WILKES-BARRE — He slept through his first interview.
Ryan Louie, the son of Louie and Roula, whose last name was withheld at their request, was Luzerne County’s New Year’s baby for 2017.
Ryan was born at Commonwealth Health’s Wilkes-Barre General Hospital at 1:28 a.m. Sunday.
According to Louie, the baby weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and was 19.5 inches long.
The labor, according to Roula, was just like her pregnancy, very easy. Though it was five hours of labor, she had “no troubles.”
The Dallas family was intending on spending New Year’s Eve shopping and eating with family as Ryan wasn’t due until Jan. 18. Instead, Roula’s water broke, and Dr. Theresa Baseski was delivering the baby.
“This is the best kind of family night,” Roula said.
As Louie showed off the newest member of the family, he said he expects 2017 to be a “beautiful year” for the family.
Ryan’s brother, 9-year-old Rashid, said he couldn’t wait to be a big brother.
“I was the one who first knew she was pregnant,” Rashid said, but Roula corrected him saying she and Louie hid the news from their son
Rashid said that from the time he guessed correctly about the new baby to the time of the baby’s delivery, it “took forever.”
For Rashid, he’s excited over what he gets to teach the baby.
“I’ll teach him how to talk, walk … and some school work before he actually goes to school,” the proud brother beamed.
While Ryan was the first baby born at General Hospital, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center also welcomed several babies on New Year’s Day. The first was Gabriel Walter, who was born at 4:03 a.m. to Angelo Best and Stephanie Taroli, of Pittston. Gabriel is nearly 5 pounds and 17 3/4 inches.
During an interview with several media outlets, family members came in and out of Roula’s hospital room to welcome the newest member of the family. Layan, a cousin, was excited that Ryan was the first baby born in 2017.
“I thought ‘oh my gosh,’” she said of when she found out.
“It is kind of weird,” Rashid added about his brother’s birth date.
In the future, Rashid and Layan want to celebrate the baby’s birthday on New Year’s Eve.
“Go to New York, and watch the fireworks,” Rashid said as he and Layan watched over Ryan in the hospital room.
Roula said her lucky number is seven, as Rashid was born in 2007 and now Ryan in 2017.
“I wish him all the best,” she said. “I wish him all happiness.”
Though not a peep was heard from the baby during the family visits, both Rashid and Layan noted throughout the afternoon — baby Ryan is now “famous.”
