Being a wellness coach and yoga instructor by day, Nia decided to put her expertise to the test.
Despite having her hands full with the kids, Nia found the strength to launch her own brand called MOTHERLOVINGYOGA. Through her brand, Nia has been able to promote the practice of yoga and instill in her students the importance of balance and healthy living. But Nia didn't stop there
33. Sharing Her Experiences
This supermom also takes the time to share her own yoga journey and lessons she had learned as a woman recovering from pregnancy. She was able to share her experiences on pregnancy, birth, and motherhood with other prospective mothers.
Nia has always been honest and open with her followers and she has shared both the good parts and the tough parts of being a parent. This honesty is often hard to find and many other parents could definitely relate to Nia's experiences. Before she knew it, Nia was inspiring others.
34. Meal Plans
In addition to promoting her love of yoga and sharing her parenting experiences, Nia has also been vocal about the importance of healthy living and a balanced diet. This mom of six has shared all her healthy habits and secrets and even shared some tips on keeping her family healthy.
As a firm believer in a healthy and active lifestyle, Nia makes sure to embrace vitamins, shakes, and supplements in her own diet. But she also makes sure that her kids eat healthy and nutritious meals. Although she admits that is sometimes easier said than done.
35. Keeping Up With Demand
With their social media pages, Nia and Robert were able to share the family's everyday adventures with the world. Now, people could keep up to date with the family's milestones. With so much interest in the family, Nia and Robert made sure to provide regular updates and some of the most adorable pictures.
After the birth of the triplets, the family's story had captured the hearts of thousands. Everyone wanted to know how the 123 mom and her babies were doing. Luckily Robert and Nia were happy to share their family's story and experiences.
36. The Kru
The family Totally Tolbert instagram page has the most adorable description. Here the family calls themselves 'the Kru' with 3 Bros, 3 bows, and mom and dad. The page also allows people to email suggestions and compliments and even make special requests.
The family post the most cutest pictures and videos of their boys Shai, Alexander, and Riley. The page also includes precious snaps of the beautiful triplets Mackenzie, Bailey, and Zuri. Throughout the page, it is abundantly clear that Nia and Robert pay extra special care and attention to their wonderful children.
37. Precious Moments
No matter the milestone, these parents take extra care to share these moments with their followers. For instance when the triplets were just 8 weeks old their mom shared a lovable pic of the girls matching pink shows. Fans began to love these charming kinds of posts.
Often each picture that is posted gets plenty of likes and comments with many saying how cute the triplets or twins are. It seems people just love the cuteness overload of these posts.
38. The Family Dynamic
Before the triplets were born Nia and Robert wondered how the family dynamic would change. In the end, the girl's arrival had a big difference. While the boys had previous loved spending time with their mom, now they preferred to spend quality time with their dad
Conversely, the girls loved being with their mom. While the identical triplets Zuri and Bailey couldn't stand to be apart, their fraternal sister Mackenzie tended to go off on her own missions. Nia felt absolutely blessed to have been gifted three beautiful daughters she could bond with.
39. Happily Ever After
After all the surprises and unplanned events, the Tolbert family is extremely grateful for the family they have been blessed with. One thing is for sure, the children couldn't have asked for better parents.
While being a family of eight wasn't the original plan for Nia and Robert, they managed to embrace their new reality and put their fears aside. At the end of the day no matter what happens Robert and his wife are always there to support one another and every day is a blessing from above. Now that is the right attitude!