Many couples have found themselves struggling to conceive. Sarah and Andy Justice were no exception. After much struggle, they decided to resort to a last hope of adoption. The process was no walk in the park but after some time, the Justice couple were chosen as parents and they were delighted! Little did they know that their journey was about to take an unimaginable turn… to the worst.
Happily Married
Sarah and Andy were living as a happily married couple in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After three happy years as a couple, they decided to finally start a family.
Little did they know what is ahead of them...
Something Was Missing
Andy and Sarah had no doubts about getting pregnant. However, that was not the case. The Justice couple struggled immensely to fall pregnant.
After three years of trying and falling, their dream seemed to slip away. But they haven't lost hope yet. Sarah and Andy decided to consult a fertility doctor.
They Decided To Travel To A Fertility Doctor
Out of complete desperation, the couple turned to a medical professional in order to get to the bottom of why they weren’t falling pregnant and what could be done. Although Sarah and Andy never blamed each other for what was happening, their marriage was taking a huge strain and they needed to resolve this issue once and for all.
With that being said, they were introduced to the first challenge of the process which is that there were no trustworthy fertility specialists in Tulsa. That wasn’t going to stop them. They packed their bags and decided to travel to the nearest fertility doctor, which was all the way in St. Louis, Missouri. Taking the time to travel out was a small price to pay if it meant receiving the thing they wanted most.
They Traveled Six Hours To Receive Some Bad News
In the year 2014, Andy and Sarah left their home in Tulsa to arrive in St. Louis. After a six-hour interstate drive, they arrived with their fingers crossed and their hearts filled with hope.
Once they arrived in St. Louis, they had to undergo all the necessary fertility treatments recommended by the doctor. Although their hopes were high, the couple was given their first lot of bad news. The first treatment they had tried, was unsuccessful. However, that disappointing news not enough to make them give up and the couple continued to explore other options.
Sarah And Andy Considered In-Vitro Fertilization
Like most couples who are struggling to conceive, Sarah and Andy decided to inquire about the in-vitro fertilization process. However, they were informed to not get their hopes up as the chances of them falling pregnant were only 10%.
Fighting to be in that 10%, Sarah had to go through an exhausting process. The IVF process is unbelievably invasive and drawn out. Sarah was informed that she would be enduring months of hormone treatments before even having her eggs collected from her ovaries. She committed to the procedure and when that was over, she and Andy waited in hope, they would hear good news.
In-Vitro Proved To Be Too Much Of A Risk
Not only was the process heavy and draining but it's not too easy on the pocket either. This procedure is expensive and can cost a family between $12,000 to $15,000. All that money comes with the knowledge that this process may not even work.
The IVF procedure is usually not covered by one's health insurance. Nevertheless, the Justice couple were facing a cost of around $60,000. The couple wrestled with this idea. However, there was still an option they hadn’t considered…
The Justices Turned To Adoption
After years of not knowing what to do and a slow deterioration of hope, the couple decided to consider the adoption process. Although there are many alternative options to conceive available, there is always a risk that all that money and exhaustion could end up being for nothing.
Sarah and Andy were desperate to become parents and they decided to move forward with adoption. Any couple who has been through the procedure knows that it is no quick process. There is an exhausting period of interviews, considerations, waiting and hoping. The application process in and of itself requires an immense amount of patience.
The Adoption Process Would Not Be Easy For Them
The adoption procedure requires plenty of applications which could sometimes take years. This is even more drawn out if you’re wanting a newborn. The Justice couple never lost hope and continue to persevere in their journey.
When they tried to adopt, they were faced with a different set of problems. The couple were put under emotional strain while they hoped and prayed they would be given the one thing they wanted the most.
The Long Process Of Adoption
One of the steps for the application process is to have a home inspection, this is to ensure the child is going to a safe home. The home needs to be suitable for raising a child. Following that, is an interview. This is a crucial period of the procedure.
Many couples sit with anxiety but the Justice couple remained calm and hopeful for good news. They were then set up with meetings with mothers who had decided to give up their children for adoption. This was also, a trying and difficult process.
They Were Chosen, But Things Took A Turn For The Worst
After a rollercoaster ride of emotions and patience. Sarah and Andy were finally given the news they had been waiting for. They had been chosen to become parents.
Sarah and Andy were over the moon and felt like their prayers had finally been answered. And so the 9 months began and they remained at the side of the birth mother every step of the way. However, just as they could finally start to see the finish line, they were surprised by some horrible news.
