Wednesday's Child - A family for Nick

(WTNH) - A Connecticut family got not one, but two chances to impact a child in need.

Three year old Nick Mathias is still growing into his golf swing, and his clubs for that matter. But there's no question he's grown into his family and it's an unusual story how he got here.

The Mathiases first met Nick when he was three weeks old and just four pounds. They learned how to care for a low birth weight baby and agreed to take him home as a foster child but then his grandmother came forward.

"He went home with his grandmother and with his siblings," said Nick's adopted mother, Kim Mathias.

Three months later, the Mathiases got a call from DCF.

"Uh, Kim, we have a baby for you, and in fact it's the same baby, because unfortunately the grandmother was unable to continue," Kim recalled.

What started as an open-ended stay as a foster child, turned into an adoption for the Mathias family this year.

Their DCF social worker, Elizabeth Adzenyah, says it was a no-brainer.

"Nicholas has thrived in their home. They've been able to provide structure, love, and nurturing, and he's been able to blossom in their care," Adzenyah said.

He even got an understanding big sister out of the deal who is willing to indulge Nick's new obsession with golf. Nicole says she doesn't mind sharing the backyard or Mom and Dad.

"My Mom said when we adopted Nick, she loved me even more because she got to love me as a daughter. But she also got to see me as a big sister to my little brother, so she loved me as a sister too," Nicole said.

But the uncertainty of fostering such a young child prompted a lot of questions from friends and neighbors.

"How do you not fall in love with these kids? And of course, the answer is you do. And you should. And that's what they need. That's what all kids need," said Mark Mathias.

Mark says they were prepared to do that for Nick, for however short or long the situation allowed. In this case, it turns out, it's for the rest of his life.