Starting a family can be so rewarding, but it’s not always easy. That’s something Sarah and Andy Justice learned the hard way. They wanted kids, but life threw a wrench in their plans. They weren’t ready to give up just yet, and their persistence paid off in a most unimaginable way.
They Wanted a Family
Sarah and Andy Justice were living a pretty happy life together in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There was just one huge problem. They had no children, and it wasn't from a lack of trying. They simply couldn’t conceive, and they had been trying for years. But they weren’t going to give up yet...
A Special Bond
Sarah and Andy knew each other better than anyone else, and they had stuck by each other through thick and thin. Their lack of children didn’t make them resent each other, but constant pestering from their families was starting to grate on their nerves. Thankfully, their luck was about to change.
A Second Opinion
The couple hoped that they would be able to conceive naturally, but it no longer seemed like that was going to be possible. They knew adoption was an option, but the long waiting lists involved made that a difficult choice, so they decided to ask their doctor for a second opinion.
They Turned to Science for Help
By this point, the couple had been married for three years. They were starting to get anxious about the possibility of being able to have any children. So, their doctor offered them one possible solution. But they had to go all the way to St. Louis, Missouri, to see a specialist.
Their Chances Were Slim
In vitro fertilization would give them a 10% chance of conceiving a baby. That was a very slim percentage for a procedure that can cost anywhere between $30,000 and $60,000. Worst of all? They couldn't help but worry about all the potential side effects, like mood swings and mental health issues.
It Wouldn't Be Cheap
The procedure itself also wouldn't be cheap. Besides travel costs to and from their many doctors appointments, they would have to pay the tens of thousands of dollars that the procedures would cost completely out of their pockets. And once the baby was born, there’d be tons of other expenses too.
It’s a Stressful Situation
The psychological stress of the procedure can cause emotional issues in women. In fact, research suggests that the type of anxiety they experience is similar to patients who are facing terminal illnesses. But men can suffer just as much as women do, and it’s just a normal part of the process.
There Are Tons of Psychological Effects
Men also experience anxiety, depression, decreased self-esteem and even physical pain from infertility stress. It doesn’t even matter if they’re the infertile ones or if it’s their partner who is infertile. It's a tough situation for everyone involved. But the Justices also faced pressure from the outside world as well.
Family and Friends Put Pressure on Them
Couples are often judged for not having children. And then there’s family, friends, and even total strangers who pressure them with questions about why they haven't started a family yet. The Justices were desperate to become parents. But they had no idea what life had in store for them just yet.
They Thought They Could Handle Anything
The couple thought that they could handle anything that life could give them, but that was before they were dealt a difficult hand. They started to wonder if they really could handle the pressures of being parents if they experienced this much stress just trying to conceive in the first place...
They Were Racing Against the Clock
Sarah felt that her biological clock was ticking away. Anyone who's over 30 will attest to that fear, and she knew it well. The couple felt like they were running out of options, so they started considering adoption. They felt like they had only one option left... or so they thought.
They Considered Adoption...
The Justices decided to do what many childless couples do when they can’t conceive naturally, they thought about adopting a child. They felt they could provide a stable and loving home for any child, but they later realized that the process was simply exhausting and more time consuming than they expected.
The Adoption Process Wasn’t Easy
The couple discovered they had to jump through several hurdles with the adoption agency of their choice in order to finally take home a baby. But they worked with a faith-based crisis pregnancy group, who helped them find a potential birth mother who was willing to give her child away.
A Birth Mother Chose Them
When the adoption group contacted the Justices about a potential child, they were overjoyed. They met with a young expecting mother and everyone thought it would be a good match. That is, for a moment. Shortly after their meeting, the mother changed her mind and decided to keep her new baby.
Another Chance?
The first birth mother chose the couple, but then she backed out. So, the Justices contacted the adoption agency again. And then a new birth mother chose them, but she also changed her mind. While it might've been a low blow for the couple, it didn’t stop the Justices from trying.
They Got Lucky With the Third Mother
A third birth mother chose the Justices to be her unborn child’s adoptive parents. But there was an unexpected surprise that no one could have foreseen until they were all sitting at the doctor’s office. It shocked even the young mother, who was expecting to give birth to a healthy baby.
The Justices Got Their Wish
The couple had always wanted a big family and this was the first step towards their biggest goal. This was their greatest wish in the whole world, and luckily for them, they finally got their chance. But then they realized they should have been more careful with what they wished for.
They Thought Things Were Looking Up
They finally felt peace after being matched up with the mother from the agency. They thought that this would be their chance to be parents, and they couldn't wait to meet their child. But things didn't turn out the way they expected. Even the adoption agency was shocked by what happened...
Visiting the Doctor
The couple would meet the woman carrying their child at one of her upcoming doctors appointments. It would be their first time meeting, and the couple could hardly wait. They hoped they would get along with the woman, but they never expected to get the news they received from her doctor.
To the Hospital
The couple made their way to the hospital that morning with gifts ready to give the mother. They understood that she was in a difficult position in her life and they wanted to properly express their gratitude to her. But when they met, they realized something odd about the whole situation.
