Countywide : A Singularly Festive Day for Triplets

Most of the year, Jacob, Seth and Jerad Waggener live the kind of life familiar to most 12-year-olds. They go to school, collect sports cards, horse around and do whatever it is “basketball nuts” do.

But on Tuesday, they got to celebrate the thing that makes them different from the pack. The Garden Grove brothers are identical triplets--something that happens only once every 600,000 births.

The Waggener boys, along with about 20 other sets of triplets born at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, were the guests of honor at the hospital’s 10th annual triplets reunion.

The party offered the triplets a chance to be interviewed by TV reporters and pose in photos for the curious. It also provided an opportunity for parents and doctors to reflect on the ups and downs of growing up as one of three.

About 30 sets of triplets have been born at St. Joseph Hospital over the years. The hospital tends to deliver more triplets than most because of its “high-risk” pregnancy obstetrics center, which handles difficult births.

Having triplets can be a tricky business. The blood in the womb is sometimes not equally distributed, and premature birth is common, said Dr. Ragnar Amlie, director of newborn services at the hospital.

Instilling each child with a sense of individuality is also important, doctors and parents said.

“The hardest thing is letting them do what they want to do,” said Janet Lederhaus, who had quadruplets nine years ago. “I try to help them feel like individuals.”

With this in mind, Lederhaus involves Kate, Eric, Keith and Jeffrey (as well has her fifth child, 7-year-old Jenna) in various youth activities and has said no to people interested in using the children in television commercials.

Most mothers of triplets acknowledged being more than a little surprised when told that they would be bringing three children into the world. But despite the sometimes exhausting pace, they agreed that the experience has been beautiful.

“It’s been overwhelming at times, but we’re very happy,” said Kathryn Douglas of North Tustin, looking down at 20-month-olds Andrew, Patrick and Megan. “It’s really been wonderful.”

Triplets of all ages attended the celebration, from toddlers in three-seat baby carriages to older children such as the Waggeners, all three of whom were dressed in matching striped shirts, beige pants and black high-top shoes.

Some children seemed overwhelmed by all the attention, while others enjoyed all the fuss. When asked what he liked about the party, Eric Lederhaus responded with a smile: “So we can be on TV!”