Original subtitles

[children] Previously, on Doubling Down with the Derricos,

Diez and Dior will be starting kindergarten,

so they're gonna be home-schooled.

I don't know where in the world we're gonna create this space for them,

but just know one will be created.

Diez got it!

[both imitating explosion]

[GG] Hello, Detroit!

Okay, wait, now, hey y'all. That's where poppy and mommy met, right there.

[Karen] Wow!

-[GG] Hey! -How you doing?

Hey, grandma.

I feel like meeting Amani is God's way of giving me a new purpose to my life.

I feel like meeting Amani is God's way of giving me a new purpose to my life.

Just know that you would've been a real blessing to him.

-[GG] Okay? -[Amani] Okay.

So how is everything going?

Doctor wants me to start on chemo when I get back home.

The thought of it just something that I just don't even wanna think about.

All my life, I've always considered myself

kind of healthy and, you know, to get to this is like...

[sighs]

-[both crying] -[Deon] Yeah.

It's y'all first day of school.

What grade are you in?

-Thursday? -[Diez] Yeah!

Oh yeah, that's why y'all are going to school!

You in kindergarten.

Oh.

Oh.

-[Karen] You excited, Dallas? Starting the big fifth grade? -Yes.

-Everybody getting ready for school up there? -Yes.

-Everything is just yes? -Yes.

[Karen] Y'all come on!

So we just got back from the D.

I learned how to say, "What up doe?"

[laughs]

It was a lot of fun. Especially meeting Amani.

You ready for the first day of your junior year?

But now we're back in the real world,

and there is a lot that we need to do.

Headphones on!

I wanna make sure everyone is logged in, okay?

I wanna make sure everyone is logged in, okay?

I see Dariz is already over there, locked and loaded.

-Do you need any help? -Please go up there with the triplets,

-just keep them occupied. -All right.

Triplins, let's get to your desk!

[Karen] It's the first day of school,

and Diez and Dior are starting kindergarten,

so my 14 children are all over the place.

Sit right there, Diez and Dior. I'm coming.

-[Diez] Okay! -[Dior] Okay!

It's not like I have a whole lot of space to say,

"You go there, you go work there, you go do that."

Every ounce of space in this house is taken.

Every ounce of space in this house is taken.

[both exclaiming]

-Aw, shoot! -What's wrong, mommy?

Mommy's got a few orders that came in.

And then, I have my clothing line that I'm dealing with.

So all of that has just sent my stress level way up here.

[sighs] Jesus Christ, help me today.

[Deon] Are you all gonna be good in school today?

-I don't want any phone calls from your teacher! -[Diez] Okay!

[Deon] All right. So I'll be running to GG's if you need me.

Okay.

Later this week I'm taking GG to her first chemo session,

Later this week I'm taking GG to her first chemo session,

and we're both stressing out about it.

The last time GG did traditional chemo,

it gave her a rough time.

But we both understand that if she wants to get better,

this is her best option right now.

Of course, I'll be by her side the entire time.

-All right, baby. So you good? -I'm good. Thank you.

-You're Mr. Derrico? -[Deon] You sure?

-[Karen] We're good. -All right, now, I'm just a phone call away.

-Yeah! -Mommy got this.

[Karen] Yes. He's ready to learn.

Uh-huh!

So boys, what is y'all's favorite subject in school?

-Recess. -Recess.

Recess? What y'all know about recess?

What do you know about recess?

Recess!

Daiten is over there sleeping, she, she... That's exactly how I feel right now.

[Deon] You feel like getting you some sleep?

Yes, I really do, but I'm on to the next task.

Yes, I really do, but I'm on to the next task.

What's the next task?

Birthday! How old do y'all be?

-Nine. -Nine.

[Deon] Nine? That's so deep.

Where does the time go?

-It just seems like we came home with y'all. -It does.

I mean, all of my children are miracles,

every last one of them,

but when you look at the statistics of quintuplets,

only, like, maybe ten sets a year is born

in the world.

-Hi, Dariz. -Hi, mommy.

-[Karen] Hi, Deonee. -Hi.

-[Karen] Hi, Daician. -Hi.

Hi, Deni.

Deniko, what are you doing?

To know the obstacles that we had to overcome,

think about one baby crying throughout the night.

We got five!

This girl would have a baby on each breast,

and patting the other one who just got through breastfeeding,

getting ready to get prepare the other one who is getting ready to go on that other two.

-We were a production. -Oh, gosh!

[Karen] And I had little charts and labels, and...

