CUDDLY QUADRUPLETS THRIVING.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

When Diane Rowe went to Antelope Valley Hospital more than a year ago for a checkup, she knew she would be told she was pregnant, so she held out hope that her doctor would say she was having twins.

Dr. William Copeland confirmed to Rowe and her husband, Robert, that she was pregnant, but it wasn't twins. ``He said I was having quadruplets,'' Rowe said incredulously.

So on June 24, 1996, in her 33rd week of pregnancy, Rowe gave birth to Sophie, Hannah, Lorraine and Robert. The four weighed in between 3 pounds 4 ounces and 4 pounds 6 ounces. They were the first quads ever born at the hospital.

Now more than a year later all four - along with mom and dad - are doing quite well, thank you. The infants currently weigh a healthy 20 pounds each, according to their mom.

``Oh it's been a lot of work. You're talking four babies,'' said Diane Rowe, a reserve officer in the U.S. Air Force. As one might expect, there isn't much time for sleep in the Rowe home. ``But the babies are on a regimen where they eat at the same time, I read to them all at once, and they lie down at nap time together,'' Rowe said.

Her husband, Robert, 40, who is a test pilot for Lockheed Martin and also a military reserve officer, said the changes in their lives were very predictable and welcome. ``When you are given a great gift from God, you don't think about how everything's changed,'' he said.

Diane said doing a lot of reading and talking to people that are close to her really helped. ``My mom has been such a support to me,'' she said. After Diane's miscarriage two years ago, the Rowes decided to try in vitro fertilization.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg of Tarzana. Diane, 40, said she was told at that time producing healthy quadruplets was unusual. However, she said Copeland, the chief of staff at the hospital, was very caring, supportive and, more importantly, confident that she and her quads would be fine.

``The doctor was a wonderful source of spiritual help too. This was a gift from God,'' she said.

After one year, the couple already has big plans for their four bundles of joy. Diane and Robert, with master's degrees of their own, say they've already started a college fund for each of the infants.

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Photo: (color) Diane and Robert Rowe's quadruplets Robert, from left, Lorraine, Sophie and Hannah share playtime at their home in Lancaster. They were born June 24, 1996 - the first quadruplets delivered at Antelope Valley Hospital.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News