Houston residents Stephen and Ellen Howell are parents to quintuplets. The 33-year-old new mother is currently in Phoenix under the care of a specialist after the risky birth.

The three girls and two boys are expected to debut in Houston in August. The quintuplets are: Sidney Alun, who weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces/ Ivy Elizabeth, who weighed 2 pounds, 8 ounces/ Mitchell Thomas, who weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces/ Luke Harrison, who weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces/ Briellen Jeannette, who weighed 2 pounds, 6 ounces.

"It makes me feel very proud," said Ellen Howell.

"It was such a long road, but to have come at the end of the journey with five healthy babies, it makes me happy," she added.

The five infants, who weigh less than 15 pounds all together, were born nine weeks earlier, but doctors said the five appear to be healthy. They were placed in the neonatal intensive care unit right after the delivery and will probably remain there for the next few months. However, doctors said the children are in a better health than expected in such cases.

These sorts of births are very rare and can often lead to complications. In 2005, only 68 births involved five or more babies, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Because of the high risk associated with giving birth to multiples too soon, Ellen Howell went to Phoenix in April where she was under the supervision of John Elliot, a doctor at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center. Her husband visited every week.

The happy couple said they will live in a rented house in Phoenix until their babies are released.

"There is not a whole lot of words to describe what we're feeling right now,” said the 32-year-old father, who added that they do not plan to have more kids.