Amelia is now home

We could say that was easy! Amelia did really well in the hospital and returned home today in the late afternoon. She was smiling at the doctors and nurses this morning as they checked her over. She hasn't really cried in pain since yesterday. She seems to be back to normal as much normal can be given that she just had surgery. We have our instructions and will be watching her closely over the next few days.

Amelia resting after surgery

Amelia is resting at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta after having surgery Monday morning to correct a blockage of her left kidney. She will be spending the night in the hospital and may return home tomorrow. Anna and myself will be staying in the room with her overnight. Anna's mother Ann Gillis will join us here in Atlanta sometime today to help in Amelia's recovery. Check back for details as Amelia returns to being a happy baby. Thanks to everyone for your concerns and prayers.

Amelia to face surgery

Amelia will have surgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston Campus on Monday morning (12/3/2007). This surgery is to correct an obstruction of one of her kidneys. This surgery is unrelated to her pyloric stenosis surgery she had at one month of age. The kidney issue was seen before she was born via ultrasound technology. We have been consulting with a pediatric urologist since around the ninth month of Anna’s pregnancy. Recently following a series of test the urologist advised us to have the surgery. In the past before the advent of ultrasound, such minute issues such as this kidney obstruction were not seen and therefore often lead to a kidney condition later in childhood.

We are not certain how long we will be in the hospital. It is possible that a two day stay may be required. Luckily this trip to the hospital will be closer to home. The Egleston campus of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is about a mile and a half from our home. The hospital is also across the street from my office on the Emory campus. Interestingly enough, through a series of buildings and tunnels one could walk to my office from the children’s hospital without going outside.

I will post information on Amelia’s recovery on this blog when I can. Amelia is basically a healthy baby. She hasn’t been in any pain. This surgery is to keep her healthy.

Amelia's First Thanksgiving

Amelia had her first Thanksgiving on Amelia Island, Florida. She can only eye the apple pie as formula was her meal. She was joined at the meal by her grandparents, (Big Momma and Big Daddy to her), her uncle Tot, friend AJ and her parents. The trip included walks along the beach, a trip to Jacksonville for a boat parade and dinner, and she was the star attraction at restaurants like the Cracker Barrel in Dublin, GA.

See the flickr.com site for more pictures. The link is on the right sidebar of this page.

Amelia goes hiking

Amelia went on or rather was taken on a brief hike this past weekend at the Gold Branch unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area near Roswell, GA. We used the infant carrier that you strap on like a backpack, only she was in front of my chest for this trip. She was busy looking around at the trees and sky for awhile, but then the motion of walking put her to sleep. After the hike we went into old town Roswell for lunch.

Amelia on Amelia Island and other adventures

Amelia went the furthest from her home that she has ever been in her brief life when she traveled with us to Waycross, GA and then on to Amelia Island in northern Florida. Amelia arrived for her first visit to Big Momma and Big Daddy Gillis’ house in Waycross on October 12th. Oh yeah, for those of you outside of the southern states “Big Momma and Big Daddy” is common term for grandparents. So it isn’t just used in movies with Martin Lawrence. Amelia was in Waycross to attempt to upstage the wedding of family friend Erin Conner - not really. Of course Amelia couldn't really upstage a bride and groom, but she was one of the main attractions at the reception as pictures can prove. On Sunday Amelia visited the Golf Club for more introductions to the Waycross scene during lunch there.

After time in Waycross, Amelia left Georgia for the first time when she crossed into Florida. Soon Amelia was on her namesake island, Amelia Island. While on the island she stayed at the family beach house. There near the waters edge, she experienced the sound of the ocean and sunrise feedings. Trips into the island town of Fernandina Beach were times to sleep while being wheeled around town or carried into shops. After a week at the beach and more introductions to new friends and family in Waycross she came back to her crib in Atlanta.

See the flickr link for more of the story and photos of the events.

Amelia meets her Mimi

Amelia met her grandmother Witte back on October 4th. I think we have settled on my mother being Mimi to Amelia. My grandmother on my mother’s side was known as Mimi to me. This was a good time for the introduction as Amelia has become more expressive. She smiles, raises her eyebrows and at times makes small sounds of happiness. On my mother’s first meeting Amelia was all smiles.

During my mother’ stay; Amelia made her first trip to church. She experienced the Life Teen mass a good thirteen years before her true time to participate with the cathedral teens. She made it through mass with a little rocking.

Please see the pictures of Amelia’s Mimi’s visit on the flickr.com website. The link is on the right sidebar of this page.

Amelia's Day at the River

In an effort to get Amelia used to traveling around in the car and so she could get some sunshine, we traveled into the northern suburbs of Atlanta to walk along the Chattahoochee River this afternoon. The City of Roswell, GA has a great park along the river that suited us just fine. We wheeled Amelia in her stroller down paved trails along this long stretch of the Chattahoochee that is deep and rather placid compared to other areas of Atlanta’s main river. Crew teams for the local colleges practice in this area. There is a small paddlewheel boat that navigates this area and today it was full of kids for some sort of private party. Amelia didn’t really notice all this beauty and activity around her she was lulled to sleep by wheels of her stroller rolling on the pavement.

Be sure to see the flickr.com site link on the top right side of this page for more more pictures.I will say though, I have run of space on flickr for this month so in October I will add more.

Amelia now home after hospital stay

Amelia is now at home after having surgery early Sunday to correct the condition of Pyloric Stenosis. Following the surgery she had a three day stay at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. Pyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the pylorus, the lower part of the stomach through which food and other stomach contents pass to enter the small intestine. When an infant has pyloric stenosis, the muscles in the pylorus have become enlarged to the point where food is prevented from emptying out of the stomach.

