continued...

to read parts 1 & 2 read here & here

It was a warm, sunny August morning. I remember standing in the kitchen, with my giant belly full of babies, giving hugs and kisses & walking out the door on my way to my specialist appointment. I wanted to drive the van, but at the last minute my husband convinced me to drive his Honda civic. I stopped by my dear friends home, only a few blocks away. She was standing in the doorway as I walked up, grinning at the sight of my enormous belly. I handed her a gift and hugged Gavin as he ran inside with his friend. I took the back way, down a windy road. It was beautiful and peaceful. I talked with my dad on the phone, asked how I was doing & told me of us extremely busy day. We got off the phone and then Paul called. He just had to tell me that he had just cracked a double yolk while making the boys eggs for breakfast. I smiled, he told me he loved me & after hearing the seat belt chime, he told me to buckle up. And I did. I came to the end of the windy back road and pulled out onto the busy road. Traffic was steady. I remember sitting at a red light, the light turned green, I shifted into 1st and started down the road. I looked into my rear view mirror and saw the large SUV that was behind me at the light, just sitting there, the driver appeared to be looking down, at a phone. The traffic in front of me slowed and we all crept to a stop at the next red light. I glanced in my rear view mirror again and saw that large SUV barreling down the road, the driver still looking down. I knew what was going to happen.....

She hit me, she hit me hard and my whole body flew forward & gigantic belly, full of babies slammed into the steering wheel. My chest screamed, my belly contracted, my whole body trembled & tears welled up in my eyes. I think I called 911 & then Paul. I knew I was okay, but knew something was wrong too. She had smashed the trunk into the back seat & pushed me a few car lengths into the car in front of me. The man in front of me came to check on me, his eyes were as wide as saucers when he saw my giant belly smooched between the seat and the steering wheel. My belly was still contracting, hard, and I couldn't feel my usually very active babies moving at all. The ambulance arrived, they tried to find the babies heart beats, but couldn't. Those few moments felt like hours, the fear, the pain, the emotions... at last I felt a slight movement. I took a deep breath as a sigh of relief & the pain brought tears to my eyes. Something was wrong. But what?

In the ER they asked me a few questions, quickly, and sent me straight to Labor and Delivery to make sure the babies were okay. I remember seeing Paul with baby Ozzie in his arms run around the corner with Grayson & Vance following behind. They monitored the babies, they seemed okay, slightly stressed but okay. My dad arrived, his extremely busy day had amazingly canceled, one by one, and now he was here. He took the boys and we headed down to have a detailed ultrasound to check my placenta. I needed to use the restroom before the ultrasound. As I tried to stand up from the wheel chair I gasped in pain, Paul opened the door & I walked in. I sat down & pain screamed through my chest. I tried to stand up and more pain. I walked to the door, tried to open it & the pain took all my strength away. I called for Paul and he opened the door for me. The pain was overwhelming but all I cared about was my babies. The ultrasound showed that my placenta had not yet erupted but was showing signs of pulling away from the uterine wall. My belly was contracting more and more, by body knew and I knew these babies were coming.

My chest hurt, it hurt more than I could have imagined, but I was in labor, there were babies coming & it was just sore from hitting the steering wheel right?! Labor progressed and it was time to deliver our babies. I had no strength left in me, I couldn't lift myself to push, I couldn't hold a deep breath. Filled with God's strength and with my husband & anesthesiologist pushing me forward I pushed 2 perfect babies girls out, one little breath at a time. They were alive, I was alive & God held us all in his arms.

24 comments:

  1. Wow! We were in an accident when I was 37 weeks pregnant with my first. We were moving cross country and were on the border of Kansas and Colorado when an ice storm hit. We hit a patch of ice, went skidding in the milemarker, flying over the patch of grass median, then across the incoming lanes of traffic (thankfully no one was on the road!), spun around and landed in huge snow drift. I was driving and was scared to death!

    Thankfully, baby and I were fine. But I totally feel for you... this must have been so frightening!

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  2. Thanks for continuing to share this story with us. This part is terrifying. I definitely wasn't a reader yet at this point in your blog... I have identical twins also. How many weeks were you when this happened?

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  3. I remember your friend Shelly posting about what had happened like it was yesterday. God was watching out for you - no doubt about it! I can't imagine the pain you must have been in!

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  4. I remember this day, how hard I prayed. I am so glad you and those babies were ok.

    Steph

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  5. brittanyclaire3/15/11, 1:07 PM

    Thanks for letting me share. {grin} Now if I can just keep on going with the story!

    I was a day shy of 35 weeks.

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  6. Oh goodness, this is so terribly sad, but at the same time so wonderful. I am so happy that your two baby girls were okay and that you were as well. x

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  7. brittanyclaire3/15/11, 1:08 PM

    oh my, that would be so frightening. So glad to were both okay.

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  8. brittanyclaire3/15/11, 1:08 PM

    oh yes, God was there big time! :)

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  9. So scary but so glad to hear everything turned out all right. I was similiarly rear-ended while 24 weeks pregnant with my twins. It was the longest minutes of my life as the dr.s searched for those tiny heartbeats after the accident. After none could be detected, I was immediatley sent don for US which Thank God showed that all was alright!

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  10. I can't believe that this happened. I only recently found your blog (and LOVE all of you guys!) and I didn't know the things you've been through. I thought you were strong before, but now? You're amazing and I can see that God was watching out for you 3 precious girls. I am so happy that this story has a happy ending. Your girls are lovely

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  11. I can't believe that this happened. I only recently found your blog (and LOVE all of you guys!) and I didn't know the things you've been through. I thought you were strong before, but now? You're amazing and I can see that God was watching out for you 3 precious girls. I am so happy that this story has a happy ending. Your girls are lovely

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  12. wow, *tears* can't wait to read the rest of your story, thank you for sharing!

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  13. I love the last sentence. To not hear a heart beat when they first listened. Scary. So glad you all were okay.

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  14. Yes, and....I can't take it!

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  15. Billmissandbrodo3/15/11, 8:12 PM

    oh my gosh my heart is pounding!! Although I was reading at the time they were born, I have never read the detailed story of it!! please write the rest FAST!!!! =)

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  16. I was reading your blog before you were pregnant with the girls and I remember reading about this accident. Even though I wasn't there I can still feel the emotions I first had when I read about those events. I so praise God that you and those girls are here and healthy! We serve such an amazing God don't we?!

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  17. While I read about the accident, I never realized how much or how bad that actual accident was. I am so sorry! So glad you and the girls are alive and well today!

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  18. Goodness....even knowing the outcome, it is horrifying reading this! So glad God was protecting you and the girls that day!!

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  19. sixcrazychildren3/16/11, 12:53 AM

    I remember this like it was yesterday......

    counting blessings

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  20. Elaine in Ohio3/16/11, 10:14 AM

    It was either that day or the day after that I started following your blog. I prayer request had been sent out and that is how I found you. :) I too prayed that day, for you and your girls. I am so glad you had/have a happy ending! Thank-you for sharing your life with us, I am blessed by it.

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  21. Wow, tears. I can't imagine the emotions you went through. I started following your blog shortly after the accident so I never heard the full story. Praise God for His protection!

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  22. Yeah, that brought some tears to my eyes...so glad you are all ok and that I have you here now!! ;)

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  23. wow, i'm on the edge of my seat, brittany!! i can't wait for part 4!

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  24. I can only imagine what you were feeling when the couldn't find the babies heart beats right away. I'm just so glad you were all okay.

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Thank you for blessing me with your words!

Brittany