Cool Cousins Club: Three Sisters, Three Babies, One Hospital

When Theresa DeVries told her sisters she was expecting her third child, she had no idea she was about to receive some surprising news in return.

Amanda was pregnant too. And so was Kristina.

The three Dubuque sisters, daughters of Jim and Rose Koos, had always been close growing up and unknowingly embarked on the journey of pregnancy at nearly the same time. Kristina was the last to announce to the family, so she and her husband hatched a plan:

"We had known about both of them being pregnant, then my husband and I found out we were expecting," Kristina said. "So, I told them, 'I got your babies matching onesies that say Cool Cousins Club.' Afterward, my husband walked down the hall with the third one and said, 'Oh, wait, you forgot one.'"

Sharing the Pregnancy Experience

As this was Amanda and Kristina’s first pregnancy, they were grateful for advice and information from Theresa and her husband, Sean.

"It was a lot of fun—a lot of questions being asked, like, 'I'm having this symptom—are you guys having this too?' and a lot of preparation together," Amanda said. "We had some moments where we had to stop comparing things because you never want to compare too much."

Theresa's husband, Sean, became the family's unofficial car seat expert, checking installations for both of his sisters-in-law.

“Sean has become our car seat technician - he's done all of the car seat checks for us,” Kristina said. “It’s been nice to have them as the experts.”

But the support went deeper than practical advice.

"We all said a lot of prayers for each other," Theresa said. "As much as we were worried about ourselves and our own pregnancies, we were also worried about each other, wanting to make sure everyone came through with a healthy, happy baby and mom. This brought us closer, just to go through that together, to all be in it at the same time."

Coming Home to Finley Hospital

The sisters knew exactly where they'd deliver. UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital held special significance for their family. It was where all three sisters were born, where Theresa now works as Director of Clinic Operations and where Kristina's mother-in-law, Laura Knabel, serves as a lactation consultant. 

Theresa, the oldest sister, delivered first. On April 15, she and Sean welcomed Jack Lawrence in Room 1 of Finley Hospital's family birthing suites, where one-on-one nursing care helped guide them through labor and delivery.

Three months passed before the next arrival, though not quite as expected. Amanda's due date was actually before Kristina's but Rosie Louise had other plans.

On August 16, Kristina and Nolan Knabel welcomed their daughter in the same Room 1 where her cousin Jack had been born. Kristina appreciated how the staff at Finley's Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery handled her rapid labor.

"I am the type of person who has lots of questions, and they all answered my questions and kept me calm," Kristina said. "Things moved fast, so it was a little scary, but they were very supportive."

An Unexpected Reunion

While Kristina was still recovering at the hospital, Amanda stopped by after her own prenatal appointment to meet baby Rosie. But just hours after Kristina was discharged home on Monday, Amanda was back—this time as a patient herself.

"It was funny, because we went home with Rosie on Monday, then Matt and Amanda came in on Monday night," Kristina said. "Some of the nurses we saw Monday morning were still there when we came in to meet Amanda's baby, Kolston. They were surprised to see us back and wondered what we were doing!"

On August 19, Amanda and Matt Thole welcomed Kolston Paul—in Room 1, making it three for three.

"Everyone was very supportive, and they communicated really well," Kristina said of the staff who cared for all three sisters. The family-like atmosphere extended beyond delivery, with Finley's board-certified lactation consultants providing breastfeeding support and education that would continue long after the sisters went home.

Growing Up Together

Now, with all three babies safely arrived, the Cool Cousins Club is officially in session. Jack, Rosie, and Kolston—born within four months of each other—will grow up together in the Dubuque area, their mothers navigating the challenges and joys of parenthood side by side, just as they did pregnancy.

"They all look so different in size, even though they're so close in age," Kristina said. "It's going to be cool seeing them grow up together."

For these three sisters, pregnancy wasn't just about bringing new life into the world—it was about strengthening the bonds that had connected them since they were children. And now, a new generation of cousins will carry those bonds forward.

Learn more about Birth Care at Finley Hospital, including breastfeeding support, prenatal education, and Level II NICU services.