The Bates Family has two new members.
Eldest daughter Michaela Keilen and her husband of nearly 10 years, Brandon, announced Saturday on their YouTube channel that they’ve become foster parents. The former Bringing Up Bates stars also shared the news on Instagram.
“We have two little boys now, a three-year-old and a newborn, and we don’t know what the future holds here, but we are taking it a day at a time and enjoying this foster experience,” Brandon said.
The couple didn’t share how long they’ve had the boys, but did describe Brandon receiving the call from his pastor, who told them that the children were in need of a foster home, while Michaela was spending time with her ailing grandfather, Bill Bates, who died on May 13.
“Looking back I feel like it was such a gift because I was with Mama Jane when Brandon called me and Papa Bill is just so excited,” Michaela, the second of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates’ 19 children, said in the video. “I was supposed to stay for three days and be with him during his treatments and one of the last things he said to me was, ‘You need to go home and get those babies.’”
Last year, the ‘Bringing Up Bates’ stars posted a video on their YouTube channel detailing their long struggle with infertility, including multiple tests and visits with specialists that were inconclusive.
“I think the deepest valley for me both emotionally and spiritually was in this phase of so many unanswered questions, and one test after the next and not really finding any answers and wanting so bad to be a mom and wondering what is life going to look like, and the emotions were excitement for every announcement you hear but, at the same time, such a deep grief for not being able to join in motherhood,” Michaela said.
Unfortunately for Michaela and Brandon, they are surrounded by family members who are frequently having babies. Michaela’s siblings have all started having children very soon after getting married, and many now have more than four kids. Michaela’s younger sister Erin Paine currently has six kids and is expecting her seventh this summer. Michaela’s younger sisters Carlin and Josie are both currently pregnant, as are two of her sisters-in-law: Emerson (who’s married to Jackson Bates) and Lydia (who’s married to Trace Bates).
In 2021, Michaela found out she was pregnant with a girl due in December of that year. After sharing the news with both of their families, but before making a public announcement, the couple learned they’d lost the baby during an ultrasound appointment.
“It does bring questions, too, well, God, if not this avenue for now, is there another avenue to pursue?” Brandon, who works as a videographer for the Institute in Basic Life Principles (aka the IBLP, which is the same fundamentalist organization most of the Duggar clan follows) said.
“I feel like that’s where we’re at right now, is there somebody else out there that you have for us to love and to love us? It’s not a quick journey, it’s not simple and easy so we’re taking it one step at a time and see what that pursuit turns into.”
In the video the posted on Saturday to YouTube, the couple shared that they had been going through the adoption process and had completed their home study. When Brandon received the call about potentially fostering the two boys, he wasn’t sure if he and Michaela qualified to foster, but once they got the OK, the boys were soon on the way.
“It does feel like a whirlwind, things happened so quickly, we got the phone call and within three days we had children,” Michaela said.
Brandon admitted in the video that he’s needed some time to adjust to parenting but that Michaela took to it straight away thanks to all her experience babysitting her many younger siblings and their many children. In addition to all that free childcare she’s provided her family, Michael also went to nursing school.
“I feel like I’m in heaven,” she said of fostering the boys.
You can watch the full announcement video on Michael and Brandon’s YouTube Channel.