Three Steps Forward, Four Steps Back
The Justice couple were devastated when their birth mother pulled out of the deal at the last minute. This disappointed should’ve been enough to scare them off for good, but they didn’t let it get the best of them and continued to persevere. The Justice couple then informed the adoption agency that they are still determined to become parents.
Thus the long process began again and after the second round of interviews, Sarah and Andy were chosen by a different birth mother. The hopeful couple were then faced with even more devastating news. After another 9-month journey, the birth mother decided to keep the baby in the end and yet again, Sarah and Andy were left heartbroken.
Sarah And Andy Knew They Couldn’t Give Up
After two heartbreaks in a row, things weren’t looking good for Sarah and Andy’s dream to start a family. This should have been enough to leave the couple defeated and completely out of hope. They had now wasted another 9-months of commitment to only come up short.
However, they had shown their resilience thus far and decided they still couldn’t give up. It is truly admirable that the couple chose to continue along this path, given their disappointing history.
Eventually, They Received A Call That Would Change Their Lives Forever
There is no doubt that the Justice couple were feeling completely defeated and out of hope. Their determination to become parents was admirable but they were definitely taking a toll from this emotional roller coaster.
It is just as well that they chose not to give up now as all their hard work and commitment would have been in vain. Soon enough they would receive a call that would shift the entire journey and change their lives for good.
A Third Birth Mom Picked Them And She Had A Surprise
Understandably, the Justice couple were feeling low and at a breaking point after the second mom backed out. Soon enough, Sarah’s phone rang and on the other side was the adoption agency, wanting to give her news that would restore her with hope.
The couple was delighted, and it almost seemed like they were finally getting somewhere when the adoption agency called them to give the good news. The Justice couple had been chosen by a third birth mother to be parents. Although the couple were basically professionals in the adoption process, nothing could prepare them for what was to come. This birth mother had something up her sleeve that no one expected.
The Ultrasound Appointment Came With A Huge Shock
The Justice couple couldn’t have been more excited about their third chance at happiness. They proved to be just as committed in this process, as the last and took part in every step of the process. It was not long until they accompanied the birth mother to the first ultrasound appointment.
Sarah and Andy were only too excited to get their first glimpse of their new baby. When the baby appeared on the monitor, there seemed to be something a bit bizarre. Not only did their baby appear, but its two siblings next to it did too! That’s right, there were three babies.
No One Expected To Have Three Babies
The Justice couple were completely shaken, as well as, the birth mother. No one expected three babies. The couple had been pushing so hard for just one and now they were being blessed with three!
Fate had other plans for Sarah and Andy because they had prayed and fought so hard for just one child and now they were being blessed with three. They knew that this gift was heaven sent and began to prepare for three new children to start off their family.
Sarah And Andy Were Unprepared But Ready For The Challenge
Sarah and Andy were in a position of complete shock and didn’t know what to do. They had spent so much time hope and praying for one child, that it was all they had prepared for. However, how can anyone truly be prepared for three babies anyway! Regardless, the Justice couple were not going to give up now on their pursuit of having a family.
The couple wanted as many kids as they were supposed to have, further down the line. However, they did not expect to be raising all three children at once. However, they remained grateful and began preparing for the biggest journey in their lives.
They Immediately Had To Start Baby Proofing
Sarah and Andy got busy preparing instantly. Before they knew it, it was time to begin baby proofing the house and shopping (for three!). This was definitely an expensive procedure but nowhere near to how expensive IVF would have been.
The Justice couple, at this point, were ready to give anything and everything to this dream of having a family. So they remained happy and hopeful during the preparation period.
The Triplets Were Born Premature
It was the year 2013 in the month of May when Sarah and Andy were called with the news that their birth mother’s water had broken almost eight weeks before expected. Sarah and Andy drove to the hospital with anxiety and panic as they waited to meet their new children, in the hope that they would be healthy.
The birth mother went through a long labor after delivering thee little babies, weighing only three pounds each. The Justice couple named their three bundles of joy; Hannah, Elizabeth, and Joel. Although they were excited to take them home and begin their lives, Sarah and Andy would have to wait at the hospital.
The Justices Had To Wait Before Taking Them Homee
The three, long-awaited, babies were born eight weeks early, making them premature. This was alarming for the new parents. Hannah, Joel, and Elizabeth had to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for some time before they were determined to be healthy enough to go home. At the hospital, the triplets went through rapid development and were thankfully growing healthier, stronger and bigger, each day.
