FAIRVIEW — By Tiffany Green

Staff Writer

GOLD RIDGE — The Thompson quadruplets are growing up. Now teenagers, turning 13 this past week, they are more of a handful now then ever before.

Nicholas, Makayla, Skylar and Clayton, in order of their birth, were born 12 weeks early to Daonne and Bryan Thompson in 1997.

“The day we had the ultrasound, I had a feeling there would be two or three, but I never thought there would be four,” Daonne said. “I thought, how am I going to take care of them?”

Daonne said that was a big change for her, but she would change it.

“It was a big change,” mom said.

The babies came home, one by one, with Skylar staying in the hospital the longest at 10 weeks.

The four have had no lingering medical problems.

“We have been very blessed,” mom said.

Parents Bryan and Daonne said the quadruplets are normal siblings, but they can be a little fussy.

“The boys get along better with each other than the girls,” mom said. “But they are just typical siblings.”

Something that is special is their birthday. Each child gets their own cake, whatever they pick out to have.

With her finger nails painted in orange and blue, Makayla is outnumbered in the house by being the only Auburn fan.

“Lot of fussing between us,” Makayla said.

The four attend Parkside School in Baileyton. Each year since the second grade, two siblings, a boy and girl, have been in the same class.

“It’s very hard because you can never be alone or have privacy,” Nicholas said.

The four are very different, having many different likes and interests.

Nicholas, the oldest by a minute, enjoys singing. His brother and sisters said he sings everywhere.

His favorite type of music is country but he says he enjoys most music.

He plays clarinet in the Fairview High School band. Parkside only goes though the 8th grade. Most of the students attend Fairview High School beginning in the 9th grade and beginning in 7th, students at Parkside can begin playing in the high school band.

“He’s never met a stranger,” mom said. “He’s not bashful at all.”

Nicholas has thought about studying Culinary Arts after high school.

Skylar, the self proclaimed shy one, played basketball at Parkside and plans on joining the band as part of the color guard.

She loves Rascal Flatts and Alabama football. She watches every game on television and recently got the chance to meet Leigh Tiffin. Her favorite subject in school is math.

Skylar said she would like to be a kindergarten teacher when she grows up.

Clayton is the hunter of the family. He and his dad enjoy deer, coon and squirrel hunting. He said he came close to catching something this year.

He plays the baritone in the band and will soon begin playing the tuba.

“My favorite subject is lunch,” he laughed.

He said he has not thought much about what he wants to do in life, but has interest in the military.

Makayla, wearing a bright colored shirt covered in peace signs, and said she loves peace signs.

“I love anything with a peace sign,” she smiled.

She plays the bells in the marching band. She loves gymnastics and math.

Makayla said she loves children and wants to do something with childcare when she finishes school.

Daonne said over the years some things get easier, while others only get harder.

“It’s easier as far as they can take care of their selves, but harder as far as discipline,” she said.

“All in all, we are typical teenagers,” Nicholas said.

“People ask how we do it, and you just deal with what God gives you and make the best of it,” Daonne said. “We’ve never know anything any different.”

Bryan and Daonne decided right away they would not name the quads similar. All their names have special meaning, with two named after Bryan and Daonne and the others named after grandparents.

One thing the family enjoys is playing the Andy Griffith board game.

“They all want dad on their team because he knows all the answers,” mom said.

Daonne said she doesn’t worry about the future, just focuses on the present.

“You can think about the future too much,” she said.



‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.