A WEEK AFTER THIS COUPLE ADOPTED TRIPLETS, THE DOCTOR TOLD THEM SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
Sarah and Andy Justice from Tulsa, Oklahoma, have wanted kids for a long time.
After years of trying to conceive on their own, they decided to adopt - and, after a long, difficult and exhausting process, were finally allowed to bring babies into their family.
What happened immediately after they adopted their children, however, seems more like a piece of melodramatic fiction than real life, and left the parents - and us - extremely emotional.
What happened to the Justices after they adopted their kids, and how did it change their life forever?
Read on to find out.
Adoption Requirements
Andy and Sarah Justice wanted nothing more than to become parents.
But despite trying to conceive for a very long time, meeting doctors and seeing experts, Sarah simply couldn't become pregnant.
When they realized that this was the case, they decided to turn to adoption - but the process of adoption can be as frustrating, demanding and tiring as attempting to conceive naturally.
After applying at an adoption agency, their case needs to be reviewed and accepted - after which they would need to undergo a home study before they could even get on the waiting list.
Just the Two of Them
Sarah and Andy Justice loved being together.
Their relationship was loving, nurturing and supportive, and being with each other was as good as it got. But they felt they wanted more.
Both of them had always wanted kids, and they felt that it was time to act on that desire, and to become parents together by bringing another person into the world - and into their family.
Going the Distance
After trying to conceive on their own for a while, Sarah and Andy decided to consult a fertility specialist. The two lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but despite Tulsa being quite a large city, they had trouble finding an expert that would know how to deal with their case.
In order to find the right fertility specialist, they had to travel to St. Louis - and even though that was quite a distance to go, the couple were so determined to have children that the trip didn't deter them, even for a moment.
Heartbreak in St. Louis
Sarah and Andy Justice left their Tulsa, Oklahoma home and made the long trip to St. Louis, Missouri to meet a doctor they were hopeful would be able to help them have kids.
After driving for six hours in one direction, they finally reached the fertility expert's practice - but, after undergoing several thorough examinations, they received the heartbreaking news: the expert believed the chances Sarah would be able to get pregnant were slim to none.
In Vitro Fertilization
Although Sarah and Andy were considered good candidates for in vitro fertilization treatments, their chances of actually getting pregnant were only at around 10%. In addition to the low chances of conception, the doctor explained to the couple just how invasive the procedure was - as well as how expensive.
It seemed like in-vitro fertilization was out of the question - but the Justices still had a backup plan to fall back on.
Too High a Price
In-vitro fertilization is not a cheap procedure by any measure.
One basic IVF cycle can cost between $12,000 and $15,000, and the treatments are usually not covered by medical insurance.
Usually, one IVF cycle is rarely enough, so the Justices were looking at anything between $30,000 and $60,000 to try and get pregnant - without any assurances that the process would actually be successful.
The price - and the odds - convinced them to look to other options, and adoption seemed like the logical next step.
Dedication and Commitment
All the Justices wanted was to bring a child into their family, but even after they decided to choose adoption, the way ahead continued to be difficult and tiring.
Still, despite all of the obstacles they had to pass, Andy and Sarah were relentless in their dedication and commitment.
Passing through the adoption system could take years, they knew, but they were resolute in the decision, and nothing would sway them from becoming parents.
The Interview Stage
After Andy and Sarah applied at the adoption agency, they went through a home study - and the next step was to interview with potential birth mothers.
These interviews are intense, emotional and difficult - and very demanding, because they would determine whether they would get to fulfil their dream of becoming parents.
After several interviews, the Justices were exhausted and drained - but although the interview stage was over, the adoption process was far from being complete.
Finally, Some Good News
After the long interviewing process, Sarah and Andy Justice finally received some good news.
One of the birth mothers the adoption center had matched them with was willing to give them her baby for adoption.
Andy and Sarah were over the moon, and couldn't wait to finally add their child to the family.