The Justices waited patiently until they could take their beautiful babies home. Sarah and Andy were excited to start their lives as a family, little did they know that something would happen which would change everything, a few years later…
While They Waited, Something Happened To Sarah
It was only one week after they had brought their babies home when something happened to Sarah. She started to feel sick and it was most probably from the emotional roller coaster her and Andy went through during the adoption process.
Sarah decided to go and see a doctor. Especially because she needed her health and energy to give to her three new babies. The doctors put Sarah through multiple tests and checks in order to see what the problem was. Once everything had been complete, Sarah couldn’t believe what the doctors had found.
Sarah Finally Got Pregnant After Adopting Triplets
After a thorough examination, Sarah found the reason as to why she was feeling so ill. There was nothing “wrong” with Sarah. Miraculously, she became pregnant shortly after adopting three babies!
This was a situation which brought about all kinds of different emotions. One of them definitely being a shock, considering the couple had pretty much given up on the idea of conceiving naturally. As well as, already have three babies to feed at home.
Sarah felt determined to push forward in this challenge and decided to raise three newborn babies whilst being pregnant. Little did they know, this wasn’t even nearly the end of surprising news.
Now The Justices Were Going To Have Five Newborns
After this whole journey, no one could blame Sarah for thinking she had to be barren and there was no other way. The Justice couple had basically written off the idea of conceiving naturally. However, the news of Sarah's pregnancy was welcomed with happiness. Did you think we were all out of surprises? Think again!
A few months after the pregnancy, Sarah and Andy found out that they were, in fact, pregnant with twins! This put them at a complete loss for words, they couldn’t believe what was happening. Not only had they beat the odds and fallen pregnant but now they learned with twins whilst still having three other babies at home.
They Got To Experience Raising Newborns And Pregnancy At One Time
When one is faced with a bizarre situation like this, there are only two options; to panic or to not panic. The Justice couple made the decision to steer into the skid and actually found humor in the weird twist of events. They saw this as more of a blessing and decided to treat it like one.
When the day finally arrived for them to take their new triplets’ home, they decided to keep looking forward. The Justice couple were given the opportunity to experience a unique journey in which they raised three newborn babies whilst being pregnant at the same time. It was almost as if all their prayers had been answered at once! They couldn’t have been more grateful.
They Became A Beautiful Family Of Seven In Under A Year
Only a little while before it was time to celebrate the triplets first birthdays, Sarah went into labor, where she welcomed her and Andy’s new twins.
After lengthy labor, the couple who once struggled to have one child, welcome Andrew, and Abigail to their family of now seven! Sarah and Andy would have to adjust to being just them two, to have an entire team.
Their Community Came Out Of The Woodwork
Having one baby is hard enough, but to add five to the picture is a whole different challenge. Luckily, Andy and Sarah had a great support system, their family and friends were only too happy to help.
Not only family but their community too hopped on board to help in the maintenance of this unique miracle. Tulsa’s Eastland Baptist Church helped donate food to the Justice’s by cooking them meals and providing baby formula. Sarah and Andy were blessed to have their community come to their rescue, and it didn’t stop there.
Strangers From All Over Did What They Could To Help
It was not long before word got out about this unique situation. Pretty soon, even strangers who heard of the family wanted to help and admired Andy and Sarah’s desire to be parents.
Friends and family would assist the couple by babysitting so the new parents could go back to work. The couple received assistance from pretty much every corner in Oklahoma. Absolute strangers would send clothes, diapers, and blankets. With five newborns on hand, the Justices expected to go through more than 200 diapers and at least 84 bottles a week!
The Trick They Used To Tell The Babies Apart
Some serious changes need to be made for a family who is going from two to seven! Sarah and Andy changed their whole life schedule to fit around their new babies. Other than that, it was surely time to get a bigger van.
Another new challenge for the new parents was how to tell who was who! The couple had a trick which was to paint each babies toenails according to their name. The made use of the nail polish until their children began to show their own colors in their unique personalities and features.
After Their Story Went Viral, Something Unbelievable Happened
It only took a little bit of time until this story finally went viral. This was no surprise considering what a bizarre situation they were in! The couple who struggled to have just one child was now blessed with five, all at once. When the public heard, they were intrigued.
The family gained a huge fan club who were eager to see how their children were growing. Like a TV show, the public was interested in the daily lives and personalities of each child. This all became a normal way of life for the Justice family and pretty soon they were used to it.
Sarah Discovered She Was Pregnant Again!
Once their story became a popular sensation, their newborn babies were already toddlers. Although things seemed to begin to calm down, the family was surprised with some news.
