Minnesota woman adopts 4 more children to reunite siblings

National Adoption Day is this weekend, and for one local family it means they're set to officially welcome some new members.  It's a moment the parents and kids have been waiting months for.

Loushanda Battle already had three kids of her own when she adopted her 6-year-old son Jacarri back in July.  But when she learned that his 1, 2, 4, and 5-year-old siblings were in foster homes scattered across the Twin Cities, she couldn't help but take them in too.

Battle has a soft spot for kids. But the children in her house are dancing for joy because their family is about to double in size on Saturday.

"It started with one and just multiplied,” Battle said.  "I'd get calls from Hennepin County, ‘I got another one over here. We have another over there.’ Once I found out about all the kids I was like, ‘I'll do it.’ I don't know how to say no is what I think it is."

Battle says she was inspired to open her house by her grandmother Jean Bridgford because she took care of foster children throughout her childhood. She also took care of Battle, and when she died last year, she couldn't think of a better way to honor her than to follow in her footsteps.

"Is eight enough? No, I need a bigger house. I drive a school bus drop kids off at group homes. It brings me to tears almost. I don't want anyone to be without a mom or a dad,” she said.

Just like her grandmother, Battle treats her adopted children as if they were her own, as you can see in pictures from a trip to Six Flags this past summer.

But when it comes to building a bigger family, Battle says adoption is a step in the right direction.

"As long as I'm willing and capable,” she says. “I love kids. I will keep taking kids. It’s changed a lot in my life, some good and some bad. But I would take five more if I had a big enough space. I would. I love kids."