Ava twins' father missed their birth because of the Iraq war, but not their graduation

Jim Gastineau has made it a point to relish his twin daughters' senior year.

Gastineau took a months-long sabbatical from his postal service career to watch Ava High School multi-sport standouts Olivia and Lexie Gastineau team up for a final time before heading to their respective colleges.

Olivia, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, is headed to Springfield to play basketball at Baptist Bible College. Lexie is going the junior college route, pursuing a softball scholarship at Missouri State-West Plains.

Their father has been present for most of their milestones, including Ava's run to the Class 2 state softball semifinals that commence Monday at Missouri State University.

Jim Gastineau was also there when they combined for 49 points in a win over Lebanon at the Fair Grove Invitational last winter, and he will be front and center on Sunday when they walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas.

The in-person view is far better than being thousands of miles away, as he was when they were born.

On April 29, 2005, when Ginger Gastineau gave birth to a pair of five-pound, 11-ounce girls, her husband, then a member of the National Guard's 1438th brigade, was stationed in Iraq.

Just two years after the United State's military invasion of the Middle Eastern country, Jim could only speak to Ginger — with whom he already shared three boys — over the phone for updates on the pregnancy.

"It was tough. A lot of decisions had to be made," he said. "I may have been able to get back through the Red Cross (to be present for the births), but it would have extended my time overseas."

Ginger, now a first-grade teacher in Ava, had been on bed rest for weeks prior to the twins' birth, and also experienced a car accident during the pregnancy.

Eighteen years and three weeks after Olivia and Lexie's birth — and the arduous weeks leading up to it — both parents will see their daughters donning caps and gowns, happy and healthy.

"They're my babies," said Jim, who didn't see his infant daughters until a few months later. "It's a big accomplishment. Several men in my unit also missed the birth of their children. Now they're graduating."

Olivia and Lexie were the first set of twins from their family in more than 100 years.

Lexie, who is 32 seconds younger than Olivia and three inches shorter, likely would not have remembered her father's presence following her birth, but understands why he was gone.

"It's crazy to think that my mom went through all that without extra support," Lexie said. "But he was out making our family proud and our country proud."

Olivia, who has been sidelined this spring following knee surgery, echoed her sister.

"I am thankful that I didn't have to get to know him over the phone, and that our parents both get to experience our accomplishments."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ava twins' father missed their birth because of the Iraq war, but not their graduation