[Deon] And she had a system. This baby defecated. This baby didn't defecate.

[Deon] And she had a system. This baby defecated. This baby didn't defecate.

This baby is due for this bottle at this time.

-This baby needs that medicine. - [Karen] This one's

- gonna be breast fed. - [Deon] It was Karen and I doing that every single day,

-but we did it. -Yeah.

And when I look back on it now,

it's amazing to know we did it.

We found our niche, and God said, "Y'all got this."

[Karen] And a lot of people just don't understand

that blessing, it... That's not a task taken lightly.

You know that's...

-That's pretty significant. -Yes.

-That's pretty significant. -Yes.

So what do y'all wanna do for y'all birthday?

-I wanna get my nails done. I wanna get my makeup done. -I want to go shopping.

-That's boring! -[Daician] Shopping, I want to go shopping.

-[sarcastically] Shopping. -[Karen] Oh, she got a whole list.

-[Deon] Yeah, she had a list. -[Karen] Shopping?

I wanna go... I wanna get shoes!

[all yelling at once]

Boring!

[Deon] All right, so wait, what do the boys want to get?

-I wanna do football or flag. -I wanna do football.

[Deonee] I don't wanna play with football.

They sweat and I don't feel like sweating.

And do it on the dirt and stuff.

I wanna to, personally, just shop.

I wanna to, personally, just shop.

And do all that other stuff.

And you got that from mommy's side of the family, right? The shopping.

Yes.

[Deon laughs]

Nails done, flag football.

And then I want them to get their nails done.

You want them to get their nails done?

That's too girly!

-So first of all, let's be clear. -[Karen] Let's be clear.

I wanna educate you all.

Men can, and they do, get their hands done, and their feet.

-[Daician] Mmm-hmm! -And believe it or not, poppy used to.

I just got too busy having children.

Well, you don't gotta get no... Poppy didn't get no color. I got clear.

-I'm really shocked because... -Yeah.

...poppy used to get his nails done, but clear nails.

[Dariz] If he does his nails then with paint?

-Oh, heck no. -Oh, my gosh.

It's that polish. Oh, no. It take you to a different level.

[Deon] How are we gonna do this?

Like, they've gone all their lives, doing everything together.

Now, all of a sudden, "I'm just, deuces, I wanna do my own thing!"

This is what we're going to do!

Drumroll, please.

We are all gonna go and do some flag football.

[all yelling]

And then we're gonna go get our nails done.

-[exclaiming] -[Dariz] But mommy, that's girl stuff!

[Karen] We're going to get groomed.

-Boo! -That stinks.

And then we'll also have another birthday celebration,

that mommy and poppy decide for all five of y'all to be in.

[Karen] We've never experienced this.

[Karen] We've never experienced this.

You know, Darian a singleton. Derrick a singleton.

-And the twins are both boys, so those are pretty easy. -Mmm-hmm.

[Karen] But the quints? This is just the beginning.

We haven't gotten to the level of individual requests.

That's gonna be the big one.

Yeah, so everybody good?

-Yes. -Yes.

-Boys rule. -Boys rule.

-Boys drool. -Boys drool.

[all laughing]

We are in here in GG's house, it's 10:30 at night.

You can see behind me, there was substantial water damage.

GG and Eric, who were in my house,

and apparently the master bedroom bathroom,

um, toilets do a pipe bust.

And it was like that for several hours before GG and Eric returned home.

And it was like that for several hours before GG and Eric returned home.

Literally water everywhere.

Say what, baby?

Yeah, it's just total, total destruction. Look at that.

I mean, it's a mess in here.

You know, understand, I've been doing real estate for a lot of years.

I've seen a lot happen.

But, there's always that, "Yeah, I've never experienced this before."

This is that one that I'd never experienced.

Look at all that water that basically ran down.

Look at all that water that basically ran down.

This is so bad, that I had to put GG up in a hotel room for the night.

She has to start chemo in a few days,

and at a time like this,

she should be stress free and relaxed.

Not worried about where she's gonna live.

So this is a big problem.

It's just an absolute mess. That's Dallas right there.

Thank God for my babies. Thank God for my babies.

Okay.

[Karen] Let's go get nice and groomed!

I'm so glad she's cutting these toes on him.

I'm so glad she's cutting these toes on him.

Ooh, girl, yes.

[laughing]

It stinks!

[GG] When I saw the house, it was a lot of damage.

We are gonna have to clean you and Eric's rooms out.

You can come and stay with us.

Oh, no.

You can't stay here.

