Skip to content

Having New Year’s baby a surprise to parents

11256ponokaHoeksmaNewYearsBaby
Darryl and Danna Hoeksema with their three children

Danna and Darryl Hoeksema weren’t expecting to become the parents of Ponoka’s New Year’s baby when they walked into the hospital around 3 a.m. Jan. 6.

After all, nearly a week had passed since the calendar turned over.

“The staff at the hospital were excited because they had not had the New Year’s baby yet,” recalled mom Danna. “I just assumed it was over.”

Shawn Adam Hoeksema was born at 7:37 a.m. — a day early but the New Year’s baby at Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre nonetheless. Danna said there were no surprises with the five-hour labour and delivery.

“The only surprise was that he was the New Year’s baby.”

The newborn weighed eight pounds, 13 ounces and is the baby brother of Chelsea, 5, and Tyler, 2. Oddly enough, each of the Hoeksemas’ children has been born in a different hospital.

Chelsea was born at Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital — one of 25 babies born in a 24-hour period. “It was the quietest hospital visit I’ve ever had,” Danna recalled.

Darryl, who works for a welding supplies distributer in Edmonton, said the couple appreciated the pampering and attention they received at the hospital. Now the attention to little Shawn will come from his siblings.

“The children have come around and are happy to have a baby brother, Danna said. “At the beginning Tyler did not like the idea of having a baby brother.

“Now there are lots of hugs and kisses.”

The couple and their baby will receive a bounty of gifts from local merchants who participated in the Ponoka News’ celebration of the first baby of 2011.