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Family got smooth birth, added bonus

Born at 3:01 a.m. on Sunday in Spring Hill, Emma Grace Wood becomes the first baby born in Hernando County in 2006.

By LOGAN NEILL
Published January 2, 2006

	[Times photo: Maurice Rivenbark]
	Emma Grace Wood was born two weeks early at Spring Hill Regional Hospital in Spring Hill. She is surrounded Sunday by her parents, Joshua and Catherine Wood.

SPRING HILL - It's every parent's wish when having a child that everything runs as smoothly as possible. Joshua and Catherine Wood got their wish early Sunday, and a little extra good news as well. Their baby, Emma Grace Wood, earned the honor of becoming Hernando County's first newborn of 2006.

The birth came at 3:01 a.m., about eight hours after Catherine was induced into labor at Spring Hill Regional Hospital by her obstetrician, Dr. Thomas Arbruster. Other than entering the world about two weeks before the due date, Emma, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce, was just fine.

"My doctor decided it would be easier on me if I didn't wait," said Catherine, 21. "It was really easy. It only took six minutes and she was out."

For the Spring Hill couple, who both work at Applebee's Restaurant in Brooksville and are students at Pasco-Hernando Community College, the timing of Emma's birth was something they figured would be a win-win situation.

"We joked that she would either be an income tax deduction baby or a first New Year baby," said Catherine. "Either way, we were happy."

Shortly after Emma's arrival, the Woods introduced her to her sister, Michal, 21/2, who had been waiting outside the delivery room with her grandmothers Valerie Hanners and Joy Zerwas and great-grandmother Marilyn Beckman.

"She was all excited about it, and kept running up to see her sister," said Joshua Wood. "Finally, when she went home, we were able to get some rest. And we really needed it."

[Last modified January 2, 2006, 02:30:25]