First baby of the year in Onaway area is a girl
–PHOTO ABOVE–

January 9, 2003 Editor

Alexis Rei Ballard was born at 5:27 a.m. at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, January 1, weighting in at six pounds, four and a quarter ounces. She was 18 and a half inches long in length. Alexis?s birth date wasn?t that much of a surprise. Her due date was January 1, 2003 according to her parents, Renee Cavanagh and J.R. Ballard of Onaway.

?We were hoping she would come earlier,? laughed Renee, holding her newborn in the Obstetrics Department at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital Thursday. ?But now we?ll never forget this New Year.? The couple was planning to watch rented videos on New Year?s Eve when Renee went into labor at about 4 p.m.. They drove the half hour to Cheboygan and Renee was admitted to the hospital. She delivered little Alexis nearly 13 hours later.

?All the nurses have been very nice,? Renee said.? Alexis is Renee?s first baby, and while they were expecting a girl, they weren?t expecting such a little one. ?None of her clothes fit,? laughed J.R. ?They?re all too big.?

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Alexis was delivered by Dr. Mark Drogowski, because Renee?s physician, Dr. Holmes, was on vacation.

Grandparents are Bill and Carol Ballard of Alpena, Melody Cavanagh of Onaway, Bryan Cavanagh of Big Bear, California, and step-grandfather David Goit of Onaway.

Great grandparents are Judy Bailey of Onaway, Gilbert Vargas of Chico, California, and Lawrence Cavanagh of Las Vegas, Nevada.