Two years ago, Tommy and Marcella Coblentz of Athens had begun to think they weren’t going to have any grandchildren.

After all, their eldest child, Quenta Coblentz Pollard, was in her early 30s and had been married for nearly a decade.

Within days of the wedding, Marcella had asked her daughter and new son-in-law, Al, when she could expect a grandchild. The quick answer had been “not anytime soon” and the two had stuck to their word.

Tommy Jr., their middle child, was in his late 20s and he and his wife Julie were much like Quenta and Al in that they were solidly focused on their careers.

Daniel, their youngest child, was 23 and just getting started on married life, living in Mobile with his bride Joana.

“I used to moan and groan at church all the time,” Marcella said of watching her friends – one by one – become grandparents.

Then last year, Tommy and Marcella’s prayers were answered.

Fives times over.

In a six-month span.

Twins Abbie and Kate were born to Tommy Jr. and Julie on March 20. Quenta and Al welcomed triplets Sept. 14.

“One Christmas I didn’t have any grandkids and by the next Christmas I had five,” Marcella said.

Last week the the five cousins met for the first time when — on the occasion of the twins’ first birthday — Al and Quenta made the drive from their home in Dallas, Texas with William, Jackson and Addison in tow.

Marcella said the whirlwind of grandbabies is at once overwhelming and truly wonderful.

With a sparkle in her eye she recalls getting the news — on the day after the twins’ arrival — that Quenta was carrying triplets.

“I have a picture of her brother on the phone when she told them she was having triplets,” Marcella said. “You can see Julie just laughing and laughing.”