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WHEELING - In the not too distant future, Ron and Kathy Blatt probably will be buying four new prom dresses, four new cars and setting up four college funds - all at once.

But for now, the Blatts are simply enjoying their new ''little pieces of heaven.''

On May 8, Kathy, 29, gave birth to quintuplets Annabella, Lauryn, Kala, Olivia and Ronald at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Although Ronald appeared at first to be the strongest of the group, after four days he developed an infection and died.

His newborn sisters are doing well and received a checkup recently at Wheeling Hospital's Center for Pediatrics by Dr. Geoffrey Ruben. Kathy pointed out their due date was supposed to be July 7.

''It's exciting,'' Kathy said, noting she also has a 19-month-old daughter, Emily, with husband Ron. ''They're all their own little person. I have four little pieces of heaven. They change every day, and it's neat to watch them.''

And between continuously watching them, feeding them, bathing them and washing their clothes, Kathy doesn't get much rest.

"They have to be fed every three hours. I get a couple hours sleep and have to get back up again. If I get four hours that's really, really good," she said. "They all sleep in a crib in the living room, and I sleep in the living room, so (Ron) can get a whole night's rest."

Kathy is a physical therapist by trade, but she currently is not working because she is busy taking care of the babies. Ron is a project engineer for Smoot Construction, which is based in Columbus.

Kathy said she is the first in her family to experience a multiple pregnancy, but her husband is a twin.

She didn't take any medicines to bring on the multiple pregnancy, just something to regulate her ovulation.

''While feeding them, (Emily) likes to kiss their heads,'' she said. ''She mimics with her baby doll. She feeds it and puts it in the stroller.''

Both Kathy and Ron are Wheeling natives, and they moved back to the Friendly City from Columbus to receive help caring for their infants from family and friends. At least one member of the family visits the Blatt home every day to help care for the babies. Kathy was at the Phoenix hospital for nearly two months before the babies were born. She noted her mother-in-law, Peg Blatt, stayed in Arizona to help during the pregnancy.

There is no set schedule for family members to volunteer at the house, though it all seems to come together each week. And while she is getting plenty of help, Kathy has yet to receive a real break from mothering - but she said that's OK with her.

''I'm not anxious to leave them. They were in the hospital for so long. I want to be with them right now. And for a while, I was still healing,'' she said of her recovery from the babies' delivery by cesarean section.

Now that she has had some practice, Kathy said she can hold and feed two of the girls at once, though she wishes she could hold and comfort all four at one time.

''When three cry at once, it sounds like a chorus of crying,'' Kathy said. ''Lauryn screams when she cries - like someone is pinching her. Even if I can't see them, they have different cries. They all look really different to me. ... I knew their personalities when they were in me. ... I appreciate all of the babies and that we're able to take care of them. I'm happy God gave us this many babies."

Wheeling resident Barb Schuetz, Kathy's mother, said she helps her daughter nearly every day and into the night. But sometimes she takes a couple days off.

''It's been enjoyable, but it doesn't stop - you go from one baby to the next,'' Schuetz said. ''When they first came back, it was difficult to feed them because they were preemies. You couldn't stop like a normal baby and burp them. They had to learn how to suck. Now you can go through a half ounce and take it out and let them burp.''

Ron said he is relieved his wife made it through the high-risk pregnancy and that his daughters are home and doing well.

"I didn't want boys more than girls. I'm excited to see how each one grows up and how their personalities develop, to see if they're more 'girly girls' or 'tom boys,'" Ron said.

Because the babies use diapers and drink formula at such a quick rate, the couple could use a little help. The Blatts hope some local companies are willing to donate diapers and formula, but Kathy noted she doesn't want to burden regular folks with such a request. The tiny sisters go through 40 diapers a day and a can of formula daily.

Ron noted the cost of formula, diapers and wipes averages to about $100 per day. And transporting them all at once also is a bit of a juggling act, since the babies' car seats won't all fit into one regular-sized car.

''It took two cars to get them here today,'' Schuetz said of the doctor's visit.

The Blatts can be reached by e-mail at koscar4@ gmail.com.