Leaping into the world
<p>Twin boys Shiloh and Costa Lambas were born just before 1 p.m. on Monday, leap day, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
Five babies, including twins, born in Cd’A on leap day
COEUR d'ALENE — Shiloh and Costa Lambas were due on April 7, but they couldn't wait that long to leap into the world.
The twins were born to Spencer and Jessica Lambas at 12:50 p.m. in the birthing center of Kootenai Health on Monday, earning the babies the distinction of being "leaplings" for having a leap day birthday.
They'll celebrate their first official birthday in 2020.
"I was hoping that it would be today just because it would be fun as they grow older," Spencer said just after becoming a leap day daddy twice. "It's memorable."
Leap day birthdays can only happen during leap years, when February has an extra day to rectify the yearly calendar. The odds of being born on leap day are one in about 1,461. Twins on leap day is even more rare. But Shiloh and Costa's story includes another piece that adds to their uniqueness.
"We did an embryo rescue," Spencer said. "These guys are adopted."
He explained that many times, when people use in-vitro fertilization, the excess embryos are discarded unless they are adopted.
"We saved them from termination," he said. "They're doing very well."
Spencer said their family will most likely celebrate the boys' birthday on Feb. 28 and March 1 so they can both have a special day of their own to celebrate.
Three other babies were born in Kootenai Health on leap day, reported birthing center clinical coordinator Natalie Anaya, including one born at 12:45 a.m. She said leap day in the birthing center isn't busier or slower than other days, but twins on leap day is unusual.
"That's probably very rare," she said. "The idea of two coming at once is definitely more exciting."
A leap year occurred in 1964, when local musician Dean Smith was born. The Coeur d'Alene leapling officially turned 13 on Monday.
"It makes you think of time in a weird way," he said. "Each birthday is kind of special, each real one."
Smith usually celebrates his birthday on Feb. 28. He said when he was younger he would celebrate on both Feb. 28 and March 1 and as he has gotten older, he has started to appreciate them more.
That's his advice to other leaplings — appreciate your official birthday, because it doesn't come every year.
On the subject of the Lambas twins being born on leap day, Smith said it's pretty awesome.
"Now they're extra-special twins," he said.