Life in the spotlight isn’t exactly a walk in the park, especially when you’re part of a family as large and scrutinized as the Browns from Sister Wives. Maddie Brown Brush has always seemed to have a level head on her shoulders, though. Since she married Caleb Brush back in 2016, fans have watched her transition from a rebellious teenager to a fiercely protective mother of four.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of.
Between the cross-country moves, the health scares, and the arrival of a fourth baby in 2025, the "Maddie Brown kids" saga is way more than just a footnote in a reality TV script. People love to speculate. They see a 15-second Instagram reel and think they know the whole story. But if you really look at how Maddie and Caleb are raising Axel, Evie, Joey, and the newest addition, Emilia, it’s clear they’re doing things differently than the generation that came before them.
The Brush Siblings: Meet the Four Kids
Most fans remember the birth of Axel, but the family has grown significantly since those early days in Las Vegas. Maddie’s household is busy, loud, and seemingly full of the kind of "messy" joy she often talks about on social media.
- Axel James Brush: Born in May 2017. He was the first grandchild of the Brown family and basically became a celebrity the second he arrived.
- Evangalynn "Evie" Kodi Brush: Born in August 2019. She’s the one who really taught the world about the family's resilience.
- Josephine "Joey" Lee Brush: Born in February 2023. She’s the classic "middle" child now, though she’s still very much the baby of the group in many fans' eyes.
- Emilia Estelle Brush: The newest member. She arrived in March 2025, and her name carries a weight that most people might miss if they aren't paying attention.
Emilia was born on March 14, just over a week after the anniversary of the passing of Maddie’s brother, Garrison. The name "Estelle" means star in Latin. It’s a subtle, beautiful tribute to Garrison, who the family lost in 2024. Maddie’s talked about how this "surprise" pregnancy felt like a gift during a really dark year. It’s kinda poetic, isn't it?
What Nobody Tells You About Evie’s FATCO Syndrome
When Evie was born, things weren't exactly "picture perfect" in the traditional sense. Maddie and Caleb found out during a routine ultrasound that something was up, but the full picture didn't emerge until she was actually here.
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Evie was diagnosed with FATCO syndrome. It stands for Fibular Aplasia, Tibial Campomelia, and Oligosyndactyly.
Basically, it means some of the bones in her limbs didn't form right in the womb. She was missing a fibula, had a bowed tibia, and was missing several fingers and toes.
The internet can be a nasty place. Maddie actually admitted she was terrified to share the diagnosis because she didn't want her daughter to be a target for "mean jokes." But she realized that hiding it would be worse. It would make Evie feel like her body was something to be ashamed of.
When Evie turned one, she underwent a Boyd amputation on her foot. This wasn't because the limb was "dead" or "useless"—it was about quality of life. By opting for the amputation and a prosthetic, Evie gained mobility she likely never would have had with a shortened, unstable natural limb. Today, she’s active and thriving, proving that "different" doesn't mean "limited."
Breaking the Cycle of "Parentification"
If you grew up watching Sister Wives, you know the older kids did a lot of the heavy lifting. Logan and Maddie were basically mini-parents by the time they were ten.
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Maddie has been incredibly vocal lately—especially on her podcast—about how she’s parenting differently. She recently mentioned that she was changing diapers and making dinner for the whole crew at age seven. She doesn't want that for Axel.
Axel is seven now. He’s never changed a diaper.
Maddie is adamant that her kids shouldn't be responsible for the children she chose to have. It’s a huge shift from the "all hands on deck" polygamous culture she was raised in. She loves her family, but she’s setting boundaries that ensure her kids actually get to be kids.
Life on Taeda Farms
The family recently moved to North Carolina, and they aren't just living in the suburbs. They’re building a life on a flower farm called Taeda Farms with Maddie’s mom, Janelle.
It’s not all sunflowers and sunshine, though. Starting a business from scratch while raising four kids—one with medical needs—is exhausting. Janelle and Maddie have been sharing the "not so glamorous" side of it: the mud, the permits, the failed crops, and the sweat.
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But for the kids, it seems like a dream. They have space to run. They have their "Oma" (Janelle) right next door. After years of the chaos of the Brown family's "move every two years" lifestyle, it feels like the Brush kids are finally getting some permanent roots.
What You Can Learn from Maddie’s Parenting Style
Whether you’re a fan of the show or just stumbled onto her story, there are some pretty solid takeaways from how Maddie handles the spotlight:
- Advocate early: She didn't wait for the world to "find out" about Evie's limb differences. She took control of the narrative and educated her followers, which turned a potential negative into a massive awareness campaign.
- Boundaries matter: Even if you have a great relationship with your parents, you don't have to parent the same way they did. Breaking "generational trauma" is a buzzword, but Maddie is actually doing it by letting Axel just be a big brother, not a babysitter.
- Find your "Why": The move to North Carolina and the start of Taeda Farms wasn't just about money. It was about creating a lifestyle where the family could be together and connected to the land.
The "Maddie Brown kids" are growing up fast. From Axel’s first steps on TV to Emilia’s birth in 2025, the journey has been anything but quiet. But through the medical hurdles and the family drama, Maddie and Caleb have managed to keep their kids grounded. They’re not just "reality TV kids"—they’re a tight-knit group of siblings finding their way in a very normal, albeit slightly public, world.
If you’re following the family’s journey, keep an eye on Taeda Farms. That’s where the real story is happening now—not on a TV set, but in the North Carolina dirt where those four kids are learning what it means to grow up with a truly solid foundation.