Leap Year babies tell their stories
rest of us age, leap year babies stay young>Who wants to wear a frog hat?Up until a few years ago, I really didn't make a big deal out of the weird day I was born. Sure, when I had a real birthday in grade school it was a big deal and my teacher made a nice hat that looked like a frog that I was made to wear (and that my mother still has somewhere). Because you only get one "real" birthday when you're in grade school, your second, at age 8; but outside of that, no bells and whistles here really. Now that I am older, there are Web sites devoted to leap year babies, and I see more and more promotions. This year I entered a contest to win a hotel stay -- and won! I also fully appreciate my birthday now -- after all, I'm the only one in my circle of friends that can say I'll be 10 this year, they'll all be 40. That's gotta make up for the millions of times people look at me in astonishment and say the classic "So, when do you celebrate?" My answer -- March 1. Mom said she wasn't even in labor on the 28th, so it doesn't count. Melissa KleinDes PlainesSecond birthday is specialMy name is Erika Andre, I am in second grade and go to Olive Mary Stitt in Arlington Heights.This year is special to me and my family because I was born on Feb. 29, 2000. I am so excited that my birthday is on the calendar this year so I don't have to decide when to celebrate it (Feb. 28 or March 1st).On Friday Feb. 29, my mom and dad are letting me choose where to eat and I am picking Buffalo Wings because that is my favorite place to go to eat.Erika AndreArlington Heights'Sweet 16' truly sweetTruth be told, you actually printed a birth announcement (in what turned out to be a small article about me) when I gave birth to my fourth child on March 25, 1976. I don't have it with right now, but the title was something like "8-Year Old Mom Gives Birth!" which, I believe, appeared in your April 1, 1976 issue because reference was made to April Fool's Day.I was born on Feb. 29, and now that I'm older, it's a hoot. But as a child, it was rather perplexing to look at a calendar and see a blank space where the 29 should appear. No explanation at the time would suffice. As far as I was concerned, there was only one thing to do -- and that was write "29" the day after Feb. 28 and simply celebrate like everyone else. Well, (this year) I'll be "Sweet 16!" OK, so you're good at math and that means I'm 64 years young! I told myself, this really is the year to do something different and celebrate for an entire week! Firstly, I'm looking forward to having a Sweet 16 Brunch at a favorite restaurant with my kids (all older than me!) and grandkids (second oldest about to pass me up, too), which is really very special to me. Finally this year, several gals that have been longtime friends decided to have a pajama party for my birthday with pizza, soda pop, chocolate and other goodies that I don't want my Weight Watcher friends to know about.We're going to spin Elvis tunes (he'd be 72 now), play songs like "16 Candles" and others from my '50s and '60s music collection, sing karaoke, and other fun things like kissing frogs. Other plans include a date at the soda shoppe with my guy pal followed by roller skating; plans with my sister to see "Arsenic Old Lace" and stop for a birthday toast at our favorite watering hole. I have come to appreciate my birthday more than any other time of the year. And on those three years where the blank space appears in February, I still write 29 on my calendar -- only I celebrate on both Feb. 28 and March 1! Phyllis Tarala SummersPalatineRespect 'elders'At the end of this month, I will celebrate my 12th birthday . This birth date was one that I shared with my paternal grandmother, who is no longer living. Twelve years ago, my nephew was due on that day but arrived a week earlier. I have often wondered what the odds would be of having three generations of leap year babies in one family?In addition, throughout my childhood and teenage years, a fellow classmate of mine had the same birthday. In 1976, when we turned 16, the local paper in Des Plaines did a story on us titled "Sweet Sixteen, Sour Four."My teenage son (he turned 14 on Monday, Feb. 25) takes great pleasure in the fact that he has celebrated more birthdays than I have. He reminds me that I have taught him to "respect his elders" and now, he is looking for me to do the same! Ellen DimasWheaton, formerly of Des Plaines29th is ever sweetWhen people find out about my birthday, I am always asked two questions, when do I celebrate and how old am I now. It's not so strange I reply. Just like you I tend to celebrate my birthday on the closest weekend. For the second question, I have always proudly announced my "Leap age;" I will be 11 this year.When I was approaching 18 years of age, the U.S. once again began draft registration. I was excited when hearing of the news as they announced that all youth must register for the draft within 30 days of their 18th birthday. This would make me 72 years old but my parents wanting me to be a law-abiding citizen, encouraged me to register anyway.I am now married and have two children 3 years apart; one born in 1994 and the other in 1997. They delight in announcing whenever possible, my leap age and the fact that I turned 10 the same year as my daughter and I turn 11 the same year as my son. What other kids are driven to school by their 10-year-old father?It still amazes me to find people in this country that forget, at least temporarily, that there is a Feb. 29. I work in computers and am always quick to point out date logic routines that do not account for my day. Although I would never say that I have missed not having an exact birthday for three quarters of my life; it has caused some interesting conversations and the anticipation for those years with a 29th are all the more exciting.David R. Smith Sr.Lake ZurichFinally, old enough to vote!It was a dark and stormy night back in 1936 when fate and labor pains decreed that I would forever have an unusual birth date.Did I feel different or odd? No, but it made life very interesting at times. Usually the announcement of my birth date would be met with a look of uncertainty, some mental calculations, then that slow grin and "You're a Leap Year Baby! Wow! How about that!"My cousin was born just a few hours after me, in the early hours of