At the counter in his secondhand shop, Gus DeValle keeps a photograph of an impossibly small preemie, born way too soon and swaddled in sensors and wires as well as blankets.

The baby is not one of the triplets born Aug. 12 to DeValle and his wife, Margarita. They are struggling to finish their final two months of development in incubators at the Oregon Health & Science University.

Rather, it's a 1.5 pound girl who arrived three months premature back in 1987. "This is hope," DeValle said, describing the strength he draws from the photo.

Then he flipped the photo over to reveal a second one, showing the same girl as a teenager, healthy and smiling. "This is hope," he said.

The DeValles, who set up shop in Lafayette three years ago, have other reasons to be hopeful as well: Their two new sons and new daughter are all doing well, and they are confident the three newcomers are in good hands at the Portland hospital.

Above all, the Lafayette couple believes God is looking out for little Joel, Abraham and April.

"God knows what's best for them," Gus said. "He knows what he's doing."

"These are God's kids. He's loaning them to us because he knows we'll take good care of them."

Gus, the youngest of nine children, is a native of Guatemala. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 14.

Margarita is of Mexican descent.

They've been together for 18 years, ever since he noticed the cute girl at the bus stop near his home in Southern California. A few years ago, they left California in order to find a better environment for raising their children.

They already had three: Leslie, a 16-year-old McMinnville High School student; Stephanie, a 13-year-old Patton Middle School student; and Gus "Junior," an active 3 1/2-year-old affectionately described by his father as "an earthquake."

"We talked about having a family when we first met," Gus said. "We wanted several kids, but spaced apart, so we wouldn't have to work so hard."

When Junior was still a toddler, they decided they wanted to have a fourth child. When Margarita went in for a checkup about four months into her pregnancy, though, the doctor surprised her with the news she was carrying twins.

"She came home crying, saying how are we going to do it?" Gus said.

At first, he said, he thought she was kidding, as they had neither planned nor anticipated a multiple birth. When he realized she was serious, "I was so happy that the Lord sent us two," he said.

But there was yet another surprise in store.

Gus accompanied his wife to the next appointment. During an ultrasound, the doctor asked him to count the babies. "One, two ... three?" Gus counted.

He was stunned by both the news and the financial commitment he was facing, he said. But he was still happy.

The DeValle family has insurance through the Oregon Health Plan. But having three new babies will mean a lot of expenses and needs beyond just medical care.

For instance, Gus said, he's going to need a bigger vehicle to hold three infant car seats. The family's old Toyota mini-van just isn't going to suffice.

Their apartment isn't very big, either, and they have only one crib. And then there's food, clothes, bedding and diapers - lots of diapers.

Later, the triplets will need toys, money for school and clothes at every stage. The thought is almost overwhelming.

"How are we going to do it?" he said. "It's a blessing, but also a lot of worries."

The family doesn't like to ask for help unless there's no alternative, he said.

"We are healthy," he said. "We are alive. We have two hands and two feet to work hard."

A painter by trade, Gus helps his wife with their second-hand shop, Second Hand Rose. Their older children help out there, too. The family also sells at auctions.

Lately, it's been hard to manage the business, though, as Margarita hasn't been able to work. Gus said he's had to close the store periodically in order to make doctor appointments.

Margarita was hospitalized for a week in July. She was admitted to OHSU again earlier this month, because doctors wanted her to carry the triplets as long as possible.

The DeValles had the names picked out weeks ago. Margarita chose her new daughter's first name, April, and Gus added the middle one, "Giselle." He also chose the boys' names, Joel Johan and Abraham Amado.

"I was praying with God, if you send them to me, I'll name them Bible names," Gus said. He picked "Amado" in honor of his father, who died suddenly five years ago.

Doctors decided to perform a Caesarean seven months and four days into the pregnancy. Joel was born first, arriving at 2:18 p.m. Aug. 12 at 3 pounds, 9 ounces. Abraham followed at 2:21 p.m., weighing 3 pounds, 12.5 ounces. April followed at 2:26 p.m., weighing just 2 pounds, 13.5 ounces.

All three babies look fragile. All three have delicate, not-quite-finished skin. But all three have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot.

"They look like toys," Gus said. "So cute."

Joel was a little sickly at first. And both boys needed some help stabilizing their breathing. But all three of the triplets are doing well now.

"The doctors are doing their best," Gus said. "I trust them, but I trust first in God."