The Justices would support the birth mother throughout her pregnancy, and help her deliver their child, safe and sound.
But things weren't that simple - and would soon take a turn for the worst.
Changing Her Mind
Sarah and Andy thought they were in the home stretch - but at the last minute, the birth mother they had planned on adopting from changed her mind, and decided to keep her baby.
While that is certainly a reasonable decision, for Andy and Sarah, it was heartbreaking.
The Justices felt broken and sad - but decided not to give up.
They knew they were meant to be parents, and no matter what it took, they were determined to see it through.
Back on the Horse
Despite the heartache, disappointment and frustration, the Justices decided to soldier on.
They got back in touch with the adoption agency, and asked to get back on the horse.
After several more interviews, they found another potential birth mother - but just when they thought they would finally become parents, she, too, backed out and decided to keep her child at the very last minute.
Sarah and Andy were at their wits' end.
Perseverance
At this point, Sarah and Andy were totally discouraged. But despite taking these hard-emotional hits, they managed to persevere, and kept going, with their vision of being parents giving them the strength they needed to get through this.
They knew that whatever happened, they'd find a way to make their dream a reality - and that they'd never give up.
A short while after the second birth mother backed out, they received a call that would change everything.
A Fateful Phone Call
Sarah and Andy felt like this was their lowest point. They couldn't conceive naturally, and twice now, after going through a long and arduous process towards adoption, they were let down at the last minute.
They had faith they'd be parents, but at that point in time, they felt like they had been beaten down.
But then, they received a phone call.
It was the agency - and they were calling to let the Justices know a pregnant woman had chosen them to be the parents of her unborn child - and this time, there was something different about her, that gave Sarah and Andy hope.
A Happy Surprise
Sarah and Andy rushed to meet with the third potential birth mother, and she even invited them to join her in an ultrasound appointment.
As Sarah, Andy and the potential birth mother sat together at the doctor's office, they noticed something odd showing up in the scan.
Naturally, they were all nervous at first, but soon enough they realized this was a happy surprise.
The baby was entirely healthy - in fact, the babies, plural, were all healthy and displaying strong heartbeats.
More Than Double
As the Justices squinted at the ultrasound scan, they realized there was not one, not two, but, in fact, three separate heartbeats on the monitor.
Sarah, Andy and the birth mother were in complete shock - the Justices had gone through so much trouble expecting to adopt just one baby, so understanding that they'd have three kids in one go was like a dream come true.
They felt like these three children were clearly meant to be theirs, and decided to continue with the adoption process… for all three of them.
Last Minute Arrangements
The Justices had been trying to have kids for years - but they weren't prepared for three at once. Triplets are a pretty rare occurrence in any pregnancy, and doubly so when it comes to adoption, so when it came to get the nursery ready, they had to scramble.
Still, this was clearly a blessing, as far as they were concerned; they had wanted more than one child in their family, and having three at once would mean they wouldn't have to go through the long adoption process all over again.
Getting the House Ready
Sarah and Andy knew that if they wanted their kids to be off to a good start, they'd have to hurry to get the house ready for three new souls as soon as possible.
They rushed off to the store, buying cribs and strollers, as well as other necessities like diapers, pacifiers and bottles.
They also hurried to baby proof the house, making sure nothing dangerous would be in reach of the babies once they started crawling around.
They were so excited! They couldn't wait for the three children to finally be born.
Going Into Labor
Andy and Sarah may have had their plans of adopting postponed several times, but when it was time for their triplets to be born, they were, in fact, eight weeks early.
Their birth mother had gone into labor prematurely, but late enough for the birth to be considered safe. The Justices met the birth mother at the hospital, and there, after pacing back and forth for hours while they were being born, they finally got to meet three bundles of joy, three pounds each.
Sarah and Andy could finally welcome Hannah, Joel and Elizabeth into their family.
Premature Birth
Because of their premature birth, Hannah, Joel and Elizabeth had to be placed in the neonatal intensive care unit for a while, before they'd grow strong enough to go home with their parents.
