Andreas is Born

Andreas is born!!

Andreas arrived at 22:30 on March 19, 2002. He weighed in at 2.77kg and measured 47.5cm. After a super easy labor, he arrived perfectly 5 minutes after Kevin arrived at the clinic after racing for the last flight of the day from Amsterdam and then racing to the clinic from the airport. Unfortunately, within minutes we realized that he was having difficulty breathing. There followed the sadness of spending the first night separated from Andreas as he received urgent care before being transported to a neonatal intensive care unit of one of the top hospitals in Paris while Kate had to remain in the clinic (and Kevin went back to the airport to catch the first flight Wednesday at 6:55 am back to Amsterdam).

Andreas improved throughout the day on March 20, before encountering difficulty due to a build-up of fluid in his lungs due to a connection between his heart and lungs which normally closes upon birth but which hadn't closed in his case. In spite of this setback, he improved Thursday but remained on machines to breath and was quite heavily medicated. He remained on machines through Monday, March 25 when he had revived sufficiently (after the medication was stopped Saturday night) to be taken off machines. He was put back on briefly on Tuesday and then taken off for good later on Tuesday. On Wednesday Kevin spent an hour with him very awake and looking around and following his Daddy's face with his eyes. Kate then napped with him napping in her arms for 1.5 hours on Wednesday afternoon.

Tuesday, March 19, 2002

This day would prove to be extremely interesting. Kevin left for work as "normal" with a late ticket to Amsterdam for dinner with some executives of a prospective client and to teach all the next day at the Amsterdam Institute of Finance. Kate spent the afternoon trying to arrange our summer vacation flights home in the Air France ticket office at Porte Maillot. Kevin spoke with Kate from the airport with no indication that there was labor anywhere on the horizon. However, upon arriving in Amsterdam, he received the call that she had driven to the clinic and was having contractions. After several aborted decisions about whether to stay or go (made jointly), Kevin finally caught the last flight of the day back to Paris and raced to the clinic to arrive at the point of delivery, with Andreas popping out less than 5 minutes later, at 22:30.

A huge thanks and hugs and kisses go to Anne and Didier who were there for Kate during the labor while Kevin was trying to get back and who were fantastic throughout. Another huge thanks goes to Liliane, our nanny, who picked up all of the slack with Alexandre on this day and on the days to follow.

Thursday, March 21, 2002

After returning from Amsterdam Wednesday night and spending time with Kate in the clinic, Kevin returned to the clinic on Thursday, March 21, at 9:00 to pick up Kate and go to the city hall to register Andreas Paris Paul Kaiser. Following that, we headed to Le Kremlin-Bicetre to visit our little baby. We were immediately impressed with the quality of the care and the facilities. Andreas had his own room and the staff and technology were all top notch. We were greeted with bad news about his condition, however, as the doctor explained that his lungs had partially filled with fluid and he was having more difficulty than the day before. They later determined that this was due to the channel between his heart and lungs, which normally closes upon birth, still being opened.

Kevin had to leave at lunchtime to get to INSEAD to teach the Diageo group and Kate had to get back to the clinic.

Kate received several visitors via phone and in person, including Kevin's ex-wife, Kristen, who brought Nick and Katie to visit her as they really wanted to see her. Kristen also brought a very nice fruit basket (more than Kate's 'loving husband' managed to bring).

Friday, March 22, 2002

Kevin had to disappear to INSEAD all day on Friday to teach the Diageo group (they were aware of his newborn's condition and were very appreciative of his commitment to their programme, though in truth no one could have filled in for him at the last minute).

Kate was taken home from the clinic by her girlfriends, Anne and Jessica. They had lunch together with Anne's husband, Didier, before Didier drove Kate to Kremlin-Bicetre to spend the afternoon with Andreas.

Kevin joined Kate at the hospital after his day in Fontainebleau and then they returned home to catch up on some needed sleep.

Saturday, March 23, 2002

On Saturday we awoke to head to the hospital with Alexandre to visit Andreas. Andreas was continuing to improve and they informed us that they would be taking him off of all medication later that day. After the visit, we picked up Nick and Katie to have lunch where we were joined by Tom and Pascal (recently pregnant, due in October).

After lunch, the Kaisers headed back to the hospital to visit with Andreas and introduce him to his siblings. After a pleasant visit, we accepted Kristen's offer to keep Nick and Katie overnight (it was her weekend with the kids) and we headed to the forest in Fontainebleau for some rock climbing in the sunshine.

