Brandy and Eric Hurst planned to have just one more child, but at Brandy’s seven-week ultrasound they were in for quite a surprise—the Port Haywood couple was suddenly expecting triplets.

Leighton, Lincoln and Parker were born July 7 at VCU Health in Richmond, nine weeks early. Leighton and Lincoln are identical and they weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces and 2 pounds, 8 ounce, respectively, at birth. Parker is the fraternal brother and he weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces when he was born.

Lincoln and Parker stayed at VCU for five weeks and Leighton stayed for eight weeks due to experiencing two brain bleeds. The bleeds stopped fluid from leaving his brain so the medical staff at VCU inserted a shunt into a ventricle in his brain which drains the old fluid.

According to Brandy, Leighton has improved by “leaps and bounds” since leaving the hospital. The triplets have had to undergo physical, occupational and speech therapy. Lincoln and Parker are evaluated once every month and Leighton is evaluated twice a month.

“It’s been a wild ride,” said Brandy.

The family just moved into a bigger house and also had to get a bigger car. Brandy said that the community has been wonderful and has given the family overwhelming support. They received diapers from a diaper raffle held for them, restaurants have helped them out with food and they had a drive-thru baby shower.

Brandy also said that big brothers Maverick, age 3, and Chance, age 12, have been a big help, especially Chance.

“It is fun,” said Brandy. “As crazy busy as it is, it’s still fun.”