A big, Mormon family in one fell swoop.It wasn't what Thomas and Amanda Stansel — fittingly from Humble, Texas — ever expected. The quiet, unassuming couple tied the knot in January 2007 in the Houston Texas Temple. Soon thereafter, they wanted to start a family.But Amanda, 32, had health troubles that led the couple to consult medical help.Through fertility treatments, the Stansels conceived but lost twins in 2008. Refusing to give up, the Stansels again tried fertility treatments. On April 1, they found out Amanda was expecting. Not just one or two babies, but six — four girls, two boys.The Stansels still sound incredulous, despite knowing about their coming sextuplets for months now — as though someone could still tell them it was an elaborate April Fool's joke.\"We're coping,\" said Thomas, 31, a medical equipment salesman. \"It was such a miracle. We're still in shock.\"After doctors told the Stansels that Amanda was expecting six, they strongly recommended selective reduction — reducing the embryos to two for a higher survival rate.\"We didn't swallow that too well,\" Thomas said. \"How could we choose? Their heartbeats were all good and strong.\"They turned to their family and spiritual leaders for guidance.\"There was a lot of prayer,\" Thomas said. \"And a lot of priesthood blessings,\" Amanda added.The Stansels chose to put the matter in heavenly hands by keeping all six.Rachelle Wilkinson, a fellow Latter-day Saint, Texan and mother of nearly 2-year-old quintuplets, understands the delicacy of the situation.\"I don't know how anyone could go through it without the gospel or a strong faith base — and a lot of prayer,\" Wilkinson said.The media is now camped on the Stansels' doorstep, in part due to the current interest in couples having multiples.TLC's reality show \"Jon & Kate Plus 8,\" following the 5-year-old Gosselin sextuplets, has gained in popularity over the past year. Critics find the show in poor taste, and the cynics and naysayers now shower the Stansels with attention they didn't seek out.\"They don't get how hard it is,\" Thomas said. \"But the ruthless comments are to be expected. I don't like Amanda to read them, though. We try to just blow it off.\"Wilkinson knows the negative attention can be discouraging. \"People don't understand that there's a better chance of getting struck by lightning (than getting pregnant with multiples). We're not expecting anyone else to foot the bill. We are working hard to take care of our kids.\" The Stansels are able to push aside any negativity thanks to the loving aid provided by their neighbors in the Summerwood Ward of the Kingwood Texas Stake.Thomas acknowledged it will take a village, especially at first, to raise their children.\"There are meals coming in. Ward members and nonmembers show up to keep Amanda company. They all want to help.\"The Stansels appreciate the company. In an attempt to ensure the babies' health, Amanda has been placed on bed rest in the Women's Hospital of Texas. Her due date may not be until December, but the goal is for her to make it to September.\"It's given me such a testimony of gratitude, the love everyone has,\" Amanda said.The Stansels aren't worried about having any love lost between them, even as the fatigue and apprehension escalate.\"I think this experience has by far strengthened our marriage,\" Thomas said. \"We've trusted in the Lord and seen growth already. We went into the dark, not knowing what the outcome would be — an act of faith.\"Wilkinson knows that \"when you have multiples, nothing is ever the same again.\"It will be a complete shock,\" she said. \"But soon it will become the Stansels' normal.\"The Stansels have been chronicling their experiences online at www.stanseljourney.com and have received feedback from many who are unfamiliar with the LDS Church. \"The first thing that always comes up is the church,\" Thomas said. \"It's an opportunity to share the gospel. They want to know why we chose to keep all of the babies; we talk to them about it, about our beliefs. It's awesome.\"Amanda affirmed the gospel is the driving force getting her through the hard days. \"I know Heavenly Father is watching out for our children, that they want to come to this world and have a body. Who am I to take that chance from them? I know we're doing the right thing for our family.\"
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