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LEESBURG, Fla. (AP) — Two sets of new parents were surprised to learn their babies were part of a Shakespearean connection at a Florida hospital just two weeks after another pair of infants premiered as Romeo and Juliet on the same day at a hospital in South Carolina.
The Orlando Sentinel reports Juliette Crouch was born Friday morning at Leesburg Regional Medical Center, northwest of Orlando. Hours later, Romeo Kidd made his debut down the hallway.
Hospital privacy laws almost kept the drama from playing out. But a nurse asked Carolyn Kidd her baby’s name and said a Juliette was born earlier that day. She just couldn’t tell them which room Juliette’s parents were in.
“I was completely shocked by it,” Marie Crouch said, adding that she’d heard about the babies born March 19 in a Hardeeville, South Carolina, hospital. Baby Juliet in South Carolina is spelled as Shakespeare wrote the name. “I had no clue the same thing was going to happen to us,” Marie Crouch said.
In spite of the hospital rules, the two central Florida families began searching for each other.
“I was going to walk down the hallway and say, ‘Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?’” Justin Crouch, Juliette’s father, said.
The nurses were overjoyed when Romeo’s family met Juliette’s family. Lots of pictures were snapped and later in the day, the newspaper reported, hospital officials dressed Romeo in a tuxedo and Juliette in a dress for more pictures.
The couples promised to meet next year to celebrate their babies’ first birthday. It turns out the families have lots in common. Marie Crouch and Carolyn Kidd are each 32 years old and they both have 2-year-old daughters. The families live near each other as well.
“They may end up all going to the same schools one day,” said Justin Crouch, 30.
They exchanged contact information, unlike in “Romeo & Juliet” where the families were mortal enemies.
“It was a cool coincidence,” said Romeo’s father, Dana Kidd, 35.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Tuesday, April 4
9:34 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Traffic incident.
10:22 a.m. 200 block of St. Claire Street; Officer stand by.
11:29 a.m. 300 block of Franklin Street; Assistance.
11:43 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Forgery.
1:24 p.m. 2900 block of Railroad Avenue; Officer stand by.
1:57 p.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; Medical.
2:36 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Theft.
2:53 p.m. 600 block of Belanger Street; Disturbance.
3:39 p.m. 3100 block of Tammy Drive; Theft.
4:32 p.m. 2600 block of Sixth Street; Disturbance.
4:38 p.m. 400 block of Leona Street; Disturbance.
4:46 p.m. 800 block of Sycamore Street; Welfare concern.
5:02 p.m. La. 70; Reckless driving.
5:02 p.m. 400 block of Fifth Street; Harassment.
5:20 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Suspicious person.
5:56 p.m. Eighth and Florence streets; Animal complaint.
6:48 p.m. 6500 block of La. 182; Shoplifting.
7:05 p.m. 1000 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
7:10 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Hit and run.
9:04 p.m. 800 block of Palm Street; Medical.
11:49 p.m. 200 block of Aucoin Street; Complaint.
Wednesday, April 5
12:02 a.m. 2600 block of Sixth Street; Criminal damage to property.
12:19 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Theft.
1:40 a.m. 700 block of Freret Street; Removal of subject.
2:56 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Welfare concern.
4:11 a.m. 300 block of Franklin Street; Complaint.
4:15 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:23 a.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.

BNSF Railroad company advised the city of Patterson that crossings at Enterprise Avenue and Tiffany Street will be closed from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Monday for some rail replacement on those two crossings. All traffic will have to migrate to the crossing on Veterans Avenue to enter U.S. 90.