Welcome, Ashley, Ellie And Jake Coble!

"I don't know how many kids God has in heaven," said 11-year-old Maddie Culler when the Coble family's tragedy hit their town, "but he doesn't need anymore from this neighborhood."

That was about a year ago, as I reported here:

We had one of those terrible, unfathomable accidents in OC on Friday at an offramp I frequently use. It's a busy one and most of the time traffic on the freeway slows before it. Everyone knows this and leaves a little extra space, but not this time.

Mom Lori Coble, 30, was driving with Grandmother Cynthia Maestri next to her in the front of the minivan and the three kids, Kyle, 5, Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, were in the back. Jorge Miguel Romero, 37 and the father of two youngsters, was behind them in an 18-wheeler, traveling 55 to 60 miles an hour.

When traffic stopped, Romero didn't. One driver who was there when the crash occurred has a horrifying memory:

"It (the minivan) was like a smashed soda can. I saw the faces of the mom and grandmother as they realized and looked back at the children. … They did not have a chance."

Emma and Katie died on the scene and Kyle died a few hours later in his injured mom's arms.

Their home town, Ladera Ranch, poured out the emotions, bedecking every tree, sign and pedestrian overpass with ribbons -- two pinks and one blue, over and over again.

A few months later, I had the joyful opportunity to share with you the news that Lori Coble was pregnant -- with two girls and a boy. And now, this:

MISSION VIEJO – A Ladera Ranch couple who almost one year ago lost three children in a freeway crash announced the birth of triplets – two girls and a boy – born late Wednesday.

The babies were born within minutes of each other. The first baby girl named Ashley was born at 9:42 p.m. weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces. Then a minute later came Ellie, weighing four pounds, and their brother Jake weighing 3 pounds, 14 ounces was born at 9:44 p.m. The babies are in the care of Children's Hospital at Mission and are listed in good condition. They were born by C-section. Lori Coble is in good condition, said Denise Almazan, spokeswoman for Children's Hospital of Orange County.

No word yet from the Cobles, but I'm going to make a point to drive through Ladera tomorrow. I have a feeling the elves will be out tonight, hanging up a lot of pink and blue ribbons!

God Visits The Cobles

When Lori and Chris Coble lost their three young children -- two girls and a boy -- when a semi rear-ended their minivan, our neighboring town of Ladera mourned with them, with sets of two pink and one blue bows adorning seemingly every tree and light pole in the community.

Now the town must be experiencing a massive communal set of goosebumps with the news that Lori Coble is pregnant.

With triplets.

Two girls and one boy.

Skeptic and agnostic readers might even sense the hand of God in this one.

Here's the OC Reg:

Lori and Chris Coble now have hope for the future.

Just a few weeks ago, the Cobles found out that triplets – two girls and a boy – are expected to come into their life next May.

"It's kind of a two-sided coin," said Chris Coble, 36, Tuesday evening. "We feel amazed that it's happening but at the same time we're still mourning Kyle, Emma and Katie. Nothing will ever replace them. We feel joy for what's happening but we're crying and missing the kids."

The Coble children – Kyle, 5, Emma, 4, and Katie, 2, — died after the big-rig, loaded with more than 40,000 pounds of electronics, struck the family's Chrysler minivan May 4 on I-5 in Mission Viejo. The minivan was stopped in the slow lane of traffic. Lori Coble, 30, who was driving, and her mother, Cynthia Maestri, 60, were injured. ...

Lori and Chris Coble have been focused on adding to their family since the accident took their children. From the minute they were married seven years ago they couldn't imagine their lives without children. Then they had decided on three. Now they get a second chance.

The Cobles opted for in vitro fertilization .... Fourteen eggs were taken from Lori and 10 were fertilized. Tests were run to check for chromosomal abnormalities and defects. A test – which also gives information on the baby's gender – was run and showed three of the embryos were viable and could be used for implantation.

Thirty minutes before Lori, 30, was to be implanted with the embryos, the couple found out that two were girls and one was a boy. Initially, [their doctor] only wanted to put in two of the embryos considering the higher risk in a triplet pregnancy. But the Cobles convinced him to do all three.

Incredible Daughter Number 2 was in Ladera on Halloween and saw three pumpkins on a park bench -- two with pink ribbons -- with Kyle, Emma and Katie carved on them.

The town hasn't forgotten their lost children -- and I can't wait to see how they welcome the new Coble kids when they come home from the hospital in May.