Hey. Hey, quints, y'all good?

-Yes! -Yes!

[Karen] Okay.

[Darian] So this is the second day of home school,

and traditional school was great for the social aspect,

but as far as the environment, it wasn't right for me.

and I didn't feel comfortable,

and so I really do think it was best for me to be home schooled.

But it's really hard not seeing anyone that's my age.

And my siblings, because they're so close in age,

it's easier for them to connect.

it's easier for them to connect.

Where, but whereas me, I'm a teenager

and I'm the only teenager in the house,

so it's hard for me to connect with my nine-year-old siblings.

-Say, "D". -D.

But I don't want to go to my parents and burden them

because it's just a lot of chaos going on around the house,

and I feel like it would be wrong of me to add something else to their plate.

And so I think it's easier if I just stick the rest of this year out,

and in the meantime, find ways to branch out and meet different people.

[Dariz] It's stinks!

[Deon] Oh, yeah.

-[Dariz] This is disgusting! -[Deon] That moisture.

-[Dariz] Smells like sweat. -Smells like water.

[Dariz] Sweat.

This is disgusting!

Last night there was a horrible flood at GG's house,

and today I'm bringing her back,

just so she can see what the insurance adjuster determined needs to be fixed.

So everywhere you see tape, it's gonna get gutted out.

So everywhere you see tape, it's gonna get gutted out.

-[GG] What? -[Eric] Yep.

-That's all this, then. -Yeah.

[Eric] One little toilet did all this.

-[Deon] This is gonna be a daunting task. -[GG sighs]

I have contacted the insurance company,

and then we have the water mitigation people.

So what their job is to do, is to come out,

assess every piece of the furniture that's damaged,

because all of this has gotta come out in order for them to get to the walls.

So, mom, you can't stay here.

I don't really like the thought of having to leave.

I was thinking, I mean, I know, you know we're already tight,

but you and Eric could come and stay with us.

[GG] Oh, no. No.

[Deon] You're about to start your treatments.

You do not need to be in this house.

-[Dariz] Yes, GG, please, you can make us eggs! -No.

[sighs]

It's not really a good feeling knowing I'm getting ready to get pushed out of this house

'cause I don't know what this traditional chemo is gonna consist of.

The thought of it is...

Just leaves me feeling shaky.

Just leaves me feeling shaky.

[Deon] Think about it. Everything gotta be repaired.

This is gonna be gutted out. So all of this stuff has to be replaced.

I mean, this is a big project.

All right. All right. Okay, I'll come.

Yeah, I still hate leaving my house,

but I mean, they're gonna have to come in here

and tear down walls and stuff.

And there's gonna be more stuff

flying around through here,

and stuff that I don't need to be inhaling.

The timing is horrible.

The timing is horrible.

But you gotta do what you gotta do,

and this is something apparently I'm just gonna have to do.

So, GG, you may want to go in and start packing your room up.

Okay. I'm gonna need help though.

Well, that's why you have these grandchildren.

-Come on, boys. -That's why you have these grand boys.

-[GG] Come on, guys. -Get 'em to work!

All right, so we have 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,

12, 13...

Wait, how am I off?

-1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10... -8, 9, 10, 11, 12,

-13, 14. -[Deon] ...11, 12 13, 14.

-I don't know what I'm doing. -[Karen] It's 14.

[Deon] I'm gonna count y'all, as y'all go in.

So we're here today to play some football,

for Dariz and Deniko's portion of the quintuplet birthday.

This is the first of three.

Are you guys all one family?

Are you guys all one family?

-Yes. -Yes.

Wow. Amazing. I struggle with one.

[Deon] So girls, what you all thinking? Y'all gonna play?

Um, I might just play.

I'm just gonna play.

-So y'all gonna play? -Yeah.

[all cheering]

[Deon] So everyone is playing!

But if I get hot, I'm done!

I think about football, it's just like a boy thing.

You get so sweaty and all gross, sticky and stuff.

And we have to do that!

Green Machine versus Neon Deon, baby!

-[Deon] Come on, Neon Deon! -[all shouting]

-[Deon] Come on, Neon Deon! -[all shouting]

[Deon] Let's start this game!

We are the cheerleaders, over here!

-[Darian] I wanna catch the ball. -[Deon] Yes, exactly.

And then what do I do if I catch it?

[Deon] Run crazy to that way.

[Daniel] If you catch it, you run till they pull your flag.

We've always raised our children to be open-minded and to try new things,

even if it's something that they didn't know that they can try.

even if it's something that they didn't know that they can try.

