Mom Thinks Her Family Is Complete, Then Gets Biggest Shock
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A mom of three thought she was done having children, then got the biggest shock of her life.
After welcoming two boys—Carter, now 6, and Eli, 4— Haley and Will Spannagel were overjoyed to meet their daughter Emery in 2023.
"It truly felt like our family was complete," Haley told Newsweek. "Life was busy, but full in the best way, and we both agreed we were ready to close the baby chapter."
Split view of Haley and Will Spannagel with their three young children and Will in the emergency room post vasectomy procedure.
Split view of Haley and Will Spannagel with their three young children and Will in the emergency room post vasectomy procedure.
@haleyspannagel
Will's vasectomy was subsequently scheduled for August 8 and the parents felt at peace with their decision.
But two days later, Haley took a pregnancy test and it was positive. "[I] immediately thought it had to be wrong," the 26-year-old said.
At her obstetrician appointment on August 12, Haley's doctor noted her HCG levels were higher than expected.
"[I] thought I must be further along than we expected," she said. But on August 16, the ultrasound told a very different story: not just one surprise baby, but two.
"I cried. Then I laughed. Then I cried again. It truly felt like a real-life version of the TikTok trend—just total disbelief," Haley told Newsweek.
As the couple tried to process the twin bombshell, the unimaginable was around the corner. On September 27, Hurricane Helene struck their region—and their home was among the thousands lost.
"It was devastating," Haley said. "Processing a surprise twin pregnancy while navigating the chaos of displacement added an entirely new level of shock. We were in survival mode emotionally and mentally."
The following year in March, Will and Haley welcomed twins Asher and Adeline. "Life has truly been a blur since," Haley told Newsweek. There is zero silence or sleep—but also so much love and laughter."
The mom of five posted their story in a clip on TikTok, which has been viewed 1.8 million times.
Over a thousand other users commented on the clip, many of whom congratulated the new parents.
"Not your plans but God's plans," one user wrote.
"I'm going to avoid my husband like the plague when he gets snipped, before and after," a second user joked.
A third user shared how they got their "surprise" at age 39.
With five children under the age of seven, Haley described heir home as "beautifully chaotic." Carter, Eli, and Emery dote on their new siblings, and Katie and Will are learning to navigate life as a team of seven. "It's not easy, but it's ours, and we feel so grateful, even on the hard days," she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
- Newsweek
'F1' Onscreen: Critics Weigh In on Brad Pitt's Racing Blockbuster
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With less than a week left for the release of the Formula One-based movie, F1, fan excitement is at an all-time high, with many awaiting a glimpse of what they could expect. Thanks to the press screenings for critics and audiences before the movie's release on June 25 (June 27 for North America), fans can now walk into the theaters knowing what to expect. F1's recent star-studded premiere in New York saw Formula One drivers, team principals, Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and the crew make headlines with their appearances. However, what matters next are the reviews. IGN Starting with IGN, critic Clint Cage said that F1 has elevated the standard of sports movies. He said: "As a sports movie following some pretty tried and true tactics, F1 ups its game at every stage of things. This won't win it any awards for originality, but it still adds up to a real win." Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Damson Idris, co-star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, walk on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain... Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Damson Idris, co-star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, walk on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 09, 2023 in Northampton, England. MoreAddressing the work of Director Joseph Kosinski, he added: "On a technical level, F1 is impeccably put together. Kosinski and his frequent collaborator, Academy Award winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda, put cameras in just... all the places. Picking up where they left off with Top Gun: Maverick, F1 is filled with impossible angles and quick, robotic pans that make us feel like we're at the mercy of these rocketship machines" F1 aims to showcase the premier class of motorsport to a wider audience in an authentic way, and IGN's review hints it has achieved that goal. Cage added: "There's a deep cultural familiarity with what a Formula One race is supposed to look like onscreen. F1: The Movie gets that too. One shot puts you intimately and dangerously into the driver's seat while the next feels broadcast-worthy. "The editing does the same as well, thanks to Stephen Mirrione, another member of the pit crew with an Oscar in the garage. F1 is cut beautifully and peacefully in stretches, chaotically and nervously in others." He added: "All the pieces that you'd expect are there - and, again, plussing up the 'familiar' is the best thing Kosinski and his crew have done with F1. They've built a super-charged vehicle that can outdo the competition on almost every level - give or take a two-and-a-half-hour-plus runtime." Rotten Tomatoes With a score of 88% on the Tomatometer, F1 seems to have made its mark. Here are a few reviews by critics: Samuel Leggett Jr. stated: "It has it all, amazing camera work, astonishing racing scenes and locations, a great cast, & electric chemistry from Idris and Pitt! This film is truly one of the best films this year & one of the best racing films of all time. Will leave you breathless!" Doug Jamieson wrote: "Visually, it's undeniably impressive. But strip away the carbon fibre, and what remains is a movie filled with clichés, weak character arcs, and a script that strains to be inspirational while instead delivering a lot of empty noise." Stephanie Zacharek stated: "Brad Pitt, at 61, has finally aged into roles like these. And sometimes, as F1 proves, they're the best thing that can happen to a guy." BBC Nicholas Barber of the BBC described F1 as "the slick and shiny new summer popcorn film." However, he pointed out that "the biggest issue with F1, though, is not its insistence on showing its leading man in a flattering light, but its equivalent, fawning attitude towards Formula One itself." Comparing Kosinski's work on Top Gun: Maverick, he added: "While Top Gun: Maverick was a masterpiece that pulled viewers into events in and out of the cockpit, F1 is simply a competently assembled collection of underdog sports-drama clichés. It never convinces you that its protagonists are human beings, and never persuades you that Ruben's team are more worthy of support than their competitors. I was more invested in the podrace in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace than any of the races here." Rating F1 two out of five stars, Barber said the movie is best-suited for F1 fans. He concluded: "Making a film about a series of long races just wasn't a bright idea. Formula One enthusiasts may disagree, and they may be delighted that their beloved motorsport has been put on the big screen in such a laudatory fashion. Everyone else: this is not where you want to be." Attractions Magazine Connor Webber of Attractions Magazine has praised F1, likening it to Kosinski's work on Top Gun: Maverick. He stated: "What the 'F1: The Movie' team was able to accomplish with the camera work and editing is unreal. My heart dropped watching the camera move while the car is racing at 200 mph. There are no punches thrown in this film, but it has some of the best action in any movie this year." Awarding F1 with a score of 4.5/5, he added: "Just like 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 'F1: The Movie' never forgets the human element: the heart, the relationships that make the spectacle matter. The performances here aren't just passengers in the ride - they steer it (hehe)."
