DANVILLE — Jenny Ferrill moved into a new stage of her pregnancy with quintuplets by starting what she hopes will be a long stretch in the hospital.

Ferrill will stay in a St. Louis hospital until the birth of her five babies — three boys and two girls. Everyone involved hopes the babies make it until 31 weeks, the week of Christmas.

“Everything’s going good,” dad Pete said this week.

As for her time in the hospital, Jenny said she needs some time to adjust to the major change.

She was able to do some planning for the babies’ homecoming before she left.

“I ordered some things,” she said, listing cradle and crib bedding.

Plus, she’s working on a baby gift registry.

“I was feeling more and more uncomfortable, just physically,” Jenny added, explaining she’s glad to be in a place where the babies can get immediate care if they need it.

Anyone who wants to follow the Ferrill Five, as their dad refers to them, can check their Web site for regular updates.

Now, Pete is focusing on what needs to be done to prepare for the babies coming home.

Knowing the babies have reached the point of being able to survive on their own has helped alleviate some stress, he said.

The doctor told the couple that each day from here that Jenny carries the babies is a bonus.

The couple decided not to have a baby shower before Jenny went to the hospital after they received advice from the multiples’ group they’re involved in.

They might hold several showers with different themes after Jenny and the babies are home. That way the couple can receive the scads of diapers, bottles, blankets and many other things they’ll need to take care of their five babies.

But what continues to be on Pete and Jenny’s minds are the thanks they have for those who participated in Sunday’s benefit and made contributions to their growing family.

“It was a terrific showing,” Pete said, adding he was happy to see the line into Turtle Run Golf and Banquet Center stretch out the door.

“There were people from the community who have just become part of our story,” he said.

“That was one of the really overwhelming things of the night was to see how people care.”

He was in St. Louis on Monday see Jenny and let her know how Sunday’s benefit went.

Besides missing the benefit, Jenny marked her 29th birthday in the hospital.

A video made at the event features the crowd sending a message to Jenny and the babies.

Jenny said it was difficult not being there Sunday to express her deepest thanks and gratitude to everyone who made the event a success.

“I just kept getting phone calls all night saying how wonderful it was,” she said. “Everybody said that it was fabulous.”

Pete knows the couple faces the huge challenge of caring for five babies instead of the two they thought they would have.

“I never expected to be faced with this type of pregnancy,” he said, adding he wants the family to be in the best position financially and emotionally.

That includes being ready for the intense daily routine once the babies are home.

“We were talking about it yesterday, about how excited we’re going to be,” Pete said. “A lot of people are really looking forward to seeing them, as well.”

FYI

To find out more about the Ferrill quintuplets, visit http://www.ferrillfive.com.

Anyone who wants to send well wishes to the couple can direct cards and notes to Pete and Jenny Ferrill, c/o Karen Butikas, 117 Michigan Ave., Westville, IL 61883. The family will make sure Jenny receives the mail at the hospital.