We want them to know, "Hey, the sky is the limit. Go for it."

-[Daniel] Ready? -[Deon] Let's go, team!

[Daniel] Hut!

[Eric] He hiked it!

One, Mississippi. Two, Mississippi. Three, Mississippi.

[all exclaiming]

[Darian] Wait, what do I do? What do I do?

-What do I do? -[Eric] Over here! Over here!

[all exclaiming]

[Deon] Come on, Neon Deon team!

-[Karen] Go for it! -[Deon] Get it!

-[Karen] Go for it! -[Deon] Get it!

[cheering]

-Neon Deon team! -Dacian!

[Karen] Look at the score! Look at the score board!

[Deon] Watch out! One, one!

When I was growing up, I was on band, I was a cheerleader.

[Deon] But you didn't play football.

I didn't do anything with a ball.

[both laugh]

[Daniel] Ready? Let's play!

[Eric] One Mississippi. Two Mississippi.

-Three Mississippi... -[Deon] Run forward, forward!

[all exclaiming]

[Daniel] Interception and touchdown!

[Daniel] Interception and touchdown!

I think it's very neat, you know, in this day and age,

that if girls want to play in a sport,

run for president, we can do more.

We're not just made to be barefoot and pregnant all the time.

And I can say that, because I lead the pack.

[both laugh]

[buzzer sounds]

-Yeah! -[cheering]

-Eric, we win? -We won.

That's all right, that's okay, mommy loves you anyway! Whoo!

It was fun after all. But when we start getting those scores,

It was fun after all. But when we start getting those scores,

it was fun, but when we start...

Well, well, them two lost. I won.

So, girls. Tell the truth, did y'all enjoy yourself?

-Yes. -Yes.

I appreciate y'all being open to trying.

-[scoffs] That's so ugh. -Yeah, but we have to do it. We made a promise.

-It's disgusting. -Disgusting!

-Good game. -[Eric] Good game, lil' D. Good game, Deonee.

-Good game. -[Eric] Good game, lil' D. Good game, Deonee.

Deonee, the truth.

[Deon] First of all, you know we're not actually in bed?

-This is just our dry run. -I know.

We can go to bed holding hands,

and don't have to have neither one of our hands fall asleep.

[laughs]

[sighs]

[GG] Hello?

-[Deon] Hello. -Hey, Ma.

Why are y'all down here on the couch?

Because we're just doing a test run.

-Ma, we're giving you our bedroom. -[Karen] Yes!

-Ma, we're giving you our bedroom. -[Karen] Yes!

Yes, ma.

-[Deon] You thought you was gonna sleep right here? -Yes!

-[Deon] No. -[Karen] No.

Because of the chemo, Derrico's insisting that I stay with them,

and he don't want to accept no for an answer.

And I love him for that.

I just never like being a burden,

to nothing and nobody, not even my children,

not my family at all.

-[Karen] You have fresh, laundered sheets. -I appreciate it.

This is what family is supposed to do.

This is what family is supposed to do.

Y'all just stop fussing over me. That's what you're doing.

[Deon] How could we not, Ma?

-It's a cycle. -[Karen] You raised him, to take care of you.

-Hey, babies. -Hi, GG.

-[Deon] Yeah. -[Karen] Yeah. Y'all happy to have GG here?

[all exclaiming] Yes!

We sure can. We can do one now.

[Deon] Oh, say a prayer, yes.

When times are hard, and when times are good, prayer is the key.

It helps us to remain strong

and it definitely keep us tied together.

and it definitely keep us tied together.

But Daician, I don't know, she has an extra little knack for it.

-[Daician] Our father... -[all] Our father...

[Daician] ...who art in heaven...

[all] ...who art in heaven...

[Daician] ...hallowed, be our name...

-[Deon] Hallowed... -Hallowed be our name.

[GG] And the prayers, that's what's going to get me through the chemo,

and I believe that.

-[Daician] God bless Dallas. -[all] God bless Dallas.

-[Daician] God bless Denver. -[all] God bless Denver.

[GG] I have an amazing support group.

[Daician] Please make GG feel good and healthy.

[all] Please make GG feel good and healthy.

And I think that's another thing that causes a lot of emotion for me.

And I think that's another thing that causes a lot of emotion for me.

To see it now, it's like, wow, I never really knew

that it was as strong and powerful as it is.

[Daician] In Jesus's mighty name...

[all] In Jesus's mighty name...

