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With nine foster children and four of their own, a Kemah family has been living out of their backyard since Hurricane Ike
By MARY VUONG
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 7, 2010, 11:03PM

Birthday surprises don’t get much sweeter than this.

Thursday, the day Melissa Beach turned 40, the cast and crew of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition arrived on her doorstep with a new house — or at least the promise of one.

Host Ty Pennington and designers Tracy Hutson, Michael Moloney and Paul DiMeo of the popular ABC reality show are in Kemah for the next week to build Beach, husband Larry and their kids a home perfectly suited to their needs.

The experience so far, Beach said, has been “amazing. Is it really real?”

The Beaches have four biological and nine adopted children, including several with special needs: Chris, 23; Michael, 21; Jose, 20; Cody, 19; Mikala, 18; Paul, 14; Faith, 13; Hope, 9; Justin, 8; Jacob, 4; Grace, 4; Jeremiah, 23 months; and Mercy, 22 months.

The couple have been married for 23 years and been foster parents to more than 85 children. Larry, a lineman for Centerpoint Energy, and his wife are eager for a big house that can accommodate any other kids who may come into their lives.

Melissa, who home-schools some of her children, also hopes the new digs will include a classroom and decent kitchen.

‘They deserve this’

After Hurricane Ike, the Beaches moved from their damaged home at 1013 Delesandri Lane into two FEMA trailers, parked in front of their house. Last fall, they moved to the backyard, into an 18-foot travel trailer with one toilet. The hot water tank held just 6 gallons, and they had to make frequent visits to the laundromat and cook on a gas grill.

“They’re a young, cool family,” Hutson said. “They clearly need a lot of space.”

“They deserve this,” Moloney added.

Local builder Blu Shields Construction is overseeing the project. Because the house is considered a complete donation, the family will not be responsible for a mortgage or property taxes, said Patrick Henderson, CEO of Energy Solution Homes, Blu Shields’ parent company. The first year of utilities also is included.

6,340 square feet

The Beaches knew they were one of five local families nominated for the show, but Thursday’s “door knock” made it official. The “reveal” is scheduled for next Thursday, when they’ll come home to a 6,340-square-foot, two-story house with eight bedrooms and 4½ bathrooms. The episode is scheduled to air in March.

Plans for the home include an elevator, therapy room and rooftop solar panels. The house will be built to meet standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, with wide doorways and bathrooms spacious enough for a wheelchair.

The cast and crew of 70 isn’t thrilled about the chilly weather ahead, but they can deal with it. “We can handle cold,” Hutson said.

Each of the 25 homes that the show builds per year typically attracts 3,000 to 4,000 volunteers, so they’ll have plenty of help.

The Beaches will vacation at Disney World, courtesy of the show, while their home is under construction. When she returns, Melissa Beach is looking forward to more space — and a nice, long bath.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6804673.html