March l, so our two families would have a dual celebration on March 1 in those non-Leap Years. Every fourth year was so special -- I had my very own day and really was one whole year older! The cake was all mine, the party was all mine -- life was GOOD!Filling our applications of all kinds is still a challenge bringing all sorts of responses from "Nice try; wanna pick a real birth date?" to "Wow, you must be younger than your kids!" -- and the inclination to either slap or hug the party involved.Having an actual birthday every four years has made me so much younger than my chronological peers -- eat your hearts out! As this year will be the 18th real birthday, I will finally be old enough to vote, drink in some states and get married without parental consent.Dolores WinkelsHanover ParkTwin girls surprise on Feb. 29It is Feb. 29, 2000; I am 34 weeks pregnant with twins. It is about 2 p.m. and I went into the hospital for my weekly fetal monitoring, and visit. After being there several hours because Baby A was not "cooperating" on the fetal monitor, I went to my doctor's office for an ultrasound to see if everything was OK. Upon having my ultrasound, they discovered that my amniotic fluid was low and that baby A appeared to be less than 3 pounds. My doctor consulted with the Neonatal Intensive Care director and they agreed that I should deliver.At 9:16 p.m. Kaitlyn Rose (baby A) was born weighing 3 pounds 6 oz, measuring 16 inches. At 9:19 p.m. Courtney Marie (baby B) arrived weighing 3 pounds 10 oz and 16Ã#130;circ;frac12; inches. They were both completely healthy without needing respiratory assistance.My daughters are fraternal, and complete opposites in every sense of the word. Kaitlyn is left-handed, a tomboy, loves scary movies and watching sports with her dad. Courtney is right-handed, a girly-girl, loves doing arts and crafts and going shopping with mom. If you ask them how old they will be they respond "2."I never paid much attention to Feb. 29, but now it gives me two more reasons to make the day extra "special."Michelle GoetzNorth AuroraAttitude is all thatSome might see it as something of a rip off, like the April Fool's of birthdays. Perhaps it could be viewed that way, but as with anything in life -- it's all in the attitude.As an adult I have always playfully chosen to use it to my advantage. On the "off" years I actually have two birthdays. I have to give my mother credit for this stroke of brilliance. Some years ago she started giving me a happy birthday call on both Feb. 28 as well as March 1. Her thinking is that she should call me on Feb. 28 because my true birthday is definitely in the month of February. She calls me on March 1 because if there HAD been a 29th, it would have been on the day we call March 1!So, there you have it, my interpretation of my birthday has been craftily designed to give me the maximum proverbial bang for my birthday buck. Lavish me with birthday love on Feb. 29 because it's such a fabulously unique day. On "off" years, lavish me on the 28th and the 1st because for goodness sake there is no 29th! Thanks, Mom. You picked the best day to bring me into the world.Being a leap baby brings with it some strange milestones. I was 4Ã#130;circ;frac12; years old when I graduated from high school and by the time I was 7, I had three children. Somewhere around my twins' 12th birthday, I ceased to be older than ANY of my children since I technically only advance a year in age every four years. I'm the most mature-looking 11-year-old you've ever seen!So if there are mother's-to-be out there who are concerned about giving birth on such an unusual day, take it from a kid born on that day -- you should "leap" at the chance to give birth on that day! You'll be gifting your child with 15 minutes of fame that repeats itself every four years!Mary AndersonCaryA dream come trueI am told that my grandfather hoped for a leap year baby and his wish apparently was granted. Almost everyone calls or sends cards to arrive on Feb. 28 each year. My sister calls on March 1 every year. Go figure.About 50 percent of the people who see my birthday make some comment and snicker. I'd say about 25 percent always ask "when do you celebrate." Of course, colleagues tease me that I am acting my age when we have some fun.In fact, today at Home Depot while filling out a credit card application the employee snickered and said I was only the second person he every encountered with this birthday.Stuart HochwertHighland ParkSurprise deliveryLeap year in the past was just another day until Feb. 29, 2000, our first daughter was born -- Erika Lauren Andre. My actual due date was March 8, so I was expecting maybe a St. Patrick's baby. I can recall that day like yesterday. I went to see the doctor that morning and everything was fine, although I was getting too big. She suggested to induce labor that Friday. Well, that never happened. That morning I got home from the doctor's around 11:15 I started having cramps and they were pretty strong, I called my husband to tell him I think I was having contractions. Well, he finally got home at 1 p.m. and by that time I was ready to call 911. He put me in the truck and the rest is a blur. My husband tells me he was lucky he did not get pulled over since he was driving 90 mph down I-90 and went through every red light. By the time I reached the hospital it was about 1:30 p.m. and when they checked me I was dilated to 10 and the baby was breech so I had to have a C-section. My little girl was born at 2:04 p.m.Diane AndreArlington HeightsChicken pox spoiled unique dayBeing born on leap year is different because as a kid you feel somewhat left out of having a birthday. I remember when I finally turned 2 (8 in human terms), I had a full blown case of the chicken pox. What a bummer.I finally have a real birthday and I cannot even leave the house! It does have its upside though. Many people remember your birthday since it is so unique. As an adult I really enjoy being born on leap year. I figure that my birthday is two days long on the off years -- Feb. 28 and March 1. On my 8th birthday my son was also 8. On my 9th birthday my daughter was still 9. For my 10th birthday (age 40), I flew six friends out to Vegas to celebrate. My 11th birthday is coming the end of the month and I will be cycling in Tucson with some other bike racing teammates.Reed OliffBuffalo Grove