-[Daician] ...amen. -[all] ...amen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[nurse] Take a deep breath, and hold it. One, two, three. There you go.

I want every child they got to remember me,

and the only way they're gonna do that is I'm here.

I've got some kids I need to see grow up.

-[Deon] Yeah. You got this. -[GG] Yeah.

[Karen] Let's go get nice and groomed.

[Dariz scoffs]

-Hi! -Hi. The Derricos, for seven?

[receptionist] All right.

We're here at the nail salon today for the girls' portion

-of the quint's birthday... -[laughing]

[Deon] ...and neither Dariz nor Deniko

-want anything to do with their nails getting done. - [Karen] Mmm-mmm. [laughs]

-So I'm hoping that they'll come around... -I hope so.

...and get a chance to show their support for their sisters.

...and get a chance to show their support for their sisters.

[Karen] Boys, are y'all still going to get y'all a pedicure?

No.

[Deon] Poppy's getting his done.

-Deniko, try it. -Yes.

-Just try it. -You'll enjoy it.

-She needs to know so mommy knows as far as how to pay. -[Karen] Yes.

-[Karen] Well, poppy's paying. -I guess so.

-I'll try it. -[Deon] You said you guess so?

-I guess so. -[Deon] Yeah, just try it.

-[Karen] Just try it. -[Deon] They said I guess so.

Yes, so it'll be three pedicures.

And then four nails.

Today we get to do what we want for our birthday.

Do you want to go to that one?

I'll just sit right here.

You're just gonna sit right here, Dariz.

[Deon] Right here, okay.

[Dariz sighs]

They're getting a nice, lovely, just polish.

[Karen] Yes, if y'all want it, get it.

Yes!

Yes!

I have 14. They're just 5 of 14.

I have 14.

[Karen] Yeah. Yes.

Baby, I'm so glad she's cutting his toes on him.

-Ooh, girl, yes! -[Deniko] Dariz...

Who cares?

Oh, that's so cute. Look at that, Daician!

I love your nails from what I see here.

I love your nails from what I see here.

Poppy needs this. Happy birthday, quintuplets.

I think you're enjoying their birthday more than they are.

It almost feels like it's my birthday.

My desire to have clean hands and clean feet

and just overall hygiene,

it definitely stems from how GG raised me.

And I believe it has everything to do with his Derrico OCD,

and mind you, I really do love it,

because if he wasn't, he would not be

sitting next to me on this couch right now.

Let's just be clear.

Let's just be clear.

-[Deniko laughs] It tickles. -How does it feel?

-It tickle? -Yes.

Boys, are you guys glad you guys are getting this done?

-Yeah. -Yes.

Thought you guys said,

"Oh no, I don't want to get my nails."

[Deon] Grooming is very important.

So I don't want y'all to necessarily make it a woman's thing.

-Men and women need to properly groom, right? -[Deniko] Yes.

-And, plus, you're enjoying it! -[Karen] Yes!

-Yeah, see, you're being pampered. -[Karen] Yes!

I wasn't surprised that the quint boys enjoyed their pedicure.

Had they went and gotten a manicure,

I think it would have been more fixated on that.

But their feet? They never saw that coming.

I mean, they in the chair, and they just...

[both sigh]

[Karen] I'm excited that they got to try something, love it.

[Karen] I'm excited that they got to try something, love it.

They were like, "Hold on. We haven't been getting this all this time?

Oh yeah, we gotta get this more often."

-Yeah. -[sighs]

So on a scale of one to ten, how do you feel right now?

-100. -We can do this anytime!

[laughs]

[sighing]

I don't wanna, I don't really wanna do school because,

like, you gotta go a long way to school and like, you go all the way to what grade?

I think we go...

After we're 12?

We go to college?

The age of 12?

Oh, I know what you're saying.

-[laughing] -When we pass the grade 12, we go to college.

When we go past the 12th grade, how old are we going to be?

[all gasp]

[all exclaim]

We're gonna be so growned up.

[GG] I don't look forward to traditional chemo.

When I took it the first time in 2014,

it was just so rough on me.

But now, it's just a different ballgame.

I want every child they got to remember me.

[nurse] Take a deep breath and hold it. One, two, three. There you go.

[nurse] Take a deep breath and hold it. One, two, three. There you go.

And the only way they going to do that is I'm here.

[Dr. Parikh] How was your trip?

-[GG] Great. -[Deon] Oh, it was beautiful.

-[Dr. Parikh] Did all the kids go too? -Yeah.

-Oh, wow. -[Deon] All 18 of us!

