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'Little precious one' Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Jordan Francis Marah is held for the first time by mother Araceli Costales, 24, Medford, on Tuesday at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Arriving at 12:42 a.m., he was the valley's first baby of 2002. Jordan had his parents running between home and hospital for a week By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune After such a tumultuous 2001, the parents of the Rogue Valley's first baby of 2002 were relieved Tuesday to welcome their new son to a new year. Jordan Francis Marah debuted at 12:42 a.m. at Medford's Rogue Valley Medical Center, erasing any shadows that lingered in his mother's mind after the nation's Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "I felt like, am I even going to get to have him?" recalled Araceli Costales, 24, of Medford. "It's a scary thought, all those kids left without parents." But young Jordan did indeed arrive, even a couple of weeks early by doctors' reckonings. Due Jan. 25, the baby sent his parents to the hospital on Christmas Day and kept them trotting back and forth as late as Saturday afternoon. By late Monday, it was clear Jordan was ready to be born. He was delivered by Caesarean section less than an hour into the new year, weighing in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Jordan held off long enough to beat out four babies born between 8 and 11 p.m. for the New Year's honor, RVMC spokesman Dave Preszler said. A deflated lung landed the baby in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and postponed a formal meeting with his parents until midafternoon Tuesday. "Oh, little precious one," cooed his mother as the red-faced baby was eased into her arms for the first time. "Hey, buddy," said Allen Marah, a 28-year-old fishing rod builder, as he stroked his son's downy head. Jordan joins Costales' two older sons, Troy, 6, and Adrian, 3. As the Rogue Valley's New Year's baby, the child received a small deluge of gifts from local businesses and the Rogue Valley Medical Center Auxiliary. They include two months' free diaper service from Snow White Diaper Service, a dozen red roses from Corinne's Flowers and Gifts, an engraved silver mug from John Nuich Jewelers, a photography session from David A. Gibbs photography, $50 and a stuffed bear from the auxiliary and a stuffed koala from the Children's Miracle Network. All these were bestowed on the startled parents, who were surprised at the hoopla over the year's first baby. "I'm in shock still," said Costales. "It's kind of nice, kind of different." "We didn't know that it was such a big deal," Marah said. The couple, who plan to marry within two months, said they hoped the future would be bright for their son in a post-Sept. 11 world. "We just want him to be an individual," Marah said. "We just want him to be healthy," Costales said. "Healthy and rambunctious." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.