Jorgen Hus, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ unerring long snapper, is celebrating his favourite delivery of all.
His wife, Kenzi, gave birth to seven-pound, one-ounce Makaia Anne Hus on Sunday at 4:45 p.m.
“It’s like she’s half of you,” a proud first-time dad marvelled after Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “It’s crazy.
“I don’t even know what the words are, really. It’s just a pretty cool experience. There’s nothing else like it.
“I’m just looking forward to getting home and seeing her again.”
As soon as Hus and his teammates got home from Winnipeg on Saturday night, he proceeded to Regina General Hospital. Kenzi was induced that evening.
“She was an absolute trouper,” Hus said. “Watching her do what she did, there’s no way I could do it. The strength that she had was amazing.
“She was in labour for just over 17 hours — not even sleeping and pulling it together and doing everything she needs to do for Makaia.
“It’s incredible and it has been pretty cool to witness.”
Especially at that precise, indescribable moment when the waiting and wondering stops and parenthood begins.
“I was in there as a part of it and I got to cut the cord and everything, so that was really cool,” Hus said.
“It’s emotional — just a big shock. It’s just lots of emotions, lots of feelings. We’re both beside ourselves with excitement.”
Makaia is the seventh Roughriders baby of 2023.
Assistant General Manager Kyle Carson and his wife, Breanne, welcomed little Cruise on April 11.
Six days later, Nick and Tina Bowley celebrated the arrival of a son, Leo. Nick is the Roughriders’ Manager, Video and Analytics.
Cue the players’ baby boom …
May 26: Tripp Harris (son of quarterback Trevor Harris and his wife, Kalie).
June 28: Felicity Wieneke (daughter of receiver Jake Wieneke and his wife, Brenda).
July 1: Minnie Moncrief (daughter of linebacker Derrick Moncrief and his wife, Kasia).
Aug. 8: Levi Johnson (son of offensive lineman Evan Johnson and his wife, Dallis).
Sept. 10: Makaia!
“We had four or five boys’ names and four or five girls’ names picked out,” Hus said. “Then we kind of whittled it down to two.
“Then, about a month and a half or two months ago, we heard the name ‘Makaia’ and it went right into first place. So, if we had a girl, we were going to just name her that, and it took over.
“We didn’t know if it was going to be a boy or a girl, so it was a total surprise.”
Somewhat like the intricacies of changing diapers.
“I’m still trying to figure out how to do those,” Hus said with a chuckle. “There’s lots of little things that we’re just trying to learn.
“We had an awesome support system. The family has been awesome.
“The folks over at the Regina General Hospital were unbelievable. They were just excellent at everything. It was just over the top from them, so that made things a lot easier.
“They do a really good job of following up with you. A nurse comes and visits you at your house to make sure that everything’s going well.
“The treatment we have gotten from everyone has been just exceptional.”
On top of all that, the Saskatoon-born Hus celebrated a birthday — his 34th — on Tuesday.
“My birthday was two days after Makaia was born and I didn’t even care,” Hus said. “Everything is about her now and that’s how it should be.”