Sunday, March 24, 2002

On Sunday we headed into Paris to drive Nick and Katie back to their mother's and to go back to the hospital to visit Andreas. He was continuing to improve and had indeed been taken off all medications. His body was not yet sufficiently clean of the drugs to breath without machines, so he remained on the beasts. Nonetheless, we had a good visit before heading to friends (Marcus and Anne) for lunch and to pass the afternoon.

Monday, March 25, 2002

On Monday we started the day with Kevin heading to work, however Kevin and Kate met up at the hospital at lunchtime to visit with Andreas. He was now off the machines and breathing on his own, though it did continue to require some effort on his part.

having him close to us was well worth it and the cost of the critical care (taken entirely by the French taxpayers) was no longer justified.

The evening after Andreas' move to the hospital in our neighborhood, we took Anne and Didier to Debacadar (a trendy restaurant in Paris) to express our gratitude for all of their support during the first hours and weeks of Andreas' life.

Andreas is born!! Andreas arrived at 22:30 on March 19, 2002. He weighed in at 2.77kg and measured 47.5cm. After a super easy labor, he arrived perfectly 5 minutes after Kevin arrived at the clinic after racing for the last flight of the day from Amsterdam and then racing to the clinic from the airport. Unfortunately, within minutes we realized that he was having difficulty breathing. There followed the sadness of spending the first night separated from Andreas as he received urgent care before being transported to a neonatal intensive care unit of one of the top hospitals in Paris while Kate had to remain in the clinic (and Kevin went back to the airport to catch the first flight Wednesday at 6:55 am back to Amsterdam). Andreas improved throughout the day on March 20, before encountering difficulty due to a build-up of fluid in his lungs due to a connection between his heart and lungs which normally closes upon birth but which hadn't closed in his case. In spite of this setback, he improved Thursday but remained on machines to breath and was quite heavily medicated. He remained on machines through Monday, March 25 when he had revived sufficiently (after the medication was stopped Saturday night) to be taken off machines. He was put back on briefly on Tuesday and then taken off for good later on Tuesday. On Wednesday Kevin spent an hour with him very awake and looking around and following his Daddy's face with his eyes. Kate then napped with him napping in her arms for 1.5 hours on Wednesday afternoon.

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 This day would prove to be extremely interesting. Kevin left for work as "normal" with a late ticket to Amsterdam for dinner with some executives of a prospective client and to teach all the next day at the Amsterdam Institute of Finance. Kate spent the afternoon trying to arrange our summer vacation flights home in the Air France ticket office at Porte Maillot. Kevin spoke with Kate from the airport with no indication that there was labor anywhere on the horizon. However, upon arriving in Amsterdam, he received the call that she had driven to the clinic and was having contractions. After several aborted decisions about whether to stay or go (made jointly), Kevin finally caught the last flight of the day back to Paris and raced to the clinic to arrive at the point of delivery, with Andreas popping out less than 5 minutes later, at 22:30. A huge thanks and hugs and kisses go to Anne and Didier who were there for Kate during the labor while Kevin was trying to get back and who were fantastic throughout. Another huge thanks goes to Liliane, our nanny, who picked up all of the slack with Alexandre on this day and on the days to follow.

Kate is ready to give birth (and waiting for Kevin to return from Amsterdam to be by her side for delivery)	Anne was providing emotional support while Marie-Christine provided medical/mid-wife support

Andreas is born	Mommy holds the newborn little guy

Andreas gets first cleaning	Andreas is measured at 47.5cm

Andreas weighs 2.77kg	Andreas gets his first bath

Andreas' premature lungs are still unknown to us when Kate calls her parents to inform them	Andreas being moved for more measurements

Andreas getting supplemental oxygen before urgent pediatric care team arrives	Didier provides emotional support

Daddy really was there (and looking remarkably good considering it's 3:00am and he's had a rather long day)

