News

January 2, 2009

Girl joins Swoyersville family as 1st baby of 2009

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

PLAINS TWP. – Women still rule the house at the McCroskey household, thanks to Shealyn McCroskey. As the fourth girl out of five children, she is the newest family member and the first baby of 2009 born in Luzerne County.

Born at 6:38 a.m. New Year’s Day at Geisinger Wyoming Valley, the healthy baby weighed in at 5 pounds, 15 ounces.

She will soon join her siblings – Brianna, DaShawnna, Codie and Kay Lynn at home in Swoyersville when she and mom, Rebecca McCroskey, 23, are released from the hospital.

Everyone but Dad, 24-year-old Matthew Jacien, was hoping the family’s newest addition would be a girl.

Even Shealyn’s 4-year-old brother Codie wanted another sister so he could keep his own bedroom, said Rebecca McCroskey.

Jacien, of Tunkhannock, was hoping for a boy, but those desires seemed to slip away because he was happy just to have a healthy daughter. He couldn’t stop smiling as he held his daughter, who was bundled up in a pastel baby animal blanket.

“She is too perfect. Not even 10 hours old and her eyes are so alert. When they brought her in, she was just looking around,” said Thomasine Fulkerson, Shealyn’s nana. Pop-pop James Fulkerson was at home in Tunkhannock.

Brianna, 6, was in awe of her baby sister, but a little leery to hold the family’s newest edition. She was scared she might hurt her.

“She’s nervous,” said her aunt, Trisha Caras of Hanover Township.

Shealyn’s other nana and pa, Zita and William McCroskey Sr., live in Jenkins Township.

Shealyn is the fourth member of the family to celebrate a January birthday. Her older sister, Kay Lynn will turn 3 on Tuesday , her mom, Rebecca McCroskey’s birthday is Jan. 17 and her dad, Matthew Jacien’s birthday is Jan. 23.

Shealyn was the only baby born at Geisinger Wyoming Valley on New Year’s Day, as of 5 p.m., according to hospital spokeswoman Amy Lingobardo. But she wasn’t the only New Year’s Day baby in Luzerne County.

A boy was born at 1:28 p.m. on New Year’s Day at the Nesbitt Women’s and Children’s Center at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.

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