-Wow! -[Deon] Yes.

Oh my god. That's... I just can't even fathom that.

[Deon laughs]

I'm glad that was a good experience for you. I think we need to lead...

-[GG] Yeah. -[Deon] It was. She needed it.

...as normal lives as we can going through all this, right?

-[GG] Yeah. -[Deon] Yes.

[GG] The results of this last scan was that

the tumor was smaller than it was in April,

the tumor was smaller than it was in April,

but larger than it was in July.

So, the fact that it didn't continue to shrink,

he suggested,

uh, traditional chemo, so here I am.

Remember when we talked about side effects, right?

You're going to get a bit more tired.

And I know you're already tired.

I'm not trying to do it to you on purpose, it's just that...

[GG] I know.

...I just can't avoid that side effect.

Dr. Parikh, trust me. If I didn't trust you...

Dr. Parikh, trust me. If I didn't trust you...

-[Dr. Parikh] Yes. -...I promise you, I wouldn't be sitting here.

We will see you in three weeks for number two.

-Okay? And we'll go from there. -Okay.

Dr. Parikh is telling me about the side effects that I'll probably experience

with this traditional chemo and I think that's one of the reasons why

I didn't wanna take traditional anymore.

[Deon speaking]

Between getting the treatments I have to go for lab work to make sure blood counts

is where they should be, all my levels are right.

I may leave in an hour and they call me,

"Oh, you gotta go back and take this and get that." And, hey, I go, I do it.

One thing for sure.

This is going to eliminate anything that should not be there.

This is going to eliminate anything that should not be there.

-I'm speaking it into existence. -Speak it.

-Like they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. -Makes you stronger.

[laughing] Yeah.

I wanna be here, so, I got some kids I need to see grow up.

-[Deon] Yeah. You got this. -[GG] Yeah.

We are wrapping up our first full week of school,

and I must say

that it did not go originally as smooth as I hoped.

Okay, listen, we gotta get ready for school, y'all.

Come on. Stop playing. Stop. Let's go. Laptops.

You know, 11 children in school,

You know, 11 children in school,

fulfilling orders for my business,

three children running around in pull-ups.

Yeah, it's definitely been a lot.

Deonee, what are you doing back up here?

[Karen] Say what?

Hurry up!

Derrick, chop, chop. We gotta go.

But now, with GG's house flooding,

it's just got a lot worse,

and now we're all just trying to find our way of coping with it.

This is mommy's chocolate. Everything in this house is labeled.

Derrico hates labels. I think it messes with his...

Derrico hates labels. I think it messes with his...

...OCD, I don't give a care.

I want everybody to know, in case he goes in there,

don't touch my chocolate.

It's like when I need that moment to just take a break,

this is what I do. I come in the laundry room.

[laughs]

And I eat my hidden stash of chocolate.

Mmm.

Like, this is the first time that the triplins

have actually been obligated to, you know, adhere to a school schedule,

have actually been obligated to, you know, adhere to a school schedule,

and I gotta remember they're five, but it's like, oh my gosh.

No, stay out!

Look, give mommy a minute.

-Okay? -[child speaking]

Just five minutes.

I wish it had a lock on it.

I don't want to burden Derrico with my whole balancing act.

He's got a lot on his plate.

You know, taking GG to the doctor's appointments,

his business.

It's just, those things are enough.

It's just, those things are enough.

I can figure this out, and I will figure it out.

Having...

...14 children and with all I have going on...

...I feel, like, the pressure of,

no, this is what I asked for and so

they're my responsibilities,

but I don't know how this is gonna go.

The one thing I don't have to ask help for is eating my chocolate.

I've mastered that.

Uh-oh! This is what we have for the quints!

-[all exclaiming] -Oh my gosh!

[all exclaiming]

[Karen] Y'all ready to have some fun?

-Yeah! -Yeah!

[Karen] All right!

[Deon] We wanted to do something really special for the quint's birthday today

that the entire family can participate in.

With a family of 14 children, that can be rough,

but this place has something for everyone.

-[exclaiming] -No! No! No! No!

-[exclaiming] -No! No! No! No!

-This is too big for you. This is for bigger children. -[Karen] Yeah.

[exclaiming]

-[Karen] Is GG coming? -[Deon] Yeah, she's supposed to have been here.

[Karen] She is?

[Deon] Uh-huh.

GG was feeling okay after her treatments the other day,

and she was really looking forward to joining us,

but I know she had to get some blood work done today,

and I'm thinking that that's why she's running a little late.