Urgent pediatric care team on the scene	Urgent care pediatrician takes over and stabilizes Andreas for transport to hospital on other side of Paris for intensive care
Thursday, March 21, 2002 After returning from Amsterdam Wednesday night and spending time with Kate in the clinic, Kevin returned to the clinic on Thursday, March 21, at 9:00 to pick up Kate and go to the city hall to register Andreas Paris Paul Kaiser. Following that, we headed to Le Kremlin-Bicetre to visit our little baby. We were immediately impressed with the quality of the care and the facilities. Andreas had his own room and the staff and technology were all top notch. We were greeted with bad news about his condition, however, as the doctor explained that his lungs had partially filled with fluid and he was having more difficulty than the day before. They later determined that this was due to the channel between his heart and lungs, which normally closes upon birth, still being opened. Kevin had to leave at lunchtime to get to INSEAD to teach the Diageo group and Kate had to get back to the clinic. Kate received several visitors via phone and in person, including Kevin's ex-wife, Kristen, who brought Nick and Katie to visit her as they really wanted to see her. Kristen also brought a very nice fruit basket (more than Kate's 'loving husband' managed to bring).

Andreas on machines	Mommy ensures the quality of the care

Andreas living on machines	Alexandre visits Mommy at clinic later that evening
Friday, March 22, 2002 Kevin had to disappear to INSEAD all day on Friday to teach the Diageo group (they were aware of his newborn's condition and were very appreciative of his commitment to their programme, though in truth no one could have filled in for him at the last minute). Kate was taken home from the clinic by her girlfriends, Anne and Jessica. They had lunch together with Anne's husband, Didier, before Didier drove Kate to Kremlin-Bicetre to spend the afternoon with Andreas. Kevin joined Kate at the hospital after his day in Fontainebleau and then they returned home to catch up on some needed sleep.

Alexandre happy to have his mommy home	Kate with Jessica (left) and Anne (right)

Kate receives flowers from Veit and Katia	Lunch with friends
Saturday, March 23, 2002 On Saturday we awoke to head to the hospital with Alexandre to visit Andreas. Andreas was continuing to improve and they informed us that they would be taking him off of all medication later that day. After the visit, we picked up Nick and Katie to have lunch where we were joined by Tom and Pascal (recently pregnant, due in October). After lunch, the Kaisers headed back to the hospital to visit with Andreas and introduce him to his siblings. After a pleasant visit, we accepted Kristen's offer to keep Nick and Katie overnight (it was her weekend with the kids) and we headed to the forest in Fontainebleau for some rock climbing in the sunshine.

Andreas getting UV therapy for his jaundice	Andreas naps while Alexandre and Daddy pose for photo

Nick and Katie happy to visit their latest sibling (now they have two siblings at their Mommy's and two at their Daddy's)	The first full Kaiser family photo
Sunday, March 24, 2002 On Sunday we headed into Paris to drive Nick and Katie back to their mother's and to go back to the hospital to visit Andreas. He was continuing to improve and had indeed been taken off all medications. His body was not yet sufficiently clean of the drugs to breath without machines, so he remained on the beasts. Nonetheless, we had a good visit before heading to friends (Marcus and Anne) for lunch and to pass the afternoon. Monday, March 25, 2002 On Monday we started the day with Kevin heading to work, however Kevin and Kate met up at the hospital at lunchtime to visit with Andreas. He was now off the machines and breathing on his own, though it did continue to require some effort on his part.

Andreas lives without machines	Andreas demonstrates his grip on Daddy's fingers

Andreas awake	Andreas looking at his mommy

Daddy, Mommy and Andreas	Mommy in love
Wednesday, March 27, 2002 Andreas continued to improve through his second week and on Thursday Kate breastfed him for the first time. He was almost ready to move to a hospital closer to us.
	Andreas awake with all of his tubes

Kate breastfeeds Andreas for the first time
Friday, March 29, 2002 Finally we were able to move Andreas to a hospital which is only 5 minutes from our house. He was prepped and moved by a special pediatric intensive car mobile unit (similar to the one which moved him to the intensive care unit right after his birth in the clinic). Upon arrival, he was bathed and given his own bed in a special room shared by a few other babies. There was a huge difference in quality between the two hospitals, but Andreas was safely out of critical need and breathing well on his own, so we weren't too concerned. The convenience of
	The little guy gets a bath in his new digs
	having him close to us was well worth it and the cost of the critical care (taken entirely by the French taxpayers) was no longer justified. The evening after Andreas' move to the hospital in our neighborhood, we took Anne and Didier to Debacadar (a trendy restaurant in Paris) to express our gratitude for all of their support during the first hours and weeks of Andreas' life.
Andreas in his new incubator bed

