Twelve is not enough

Adoption: The Faskes, like other families, adopt, adopt, and adopt some more | Clint Rainey

A quiver full: Jacob (15), Joshua (14), Lydia (10), Miriam (6), Elizabeth (18), Jay, Suzanne, Rachel (7), Rebekah (17), Joseph (9), Abigail (15), Andrew (16), Jonah (3), Sarah, (12), Tabitha (11), Nathaniel (12), and Samuel (13) Faske (from left to right)

BRENHAM, Texas— Jay and Suzanne Faske will soon be the parents of 15. It's true that this number hardly snuck up on them, but they still contend they never planned a big family, and actually felt overwhelmed after the birth of their first son.

Jay even says he's tried to preserve the status quo, drawing the line each time another was added. Getting pregnant was never at issue here—the Faskes had their last of two biological children 14 years ago. The other 13 have come by serially adopting orphans from India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Colombia.

Jay admits his tactics have included bribery. Once, when the Faske family already numbered in the double digits, he called a family meeting. "He told them they had two choices," Suzanne says. "Either they could have a swimming pool, or we could adopt more siblings for them. But not both."