NORTHWOOD, IA – “There's nine of us,” said Emily Johnson energetically sitting between her new parents.
Her family went from four, to nine, in a flash.
A little more than a year ago the Johnsons were nothing more than parents Tim and Alisha, and their daughters Morgan and Tegan.
"We thought we were going to try to have another one, but things just weren't working out,” said Tim. “So we decided, we were going to get into foster care."
That's where they met Samantha, John, and Emily; three siblings split up in foster care, and the Johnsons wanted to reunite them as a family.
"After coming here, the kids were back together,” said Alisha. “They had been separated, so it's always good to keep sibling groups together."
Everyone admits it took some adjustment.
"After a while you get used to it, but it's really weird at first," said Morgan.
But the change doesn't stop there for the Johnsons.
"Yeah, we're having a really fun time,” said Tegan and her new sister Emily, “Especially with the twins."
That's right; there are two even newer additions to this clan.
"Alisha got pregnant, and then at the third ultrasound, we found out it was twins,” said Tim.
But after spending some time with this crew, you may never know the Johnson's hadn't been a family all along.
"It was a change,” said Alisha, “but we've all adjusted really well, and everybody enjoys each other and the older kids are a lot of help."
And the newly adopted Sam, John and Emily seem glad to be at home with their new siblings and parents,
If you're interested in becoming a foster parent or are considering adoption, KIMT News 3, along with Iowa Kids Net and the DHS teams up each month as we introduce you to kids looking for their “forever families.”
For more information on how you can be involved, check out our link, under “links we mentioned.”
