Roxy update & Happy Birthday Jason!

Roxy enjoyed her time at Camp Big Daddy (what we call my parent's house) while I was home. She found a rabbit in their garden and then decided she should keep watch the rest of the week. This is Roxy on bunny patrol.

When we got home she figured she should check out our garden too. She found a rabbit in our garden and trapped it in the fence. She started biting at it before I could grab her and free the bunny. It was scary! I don't want rabbits in my garden but I don't want a dead rabbit in my garden fence either.

We don't let her play unaccopanied here as she can do at Camp Big Daddy so we take her to the park when possible. Her favorite part of the park is swimming in the stream. It is fun and refreshing.



Today was my 6-week post-partum check up. Of the near 40 pounds I gained, I lost 30 just by giving birth and have yet to lose more but I am back in most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. I really love my doctor's office. Everyone seems to know me and makes me feel welcome there. When my doctor saw me he grabbed Daniel's carrier and showed him off to the nurses there like a proud grandparent. Everyone, of course, oohed and awed over how cute he is. My check up went well and the doctor is pleased with how I have been healing (although I was disappointed that I had only lost one pound in four weeks since I was there to get my staples out).

Today is Jason's birthday. We didn't really do anything special but he got to open some presents and spend time with his son (my greatest gift to him yet). Happy Birthday Jason!!

Family Time

My beautiful family



I knew I wouldn't be a good blogger; it's been almost a month since I posted my first! You would think I have tons of time but Daniel keeps my hands full most of the day. When I put him down once he falls asleep - 90% of the time he wakes up and cries. Someone needs to be holding him almost all the time. Today a good friend of mine, Joyce, came over with her sons Sam and AJ to hold Daniel for an hour and a half so I could do a few chores. It was wonderful. Thank you!

Daniel has grown so much in the past couple of weeks. He isn't a tiny little baby anymore and it is kind of sad. He still isn't very responsive but seems to be close to giving me a look and a smile. His one month check up on June 17 went very well. He was 9 lbs and 21.5 inches. I am sure he has gained nearly another pound since then and his head seems to have become huge!


Daniel on June 17th before his Dr. check up.



Last week was wonderful family time. Over the weekend Daniel got to meet his Marquiss Great Grandparents at a lunch Jason't parents house. Great Grandma Phylis enjoyed snuggle time and we got to have four generations of Marquiss men together for the first time!














(I slept most of the time so I don't really have any highlights to share.) Then Wednesday after Daniel's check up I drove home to Mechanicsburg again for a week of Stallings family time. My sisters and their families came into town and we got to spend several days together. This doesn't happen often as my oldest sister, Laurel, lives in Southern California and Sharon lives near Chicago. Laurel had a beautiful baby girl this November and I just now got to meet her for the first time. We laid low for the most part - nice family dinners, a few shoping trips, an extended family picinic (my aunt, uncle, and cousin w/ family), and a professional photo session to capture our growing families. Laurel did a great job of journaling the week - I recommend checking out her blog @ www.larslaurel.blogspot.com

The Mitchell kids (Robin, Drew, Peter and Issac), with Daniel's cousins Leah, Luke and Ella.
Ella and Leah meet for the first time

Welcome to Roxy's World

This is Roxy - our first baby.

Roxy enjoyed being the only little one in her parent's lives for 5 years, being fully spoiled with as much love and attention as an adorable Yorkie deserves. Her world was turned upside down with the arrival of Daniel Holliday on May 17, 2009. This is the story:

Jason graduated from Penn State on Saturday, May 16 with a degree in survey engineering.

Kat, (I) unfortunately had a difficult time enjoying the day they both looked forward to for four years as she was 38 weeks pregnant and feeling very ill all day. Jason eventually convinced her to call the doctor, resulting in a visit to the hospital around 8:00 PM. After hours of tests, the doctor dropped the bomb "You are a very sick girl." He went on to explain that I had HELLP (http://www.hellpsyndrome.org/) and would have to have a C-section immediately or risk the death of me and/or baby. They pumped me up with Mg to prevent seizures and prepped me for surgery. Jason couldn't be in the room with us as I had to be under general anesthesia and they were concerned that I would need blood transfusions or have other major complications. Long story short -- we both ended up just fine in the end and our 7lb 1 oz 19.5 in bundle of joy was born at 2:05 AM at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem. PA.

Roxy has adjusted well and is starting to think of Daniel as one of the family. She gets startled when he poops, upset when he cries, and likes to smell him and sneak in kisses when she can (gross, yes as she also enjoys rummaging through the bathroom trash can).

Daniel has enjoyed many visitors in his short three and a half weeks. His Grandparents and his G.G. (Great Grandmother June) love to be around him (and I love having them around to hold him some and baby sit so Jason and I can spend some time together). Many of our friends have stopped in to meet him and help us with meals - what a blessing!

Daniel keeps me very busy with constant eating and fussing. In fact, he has gained over two pounds since we brought him home. His doctor could hardly believe it and had to check her records twice! There are some moments when he is enjoyable and very cute.

First real bath - he really enjoyed hanging out in the warm bath water but didn't like being taken out so much!