In all of Josie Santos’ 26 years as a registered nurse at Whidbey General Hospital’s Family Birthplace, nothing like this has happened. But on Tuesday, May 29, everyone, even Santos, was seeing double as two sets of twins were born.

“It was all very exciting,” said Denise Louis, LPN, who helped with the first delivery.

Karen McKlimon of Whidbey General’s community relations department said that one set of twins is the normal yearly average at Whidbey General.

Little did the staff at the Family Birthplace know how busy they would be Tuesday when the first delivery of twins began.

Erik Junior and Jenna Brielle Montgomery were born at 7:21 and 7:40 a.m., respectively. Erik weighed 4 pounds, 2 ounces and Jenna weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces. Dr. Lucie Riederer delivered the twins.

Erik and Jenna are the son and daughter of Stacey and Erik Montgomery of Oak Harbor.

Erik Montgomery has, no doubt, been working overtime at his home-based appliance repair business to help cover the new double need for diapers since the couple got the news of the twins when Stacey was 16 weeks along in her pregnancy.

“I panicked a little when I first found out because now we need two of everything,” Stacey Montgomery said. “Right away we had to figure out transportation.”

That transportation would have to cover not only Mom, Dad and the twins, but older brother Kyle Montgomery, 3, and older sister Jacquelyn Palmer, 16.

The Montgomerys both graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1990. Both came to the island just in time for the first grade — she from California, he from Pennsylvania.

They will have some eager volunteers to give them some assistance in diapering and adjusting to life with twin newborns. Stacey’s parents Carolyn and Dwight Taylor are Oak Harbor residents and Erik’s mom Pat Schaffer also lives on island. But they’ll have to wait in line — an older sister has already taken on her helper role.

“Jackie’s excited,” Stacey said. “She’s very hands-on, touching them, talking to them and being very helpful.”

Exactly 12 hours after the Montgomery babies were born, another surprise arrived.

Baylie Ann and Carlie Paige Kuschnereit were born at 7:38 and 7:40 p.m., respectively. Baylie weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and Carlie weighed 5 pounds, 11.5 ounces. Dr. Lucie Riederer delivered the twins and Dr. Douglas Langrock assisted.

The twins are the daughters of Kimberly and Caspian Kuschnereit of Langley.

The Kuschnereits didn’t find out they were expecting twins until Kimberly was almost seven months along.

“Someone was hiding,” Caspian said. “We were pretty awestruck by it, thinking life just got a little more exciting.”

The Kuschnereits are already preparing for double the fun.

“Everything comes in twos now,” Caspian said.

Actually threes. The couple already have a 22-month son named Alexander who has already set a precedent for the twins to follow.

“He was the easiest baby in the world,” Caspian said. “But already the twins are just as good. They eat when they’re supposed to and they sleep quietly.”

Kimberly Kuschnereit calls her girls “quiet and very content.”

“It’ll be interesting to see what the next few months are like,” she said.

There is one sign of potential trouble though.

“It’s looking like they might be identical — blonde hair and blue eyes. I’m probably going to have to get a shotgun,” Caspian said, laughing about the need to protect his daughters.

Kuschnereit said he is grateful to the staff at Whidbey General.

“It was busy in here that day but everyone here did great,” Caspian said.

Whidbey General is already over its yearly quota of twins. Earlier this month, Denise Elizabeth Hodges, 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and Ashton John Hodges, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, were born May 16. They are the daughter and son of Michelle Hodges of Oak Harbor.

The double delivery Tuesday was a special parting gift for registered nurse Josie Santos who will retire this week after 26 years at Whidbey General.

Santos earned her nursing degree in 1964 and spent 16 years practicing in the Phillipines before coming to Whidbey in 1980. She has worked in the Family Birthplace since March of 1981.

“The babies that I helped deliver in the 1980s are now coming back and I’m helping deliver their babies,” Santos said.

Santos was all smiles when the Family Birthplace held a retirement party for her Thursday.

“This has been my pride and joy,” she said. “It’s like I’ve been a grandma to all of them.”

The seasoned nurse will have lasting memories of her time at the hospital. It’s unavoidable when everyone recognizes you as the person who helped bring their baby into this world. They are memories Santos will always cherish.

“I’ll miss the first cry,” she said. “There’s nothing in this world like the anticipation and then hearing that first cry.”