The Meeting
Sarah and Andy walked into the hospital room with gifts and showered the woman who was carrying their child with compliments. She expressed gratitude for the gifts and although she seemed nervous, the couple did their best to be polite. But that's when the doctor walked in with some unexpected news.
Not Just One
As the doctor looked at the woman's ultrasound, he seemed perplexed. He stared at the screen for a moment before beginning to tell everyone in the room what he saw. He said that he couldn’t be sure, but the mother wasn’t just expecting one baby, there were at least two heartbeats!
They Got More Than They Expected
During the ultrasound, they found there was not one, not two, but three babies in the birth mother’s womb! Then the husband turned to his wife and said, “Well, that’s great, you said you wanted kids,” according to News 6. But would they be the ones to back out this time?
They Couldn't Say No
The couple looked at each other and both of them agreed that three babies would be triple the blessing that one would be. They already knew in their hearts that they wanted to have a big family, and now their dream was coming true much more quickly than they ever expected.
They Believed the Triplets Were a Miracle
The Justices intended to take home one baby and ended up with triplets! This motivated them to quicken the adoption process and prepare their home for their new babies. But there was still one more surprise in store for them. They had no idea what news was just around the corner…
The Triplets Came Early
In May 2013, the birth mother gave birth to the triplets eight weeks earlier than expected, but the Justices were elated. The babies were healthy, and that was all that mattered to them. They named the babies Hannah, Joel and Elizabeth. But there was a complication in taking the babies home.
She Started Feeling Sick
The triplets had to stay in the hospital until they were strong and healthy enough to leave. But something was wrong with Sarah Justice, their adoptive mother. She felt ill a week after the triplets were born. She thought the stress of becoming a parent had begun, but she was wrong.
They Were Open to More Children
The Justices had their hands full baby proofing the house and getting it ready for their three new bundles of joy. And although three babies were unexpected, they were very much welcomed. The couple also longed to have one more kid, but they didn’t need an adoption agency to get it.
She Didn’t Have Stomach Flu
Sarah Justice went to the doctor and learned the exciting but very surprising news that she was experiencing morning sickness because she was pregnant. They were finally going to have not three, but four children living under their roof! But once again, they were in for more surprises from their doctor.
A Routine Pregnancy
Sarah’s pregnancy was nothing strange, except that she had to care for three newborn babies during it! Although she was completely wiped out by her new role as a mother, she was able to take good care of herself, but what her doctor told her at her next appointment shocked her.
Another Doctor's Appointment
Sarah took care of herself during her pregnancy, and each routine scan and ultrasound was normal. That is, until she received the news that like the birth mother of her other children, she was not just expecting one baby. How would the couple be able to handle more mouths to feed?
They Would Soon Be a Family of 7
Sarah found out they were having twins. “I was shocked and a bit overwhelmed because I got to thinking and I’m like, wow, if they go to term we’re about [to have] five babies in eight months,” she told reporters. Now they needed some new wheels to fit their growing family.
They Needed a Bigger Van
The couple had five extra mouths to feed, and they also had a lot of adjusting to do. For starters, they needed a bigger van to accommodate the triplets and their newborn twins, whom they named Abigail and Andrew. But they needed more than just space, they needed a new mindset.
Keeping Them Busy
The couple went from having no children to caring for 5 newborns in less than a year! The surprises just kept coming, and the couple hardly felt like they could keep their heads above water. Luckily they had a great support system that included their extended families and their loving church.
They Needed Supplies, Too
The couple went through about 84 baby bottles and 300 diapers a week. They also had to spend extra money on other things like baby powder, clothes and milk, which really impacted the couple’s finances. But figuring out who was who in the cribs became a real challenge on its own.
Telling Them Apart Was Tough
The Justice family told the triplets apart (all of whom were girls) by painting their toe nails a different color. But in the winter, they had to use bows to differentiate them more easily. Their new routines were really taking a toll on their abilities to focus. Fortunately, they weren’t alone.
They Have a Lot of Help
The couple’s lives had changed completely now that they revolved solely around their kids. Fortunately, they had plenty of help from their families to feed the kids, drive them to doctors appointments and teach them the fundamentals of life. Thankfully for this massive family, dad’s job made things a little easier.
Dad Can Adjust His Schedule
Since dad Andy was self-employed, he was able to switch up his schedule to help his wife out more. But even with all of the extra help they received, catching up on sleep was pretty much impossible, and it only got worse when they expanded their family one more time.
Another Little One
That's right, even with five small children already at home, Sarah and Andy still wanted to have more kids. Just a short while later, the couple announced to their friends and families that they were expecting another little one, meaning they would have to splurge on newborn supplies one more time.
A Sixth Child Came Along
Finally, the Justices had their very own happily ever after after years of trying. The couple who once feared they'd never become parents ended up having six kids in a few short years. In January 2016, mom got pregnant again and had little Caleb, and now they're one big happy family!
Stronger Than Ever
The Justice family is happier than ever and all of their children are happy to have such loving parents and a wonderful support system. It really goes to show that you can achieve your biggest dreams, even if they seem like they’re impossible. Sarah and Andy know that to be true!