Blacksburg families bring new meaning to the term 'labor day'

In a case of utterly remarkable coincidence, brothers Clay and Derrick Greer of Blacksburg both became the fathers and uncles of newborns on the same day, at the same hospital and within a hour-and-a-half time span. In photo, from left, are parents Ashley Herndon and Derrick Greer with their newborn son Ethan James, and parents Clay Greer and Cari Langston with their newborn daughter Charleigh. Outside Chuck and Nancy Greer's home in Blacksburg are pink and blue ribbons signifying a stork had made two special deliveries.

There was nothing ordinary about those deliveries, though, and even the stork was likely amazed with the timing.

In a case of utterly remarkable coincidence, the Greers' sons, Clay and Derrick, became fathers within an hour and a half of each other on Aug. 18 at the same hospital and just rooms apart.

Charleigh Greer was born at 11:48 a.m. at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center to parents Clay Greer and Cari Langston.

Meanwhile, Ethan James Greer was born at 1:31 p.m. to parents Derrick Greer and Ashley Herndon.

Cousins Charleigh Greer, at left, and Ethan James Greer take a little side-by-side nap at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. They both were born Aug. 18 less than two hours apart. Langston's due date was Aug. 14 and Herndon's due date was Aug. 23, so little Charleigh and little Ethan apparently decided to split the difference and make their grand entrances to the world right in the middle.

No one expected the two expectant mothers to deliver the same day or so near the same time.

"I was going back and forth between the (two hospital) rooms," Nancy Greer said with a laugh about the day her new grandchildren were born. At one point, she left her camera in one of the hospital rooms and was unable to retrieve it because things were happening so quickly.

Though their birthday schedules happened to coincide, little Charleigh and Ethan have since separated themselves in terms of sleeping habits.

Clay Greer, who is the chief of the Blacksburg Fire Department and who works for the town, has had company watching the late night SportsCenter on ESPN.

"She wakes up every morning at 2, 2:10 or 2:30," he said with a smile while holding the newborn in his arms.

"Clay feels like he's working third shift," Langston said.

Little Ethan has been taking it a little easier on his parents. Derrick and Ashley said he's generally been sleeping until about 6 a.m.

Derrick also works in service of the Blacksburg community. He's a patrol officer with the Blacksburg Police Department.

Since "labor" day came two weeks early for the families, they didn't have too much planned for the actual Labor Day holiday weekend.

On Monday, however, Chuck Greer was scheduled to end a self-imposed delay in holding his new grandchildren. Chuck told everyone he wanted to wait until the tiny newborns were at least two weeks old, family members said.

Little Charleigh's maternal grandparents are Denny Langston and Chyrle Lowe while little Ethan's maternal grandparents are Blair and Allyson Herndon.

Lowe, who beamed with pride while holding her first grandchild during a family get-together last Thursday afternoon, said, "I got to see her born and I was a good coach."

Charleigh is Clay Greer's second child and his 13-yearold son A.J. now has a new baby sister and cousin to watch out for.

Ethan James is Derrick and Ashley's first child.