After Hurricane Ike destroyed their home in September 2008, Melissa and Larry Beach, originally from the Magnolia area, moved into FEMA trailers and eventually, just a 32-foot travel trailer with their 13 children ranging in age from 2 to 23, some of whom are adopted and have special needs.

Today, they reside in their new house with more than 6,000 square feet, eight bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms.

At left: The Beach family (pictured) spent a week at Disney World in January while crews made over their home in Kemah.

“Everything is on a grand scale from what we had (before Hurricane Ike),” Beach said.

The family’s journey started just after Hurricane Ike in November 2008 when family friend Robbie Seay nominated the Beach’s to be on the home makeover show.

The thorough nomination process required the Beaches to provide Social Security information, credit checks and to go through in-depth interviews with producers.

“We knew we were nominated,” Beach said.

In December, the family found out they were one of five finalists.

“People ask us, ‘Do you really not know?’” Beach said. “You really do not know until they show up at your door. You’re waiting that morning for it, you know if Ty doesn’t come, you’re not in it. We got worried, they were running late.”

But sure enough, on Jan. 7, Beach’s 40th birthday, the family heard host Ty Pennington’s notorious wake-up call and they knew then they had been picked.

“We’re not a very loud family, but I think we were more in shock than anything,” Beach said about the morning they found out. “Inside you think it’s not going to happen and psych yourself up. It was a complete shock that morning.”

After the family was whisked away on a week-long vacation to Disney World, crews got to work transforming their home.

When the family returned a week later and saw their new home, it was hard for some of the children to believe.

“When the bus pulled away, our little ones were like ‘where’s our house?’” Beach said. “It’s a little harder, they’re still struggling.”

She added that one young son asked if they have to move out of the “hotel.”

But Beach said the family is adjusting well to the new home and like the new space.

She said they may have a watching party at their home the evening the show airs and they are looking forward to seeing some things for the first time.

“I’m excited,” Beach said. “What people don’t realize is there are a lot of parts that we didn’t see. We didn’t see a lot of the rooms the children did or what they talked to Ty about. We’re watching it for the first time like everyone else is.”

After living in their new home for about three months, their youngest child, Mercy, died recently following a seizure.

Since her death, Beach said the family is doing well but also have “bad days.”

Beach said the family’s whole focus is on adopting children with special needs.

She said the family is looking into bringing children from Haiti to their home for medical care as part of a sponsorship program that would commit them until the child turns 18.

“Our goals are just to make sure we use this house to God’s glory. There are a lot of children out there that need homes,” Beach said.

The Beach’s story will air Sunday, April 4 on ABC.

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