Madylin Suzanne Housley: the birth story...a very unusual one

October 25, 2012
6 lbs 10 ozs 19 inches
3:57 p.m.
Due Date: Nov. 1 (so she was a week early)
Name: Madylin Suzanne, we knew her name shortly after learning she was a girl.  We both like "Madylin" and Suzanne is after Taylor's mom. 


Towards the end of my pregnancy, I just felt like Madylin would be born on (or by) October 26.  I asked my doctor is she would induce me on the 26th--and she would, but she was going to be out of town that day.  So she scheduled me for Monday, October 29.  But I still felt like she was going to be born on the 26th.  I've never gone into labor on my own, in fact, I thought my body would never go into labor on its own, that I was just one of those, "I need a little jump start and then I'm fine."

The evening of the 24th, I was feeling uncomfortable and not so great.  I even told Taylor that I thought I was in "pre-labor."  I couldn't sleep that night because of the contractions (not very strong or consistant) and between the contractions my mind was racing about the upcoming baby and the excitement of having a girl.  Finally by 2 am, I fell asleep, just to be up again at 4:45...and then again at 7. 

By 7 am my contractions became painful.  I knew they were good contractions, and honestly, I didn't really time them.  I don't know why.  I did time one of them and it was 7 minutes apart, but that's the only one I timed.  So I assume they were about 7-10 minutes.  I told Taylor I was having contractions ... and I must not have looked like I was in pain because he went to work.  Actually, I had a doctors appointment at 10:20, so we both were of the mindset, "We'll see what happens at the appointment."  I got up and started to get ready.  I felt like I should tell my mom to keep her phone close--so I called her and it was bad timing on my part.  I just had a contraction and when I started to tell her that, I started crying.  The contractions hurt! I told her I was fine and she should go to her appointment.  She was worried though so she called my sister.  My sister called shortly after, again, after another contraction, and I started crying again.  So she said she'd come and get my boys for me.  Once she was at our house and she saw that the contractions were stopping me in my tracks, she insisted on driving me to my appointment.  And when I say insist, she even called into her work and told them she wouldn't be there.  I felt so bad but she was a rockstar.  I often am one that "will do it on my own" or "I can do it on my own" and need someone that will just say, "no, I will help you." And that is exactly what my sister did for me.  She helped get Beau dressed and helped me pack my hospital bag. 

And here comes the unusual part.

We got into a car accident.  A bad car accident.  It was my sister, myself, my niece, and my two boys in the car, if you know my family size then you may have realized that the car included my parents entire posterity. 

The weather the night before dropped dramatically and snowed through the night.  That drop in temperature impacted us because all the lights at the stoplight were frosted over.  Literally, you could NOT see what color the light was until you were in the intersection.  My sister checked the warning light that blinks when the stoplight is red but it wasn't blinking (we later learned it was frosted over as well) and the cars at the intersection were stopped so she assumed our light was green.  As we approached I realized you couldn't see the color.  As we were approacing/entering the intersection I noticed you could barely see it was red.  I looked down and say the cross cars beginning to move and then the moment came that I knew we were going to hit. 

We t-boned a car.  Our airbags deployed.  It was a blessing we weren't in my minivan since the hood is shorter than my sisters sedan.  After we hit, the first thing I remember were the kids crying in the backseat.  My sister and I looked at each other and I guess we assumed we were both ok because then I thought I needed to call 911. 

My sisters first words, I think, were "She's 9 months pregnant, she's in labor!" Because then two ladies were at my door asking, "have you felt the baby move?" and "are you having contractions?" and "we need to time contractions." I was on the phone with 911 and after I told them where we were, I wanted to call Taylor, but 911 wouldn't let me hang up.  So I motioned to a high school girl that was standing outside looking at the wreckage to come to my door.  She came and I asked her to call Taylor.  Bless her heart, I don't know who she was or told her thank-you.  She called Taylor and he got the dreaded call, "Your wife asked me to call.  She has been in a car accident."  ...Now, Taylor had no idea that my contractions picked up or that my sister came over to help because they were so bad.  I had figured I'd call him after my appointment to give him more details instead of him worrying at work.  It literally felt like 2 minutes before Taylor was there. 

Isaac was the most scared.  He wanted to be held so bad.  Beau cried at first too but I gave him a pacifier and he was ok as long as I held his hand. 

As soon as we hit, I felt pain in my ankle.  And it took a little while to feel contractions again.  When Taylor showed up I wanted him to take us to the hospital.  The firefighter said I was "stable" (ha, I think that's funny) and that Taylor could take me and the boys to the hospital. 

We also called my dad.  He has big board meetings 4 times a year.  He happened to be in one of those meetings when we called, and not only in the meeting, but presenting in the meeting.  I'm grateful that he was reachable and able to leave.  He, too, felt like he was there in 2 minutes. 

Taylor took me and the boys to the hospital.  My dad staying with Katie (my niece) until the car was towed.  And my sister, who had neck and back pain, was taken by ambulance to the hospital. 

Once at the hospital, I went straight to Labor and Delivery.  I got hooked up to monitors, I was dilated to a 4 and 70 percent effaced and my contractions were now 2-5 minutes apart and boy did they hurt! (The week before I was dilated to a 2 and only 30 percent effaced)

I was admitted at noon, they broke my water at 2:00, pushing at 3:45 and Madylin was born about ten minutes later at 3:57. 

Madylin was healthy as can be. 

The only injury in our car from the accident was my ankle.  If you saw a picture of the accident, you might be surprised that that was the worst injury in our car.  I had x-rays done at the hospital and look like I sprained my ankle.  I went to the doctor a week later and because of the amount of swelling I still had, I had more x-rays done, an ultrasound to make sure I didn't have blood clots in my leg, and an MRI done.  I'm still waiting on the MRI results because it looks like I may have also ruptured my calf muscle. 

All in all, it was a crazy day.  I'm grateful to my sister who was there to help me.  We obviously didn't plan or wish to be in a car accident but it's amazing how truly protected we were. 

I've been so blessed to have a very easy recovery from having Madylin.  (No stitches, no tears) The only thing that I am "dealing with" is my ankle in a walking boot.  The boot makes everything harder and take longer, but I am so grateful that we were all safe and that Madylin entered the world healthy, so I can't complain one bit. 

Welcome Madylin! Hopefully the drama that occurred to get you here sucked all potential drama out of your life to come!! ....one can hope, right?? ;)