December 26, 2012 came and went, the original first due date. Sometimes it’s hard to really know whether the due dates given by doctors are the actual due dates or if the baby and God have a totally different plan. In the birth of Cohen, he and God definitely had a different plan; a plan that would prove to be the best, most divine plan of all.

Most of my pregnancy with Cohen was quite the adventure. I was put on bed rest and feet up more times than I care to recall and it seems even in the womb he was being formed with incredible intention and purpose not to be messed with by man. At every turn I submitted to the wisdom given but to say it was easy would be an understatement. I have two other beautiful babes that need their mama and oh how gracious they have been during this very long season of mommy not being able to jump and do for them all the things they have grown accustomed to. To say they were team players would be the understatement of the century. They went above and beyond the call of duty and that goes for their magnificent daddy too. He was burning the oil at both ends and never once, even to this day, have I heard him complain.

Cohen. On the outside. (pacifier shown in actual size)

The news of my pregnancy was long awaited, most exciting news. Jared and I had prayed and asked the Lord for a son for over seven years to carry on the Adam’s name, to fill our home with even more joy and laughter. The fruit of the womb is God’s reward! I delight to know He would entrust me with this gift of all gifts.

I spent the first trimester sick with a virus and no voice. Funny how when God is trying to get a point across He will allow any measure to grab our attention. In this situation He was saying, Be Still and Know that I AM GOD! Those of you who know me surely know being still is a practiced behavior that I haven’t had a lot of practice at until now. Then the second trimester brought a subchorionic hematoma that had to be monitored weekly until it resolved. I can honestly say throughout the entire pregnancy there was a grace that ensued and God carried the baby and I through it all. I gained an amazing 67 pounds and every pound of that felt amazing. Sure I had my days of feeling like a hippo wondering how I would continue to make it up and down the stairs but nonetheless, I did, we did.

Cohen’s ‘Blue Steel.’ “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking.”

We watched Christmas come and go, a wonderful Christmas at that. We watched New Years come and go, a wonderful News Years indeed. Living out of backpacks that sat ready and waiting, we watched the first week of January come and go and the second, all the while making mobility a bit of a challenge, a challenge we got a few good laughs about.

It was the week of January 14, 2013 and i had been awakened with the sense of needing to contact a dear friend of mine, Melissa Eikenberry, whom I had walked through Counseling training with. It had been a while since we had actually seen each other but did our best to stay in touch now and again. I had asked her to pray and tell me if she was hearing anything from the Lord in regards to the arrival of our son. It was barely five minutes later and she responded with a clear message to “sing him out”. Well interestingly enough Jared and I had sensed something similar that very morning and God was using this relationship to bring confirmation to what was in our hearts. That evening at about 10 o clock, Jared grabbed his guitar and for the next hour he sang songs in the spirit that had never been written here on earth. Songs so powerful both he and I were in tears as we felt the tangible presence of the Lord in the room. I began to feel gentle movements and rhythms in my womb and fell asleep with such peace knowing God was surely in this place.
1:10am: I wake to use the restroom and shortly after fall fast asleep. 1:30am: I wake with a funny cramping feeling in my belly thinking surely I was dreaming. I fall back asleep. 2:30am: I wake with the same cramping feeling only more intense, I drop to the floor and begin intense breathing. I rise to get back in bed and drop to the floor again, soon realizing this was GO time. In between contractions I pat Jared on the arm and say, “this is it, he’s coming his own way, his own time”. The next hour becomes a quick blur and as I continue to stop, drop and breathe, Jared tries to gather our things to the car. Thank God the Eichenbergs are quick responders, they were here to watch the girls in record timing. Jared made a call to our midwife and after she listened to me breath over the phone she said if you plan to get to Spectrum you better call an ambulance cuz he’s coming fast. It was then we decided staying local was the better idea.

I fought the law…

Thank God Doran was a fast driver and fully believed in running any and all red lights because we almost delivered on the side of the road. As I had my face pressed up against the cold window, breathing on hands and knees in the back seat, I began to plead with Jared to phone ahead to get the epidural ready cuz’ surely no one could live through pain like this. Any woman claiming to have surely wasn’t telling the whole story. ☺

Not a re-enactment.
This is legit David-After-Dentist real life.

We arrive at the ER just in time for me to fall out of the car, lose my shoes on the way in and hit the ground just through the sliding doors of which continued to open and close through the next three contractions. I am on all fours needing to push and the sweet security guy is ranting, “ma’am, ma’am, please, please do not have this baby on the ground, please, the hospital does not look kindly on these matters.” After the fifth time of him repeating himself, my husband graciously says, “sir, she is in the middle of a contraction, there will be no reasoning with her.” In between contractions, I do manage to sit in the wheelchair for a good fifteen seconds until the next one hits with a vengeance. As I am being wheeled to an ER room, I see several nurses setting up for the arrival of our son, I see a doctor coming down the hall with his gown and mask on in a frantic state. I hear him saying, “OB wants me to check her, I don’t know why I have to check her, we need to get her upstairs stat.” Well, he does proceed to check me about four times and after each check he proclaims, “she’s fully dilated, this baby is coming.” I have several attendants holding my legs and we are breathing through the contractions and pushing. I am nearly stepping outside of my mind, I mean really, what else was there to do in this situation. Right about then, an angel of the Lord appeared unto me in the form of an OB doctor by the name of Dr. Goetjes. She got down to my eye level and with the calmest voice she said, “Sweetie, we will get you upstairs just in time to have this baby.” I asked her if I could have an epidural first and she said, we need to get you upstairs and then we will see. Later I realize that was her kind way of saying, no, there is no time. I barely remember the transport from the ER to the OB floor. I remember not seeing my husband anywhere but seeing my doula, Molly Kehrer right by my side. My husband got caught outside the elevator as the doors were swinging shut. He will have to blog about his own experience here because it is filled with much humor.

