![EXCLUSIVE: Natalie 'Octomom' Suleman cooks up a family meal for her 8 children, the only surviving Octuplets in the world, now 8 years-old at their home in Laguna Niguel,California. The family posed for some fun photos together before sitting down to a vegan dinner in the apartment they share with Sulemans other six children. Suleman talked about turning her back on the Octomom stigma and finally finding peace after contemplating suicide due to the stress of raising such a large family. The Octuplets, Makai, Josiah, Isaiah, Jonah, Maliyah, Jeremiah, Nariyah and Noah turn 9 in January. 11 Dec 2017 Pictured: Octomom, Natalie Suleman. Photo credit: MOVI Inc. / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA147234_002.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://hollywoodlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/octomom-shares-rare-photo-of-8-kids-meg.jpg?fit=440%2C293)
Over a decade ago, Nadya Suleman became only the second woman ever to deliver octuplets — eight babies in one birth. They are now the only living set of octuplets in the world, and the happy, healthy brood is celebrating their 11th birthday. The the 44-year-old mother shared a rare pic of the eight children — six boys and two girls — at their party on Jan. 26. The kids are seen with crowns on their head, holding up their two index fingers to make the number “11,” while seated at a long orange table.
“Happy birthday to my beautiful angels. You are some of the kindest, most compassionate, caring human beings I’ve ever known. Words cannot express how grateful I am to be your mother. You all have blessed my life immensely and I thank God daily for trusting me to care for, shape the lives of, and influence all of you,” Nadya captioned the photo.
She made a slight reference to the tragic helicopter crash that killed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna earlier in the day. “Recent tragic events of loved ones lost are a powerful reminder of how fragile, precarious, yet precious life is, as tomorrow is never promised. We need to hug our loved ones a little longer and a little harder while they are here. You are my miracles, my angels, and I will love you with all my heart, forever. Happy 11th birthday Noah, Maliyah, Nariyah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Josiah, and Makai.” she continued. Nadya then did a swipe right to show the pic of their birthday cake, which could barely fit all of their names
The octuplets birth in 2009 came with quite a bit of controversy. It was later revealed that Nadya already had six children, all conceived through IVF, and was a single mother. Now she had become a mom to 14 kids! As the octuplets have grown, their features have become very distinct and different. Some of the children have darker hair and skin, while two sons — Josiah and Noah — have fair skin with blonde hair. Nadya finally made the revelation that all eight children came from one sperm donor in a May 2019 Instagram post.
“The donor was a frozen German and Nicaraguan mix. My side is even more mixed and diverse. Contrary to my Casper complexion lol, I am not Caucasian/White. Nor was my father from Iraq (only worked as a translator). My race is called MENA (Middle Eastern/North African). I am half Arab/Palestinian, half Afro/Palestinian (Libyan, North African). In addition, my mother’s side was Lithuanian and a fourth Jewish,” she wrote next to a photo of Noah and one of his brothers.
She explained that, “As a consequence of the heightened level of hate and controversy octomom had already created, I felt afraid to share all of our ethnic backgrounds. It took me years to love and accept my race/ethnic backgrounds. I teach my children the value of self-love and to unconditionally love all human beings.”