01/03/08 — County welcomes first baby

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County welcomes first baby

By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on January 3, 2008 1:52 PM

Janice McClarin's due date of Jan. 14 was fast-approaching, so she gave little thought to "feeling the baby all day" Monday.

It was not enough to keep her and husband, Jimmy, from attending a family gathering that night.

"We were over at her aunt's house to bring in the New Year," he said.

New Year's became Labor Day, as they set out for Wayne Memorial Hospital just to be on the safe side.

"We got here around 12:45 and had Kamren at 2:04 a.m.," Mrs. McClarin said.

Their son, who weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 19 inches, was Wayne County's first baby of 2008. Two other babies were born at the hospital later that day, said Amy Cain, public relations director.

"We had no earthly idea I was going to give birth on New Year's," Mrs. McClarin said. "He just decided to come."

This is the couple's third child, joining daughter Narima, 9, and son Jimmy III, or "Little Jimmy," 4.

The older siblings "got kind of excited" over the impending birth of the baby, their mother said. When Narima, a student at School Street Elementary School, returned to class on Wednesday, she couldn't wait to share the family's special news.

"She was ready to show the baby off for show and tell," Mrs. McClarin said.

Was the birth any different from her previous two? she was asked.

"Worse," she said without hesitation. "I didn't get any pain medicine, he was coming so fast."

She remained in the hospital an extra day for a follow-up procedure on Wednesday. Despite a reaction to the anesthesia and feeling tired, she said she and her husband, who works at Jackson Moving and Storage, were "happy and excited" over the newest addition to their family.