Over the next few weeks, the triplets grew more each day, and in almost no time at all, they had developed into strong, healthy babies - strong enough to leave the hospital and go to their new, loving home.
Twists and Turns
A week after the triplets were born, Sarah started feeling ill.
Naturally, the adoption process - as well as the birth itself - had been very stressful on both her and Andy, so the Justices assumed her feeling sick was a result of that.
But just to be sure, they decided to pay their doctor a visit. Now that they were taking care of babies, they couldn't afford to be reckless - and they needed to know Sarah was well enough to bring the babies home.
The doctor examined Sarah, and soon realized her sickness wasn't due to stress at all - but rather, to something much more surprising.
Finally, Pregnant!
The doctor came back in to the waiting room with some interesting news.
Sarah, it appears, wasn't sick at all. In fact - quite the opposite.
She was pregnant.
The news was unbelievable. After years and years of trying to conceive naturally, the Justices had turned to adoption - but now that the adoption process was complete, Sarah was going to have biological babies of her own!
But this wasn't the only surprise waiting for the Justices.
Twins
When it rains, they say - it pours. That was definitely the case with Sarah and Andy Justice.
It seemed that Sarah wasn't just pregnant - she was actually carrying twins!
After years and years of thinking she was barren, getting pregnant with twins after adopting triplets seemed almost impossible.
Of course, adding two more souls to their rapidly expanding household might have seemed like a daunting idea - but Andy and Sarah felt blessed.
Twins Make Seven
The humor in the situation didn't escape Andy and Sarah, and the Oklahoma couple couldn't have been happier.
Still, raising five babies at once under one roof could definitely be overwhelming, and so, they knew they had to be diligent and plan ahead.
Despite the daunting prospect of taking care of five babies all at once, they couldn't wait to meet their biological children.
A Big Family
Nine months passed, and soon enough, Sarah went into labor.
Sarah and Andy rushed to the hospital, and after a long, hard labor, two new souls had joined their family: Andrew and Abigail.
Their birth had gone by without a hitch, and finally, Sarah and Andy knew that their family was complete.
They could start settling in to their life with five babies in the house.
It Takes a Village
Taking care of five children is no easy task.
They say that raising even a single baby takes a village - so raising five takes at least a town!
Luckily, Sarah and Andy got all of the support they could possibly need, with family, friends and their community pitching in and lending a hand whenever they could.
Tulsa's Eastland Baptist Church, for instance, were ready to chip in and donate food to the new family, while community members cooked meals for the Justices and sent them baby formula.
Community Service
It wasn't just the church congregation that pitched in, though.
Friends offered to babysit the children while Sarah and Andy were at work, and, as news of the Justices' story spread, donations began to pour in from all over the state.
Sympathetic strangers sent in diapers, bottles, clothes and blankets - and Sarah and Andy had use for everything they received.
With 5 babies in the house, the family was going through 300 diapers and 84 bottles each week.
Color Coding
Even for parents, it takes a while to learn how to tell babies apart.
When you're suddenly blessed with five children at once - it can be even harder.
Sarah and Andy were under a lot of stress and sleep deprivation, but wanted to make sure they'd never get their children mixed up - so they came up with a system: they painted their babies' toenails with different colored nail polish!
The color coding system helped them make sure all of their kids were receiving the attention and care that they needed.
Internet Fame
Andy and Sarah Justice's story is remarkable by any measure - and it didn't take long for it to spread across the internet.
Soon enough, the Justices were going viral - first via Facebook, where thousands began to follow them, and later, via all sorts of news outlets and blogs.
Their story doesn't end here, though.
It seemed fate had more in store for the Justices.
Pregnant... Again!
In 2015, Sarah Justice discovered she was pregnant, again, and soon enough, in 2016, the Justices welcomed the sixth addition to their family.