I had the same condition when I was an infant. She came through the twenty minute surgery well. We had to spend time in the hospital make sure she could take food in successfully after surgery. Hopefully we can return to normal, whatever normal is.

Bath Time

To give Amelia some idea that bedtime is coming we have bath time. This happens at 8:30 PM each night. As seen here Amelia has just come out of the water and is warm and dry as she is wrapped in towels. From here it is upstairs to feeding time which ends with sleep - we hope.

Amelia Meets Her Cousins

The next generation held their first meeting when Amelia and Adeline came together. Of course they had some help in meeting. Anna’ second cousin Nena brought Adeline over for them both to meet Amelia for the first time.

Three Weeks

Amelia is at three weeks now and she has her own TV station - well sort of. We purchased a baby monitor that has a camera and video monitor. A small camera on the rail of her crib broadcasts to our room a few feet away. At night we can see from a distance when her little head moves giving us advance warning that she is about to want our full attention. Are we losing sleep watching Amelia TV? Yes, maybe some.

Last week we had Laura Hunter with "Moms on Call" here at the house. Laura is a nurse, mother of five, and an infant care consultant. Beyond tips on bathing and nail trimming, she gave us tips on putting Amelia on a schedule. I know it is tough being schedule our entire lives, even at three weeks, but us sleepy parents want some structure please. Laura has a book out that says babies thrive on routine. 6 AM-feed, 7 AM-sleep, 9 AM- feed, and so on is kind of how it goes. Laura has her own blanket swaddle technique to calm the baby. The swaddle is nothing new, but the white noise is a newer technique. We have a “noise generator” with various sounds like a heartbeat, a waterfall, and the one we use the most, a solid noise that sounds similar to a radio between stations. Combined with the swaddle and the white noise she calms down for sleep much faster than letting her wiggle her way to a partially sleepless night. All these things put together are said to be a womb-like atmosphere that the baby feels calmed by. It seems odd, it works most of the time; however I will admit Amelia often has her own plans and cries regardless of adult calming theories.

One Week

As of this afternoon Amelia is now one week old. On this day she made her first trip down Atlanta’s most famous street Peachtree to the medical complex at Piedmont Hospital to see her regular pediatrician for the first time. The doctor found her to be in good health. She gained two ounces since last Friday. In baby terms that means all systems are working towards growth.

So we survived a week. Of course we had hospital help up till last Wednesday and then Anna’s mother ever since we came home. The story of nighttime baby duty was a comedy in all the typical ways you hear about dads and newborns. You know the usual, put the baby down she screams and pick her up she screams more. For the first time in years I can attest that while the world is sleeping, there is a long dark connection between light, darkness, and light again. Trust me on this; I have seen it happen out the window when I wasn’t looking at a bright-eyed baby. Also, I found out CNN keeps Larry King up all night! Now, ever since my last night on duty Amelia sleeps all the time. I think she is recovering from my inexperience. I am going back on tonight.

Be sure and look at the baby photos on the flickr.com site. The link is on the right sidebar of this page. I have yet to make a photo that captures late night feedings, but give me time. So till then, goodnight.

Amelia Goes Out

Amelia certainly came into a truly “Hotlanta” August. It has been over 100 degrees a couple of times since her birth. We ventured out into the heat yesterday to the pediatrician’s office in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta. I couldn’t resist but to have a photo in Little Five Points with Amelia since I never expected one of her first journeys out to be in one of the most bohemian areas of town. With that short trip out, Amelia’s life in Atlanta now really begins.

Anna in still in her recovery mode, she stayed home while Grandmother Gillis and Steve went to the doctor with Amelia. The doctor said she looked great. We meet with our regular pediatrician next week when he returns from vacation.

Anna's brother Tot flew up to Atlanta from Jacksonville, FL in a small plane with a flight instructor to see his sister and baby Amelia yesterday. Tot was here about three hours before heading back.

Amelia Comes Home

After 12:00 midnight, in other words very early Thursday morning 8/9/2007, we arrived at the house with baby Amelia. So did we sleep? Not really. In a clichéd new parent fashion we had a rough night of figuring out the balance of baby and us at home. We will sleep later today when the baby sleeps or while Anna’s mother can assist.

Later today we take Amelia to the pediatrician. Since our regular pediatrician is on vacation, we are going to his back up, who happens to have his practice above the Star Bar in the hip Little Five Points area of Atlanta. I have seen countless bands at the Star Bar, but never dreamed I would take my daughter to the doctor in the same building.

Welcome Amelia Ann Witte

As first time parents, Anna and Steve and family are proud and blessed to announce the arrival of Amelia Ann Witte. She was born on Monday, August 6, 2007 at 3:52 PM at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Her birth weight was 5 pounds and 5 ounces. Her birth length was 17 ¾ inches. For now, I don’t think I went too wrong in calling her blog Itty Bitty Witte. She is so small and so cute. Amelia’s health so far has been good.

Anna is doing well. She is resting and so far has not been up to many visitors or phone conversations. Sleep has not been part of the deal so far. Anna now has her own delivery story to tell after inquiring with so many people about their experience.

Twenty-four hours in and so far we are working through the details as new parents. The hospital staff is helping us out along with Anna’s mother. We believe that we will leave the hospital Wednesday, but that could always change.

I came over to the house to send this out and will return to wife and daughter for the evening. Looking around the house here, I can’t wait to have her home. Thank you for the prayers and thoughts from across the miles.

Please check back for more photos in the days to come as I need to run back to the hospital to be with the mother and daughter.

Update

Thanks for the posts on this blog from before the birth of Amelia! The photo above was taken on Amelia Island in Flordia. Our Amelia will enjoy a trip to her island!