THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 5, 1996 TAG: 9608050036
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: 75 lines
As far as Angela and Darin Jones are concerned, Moone Plantation, a new subdivision near Smithfield, might as well be named The Land of Dreams.
That's where a four-bedroom, two-story home like the one they hope to have by September is already being shown off to relatives and friends. With a little help from their friends, it could happen.
The Joneses are parents of quadruplets born on Valentine's Day at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News. They took the boys home to join sister Shakeeta in their two-bedroom mobile home in Carrollton on March 9.
Since then, the Joneses say, the boys have fast filled the trailer to capacity.
``You cannot walk in their bedroom,'' Darin Jones said. ``There are walkers, four swings. One whole closet is filled with their clothes and things.''
The Jones boys were conceived without the aid of fertility drugs. Twins run on both sides of the family. Since their birth at Riverside - the first quadruplet birth in the hospital's history - the babies have been taken into the hearts of Hampton Roads residents.
Concerned and interested citizens have given the family clothes, diapers, formula, baby food, even a new van to replace their compact car. But all along, Angela Jones has dreamed of a home big enough for her brood.
``I believe the Lord is going to bless us with a larger home. We'll find something we can afford, a way to afford it,'' she said in May.
He blessed the family with a good friend first. The Joneses, who own a small housecleaning business, have worked for Donna Harrah. Harrah, who owns HomeWorks, is developing the Moone Plantation.
``I think so much of Angela and Darin,'' Harrah said. ``They are both so hard-working, and they have always had such a good attitude through all of this. I'd been thinking about trying to do something for them for months.''
Her plan goes like this: Harrah donates land and the house at cost; the Joneses take on the mortgage they can afford and qualify for; the rest - about $25,000 - comes from public donations.
The Joneses can't wait.
``I'm in shock, but I always felt God would provide,'' Angela Jones said.
``We appreciate everything everybody has done,'' Darin Jones said. ``This will be a dream come true. There's no way we could afford a house big enough, any time soon, on our own.''
Meanwhile, the boys keep growing and growing.
Kameron and Karon, who each weighed nearly 3 pounds at birth, now weigh nearly 12 pounds. Kahlil and Karlyle, who weighed a little over 3 pounds at birth, are edging toward 13 pounds. The babies are healthy and progressing normally, eating strained baby food, drinking juices.
Kameron and Karon, their parents say, are starting to laugh and take a couple of steps in their walkers. The other pair, ``mostly eat and look at you,'' their dad said.
The babies, nearly 6 months old now, also are close to sleeping through the night. They wake up only about once a night now.
``But when you multiply that by four - you still got a mess,'' Darin Jones said, laughing.
Harrah said donations of services already are pouring in. Subcontractors have offered to work for free. An appraiser has donated his services.
``I just want to get them in a home,'' Harrah said. ``They're the kind of family that deserves it.''
If everything works out, the new house will have four bedrooms, family room, eat-in kitchen, dining room, 2 1/2 baths and a two-car garage - and it will be on a large lot where the children can play. ILLUSTRATION: HOME SWEET HOME
[Color Photo]
ABOVE: Angela and Darin Jones hope to move out of their mobile home
soon to a home like this one at Moone Plantation. From left:
Quadruplets Kameron, Karon, Kahlil, and Karlyle, and older sister
Shakeeta.
WANT TO HELP?
Donations may be sent to The Jones Assistance Fund, in care of
Vincent Godwin, attorney, 229 Main St., Smithfield, Va. 23430. by CNB