I made it!

[Deon] Look at our babies, how they're playing, baby.

[Karen] Yes, look at them.

[Karen] Yes, look at them.

I think we're doing a great job getting past that gender division.

Yeah, and I'm so glad that they're just open to trying each other's activity,

and we still got to have the party we wanted,

-you know, with both of them. -[Deon] Yeah.

[all exclaiming]

[Karen] Oh, look at this! So what do you all want?

-[Daician] Popcorn. -[Deonee] Popcorn!

It can be very challenging ordering for a family of 16.

We'll take two cheese pizzas.

We'll take two cheese pizzas.

[Deon] Oh, right, Dallas don't like cheese!

This one likes a salad but no dressing.

-This one likes the dressing but no salad. -[laughs]

This one takes both, but they've gotta be chopped up.

Seven popcorn. I know that this sounds crazy, but they want popcorn.

Okay, so she'll take popcorn, French fries, and mozzarella sticks.

There's someone in the group of us that is not gonna like what we're eating.

It's like, you know, children!

All right, so I think that's it though.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

[Deon] All right, babies!

[Deon] All right, babies!

[Darian] When mommy first had the quints,

I thought everybody had quintuplets.

Like, everybody has five babies, and mom was like,

"No, this is, like, a once in a lifetime thing."

I was like, "Oh."

-I wish there was a hotel here. -Why?

So we could just stay here all night, and then when we wake up we can just play!

-[Dariz] Exactly. -[Deon laughs]

Daician is very witty.

She has clap backs for days. She knows what to say.

After we're done, we will eat,

then go back to playing.

[Darian] We used to call Daiten a stump, because she had no neck,

[Darian] We used to call Daiten a stump, because she had no neck,

a meatball head, baby body.

Nine is fine!

-But look, one birthday party next year, deal? -[all] Yes!

-Yes! -Yes!

[Darian] Deniko was always very smiley, like to this day, of course.

Deniko is very loyal.

No matter what you've done to him, he's going to stick up for you.

I'm ready to eat!

[Darian] Dariz is always goofy and silly.

He would literally go under the crib and defecate under the crib.

And it was so funny, because when you caught him,

his eyes would be like...

"I'm not doing anything."

"I'm not doing anything."

-Hi guys. I hope you're hungry! -[all exclaiming]

[Deon] We are ready. Oh my gosh!

[Darian] Deonee is very prissy, like a diva.

Like, she just... she has to look good all the time.

Y'all made mommy and poppy work this year.

-[Diez] Happy birthday, quints. -Happy birthday, quints!

-Happy birthday, quints. -Happy birthday, quints!

[both exclaiming]

[cell phone beeps]

This is GG telling me to come find her.

This is GG telling me to come find her.

-So she here? -Yeah, she said she's here.

Okay, well, go ahead. I got them.

Look, babies!

[exclaiming]

[Karen] Oh, you're taking the balls out. Let's put the balls back in.

Ma, so what is it?

Is it something I don't know?

-So, this morning I went for labs... -[Deon] Yeah.

And, um...

...yeah, my white blood cells are low,

and they said they're very low, that I could, um.

catch an infection real easily...

...and I need to stay out of crowds.

Because of the side effects from the chemo,

the white blood cells are low,

and white blood cells are the thing that keeps us

from catching infections and what not.

But when it's low, there's no fight,

But when it's low, there's no fight,

and that can be dangerous.

But you... You feel good?

It's not just the physical fight,

it's the mental fight, it's the emotional fight.

I can only fight so much.

-[Deon whispers inaudibly] -Yeah.

Yep.

Yep.

I'm going to be a absolute wreck

if anything happens to my mother,

but I absolutely have to put on a brave face for her,

and I absolutely have to put on a brave face for my children,

because my children have an emotional connection to my mother.

You know you are a strong woman

in spite of how you feel right this second.

[GG] Well, right this second, I feel horrible.

The worst of it is, I'm messing up their birthday.

The worst of it is, I'm messing up their birthday.

-You're not messing up, Ma! -[GG] Yeah!

You're not messing up their birthday,

you're not messing up their birthday.

Let 'em know I gotta go, and I gotta clean up my face

'cause I don't want them to see me.

[Deon whispers inaudibly]

Yeah.

Just knowing that, you know, with her white blood cells being so low,

that a simple cold could really make her sick,

it makes me angry at cancer.

I'm gonna walk you out to your car.

I'm gonna walk you out to your car.

She can't be around people. She can't technically be around us.

