Things don’t always go according to plan.
I learned this in a rather dramatic way. On the morning of July 2, 2016, my wife and I both woke up with a terrible stomach virus. In our eight years of marriage, we have never been sick at the same time. Except for that day.
And at this point, you may be shaking your head thinking, “Yep, things don’t always go according to plan.”
But friend. Oh dear friend. You don’t even know.
I woke to the sound of Ivy crying in her nursery around 7am. I knew immediately that I was sick. It’s a dreadful feeling. Holly awoke around the same time and it was clear she was not feeling well either.
Taking care of a toddler when you have a stomach virus is a fool’s errand. It felt like all the energy had left my body, but somehow I had to muster the strength to change her diaper and feed her breakfast.
Ivy cried all the way through breakfast. Normally I’m able to respond to her needs quickly, but I was moving slow that morning, and Ivy could tell. She wasn’t happy about it.
I turned on Netflix and played Ivy’s favorite movie at the time, Curious George. She was finally content and I passed out on the couch, trying to get as much sleep as I could.
Curious George ended at 8:30am and Ivy began to cry. By this point, Holly and I were both laying down on couches in our living room. We were arguing about who should help Ivy.
Tensions were running high. We were not communicating well. But when you have a crying toddler and a mom and dad both infected by stomach viruses, it’s hard to remain calm and rational.
We realized we needed help, so I texted some of our friends and explained the situation. People were quick to respond and asked if we needed anything.
Shortly after I sent that text, I threw up for the first time that morning.
Not long after that Holly had the case of the double dragon (stuff coming out both ends). It was a morning from hell.
At this point, reader, I imagine you reading this, maybe even slapping your knee saying, “Well brother, things really don’t go according to plan.”
You still don’t know the half of it. Because up to this point I have left out the most important detail. On July 2, 2016, Holly was 37 weeks pregnant.
After a morning game I like to call, “Who Can Throw Up the Most?”, we decided that we needed to ask one of our friends to come over and watch Ivy for the afternoon. Holly and I desperately needed rest.
Our friend Elle came over and brought us some Sprite and Gatorade and took Ivy out for the afternoon.
Around 12:30pm, Holly and I fell asleep, finally with some peace and quiet.
I remember Holly waking up around 1:30 in pain. She was having contractions every 3-4 minutes. We decided to call the doctor for advice. The doctor suggested Holly drink as much water as possible to try to slow the contractions down.
I started texting my friends asking for prayer: “Please pray that the contractions slow down.” I couldn’t handle the thought of welcoming a child into the world on that day. Please Lord, any other day.
Holly couldn’t keep her fluids down. She went to the bathroom around 2:15pm. Holly was clearly in pain and her contractions were not slowing down. It was obvious that our baby girl was coming that day, so now it was a matter of getting into the car and racing to the hospital.
I started collecting random things to take with us and Holly screamed from our bathroom, “CALL 911!!!”
My whole life flashed before my eyes.
In my head, I thought, “Oh no. No, this is not happening. This can’t be happening!!”
“Holly, what’s going on???”
“This baby is coming out of me RIGHT NOW!!!!”
I called 911 immediately.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
(I was in such shock that I didn’t really know how to answer that)
“Ok, you are not going to be believe this!! My wife and I both woke up with stomach viruses this morning…”
Holly screamed, “JUST TELL THEM I’M HAVING A BABY!!!!”
“Oh, also, my wife is having a baby right now!”
(Good job, Mark)
The 911 operator responded, “Where is your wife right now?”
“She’s sitting on our toilet!”
“OK sir, I need you to get your wife on the ground and get her comfortable. Grab a pillow and a towel.”
I obeyed like a dog who’s ‘Best in Show.’
The operator then asked me about Holly’s symptoms: “How is her breathing? What is her pain level?”
“Uh, uh…”
“Can you see the baby’s head?”
I took a peek.
“Yes, I can see the head.”
Then she said the most terrifying words any human being has ever spoken to me…
“Sir, now I’m going to walk you through the step by step process on how to deliver your baby.”
My life flashed before my eyes again.
(I will say, by this point, I didn’t feel sick anymore. I was running on pure adrenaline. So if you are wondering what the cure is for a stomach virus, try delivering a baby).
The 911 operator was barking directions at me: “Make sure your wife is laying down on her back! Make sure she is comfortable!”
“Okay!”
“Now grab a shoelace and a safety-pin. This will be to clamp the umbilical cord when the baby is born.”
I found the nearest shoe and frantically was trying to pull out the shoelace. I looked like one of those ‘Minute to Win It’ contestants who has absolutely no chance of winning.
I asked, “Is there an ambulance coming!!!???”
“They will be arriving soon.”
Within minutes, I could hear sirens in the distance, maybe the greatest sound I have ever heard.
The woman on the phone instructed me to go to the front door and leave it open. I moved a couch out-of-the-way for EMS.
EMS arrived within 6 minutes of placing my 911 call. It all happened so fast, but 6 six men were all the sudden in our bedroom, getting ready to help my wife deliver our baby girl.
They literally transformed our bedroom into a delivery room in two minutes.
Those six men will forever be heroes in my eyes. They were calm, and helped Holly get as comfortable as possible. They were all light-hearted and upbeat.
Holly was freaking out though.
Understandably.
“HAVE YOU GUYS EVER DONE THIS BEFORE!!?”
(Totally reasonable question to ask six strangers)
“Yes ma’am. Between all of us, we have delivered over 30 babies.”
“Ok, ok.”
They kept telling my wife how awesome she was. They really were amazing. I felt calm and relieved for the first time that day. I knelt down next to Holly, grabbed her hand, and said, “Let’s do this babe.”
Holly pushed twice and our daughter was born.
At 2:50pm, Beatrice Paige Dodd was born on our bedroom floor. Holly had a fully natural birth. No pain meds. No nothing. All natural.
All of us in the room marveled at Beatrice. She was perfect. Holly and Beatrice were lifted onto a stretcher and taken to the ambulance. I followed shortly behind, not caring about all the discomfort of the day. Just in awe of our little girl.
EMS drove us to the hospital and they stayed with us until we got checked into our room. I took a picture of them all hovering around Holly and Bea.
And that was that.
On July 2, 2016, I didn’t expect to wake up with a stomach virus. I didn’t plan on almost delivering a baby. I didn’t think I would be holding my daughter that day.
But things don’t always go according to plan. And that’s alright.
Dodd Squad 