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Special delivery at Norfolk General Hospital

Two Christmas babies born Tuesday morning

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A couple youngsters can look forward to doubling up Christmas with their birthdays following a busy morning Tuesday at Norfolk General Hospital.

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While Santa was peppering the planet with presents, NGH staff were scrambled in the wee hours Christmas morning to tend to a young mother in labour.

At 2:46 a.m., Everly Elizabeth Pennings emerged into the capable hands of Dr. Lisa Marie Austen.

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Everly weighed six pounds, 11 ounces and is the first child of Courtney and Ben Pennings, both 23, of Dunnville.

“She was due on Boxing Day,” Courtney said in an NGH news release. “I am excited she is here and healthy.”

Father Ben added that friends and family caught a break with Everly arriving on Christmas day.

“Everyone can do baby shower gift shopping on Boxing Day,” he said.

Christmas babies are a special occasion at any hospital. But Dr. Austen and company doubled the fun when another couple arrived with an expectant mother in labour.

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Around 7:45 a.m., Nancy Friesen of Vienna arrived in the world, the second child of Jake Friesen, 26, and mother Elizabeth, 21.

“The contractions started around two this morning,” Elizabeth Friesen said. “I thought they would stop. But when that didn’t happen, we came to the hospital right away.”

Nancy Friesen’s older brother is one year, four months. Elizabeth Friesen said he’s known for some time that something was up.

“He would point at my belly and say `baby,’” she said.

There was a third Christmas angle to the excitement at NGH Tuesday morning. One of the attending nurses – Sarah Zorad – was born at NGH Christmas day 24 years ago.

“In my experience, a baby on Christmas day is hit-and-miss like the actual due date,” NGH spokesperson Gerry Hamill said. “Having two on Christmas is not common. A very Merry Christmas for all!”

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com

Everly Elizabeth Pennings was one of two babies born on Christmas Day at Norfolk General Hospital.
Everly Elizabeth Pennings was one of two babies born on Christmas Day at Norfolk General Hospital. Photo by NGH /Contributed photo
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