It's just, I keep saying to her, "Ma, it's okay, you gonna through this."

But hell, I'm even thinking, like, what now?

But I have to let her see the strength.

You know, sometimes it's hard because sometimes I don't feel the strength,

I feel weak also.

But I have to let her see the strength...

...because I have to help keep ma together.

-[knocking on door] -[GG] Come on.

-Hey, dear. -Hey, mommy.

I'm not gonna come over there.

I want to stay my distance from you.

Okay. Well, I can put my mask on if you'd like.

-No, I don't want you putting your mask on. -[GG] Oh, yeah.

-How you feel? -[GG] I feel okay.

How did the party go?

Oh, mom, they had a ball.

-They did? -Yes. I just told them that you, you um,

you were a little tired and sleepy and you came on home.

[GG] Mmm-hmm.

I get that feeling from you, you've been thinking.

Yeah. I mean, hear me out.

You know, there's the kids,

got you and Karen sleeping on the couch.

I think I need to move out.

It is gonna be hard for me to live in this house

It is gonna be hard for me to live in this house

with it being so many people here,

and I have this low blood count,

and potentially, I could get sick from somebody.

[Deon] GG is the matriarch of our family,

and she has always taken absolutely the best care of me.

So I want my mother here with us.

Now is my time to take care of her.

So, Ma, where are you gonna go?

You can't go back home.

That house is still not ready.

You can't go to a hotel. There's people in and out of there.

You can't go to a hotel. There's people in and out of there.

Where are you gonna go?

I can find me a place. I can move Eric in with me.

Eric don't mind, you know, taking care of me.

I just feel like as family, we are supposed to stick together.

You're not supposed to be away from us.

I know that y'all are here for me,

and I love the fact that y'all are here for me,

but in the same token, there's still some things

that I need to do to kinda help this process along.

that I need to do to kinda help this process along.

And one of those is to kinda get myself

in a stress free environment.

Not to say anybody here stresses me out,

but the situation itself is stressful.

Going through the different challenges that I am,

and then having to be isolated from everybody,

That's not a good situation.

It's just not comfortable.

It's just not comfortable.

And I have too much time on my hand,

to fill in blanks in my head that I don't need to fill in.

You know what I mean?

Staying in this room is like,

you know, I ain't never been one to just like

-to lay around, period. -[Deon] I know.

And then, being enclosed in one spot,

it's like,

it could challenge my sanity.

See, I'm resting. My body is resting now, but my mind is not resting.

See, I'm resting. My body is resting now, but my mind is not resting.

And I need... I need a total rest.

[GG] Cancer feeds on stress.

I can't get the solitude that I need, and I'm just not comfortable.

I need to go. I know he's not gonna like it,

but that's okay.

I got to now do what's good for me.

[Deon sighs heavily]

What you thinking?

I mean, I hear you.

And I have given a lot of thought to how it has to be for you,

being up in this room feeling, I guess, imprisoned, for lack of a better word.

Yeah.

So, I mean, you... I mean, this is just...

Well, that's kinda how I've been feeling.

I hate it...

-[GG] I know you hate it. -...but I understand.

It does make it easier for me, knowing that

once I find her a place, Eric will be there with her,

once I find her a place, Eric will be there with her,

and of course she'll come back when she can.

But I still hate the thought of her leaving. I really do.

This is one of those times I need a hug.

[GG] Come and get a hug.

Don't cry.

[Deon] I'm okay. Love you.

Hi!

Hi!

[Karen] Next time, on Doubling Down with the Derricos,

I thought it would be a good idea if I got a job.

I like that, I guess.

It's not easy to make friends when you're home schooled.

So I want this job, I want this extra money,

and I want this independence.

[exclaims] Oh, well...

[Darian] What was that?

I feel like this is my first and last day of work. [sighs]

Well, that's embarrassing.

[Deon] Remember Tiffany?

She donated her donor tissue and that's how we were able to save Dawsyn.

We have stayed really close to Dawsyn's donor family over the years.

We have stayed really close to Dawsyn's donor family over the years.

Financially, it is a struggle.

-We'll be calling y'all soon. -Yeah.

We really and truly want to show them just how much we love them,

so we would like to do a fundraiser.

No, Dawsyn, don't put that in your mouth, baby.

So I'm at the chemo with GG to support her.

Just the mere thought of another treatment,

it's got me disturbed,

so it's like, do I go through with this next treatment

so it's like, do I go through with this next treatment

or not?

My mother is not a quitter. So it is scary to hear her talk about giving up.