We were married at a friend’s home in Wyomissing under a white tent with tons of beautiful flowers…A perfect garden wedding with equally perfect weather on June 12, 1999. It was truly a beautiful thing!
I had wanted children right away, but Jon wasn’t ready. I had a nagging feeling since I was a child that I would have a hard time getting pregnant. So, that fall I decided to get testing done and I was right. I had PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Basically, I don’t ovulate and would need help getting pregnant. So we decided to check out a fertility doctor and decided to try just in case it would take a long time to get pregnant. It didn’t take a long time at all! Januarys’ cycle failed, but by February I was pregnant! We were ecstatic!!!! Even more so when we learned we were having twins! We had prayed for twins, because Jon was as “baby crazy” as I am and we decided we would fight over one baby! (We had also had a joke about this since we were dating). The pregnancy was rough (so I thought then) and the girls, Cara Nicole and Madelyn Kate were born that October. They spent 5 days in the NICU (they were born at 35+3 weeks) and were then released to go home…As a little family. I was exhausted, but tickled pink…I was so much in love!!!!!!!!!! Jon was such a big helper right from the beginning! I was so impressed! He jumped in and helped with feedings, baths and everything else! I was amazed! He was equally in love with his “daddy’s little girls”—just what he always wanted! God had truly blessed us with these darling miracle babies –and we knew it!The girls turned one and I started thinking about more children…after all, the girls had been pure fun and I wanted to do it again! But, Jon wasn’t convinced. I prayed for a long time that God would change his mind. It took a long time and a rough experience for both of us for that to happen. In May 2003, we had the opportunity to adopt a newborn in kind of a rare circumstance. Things were moving really fast and we prayed about it and felt that this was not meant to be. Jon and I came to a joint decision that we were not ready to take on such a responsibility at the time. We felt God leading us a different way. Jon was amazed that I so willingly “turned down a baby”. It hurt so badly, but I knew we were doing the right thing. I mourned for the better part of a month and it was then that Jon agreed to let us return to try and have another baby. He saw just how badly I wanted to be a mommy again. We decided that in October we would return for “round two”, but I got impatient (imagine that!) and went back in August right before our family trip to Disney World. August failed! When we returned, we switched doctors and tried again in October. That cycle was perfect! Everything went great! I was told I had 3 with a possibility of 4 follicles, and that was a great cycle! The only thing that made our doctor nervous was the fact that we were absolutely opposed to reduction and that we were concerned about multiples again. We prayed about this and just like our peace about returning in October for this cycle, we felt peace about proceeding. So we did!
Five weeks later, (after my hospitalization for over stimulated ovaries) we were at our initial ultrasound and learned the news. I will never forget this day as long as I live. There were seven sacs with four yolk sacs, or babies in four of them. At the count of four, I was scared. At five I started crying and at six I was shaking absolutely sobbing. Jon had turned from the screen, he couldn’t look anymore. I have never seen him so close to tears in my life! The doctor “reassured” us by telling us we would talk about reduction. I pulled myself together and stared right at him and said “We’re not doing reduction!” After the ultrasound he called us into his office and tried to convince us that reduction was the thing to do. Again, we refused! That weekend, Jon and I spent our time staring at the walls (literally) and crying. It was the worst weekend of my entire life! On Sunday, Jon took the girls to church and asked if he should tell anyone. I told him to tell a few people so we could get prayer started for us. Before he was home from church, the phone started ringing. Everyone was so encouraging and offered their prayers and help. I began to feel that we could do this! With God’s help, of course! Now here I am, lying in bed in the hospital, 26 weeks pregnant with 6 babies. (One baby never developed on its own), three boys and three girls and I wouldn’t change it for the world! Jon and I have already learned so many great lessons through this experience! I have learned that I am not at all in control of my own life—God is. He owns every facet of my very being! What great relief to know that all that stress does not have to sit on my shoulders anymore! I give it to God and he takes care of it for me! I have learned to be grateful for everything I have. God has provided for us immensely, even in times of Jon’s unemployment! I have learned to value my family so much more. I have such a wonderful husband who has been so strong through all of this! I love him more each and everyday! He has become the spiritual role model in our family and truly the head of our household! God has really changed him and he is becoming what God wants him to be! And I love it! This has been a wonderful lesson and learning time in our lives, and the learning has just begun! Our babies should be here hopefully not until the end of May. Then the fun will begin….Please, pray as you think of our family.
Fast Forward to the present....and as I read the above story that I wrote in April of 2004, I had no idea what God planned to reveal to us but hadn't yet! I did not know that I would have six completely healthy, beautiful and amazing babies! I did not know that Alexis was 'the face of an angel' as I always call her or that she had a wild streak that would amaze me every day! I did not know that Hannah would look like a little Hawaiian girl and have the sweetest little shy face or that she would be so painfully independent! I did not know that Aaden would wear his little glasses so well and capture the hearts of the NICU nurses instantly or that he would capture the heart of every one who met him...including his mommy and daddy, of course! I did not know that Collin would be sluggish in his development at first but take off and melt his mommy with his dark brown eyes and his intelligence! I did not know that little Leah would be the most beautiful baby to ever lay in a little NICU isolette and be so tiny yet so particular in the way that she formed her words....oh and that smile! I did not know that Joel, our baby, would be so quiet and laid back yet have a smile and giggle that melts anyone he meets! I also did not know how Cara and Mady (just three at the time) would rise to the occasion and become two of the smartest, capable and amazing big sisters there ever was!
There was a lot I still did not know in that hospital bed at 26 weeks....and so much more! I did not know that when God chose to give us six babies, sextuplets, that when He assured us that He would provide for us, that He meant it would be the way He has. I am GLAD that I did not know that then! It would have been way too overwhelming for us! This journey has been so tough yet so amazing! God has taught us so many lessons yet has blessed us immeasurably!
All in all, we are so glad we are on this journey. It has been so positive overall and has helped so many people. It's what God wants for us....and we are glad you have decided to join us!
Thank you to everyone anywhere who has had a hand in making our family who we are! We appreciate you!
Thank you (and we certainly still appreciate your prayers!)
Jon and Kate and family
Posted By Eric
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