Trying to get a good photo with Anne and Didier is always hard as they both insist on making faces
Saturday, March 30, 2002 Mommy was still spending several hours per day at the hospital, breastfeeding and then bottle-feeding Andreas to help him to gain weight and health as quickly as possible. Fortunately, as the hospital was only minutes away and she was in perfect condition following the birth, this was physically easy, though emotionally taxing. On Saturday we all went over to visit the i-care unit where Andreas was staying
	Family visit to the i-care unit in Le Chesnay

Andreas in his bed with all of his toys around him	Daddy changing Andreas' diaper
Thursday, April 4, 2002 After a difficult week (emotionally and logistically with Kate's continued trips to the hospital at all hours to try to keep Andreas on a breastfeeding schedule), Andreas was finally released on Thursday, April 4, 2002. He rode home in the car-bed (right)
	Andreas in his car-bed for the ride home

Kate is excited as she puts the bed into the Yaris to drive Andreas home from the hospital
Thursday, April 11, 2002 A week after arriving home, Andreas had stabilized and was getting into a routine as a 'normal' little baby. Alexandre was responding very well to his presence and was extremely gentle and loving with his new little brother.

Andreas awake in his bed in the livingroom	Alexandre holding his little brother
Kevin's Journey to Andreas' Birth The birth was made more exciting by the fact that I had a dinner with 3 execs from TNT Post Group (the CFO, head of strategy, and someone from analytics) in Amsterdam Tuesday night and was to teach all day Wednesday in Amsterdam. Thus, I had already taken my flight to Amsterdam at the end of the afternoon with Kate at the Air France ticket office trying to arrange our tickets to Canada for the summer and having no signs of labor whatsoever (and no expectation that such signs might develop in the next week). Upon arrival, I tried to get hold of Kate to learn what she had done about the flights to Canada and I couldn't reach her on either the home nor her mobile. I called the CFO of TPG to tell him I had landed and that dinner was 'on'. Just before getting to my hotel (where I was anxious to set up my computer to begin preparing for three consecutive days of 8-hour per day executive teaching), Kate called to say that she was at the clinic and had been having contractions for 2 hours. I considered turning the taxi around and heading back to the airport, but Kate talked me out of it. Therefore, I went to the hotel and checked in. Just as my computer was booting, Kate called to say that I better return as it looked like she was dilating. I called the CFO and told him we were 'off' and then left the hotel (without checking out) and grabbed a taxi back to the airport. When I was about half way to the airport, Kate called and said that the progress had stopped and she really didn't want to be responsible for me missing a very important dinner and screwing up my teaching the next day and that I should return to the hotel. I called the CFO back to tell him that we were back 'on' and returned to the hotel. My computer was just booting again inside the hotel room when Kate called to say that the doctor told her it was definitely coming that night, but told me not to bother returning as I would be too late anyway because he said it was all going to happen very quickly. I left anyway, calling the CFO to say we were 'off' and heading to the airport. I should point out that I had eaten exactly nothing all day due to a long arduous day of work (no breakfast, lunch, or dinner).
		Upon arriving at the airport, I bought a return ticket to Paris leaving on the last flight of the night (20:50 - it was already 20:10) and returning on the first flight the next morning, 6:55am. Then, with the flight already starting to board, I ran to Burger King and inhaled a whopper with cheese meal before racing to the gate to catch my plane. I landed in Paris and ran full out to the car (dressed in suit and fancy shoes) and drove the Landcruiser like a madman in pouring rain into Paris and all the way to the clinic to arrive at exactly the moment that his head began to appear. The delivery lasted another 5 minutes and he was out and breathing. Within 10 minutes the doctors noticed that all was not normal, and they put him on oxygen as he was having trouble breathing. The pediatrician arrived at about 23:30 and tested the oxygen concentration in his skin and noted that it was too low, a sign that his lungs were not functioning properly. At 00:00 he called pediatric emergency to have the baby moved to a neonatal care center from the clinic where Kate gave birth. The pediatric emergency specialists arrived and spent until 03:30 stabilizing him before putting him into an ambulance for the trip. Kate and I then went to her room in the clinic to talk, with some degree of concern and grief that we didn't have our new little baby with us (but there is no maternity care in the neonatal care center where he was taken). I managed a few minutes of horizontalness before I rose at 4:50 to shave and shower and get to the airport for my flight back to Amsterdam. My day went very well Andreas' condition improved throughout the day while Kate was relaxing in the clinic and spending the entire day on the phone.