Father of 8 ‘Stunned Beyond Belief ‘

HOUSTON — Wearing a wide grin and his sky blue traditional Nigerian robes, the father of the world’s only living octuplets said Thursday he’s “stunned beyond belief” by his eightfold blessing.

“I’m still taking it in,” said Iyke Louis Udobi, 41, at a news conference, his first public appearance since his wife delivered seven of their eight babies Sunday morning. The first arrived Dec. 8.

Concern remains about the babies’ state. The six girls and two boys will be in critical condition for the near future.

One girl, who weighed 10.3 ounces at birth, remains the biggest concern.

Nkem Chukwu, 27, the mother, remained stable.

Udobi said he arrived in the United States in the late 1970s and attended Alabama A&M; and Texas Southern University, where he received a bachelor’s in business. He also earned a degree in respiratory therapy, he said.