Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman Celebrates Her 8 Kids' 16th Birthday After Speaking Out in New Interview: 'So Blessed to Have You All'

Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman is celebrating her octuplets turning 16!

On Sunday, Jan. 26, Suleman shared a post on Instagram in honor of her eight kids' 16th birthday. Alongside a photo of the siblings posing in a line, she included a sweet message reflecting on the milestone.

After wishing all of her kids a happy birthday by name, she wrote: "You are loved, valued and appreciated more than words can express!" I am so blessed to have you all in my life, and excited and grateful for the journey we are about to embark [on]."

She then shared her hope for the teens' future. "God has loved and protected you all for the past 16 years, and has great plans for each and every one of you!" she wrote.

Suleman closed out her message with a beloved quote from the popular children's book I'll Love You Forever by Robert Munsch: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm l living, my babies you'll be."

Related: Octomom Natalie 'Nadya' Suleman Speaks Out in Rare Interview, New Lifetime Doc: See Her 14 Kids Now (Exclusive)

In 2009, Suleman was implanted with 12 embryos by Dr. Michael Kamrava, a Beverly Hills fertility specialist who oversaw her previous IVF treatments. Out of that dozen, Suleman became pregnant with eight babies and made history by giving birth to the first-ever surviving octuplets, earning her the nickname Octomom.

Suleman was already a mother of six children — Amerah, Calyssa, Elijah, Caleb, Joshua and Aidan — when she gave birth to her octuplets: Noah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Josiah, Makai, Maliyah and Nariyah.

Her incredible story quickly took a turn, as the world learned more about her controversial journey to motherhood. Many questioned and condemned her motives as a single mother who'd had numerous IVF treatments prior and was already struggling to get by before welcoming the octuplets.

Unemployed at the time of their births, Suleman turned to various ventures to support her family of 15, including a nude photo shoot, pornography, boxing and an effort to trademark her "Octomom" nickname. In 2013, Suleman stepped away from the spotlight, which is something that the mom of 14 wanted to do from the beginning.

In a new interview with PEOPLE, Suleman said being at the center of public ire was "complete pandemonium."

"There was of course all of the details of the death threats and fearing for my family's life. And then on the other hand, I had to continue to sacrifice my integrity repeatedly to survive and provide for my family," she said.

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"There was definitely a catalyst — my girls, particularly my oldest daughter Amerah," Suleman told PEOPLE in 2016. "She was about 10, and she started integrating my traits and behaviors."

She continued at the time, "After I had observed my daughter beginning to emulate me, I saw her going down that same potentially destructive path, and I realized at that moment I’d rather be homeless in my van with all 14 kids than continuing down this path. It was not what I wanted for my children."

Now, she is stepping back into the spotlight, with a push from her history-making octuplets. In her exclusive new interview, Suleman told PEOPLE that she and her family are "taking our life back."

For the first time, the family will be the subject of an upcoming Lifetime movie and docuseries, titled I Was Octomom and Confessions of Octomom, which will premiere on March 8 and March 10, respectively.

"I've been saying, I want to keep them safe and protect my kids, and well, they're older now," Suleman said. "They're turning 16 and making the decision to really do this."

Read the original article on People