The eldest of the eight children, 17, has Down syndrome while another child, 11, is hearing-impaired. W.H. is proud that the elder child will be graduating from school next year and the younger can catch the bus to attend school. Her other children pitch in to help around the house, she said.

In October, she took on the challenge of becoming a full-time night student at a business college. "I've had my heart set on going to school for a long time," W.H. said. "I want to get into something where I can care for people, maybe pediatric nursing."

W.H. receives children survivor's benefits and food stamps. She earns extra money by baby-sitting two children in the morning and two others in the afternoons.

W.H. continually talks about the blessings she and her children have rather than focusing on any of the material things they may be lacking, according to her caseworker. "The family's limited income barely meets their basic needs, and extras are often unattainable, making the holiday season especially difficult," the worker said.

A dinette set for six would be something the family could use, W.H. said. Without a regular table, the older members of the family sit on chairs, with plate on lap, while the younger children gather around a coffee table for meals.