County’s First ’91 Baby Followed by Triplets

Mary and Kevin Peck rang in the New Year with the wails of their newborn son, who turned out to be the county’s first baby of 1991.

The infant, named Cody William Peck, was born at 12:14 a.m. Tuesday at Kaiser Permanente Hospital--Orange County in Anaheim. He weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and was reported in good condition.

“The parents are very thrilled but very tired,” a hospital spokeswoman said, noting that Cody was the couple’s first child.

Hours after Cody was born, UCI Medical Center in Orange reported that its first triplets of the New Year were born at 8:30 a.m. to Tina and Eddie Miranda of San Bernardino. The mother and three babies--Joshua William, Jacob Christian and Jeremy Nathan--were in good condition, Fran Tardiff, a center spokeswoman, said.

It was a mixed mood at the Mirandas’ apartment Tuesday, however. Eddie Miranda, 31, now the father of eight, said he was elated about his newborns. He was quick to point out, though, that he was uncertain about the family’s future, noting that he was laid off from his job as a warehouseman with an Anaheim electronics firm three months ago. Tina, 29, is a homemaker.

“If we can take care of five, we can take care of eight,” Eddie Miranda reasoned. “But I need a job. I’ll do anything.”

The ages of the Mirandas’ five other children range from 2 to 7 years. The couple had twin sons four years ago. The family is staying with Tina Miranda’s parents--Bill and Carol Rufner of Anaheim.

But Carol Rufner said the Mirandas need help because she and her husband--a recruiter with the U.S. Army--will be relocated to Minneapolis, Minn., later this week.

“These beautiful children need diapers and help from the food companies,” Rufner said. “My big concern is that they need housing and help to care for these babies. I don’t know if there are elderly people out there who want to help.”