For some people, the path to parenthood can be a cruel and unforgiving journey. Doctors appointments pile up, anxieties increase more and more by the day, and the nursery remains empty until hopefully, one day, a smiling newborn baby can come home to occupy it.
This was the harsh reality for one married couple by the name of Sarah and Andy Justice from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Even after trying over and over again, natural methods for creating a child were just simply not working for them. They soon decided to explore their other options, but little did they know, they might just be getting into more than what they had bargained for.
The couple had been married for over three years and wanted nothing more than to start a family, so when their doctor suggested seeing a fertility specialist who was located some 400 miles away, the pair took him up on his suggestion without hesitation. The trip was going to be a long one, but the pair hoped that it would all be worth it in the end.
The fertility specialist heard the couple’s story, and explained to them that for somewhere between $30,000 to $60,000, he could attempt what is known as an in-vitro fertilization. The miracles of modern science might be able to give the couple a chance at a natural birth after all! The only problem? The process would only give Sarah about a ten percent chance of actually getting pregnant.
“We took that as a no” Andy later said. So, he and Sarah carefully considered the remaining options available for starting the family that they so desperately wanted, and they soon decided to turn to the process of adoption. However, that proved to be an awfully difficult road as well.
The pair then created what they called a “Life Book” – a “family resume” of sorts that they could provide for any expecting mothers who may be looking to put their newborn babies up for adoption. A few different women began to reach out to the couple, hoping to interview them further.
But then? “They changed their minds,” Sarah said. “It was very hard to get our hopes up like that and then be disappointed and have to start all over.” Nevertheless, Sarah and Andy never gave up hope throughout the process. Eventually, their patience and determination finally paid off. A birth mother had selected them as the perfect parents for her newborn baby! The couple were incredibly excited and relieved…that is, until they took the birth mother in for a routine ultrasound.
It was quickly uncovered that the woman would not only be giving birth to one newborn baby, but three newborn babies! The woman was pregnant with triplets!
The children were named Elizabeth, Hannah, and Joel, and they were all born about two months premature back in the year 2013. The triplets only weighed a measly three pounds each, and they were immediately placed into neonatal care after being born. While doctors and nurses tended to the newborns, Sarah also needed to see her doctor as well, and it was then that the couple got yet another huge surprise.
Despite all odds, the doctor revealed to Sarah that she was in fact pregnant herself! After going in for a routine sonogram, the images revealed that not only was Sarah now an expecting mother, but that she would also be giving birth to twins!
“I was shocked and a bit overwhelmed,” Sarah said. “I got to thinking, I added it up and I’m like, wow, if they go to term we’ll have about five babies in eight months. But we were really excited because it was something that we had been dreaming of for years.”
And so, that’s was how Sarah and Andy Justice ended up bringing a total of five newborn babies into the world. Abigail, Andrew, Joel, Hannah, and Elizabeth all share a loving home with their proud parents, and the Justices finally have the large and happy family that they had always dreamed of!
Everyday life isn’t exactly easy living in their crowded household, but both Sarah and Andy insist that they wouldn’t change a single thing about their experience if given the chance.
“It was something that we wanted so badly and we love it.” Sarah said while looking through some family photos. “That’s not to say that it’s not a lot of work and that we aren’t tired a lot, but it’s great,” she added. “We just really love having these children!”