More than a handful of beautiful babies

T racy Gorelczenko, 34, and her husband, Andrew, 38, of Manalapan, have always had a lot to be thankful for. The couple, who were friends first, share high-powered jobs and the love and support of an extended family.

JEFF GRANIT staff Andrew and Tracy Gorelczenko recently moved to Manalapan and had an instant full house following the birth of quadruplets (l-r) Mary Bess, Brady, Toby and Zara. That loving support recently became more important than ever after Tracy gave birth to quadruplets in May.

Tracy said she and Andrew, who have been married for just over two years after having known each other for 12 years, knew they wanted children right away and so getting pregnant was a priority once they were married.

"We were hoping to get pregnant right away, but of course we never expected this," Tracy laughs.

Since the birth of the four children, two boys and two girls, Mary Bess, Brady, Toby and Zara, in that order, Andrew has stayed home to help care for the infants.

All of the babies except Toby were sent home from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan one week after their May 16 birth at 34 weeks (full term is 40 weeks). Toby followed his brothers and sisters home the next week.

In August, Andrew will be returning to his job as production manager for the television program "People's Court." Tracy worked for the same show as a production assistant until she became pregnant.

The pair met 12 years ago when they were both working on another television show.

Tracy said she will continue to rely on the help she receives from her parents, Sandra and Lloyd Howard, a retired couple who still reside in Aberdeen Township, where Tracy grew up.

Andrew's parents, Martha and Walter Gorelczenko, reside in Elmhurst, N.Y., where Andrew grew up.

Tracy said the surprise news that she was going to give birth to quadruplets gave the couple the impetus to buy a house for their coming brood.

She said an initial test revealed three babies' heartbeats and indicated triplets were on the way. A subsequent test revealed the fact that she was actually carrying quadruplets.

"It was surprising, but exciting," said Tracy.

At the time she and Andrew learned she was pregnant, they were living in an apartment in Forest Hills, Queens.

"When we knew we were having quads, we knew we had to buy a house," she said, adding that when they saw the house in a 20-year-old development in Manalapan, they knew it was the one for them.

"It's a great older neighborhood with a lot of families with kids and a playground right down the street from our house. It couldn't have been more perfect," she said.

However, it was a little late in the game that their dream house was found, and Tracy said they found themselves "moving from the hospital into the new house."

Birth and moving are two known highstress producers, yet Tracy said she is sometimes surprised when people voice their own surprise that she seems to take it all in stride.

Acknowledging that the babies are "a fulltime job," she added, "We find ourselves living according to their timetable. We just consider ourselves blessed that we have four healthy babies."

And, as it turns out, the fertile family blessings are continuing to grow. Tracy's sister, who lives in Scotch Plains, is pregnant with twins.