Four Leap Day Babies Born in the U.P

Leap Day only comes once every four years, but it was a special day this year for four Upper Michigan families. Four babies were born at U.P. hospitals on February 29, 2012.

Avery Jackson Lieburn was the first Leap Day baby in the area. He arrived at 5:39 a.m, at 8 pounds, 6 ounces at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. Mom and dad are Jim and Heather Lieburn, from Kingsford. Avery has a four year old brother, Wesley. Avery was a planned c–section for March 5th but his mom say he got in a bit of a hurry, to be born on Leap Day 2012.

Rebel Monroe Tousignant was not in a hurry. His due date was February 19th. He was delivered at 6:23 a.m February 29 at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain. He weighed in at 7 pounds, two ounces. Proud parents are Sheena and Dennis Tousignant from Iron River. Rebel has a big sister, Konnor.

Liam Raymond Robert Merriman is the Copper Country’s Leap Year Baby of 2012. He was born at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday at the Portage Health Family Birthing Center. Liam was born to Amanda and Ricky Merriman of Painesdale, and joins two brothers and a sister.

Liam, Avery and Rebel won’t get to celebrate their birthdays on February 29 until 2016, when they turn 4.

A fourth Upper Michigan Leap Day baby was born in Escanaba at OSF St. Francis Hospital Wednesday.