January 6, 2005

Great expectations

Shepherd of the Valley preschool teacher expecting quads

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Jeff and Amy Adams passed on the traditional coos celebrating peace and happiness this holiday season. No sense to gloat in joy and they’re certain peace in the near future will be a lost cause—the couple recently discovered that they are expecting quadruplets in May.

Amy and Jeff Adams are expecting quads in May—four babies in one swoop of the stork.

However, the news poses a challenge for the growing family. Specifically, Jeff, an air-conditioning mechanic by trade, fell victim to the staggering U.S. economy last spring and remains in search of a job.

And, as of Jan. 1, the 28-year-old mom-to-be has taken an official maternity leave from her post at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool where she has worked teaching preschool for the past five years.

But despite the challenges, the most important news for the couple is that the babies are healthy—and growing quickly. They are the Adams’ miracle babies and they’ve worked hard to make their dream of becoming parents come true.

“The day before we found out we were pregnant Jeff got laid off at work,” recalled Amy. “Then it was like ‘OK. Here we go. We’ll figure a way out.’”

According to friends, and family, it’s a mutual victory between the four expected babies and their two thrilled parents. Perhaps a testament to the couple’s good nature and efforts to become parents, Amy and Jeff, who live in Santa Teresa, have received support virtually everywhere they’ve looked.

“Everybody’s been so great,” said Jeff. “We feel very fortunate. I’ve been overwhelmed by how our family on both sides has really come around us and been so willing to do what it takes. It’s amazing the amount of things given to us for the babies.”

Next to family, the church in particular has extended a large helping hand. The Shepherd of the Valley congregation and preschool will host a baby shower in a couple of weeks to celebrate the impending arrival of the Adams’ quads. Doors will be open to friends, family and supporters on Jan. 22 at the church on Redmond Avenue.

“There are no two better people to handle something like this,” said Beth Morrison, Amy’s mom and co-worker at the Shepherd of the Valley Preschool on Redmond Avenue. “They have desperately wanted a family and had been unable to do so up until now. A lot of people look at this like, ‘Oh, how horrible,’ but it’s not like that in their eyes.

This is a blessing.”

IVF offers a miracle
Nearly five years ago, the couple set out to start a family. Yet, for reasons unidentifiable to specialist after specialist, nothing seemed to work.

After three sad miscarriages, Amy and Jeff lost hope.

“It was a very difficult time,” said Amy, “very emotional.”

“It’s still to this day close to the surface,” added Jeff. “We felt all the pain and now we feel all of the joy.”

While Amy and Jeff searched formally and diligently for solutions to their fertility woes, Amy’s sister Heidi Morrison happened upon the family’s savior.

While training for a half-marathon, maintaining a vigorous running schedule accompanied by a group of local athletes, Morrison entered a supportive circle without knowing anyone.

One day she found herself sharing Amy’s story with a man whom she’d come to know around the track. He was especially interested in the details, she recalled.

“I would always see this guy running,” said Morrison. “He was a real nice guy and kept asking questions. Come to find out he was a fertility doctor at NOVA—a fertility treatment center in Palo Alto—and he said he would like to meet with Amy.”

Morrison relayed the message to her sister. An appointment followed and the doctor made an offer Amy and Jeff could not refuse. He agreed to treat them and subsidize the IVF procedure that would help Amy become pregnant.

Under normal circumstances the procedure costs between $9,000 and $12,000.

Soon they were making regular visits to NOVA. The In Vitro Fertilization process began in August with Amy taking a special medicine to prepare the eggs for fertilization.

Once a woman ovulates her eggs are removed, fertilized and replaced.

IVF is reportedly one of the most effective treatments available to help infertile couples achieve pregnancy.

According to the NOVA Web site, most couples have a 25 percent to 45 percent probability of a live birth per IVF procedure.

One visit, Amy went in and the doctor said, “This looks like a good cycle to perform IVF.”

“My first thought was that I don’t want a litter!” joked Amy. “But Jeff and I had decided that when it came down to it we would probably put in two.”

The doctor brought even better news.

“There were four healthy eggs,” recalled Amy. “So our decision was, do we use them all now or freeze them just in case. They read us all of the percentages and ultimately we decided to go ahead and use them all.”

Two days after the extraction, Amy and Jeff returned to learn how many embryos had formed. The results were positive for four and another incubation period was endured before the embryos were implanted.

Once the embryos were implanted, “We waited two very nervous and exciting weeks,” said Amy. “We got a good report and returned again. This time we sat while the doctor searched for heartbeats. There were four!”
Natural born parents

In departing on maternity leave last month, Amy took the first formal steps in caring for her babies. According to the couple’s doctor at Kaiser Permanente, quad moms are often bedridden for the final trimester. As a result, Jeff’s free time has and will continue to be—perhaps—more valuable than his working.

“I wouldn’t have wished to lose my job, but the way it’s worked out so far has been a blessing,” said Jeff, “a mixed blessing. I’m just blown away by the whole thing. I feel very fortunate. I really don’t have anything to compare it to yet.”

Amy left a classroom full of preschoolers behind. Both the staff and kids will miss her greatly.

“She’s very sweet,” said co-worker Lori Petrehn. “She’s the youngest one of all of us, so we kind of treat her like our daughter. We were all teasing her before she left because all she does is eat. Everyday she looks different because she’s growing so fast. We’re just so happy that her dream is coming true.”

“She’s a wonderful preschool teacher,” observed Janice Adams, Amy’s mother-in-law. “She is so obviously loved. Everybody was crying when she left. I know Jeff and Amy are going to make it just fine.”

“All that remains is lots of praying,” summed Amy. “It’s all been really wonderful, financial stress aside. Now we’re just trying to get ready for the babies.”

“It’s great for them,” added Shepherd of the Valley Pastor Robert Weller. “Amy’s going to be a great mom and Jeff a great Dad. What a blessing to the family. Unfortunately, we could still sure use Amy’s help around the preschool. If all of our teachers were as dedicated as Amy we’d be in wonderful shape. She really cares about kids.”

Good thing, too—for four reasons.

For more information regarding the Adams’ Jan. 22 baby shower, contact Shepherd of the Valley at (408) 997-4848.