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I think we’ve found our announcement photo!

Just returned from the photo store with contact sheets of the black and whites I shot. Two of these were taken at the hospital. I think I scared the doctor and nurses when I pulled the camera out moments after Andrew’s birth and the room was filled with the clack-clack-clack of the motor drive at 7fps. I actually pulled a “paparazi” – held the camera in the air and started shooting. After a few frames, the doctor looked up at me and said, “You can’t do any more here. I’ll take care of your wife. You go meet your baby.” It wasn’t until then that I actually walked up and saw Andrew close for the first time. Of course the first thing that went through my mind? What a conehead!

Click for more pictures:
Moments after birth
Andrew meets Kat
5 days old

Nordstrom sells these “Won’t Kick Off Cotton Booties” (they’re the ones on the left, with regular socks on the right). According to many people, they really do stay on when others get kicked off easily. Now I know why… These go so high up baby’s leg that he can’t reach them to kick them off! It’s practically up to his knees. Hey… they should sell “Won’t Kick Off Pants” or “Won’t Kick Off Hat.” Guaranteed!

Regardless, though… they do stay on, and they keep Andrew’s little feet nice and warm.

At Andrew’s 28th-week ultrasound, we found that he liked to sleep with his hands under his chin. Now he’s out of mother’s womb, and he still sleeps with his hands under his chin. We have no idea where this pose comes from, perhaps because I watched too much “Sex and the City” during my pregnancy.

What’s this? It’s pictures of Andrew on his tenth day! As one who has not yet crossed the digital divide when it comes to my SLR camera, I still live in the world of proof sheets, light tables, and loupes. Not that I don’t like digital – I have a digital point-and-shoot that was used to take the photo above – but there’s something about the anticipation of dropping a roll off at the store and getting back a stack of never-to-be-duplicated originals that excites me. It also reins me in from a tendency to “spray and pray” with the shutter button. I also like the way chromes look – the whole transmitted light thing. Doesn’t mean I don’t want a digital SLR – I’m just waiting for the economics to make sense. What I ought to get is a film scanner. In the meantime, you, too, can relive the glory days of analog: check out some proof sheets of Andrew before and during his ten day anniversary!

Click for more pictures:
Andrew at 5 days 1/2
Andrew at 5 days 2/2
Andrew at 10 days 1/2
Andrew at 10 days 2/2

And this? A bona-fide picture from a digital camera. Andrew, Kathlyn, and A-Ma (grandma Tsai).

Andrew is a bit jaundiced. The pediatrician wanted to see Andrew at four days. This is his first visit to the doctor’s office. There will be many more to come!

The test results came back with some worrisome news. His bilirubin levels had gone from 6.3 at discharge to 17+ in two days. The doctor wanted us to go in to the emergency room. So… back to the hospital we went. Andrew had two heel-sticks today. That’s how they draw the blood for the bilirubin test. He took it very much in stride, although it broke our hearts to see him bleeding. The second test showed 17.3 – the level didn’t rise since the afternoon. That was good enough for the doctor to send us home without further treatment. The jaundice should get better over the next few weeks – we’ll have to keep an eye on it for now.

ps – I hit the web hard for information on jaundice. It’s caused by baby’s immature liver not being able to break down bilirubin, a by-product of red blood cell regeneration. When the levels are high, a condition called hyperbilirubinemia, baby beings to turn yellow, starting from the head and working its way down. If the levels are too high, the bilirubin begins to deposit on the brain, leading to a variety of ailments, including deafness, blindness, paralysis, and even death. A common treatment for hyperbilirubinemia is exposure to strong blue lights, commonly called bililights. Bilirubin breaks down in light into a substance that’s water soluable, and therefore is able to be expelled through urine. In extreme cases, a blood transfusion is necessary to reduce bilirubin levels. At four days, the level at which light therapy should be considered is 17. Light therapy is recommended at 21. We were on the borderline, but since the levels were stable, it was decided that no treatment was necessary. If you’re interested, here’s a great article on hyperbilirubinemia.

April 17 started out very early. Andrew is ready to meet us. Around 12:30am, shortly after we went to bed, Kathlyn’s water broke, and we were on our way to parenthood. We had already packed the hospital bag, but it still seemed like there was much to take. What you’re not seeing here is the camera bag – don’t leave home without it! Since Kathlyn wasn’t having major contractions yet, we were in no hurry. The hospital is only five minutes down the road. The downside? I didn’t get to run any red lights.


Kathlyn on the epidural: “This is man’s greatest invention.”

The pains of labor seemed to melt away after the epidural went in. We were able to catch a few winks, and the pain was managed so well that Kathlyn was able to read and watch a bit of TV.

Andrew – 45 minutes old, and before his first bath.

Official stats:
Andrew Yong-Chi Wang (王永祈)
April 17, 2005 ~ 3:33pm
6lbs 1oz ~ 19in

Welcome to our world, Andrew!