While six kids may sound like a lot, Sarah and Andy were overjoyed.
“It was something we’ve wanted so badly that we love it. We just really love having these children," Sarah said on the Today Show.
A Drop in the Ocean
After you've raised five babies simultaneously, adding an additional child to the family two years later is, in many ways, almost unnoticeable.
Used to being busy in a bustling household full of toddlers, the addition of a sixth baby wasn't overwhelming at all.
In many ways, it was actually easier - since this would be the first baby they'd get to take care of without any brothers or sisters his age.
That's not to say the Justices don't face a unique set of challenges…
Eight Under One Roof
When you're eight people living under the same roof, even remembering everyone's names can be a challenge.
The triplets are called Joel, Hannah and Elizabeth, and the twins, nine months younger than their older triplet siblings, are called Abigail and Andrew. The newest addition to the family is called Caleb.
The Justices seem like an extremely happy family, and despite the challenges they face, they also find time for fun activities - like the Fourth of July celebration here in this photo!
A Big Relief
By the time Caleb was born, the triplets had turned four years old, and the twins were three and a half. While still very young, with this developmental change came a huge relief: they were all, finally, potty trained, which meant diapers were no longer such a huge issue.
Still, the house is still frantic and loud - but the Justices wouldn't have it any other way!
A Dream Come True
Sarah and Andy's unique circumstances have made them desirable subjects for interviews all across the country. In an interview with Babyology, Sarah opened up and said that “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.”
It seems like life without kids had made the Justices the perfect people to appreciate their situation, and to be thankful for it.
A Logistical Challenge
With six kids, every change and stage in growth becomes a challenge.
For instance, moving from cribs to toddler beds didn't entail buying just one or two new pieces of furniture - it was a complete logistical challenge.
“Having five in toddler beds is an adventure. But we are getting there," Sarah said.
But this isn't the only way in which their lives have changed.
Staying Organized
If you want to stay on top of things with so many kids in tow, you have to stay very, very organized.
Having a detailed, thought-out schedule for every one of the kids - and the parents! - is absolutely essential.
So what does a day in the life of the Justices look like?
The family starts their day off with a morning walk. After that's taken care of, the toddlers are spread around friends and family for playdates with other children - after which the family does their household chores together.
Potty Training
Anybody who has ever raised a toddler knows that potty training requires patience, attention and concentration - both by the toddler and the parents.
When you're a family of eight, a huge part of the daily schedule revolves around bathroom breaks.
"Potty breaks are a big part of our day when you have five children at the same life stage," Sarah told Babyology.
Always Someone There For You
With a family this big, the Justice children will never have to worry about being alone.
At school, each and every one of the Justice siblings knows that they'll have someone to play with at recess and to sit with at lunch.
“We never lack playmates and work to promote love and care between the siblings," Sarah said. "Our children will always have a friend and will never need to feel lonely.”
Getting Help From the Kids
If the Justices had a difficult time getting help with caring for everyone when the triplets and twins were babies, with baby Caleb the situation is reversed.
The parents state that their children “absolutely adore their baby Caleb," and help them by playing with him, keeping a watchful eye on him so he doesn't get into any trouble, and shower him with love and kisses.
Getting Along
Sarah and Andy's story is almost like a fairytale. After praying and hoping for a child of their own, and being told that wouldn't happen for them, they've somehow turned into parents of six healthy children, almost overnight!
The Justice children are getting along well, and Caleb seems to be fitting right in.
“He has the best fan club ever and we cannot imagine life without the sweetest, most loved little guy in the world," Sarah told Babyology.
Justice for the Justices
The Justices had gone through some very harrowing experiences on their journey to becoming parents.
First, being told they were barren and then, having their prospective adopted babies taken away from them - twice! - would be enough for almost anyone to give up on the dream and settle. But after all the sadness and frustration the Justices have gone through, it seems like they've finally gotten some much deserved justice of their own - in the form of a beautiful, happy and healthy family.