Newsweek
32 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Server Brings Baby to Party She's Working—Then a Guest Notices
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Social media users have praised a family who instantly stepped up to help a server at their party who brought her baby to work. Hilda Reza, 23, was attending a Catholic confirmation party in May with her family. While they were enjoying the celebrations, they noticed that one of the servers had her 4-month-old daughter in a stroller beside her while she worked. Many of the guests complimented the server on her "beautiful baby girl," and Reza told Newsweek that her family was more than happy to help her out with some babysitting duties throughout the night. "My family is very loving, especially when it comes to children, so of course they really wanted to hold her," Reza, of Minnesota, said. Several of the guests, including Reza's mother, held the baby throughout the party and ensured she was well cared for while her mother worked. They even took the baby onto the dance floor. Hilda Reza's mom holding the server's baby after noticing her at the party. Hilda Reza's mom holding the server's baby after noticing her at the party. @honey_hrm / TikTok "I believe the mom was happy with the inclusion, and with how well people handled the situation. I could see that she was really proud to talk about her baby when I asked how she was," Reza said. Thankfully, the server was able to tend to her daughter throughout the evening, and she didn't have to work for too long in total. Reza told Newsweek: "The party wasn't huge, so the server's job was over really fast. Of course, if any of us had seen baby cry at any point, we would have stepped up and helped her out." After seeing her family dote over the server's baby, Reza couldn't resist sharing a video on TikTok (@honey_hrm). In a matter of days, the video has gone viral with over 3 million views and more than 432,300 likes at the time of writing. She's been blown away by the online response to her video, but Reza hopes it can shine a light on the "hard-working mom" who had to bring her daughter to work. The caption alongside the video reads: "TikTok, do your work and bless this mama." The video has already garnered over 1,700 comments on TikTok, with many social media users praising the family for their help. Among the responses was a comment from the server herself, who wrote: "Thank you so much I really appreciate it, sending lots of love to your family as well." A TikTok user commented: "This made me tear up. Thank you for being kind." Another social media user wrote: "baby had the best night." While one comment reads: "Thank you! I'm sure she was scared but had no other choice! Some aren't fortunate to have the extra help!" Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Tom Brady Names the Greatest Wide Receiver in NFL History
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There are very few fans or analysts around the NFL who would disagree with the statement that Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all-time. Brady put together an illustrious career and was a Super Bowl contender year in and year out. He won seven Super Bowls during his career and also won three MVP awards. While he has not played in the league since 2022, he has remained very active in the NFL circle. Tom Brady speaks onstage at Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 20, 2025 in New York City. Tom Brady speaks onstage at Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 20, 2025 in New York City. Photo byHe has become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and is also enjoying his broadcasting career with Fox. Brady has been heard publicly more since retirement than he was during his playing days. Read more: Browns' Shedeur Sanders Gets Major Cut Warning Ahead of Training Camp Most recently, Brady spoke out and confidently named who he believes is the "GOAT" from a wide receiver perspective. In a video shared by Topps, Brady was seen opening a pack of cards. One of the cards that he pulled from the pack was a Jerry Rice card. He quickly named Rice the best wide receiver of all-time. "Gotta love me a Jerry Rice," Brady said. "Best receiver of all time." Just like Brady being the best quarterback of all-time, there are few who would debate that Rice belongs at the top of the wide receiver rankings. He put together an insane career and changed the game when it came to his position. Throughout his NFL career, Rice racked up 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns in 303 games. While the majority of his career was played for the San Francisco 49ers, he also had stints with the Raiders and a one-year stop with the Seattle Seahawks. Read more: Bears QB Caleb Williams Sends Clear Message to Packers Fans As for Brady, the superstar quarterback dominated his entire career. He played in 335 career games, completing 64.3 percent of his pass attempts for 89,214 yards, 649 touchdowns, and 212 interceptions. Right now, there is one player at each position who could threaten these two for their "GOAT" titles. Patrick Mahomes could push Brady for his at quarterback and Justin Jefferson might have a chance to push Rice at wide receiver. Regardless of what happens, the names Brady and Rice will never be forgotten in the NFL world. It's always good to see Rice receive the respect he deserves, especially from a player like Brady. For more Tom Brady and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
