Maxine Young and her husband Jake had always had a place in their hearts for children. So when they received a call about fostering an emergency placement of four siblings, they didn’t hesitate to say yes.
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After marrying in 2016, Maxine and Jake had wanted children straight away, so the opportunity to adopt four foster children seemed meant to be. Maxine in particular had dreamed of being a foster parent, and imagined her home full of biological and adopted children.
As the couple adjusted to life with four children, things had already changed permanently. But Maxine had no idea that there was still much more to come…
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Two months after fostering the four siblings, Maxine took a pregnancy test. It came back positive.
The couple had been uncertain whether biological children would even be a part of their family, with Maxine having suffered multiple miscarriages before a failed round of IVF and an IUI.
But the pregnancy test didn’t lie: Maxine would give birth to a little boy, Henry, in October 2018.
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With an even greater number of children to look after, Maxine recalled the “chaos” of the new parents’ lives, after going from zero to five children in less than a year.
But it was a great sort of chaos, and Maxine and Jake loved every moment of it. Their children filled their home with love and light, and in December 2019, they finally adopted their four foster children.
Most people would probably think a family of seven more than enough, but the happy couple hoped for just one more baby of their own. So they started trying for a baby once more… and the impossible happened.
Maxine was pregnant yet again – with quadruplets.
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Even rarer, it was a completely natural pregnancy. Speaking to NBC12 of her shock discovery, she recalled:
“I didn’t even think that I could get pregnant without doing IVF [in vitro fertilization] or IUI [intrauterine insemination], which we had to do with our son. I remember texting him (Jake) and was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
Only days after adopting their four foster children, Maxine was now pregnant with another four children!
Though the family was incredibly excited to welcome their unexpected foursome into their home, there were risks associated with a quads pregnancy that couldn’t be ignored.
Maxine met up with a specialist in Phoenix, Arizona, who deals with multiple births. She remained in Arizona until she gave birth, 32 weeks later.
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The four babies are still in intensive care, but they’re all healthy and doing well. As for Maxine and Jake – they’re yet to adjust to the hectic life of being a family of 11! Jake admitted:
“It’s been crazy, but I don’t think it’s hit us just yet.”
The couple have undoubtedly got a long road ahead of them, but they’re lucky to be surrounded by the support they need.
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Maxine’s mom, ArLette, set up a fundraiser for the pair, raising money to financially assist them during a period where neither of the couple would be able to work. So far, more than $8,000 has been donated out of ArLette’s $10,000 goal.
In the fundraiser’s description, ArLette wrote:
“IF YOU THINK THEIR HANDS ARE FULL, YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR HEARTS.”
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We imagine their hearts must be bursting with love to welcome such a large number of children into their homes. You can take a look at a video interview with Maxine and Jake just below.
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