Blizzard or not, two babies arrived on their own schedules

CEDAR RAPIDS - As the snow came down and the wind howled on Tuesday, two Jones County babies decided they wanted to make their way into the world.

“We were not planning on it whatsoever,” said Michelle Cain of Wyoming, Iowa, who went into labor Tuesday night during the blizzard.

“I would much rather deliver at home than deliver in a ditch somewhere,” she said - so she delivered her fourth son at her home with the help of volunteer paramedics.

What was she feeling after that experience?

“Disbelief that we actually made it through,” she said.

The paramedics brought Cain and her baby - unnamed as yet - to Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa shortly after the birth.

Jennifer Beaman of rural Jones County, meanwhile, arrived at the same hospital just in time for her fourth daughter to make her debut early Wednesday.

“It was an eventful night. A night I'll never forget,” she said.

A procession of snowplows, firetrucks and ambulances guided Beaman and her husband, LeRoy, to the hospital.

“I think it took us two hours to go, what, 10 miles?” LeRoy Beaman said.

And once the couple arrived, Maryannah Marie wasn't far behind.

“Within a half-hour she was there,” Jennifer Beaman said.

Doctors at Jones Regional don't normally deliver babies.

“Two babies in one day in a blizzard; I think they were pretty excited,” Cain said.

So both newborns were transferred to St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, where they were doing well Wednesday.

“I'm happy he's healthy and everything worked out fine,” Cain said.