Ready to leave the hospital.
Wait, we just GOT here.

The delivery room was dimly lit, peaceful and reassuring. There was one nurse, one doctor, my doula, my husband and soon to be son. I pushed several times and was then told, “he is sunny side up, we need to get him rotated, let’s change positions.” Three pushes in a new position and little buddy had spun himself in the right positioning for birth. A few more pushes and we welcomed Cohen Orion Emersondean Adams into our world. What a sight for sore eyes. What a delight to our hearts. He came out most perfectly and rested quickly on my chest.

A few things I did not mention earlier that I will share now is that I was positive for strep B and because he came so very fast, there was no time to treat me for strep B or for the epidural I had requested. Our prayer and plan all along was that God would cover his little body from strep B and that delivery would move so quickly it would leave me no room to change my plan and opt for every drug known to man. I would like to think I am quite tough but when push comes to shove (no pun intended), I do sometimes wonder.  I will also add, our three babies from Haiti should be home the first of summer. What an adventure it has been believing God each step of the way for their arrival. Angels have made their presence known time and again throughout this journey. I am so very grateful.

Should you ever wonder if there is a God, a supreme being, wonder no more! Surely He is here in this place!

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Related show

• All Entertainment Inc: Jeremy Hoekstra and Cara Maat
• Date: Friday, June 15th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• City: Jeremy Hoekstra and Cara Maat in Holland Michigan
• Venue: Lemonjellos
• Address: 61 e. Ninth Street Holland, MI 49423
• Venue phone: 616.928.0699
• Country: United States
• Admission: $5
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: Join us June 15, 2012 at 7p for a super fun night at Lemonjellos in downtown Holland Michigan. Great coffee, fantastic music, joyful mingling and a ton of great things to win including a Great Lakes hot tub! You won’t want to miss this Adoption Fundraiser Event! Come one, come all. Our dear singer/songwriter friends, Jeremy Hoekstra and Cara Maat will be providing an evening of wonderful tunage. Annagail isn’t performing because we’ll be too busy sipping java and loving on YOU!
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The Cabin Sessions // 2010

Download Your Copy Today! Click Here!

Annagail has always defied and stretched genres. But this focused EP, produced by Nashville hit-maker Keith Follese’ (Emerson Drive, Everfound, Adam Gregory) for Bigger Dog Productions, is a four song glimpse into the collection of influences that come through in their songs. Electronic flourishes meet undeniable organic hooks. It perfectly captures the powerful dynamics they’re known for. The production of this stellar project moves and builds each song into veritable anthems.

Annagail’s “If All I Had” has been included on the new “We Are The World” disc released to radio. Annagail’s radio promoter for their current single “If All I Had,” Rick Hendrix Company, and “We Are the World” have partnered to release the song. Following the earthquake in Haiti, which devastated the area, it was agreed that the song would be re-recorded by new artists, in the hope that it would reach a new generation and help benefit the people of Haiti. The song was recorded in fourteen hours by over eighty artists on February 1, and was released and debuted on February 12, 2010, during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Rick Hendrix and his Rick Hendrix Foundation have been active in Haiti since the devastation. “We opened several short term medical facilities in the area and treated over 5000 people within 9 days,” stated Lavon Coleman chairman of the Rick Hendrix Foundation. The Hendrix company’s heart is on Haiti and feels the partnership with “We Are the World 25 for Haiti” is a perfect fit.

“We are honored to be included on such an amazing project,” say’s Annagail’s Jared Adams. “It’s humbling…not only for the scope of it’s compassion but to be listed alongside some truly legendary artists like The Gaither Vocal Band to Michael Jackson and the myriad of artists that this song brought together. Annagail’s Jennifer Adams agrees, “We are grateful and can only pray this helps the situation in Haiti and brings more awareness to the on-going needs.”

I carry in my heart womb 3 year old twins and a 4 week old, I carry in my womb an 8 week old. Do you need to read that last line again? I don’t blame you,  I needed to as well.

I mean really, why do in 7 years what you can do in less than 2 months. Only the Master Creator could be behind a move like this. That’s right my lovely readers, you are picking up what I am laying down. I am expecting yet another sweet little miracle. I could not and I repeat, could not, be more elated. Initially I thought I was experiencing all of these symptoms due to my 3 heart pregnancies but it would appear as though it is that plus 1!

