Husband And Wife Who Have 14 Biological Kids Explain How They Cope With Them (Photos/Video)

Family of 16: Karen and Deon Derrico are getting ready to welcome triplets while raising their 11 children in their new TLC reality series

A couple with 14 children say they spend $3,500 a month to feed the whole family — and it takes 18 loads of laundry a week to keep everyone in clean clothes.

Karen and Deon Derrico have had four sets of naturally-conceived multiples — quintuplets, two sets of twins, and most recently, triplets — as well as two non-multiple kids back to back, and now they're offering a peek at their home life in the upcoming TLC series Doubling Down with the Derricos.

In a new preview clip for the show, which premieres August 11, Karen, 40, says they spend $3,500 a month 'easy' at the grocery store, going through about 15 packages of waffles and 20 rolls of toilet paper a week.

Having a big family certainly doesn't come cheap, and the Derricos spend a fortune to keep everyone well fed.

'The amount of money that we spend on groceries, oh my gosh. $2,500 to $3,500, easy,' Karen says in a preview clip.

'In a week we go through 15 boxes of waffles, 20 rolls of toilet paper,' adds Deon, 49.

'Eighteen loads of clothes a week,' Karen chimes back in.

Ensuring they could provide for such a big family was an essential part of having so many children, they noted.

'I am a stay-at-home mother, and my phenomenal, handsome husband over here is a real estate investor,' says Karen.

'We chose to have a large family. We also chose to make sure we could provide for our large family,' she adds.

The couple — who are still expecting their youngest children, the triplets, as the new series kicks off — knew that having multiples was a possibility before they started a family.

'We both have multiples on both sides of our family but we have the most multiples that anyone has ever heard of,' Deon says.

'After our oldest, I had two miscarriages. So once I became pregnant, the doctor started me on progesterone to sustain my pregnancy. But all of our children were naturally conceived. Not one round of IVF,' says Karen.

The couple

'Having four sets of multiples back to back? It's like getting struck by lightning while getting struck by lightning,' Deon says in a trailer for the show.

'Many parents know with just one child, two children, it's a job. But when you have soon-to-be 14, it's a job.'

'We have our good days and our bad days,' Karen adds. 'But there's always enough love.' 

The premiere season, which has been in development and production for over a year, chronicles Karen's pregnancy and the toll it takes on their growing family.

At 24 weeks, doctors advise the busy mom to spend the remainder of her pregnancy on bedrest — leaving Deon to manage the household and all 11 children on his own.

Video also shows Deon rushing to the hospital as he explains his wife is in active labor and will be delivering their triplets early.  

'Our triplet babies have not had enough time in the womb, and I am just terrified,' the soon-to-be father of 14 admits.

In her testimonial, Karen cries as she opens up about the 'great deal of responsibility' that she feels.  

'I'm really nervous that I could lose one of these babies,' she says.

In addition to the new triplets, the couple has five-year-old quintuplets Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and Daiten, eight-year-old erek, seven-year-old twins Dallas and Denver, and 13-year-old Darian.

The oldest daughter is 'extremely helpful,' according to her mom, who says she helps with breakfast and wrangling kids.

'It's fun because you're never lonely and you're never bored, and then it's stressful because sometimes they don't listen to you and they just act like animals,' Dairan says. 

'They [all] help each other navigate chores and duties around the house, and they learn from each other,' Karen adds.

Doubling Down with the Derricos is the perfect fit for TLC, which has featured a number of series about large families, including Jon & Kate Plus 8, OutDaughtered, Sweet Home Sextuplets, 7 Little Johnstons, Welcome to Plathville, and Sister Wives. 

'TLC has always been the home for extraordinary families, and with multiple multiples the Derricos take "extraordinary" to a whole new level!' TLC president and general manager Howard Lee says in a statement.

'They bring a fresh voice, perspective, and willingness to share their culture and values. And while their size may be unique, their story is universally relatable — devoted parents trying to raise their children the best way they know how all while navigating life's ups and downs.

'We are proud and excited to introduce TLC viewers to the Derricos.'

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Source: Daily Mail UK