Every year, more than 4300 Kansas children are born exposed to illegal drugs. These children are at risk for all sorts of physical and mental delays.

Nick and Jennifer Keller had one biological daughter, Brooke, but they wanted more children, and quickly made up their minds. Jennifer, who was adopted as a child herself, said they wanted to adopt kids who needed a home.

It started with two elementary school-aged children, and snowballed soon after. Next came a call about Myah. Eight months later, they heard about Caty. Three weeks later, Wyatt was born. Caty and Wyatt are now 18-months old, while Myah is two-years old.

But this isn't just a family born of adoption. This happy scene is born from a sad reality. Jennifer says all of the children were born with meth in their sytem or meth was used during the pregnancy. The Kellers have found themselves on the front lines helping the littlest victims of the war on drugs.

Nick says they've seen the environments the children came from, and "it would break your heart."

That's why their family has grown so much, so quickly. Wyatt has the same mother as the Keller's first two adopted children. Jennifer says it was important to them to keep him together with his siblings so they could know each other and love each other.

Despite the chaos of life with a trio of toddlers, two school children and a teenager, Nick and Jennifer weren't deterred when the phone rang last fall. It was Myah's mother saying she had no home, was still using drugs, was pregnant again and couldn't keep the baby.

In January, Myah's brother Jett was born and joined the Keller's family. Nick says he now understands how difficult an enemy drugs can be.

"The drug is so powerful that the mothers will choose meth over their family," he said.

Nick and Jennifer admit they were a bit nervous, having heard of problems children born to drug-addicted mothers can have. They say there've been some speech and learning delays, but nothing they can't overcome. Still, they say if more could be done when a pregnant woman is using drugs, you wouldn't take a chance with a child's life.

"Let's save these kids," Jennifer said. "They're being fed the nastiest chemicals, and it's not right. It's abuse."

With a family that's grown from one child to seven in a matter of three years, the Kellers are saving these kids, though they won't put it that way.

"We feel like they've answered our prayers for children," Jennifer said. "They have saved us."

The state is addressing the issue through the Drug Endangered Children Alliance. For more information, call 785-266-8666, or go to the Kansas Meth Prevention Project. If you are a pregnant woman in Shawnee County abusing substances, call 785-250-0716. Elsewhere in Northeast Kansas, call 1-800-281-0029.

Read more on Melissa Brunner's blog.