When we told the girls this morning, they must have jumped up and down and spun in circles singing “Adams family, party of 8, your table is ready” 500 times.  I love the sound of that. Nothing is ever wasted in God’s world. 8 signifies new beginnings. I dare say, this is a new beginning for the Adams family. A newer beginning than I could have ever imagined for myself. Grateful doesn’t come close to the way I feel.

So if you see me at the grocery store with my 8 year old, my 5 year old, my 2-3 year olds, my 1 year old, my newborn and my hair isn’t done, my socks don’t match and there’s peanut butter on my butt, please, by all means, come over and offer me a brush and a wipe. I’ll gratefully receive your kind gesture.

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:2-4

We are still raising much needed funds to bring our three haitian beauties home. Please donate what you are able and share our story with as many people as you can. Most of you follow our journey fairly closely. So for those of you who do not, we wanted you to know that the funds that were being raised for our last adoption that turned out to be a scam, were used toward this adoption and it paid for passports, legal document copies, medical evaluations and our application fee. Those fees were not included in our 36k. Please be reassured it was used for what it was intended.

We still need to raise 5k more by Friday and then after that we will still have another 31k to go! It takes a village to raise a child, a village to pay to bring a child home, 8 villages to raise 8 children and 3 villages to bring 3 babies home from Haiti. Will you please do all you can. We are so grateful for all of your support. 

Oh in case you are wondering, it is very common for us to call each other chocolate and vanilla in our family. We have this little game we play and we pretend to nibble each other’s arms and well, we think we taste like chocolate and vanilla. It just works for our family. I like having sisters from Haiti. I think I am the luckiest girl alive. I am also a miracle. My Mom has had a very hard time getting pregnant. The doctors told her she would never have kids. Well, Jesus really wanted me with them because here I am. It wasn’t easy getting here and when I was born I wasn’t breathing. I breathe really good now. I’m glad. My Mom got pregnant after 7 years of trying and my little sister, Amber Eileen, only lived about 2 months in her womb. We were all very sad. It’s hard to describe just how sad I was. My mom and dad were really sad too. We know Amber is in Heaven. She is dancing with the angels is what my mom tells me. We were ready to adopt an older sister from Haiti but something bad happened and she wasn’t able to come home with us. My mom said it felt the same as when Amber went to be with Jesus. I am always amazed at how we can be sad but then so happy again. I am pretty sure Jesus helps us with that. When we talk to Jesus and sing to Him, my heart gets happy. My dad says a lot, “God makes all things new” I think I know what that means. It means we are now matched with not one, not two but three new little sisters. Wow. I can hardly believe it. I am beyond jumping up and down. Like if you could see me right now, I am doing summersaults and crazy cartwheels where I land on my head and stuff. Mom and dad said we need to raise support to bring my sisters home. I am doing a lemonade stand and making jewelry to sell. My parents are speaking at churches and stores and things. They tell our story a lot but I never get tired of hearing it.

We need to raise 36 thousand dollars. I don’t really know how much that is but my mom says, it could buy a lot of American girl dolls and accessories. Each of my sister’s dossiers/adoption will cost $12 thousand dollars. Good thing it’s broken down into payments. Our first payment is due in 2 weeks. That is $6 thousand dollars to send in our dossier and to get my sister’s dossiers finalized. Then July 1, 2012 we have to pay another $12 thousand dollars, that’s $4 thousand per each sister to go into the IBESR. My mom tells me the IBESR is the Haitian social services where they gather facts and paperwork to approve our adoption. The remainder of the money isn’t due until the end of August, that will cover my sisters Visas and final paperwork from the court. We get to fly to Haiti to see them once we are approved in the IBESR. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I do voice overs for the Hands and Feet project.  That has helped me learn so much about Haiti. I love Haiti and I love my sisters.

If you would like to help us bring my sisters home I would be so thankful and I would love to know who you are and have your address so I can make you a thank you card. I am very good at making thank you cards. My mom says I am one artistic kid. Oh and do you think you could send me a picture? I like to see all my new friends.

Here’s a picture of my family and me.

A fine chocolate and vanilla mix

Here is a picture of my new little sisters.  Aren’t they yummy?

One of our lovely daughters, (and namesake of the band) Faith Annagail, has added “voice-over talent” to her resume.   She just completed a voice over for our friends at The Hands And Feet Project who do some amazing work in and around Jacmel Haiti.  The organization and orphanage was started by the late, great Audio Adrenaline and continues to bring awareness and relief to the suffering and devastation there.  The video she was involved in is a VBS project and is a free video based “add on” to a church’s existing VBS curriculum.  She was a natural in the studio, to no one’s surprise, and already has several more “in the works.”   Crazy…she can say she has job experience already.  She’ll be a veteran by 7 years old.  The project is five 3 minute video segments hosted by children from the Hands and Feet Project in Haiti. The videos describe day-to-day living at an orphanage in Haiti, and aim to teach, entertain and inspire.
The goal is to partner with churches and VBS programs to raise money to build homes and care for the orphans of Haiti.  Check it out below and pass it on.