The Justice couple couldn’t believe the irony in the situation when they found out they were pregnant yet again! They welcomed this new journey with love and felt confident. Sarah welcomed their sixth child, a boy, in 2016. She told Today, “We just really love having these children.”
They Now Had The Challenge Of Preparing For Their Sixth
Their first five babies were now about two years old at this point. Although the thought of six children was a little overwhelming, they weren’t scared to raise another baby after basically becoming professionals with five.
This time, Sarah was pregnant with one child which could be considered to be kind of easy after raising six all at once. However, each child is a journey in and of itself so the Justices were in for a wild ride.
Things Might Have Become A Little Hectic
Having eight people in one home has to be a crazy situation no matter what the story is behind it! However, With triplets Hannah, Joel, and Elizabeth, and twins Abigail and Andrew, they were quite happy to welcome their sixth baby.
This made their number a total of eight and although many would think it would be unmanageable and they still had a while to go before any of their children are ready to move out, the Justice family go on outings regularly.
Things Got Pretty Busy As The First Five Became Toddlers
In 2016, the Justice family welcomed Caleb to the team. At this point, the triplets and the twins were around the age of four. Needless to say, the Justice household was no place for quiet.
While Caleb was a newborn, Sarah and Andy barely had to worry about the other five, who were growing beautifully and already potty trained. As the first five children were beginning to grow and no longer required the same level of care as a newborn, it came as a welcome relief for Sarah and Andy as they were about to raise another newborn.
This Was A Dream Come True For Sarah And Andy
Sarah and Andy were basically too overwhelmed to be overwhelmed. At the end of the day, the couple couldn’t have been more over the moon with their home filled with blessings.
In an interview with Babyologyin 2016, Sarah said, “Having a number of children is a dream come true. When you wait for something you appreciate it that much more when you get it.” There is no doubt that Sarah and Andy waited a long time to become parents. They were so grateful when they could finally live out their dream.
Transitioning To Five Toddler Beds Is A Challenge
As time went by, the Justice children inevitably grew out of their little cribs and soon enough it was time for something bigger.
Although this sounds like the most natural and effortless stage, it is, in fact, the opposite. Now their little babies could get out of bed when they wanted, they weren’t confined to the bars of a crib, so this brought about a whole different stage. Sarah told Babyology, “Having five in toddler beds is an adventure. But we are getting there.”
They Developed A Routine For Their New Family
Many people are left wondering how on earth the Justices manage to maintain sanity in their household. A house of eight can be no walk in the park. That being said, the most important thing to the parents is to stick to an organized and planned out routine.
Keeping to a routine is a basic and fun way for the family to stay close, as well as, keep track of everybody. The day is started off with a morning walk, followed by playdates with either a friend or relative and in the evening, the family takes on different chores.
Potty Training Five Toddlers At Once Is Perhaps The Biggest Challenge
No matter how organized you are, nothing can truly prepare a parent for the challenges of potty training. “Potty breaks are a big part of our day when you have five children at the same life stage,” Sarah said.
One can imagine that potty training one child is a challenge in and of itself. However, an even harder challenge is training five at the same time. That being said, at least the family could bond over this experience knowing that all children were going through it at the same time.
The Justice Siblings Are Growing To Be Very Close
One of the best things about living in a house with so many brothers and sisters is a truly fun atmosphere it creates. Sarah and Andy’s children all get along and it is very rare that someone should feel left out. More than that, they all have similar age group friends and can really have fun with each other.
The Justice parents have said that their children share an exceptionally strong bond. “We never lack playmates and work to promote love and care between the siblings. Our children will always have a friend and will never need to feel lonely, Sarah told Babyology.
The Older Siblings Adore Their Baby Brother
Many wondered what would be with Caleb, how his upbringing would be after his five siblings had all been raised together, at the same time. However, the parents found it much easier to raise Caleb on his own.
How do the other siblings feel about their little brother? Sarah explained “All of the kids absolutely adore their ‘baby Caleb.’ He has the best fan club ever and we cannot imagine life without the sweetest, most loved little guy in the world,” Sarah said.
Sarah And Andy’s Patience Reaped The Best Rewards
After everything the Justice parents have been through, all the heartache, the ups and downs, the bad news upon bad news, it truly is a miracle that the family has been blessed with the gift they wanted most, a family.
Whether they were given one child, or a million they would've been grateful but the fact that they were blessed with six was more than a happy ending. “They bring a great deal of joy to our lives and we enjoy watching them love life,” Sarah told Babyology. The story of how the Justice family came to be is a fine example of good things come to those who wait.