Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital welcomed the county’s first baby
at 3:05 a.m. Tuesday. Baby Julian’s parents both work at Marich
Confectionary, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll develop a
sweet tooth.
HOLLISTER
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital welcomed the county’s first baby at 3:05 a.m. Tuesday. Baby Julian’s parents both work at Marich Confectionary, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll develop a sweet tooth.
Martin Rivera, the 22-year-old father, said it was a difficult delivery, with complications arising from the fact that Julian was five days overdue. The delivery eventually required a cesarean section, and Rivera said he spent a panicked hour or so waiting for the hospital to locate its on-call anesthesiologist.
“It was a scary time,” Rivera said.
But Julian is doing fine now, as is his 24-year-old mother, Elvira Zapien. In addition to the lateness of his arrival, Rivera said Julian brought another surprise.
“(His mother) thought he was going to be very hairy, but he isn’t like that,” Rivera said.
When interviewed Thursday, Rivera said he was still overwhelmed by the experience, but he was also looking forward to taking his family home today.
“I want to take (Julian) everywhere and buy him a lot of stuff,” Rivera said.
Julian is the couple’s first baby. He may, however, soon be joined by little brothers and sisters. Rivera said he’s planning to have “at least three” children eventually. But Zapien – who was resting in bed – laughed and said she wasn’t so sure.
Asked if he’ll be bringing satchels of sweets home once Julian can eat candy, Rivera said he isn’t sure about that, either.
