To quadruplets, school feels like home
Four Okeene students can call their English teacher ‘Mom'
Four Okeene students can call their English teacher 'Mom'

By Bryan Painter

Published: August 31, 2008

OKEENE — Place yourself in Ginny Dobrinski's high-heeled shoes, figuratively speaking.

First, go back to 1995 when Ginny and husband Mike were told they were going to have quadruplets.

"I cried a lot,” she said. "I kept saying, ‘I can't do four, I can't do four.' Then when it finally sank in that four was what I was going to have to do, all I could say was, ‘I don't want to drive a Suburban!'”

Now move forward to the start of the school year in Okeene. Ginny is a junior high language arts teacher. Guess who she has in class for the first time?

Their names are Michael, Jamie, Scott and Shelby, all Dobrinskis.

Good thing Ginny Dobrinski has a sense of humor.

"Sometimes I wonder if they aren't telekinetically connected in some way, shape or form,” she said, "because I swear at times all they have to do is look at one another and they know exactly what each other is thinking without one word said.

"That makes me worry a little about their teen years when they all are making alibis for each other. Michael and I won't stand a chance.”

Ginny knew she would be teaching her kids and their friends.

Many of those friends have practically lived at the Dobrinski house for much of the past 12 years.

On the first day of school she reminded them they should treat her as a professional at school.

"It will be a challenge to get them to not expect me to joke around and cut up with them at school like I do at our house all the time,” she said.

But she considers the challenges nothing compared to the blessings of having quads.

They were born on Dec. 18, 1995, well before their Feb. 28 due date.

When delivered by Caesarean section, their birth weights ranged from 3 pounds, 4 ounces, down to 2 pounds, 5 ounces.

They were discharged from Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City on Jan. 31, 1996.

"Hurdling all the multiple, no pun intended, obstacles of having multiples, has been nothing short of a miraculous ride from day one,” she said. "I wouldn't give it up for anything.”

Actually, class may be the calmest part of the day.

"I try to get up around 6:30 so I can have a little time to myself before the quad tidal wave rolls in,” Ginny said.

"Once they are up at 7, it is nonstop action.”

If you have children of school age, think about the morning rush to find everything that was supposed to be set out the night before.

Now inject into that situation the fact that all four children are the same age.

Somehow, she said, it comes together as they load up in the car and head to school by 7:45.

"I push them out of the door, after I stop, of course, or at least slow down,” she joked, "with well-wishes for the day and kisses blown to all.”

What if one of them misses a kiss?

"I just tell them to share with one of the other quads,” she said. "They know how to share really well.”

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