Mizzou Merry Christmas

Well, it is Christmas in Guam! Mark was able to sleep until 9 before waking for church on the beach. Before leaving for church, Christmas gifts were opened, and Mark (evidently) was a good boy this year. In celebration of Mizzou's excellent football season, he received all the necessary garb for sporting his MU spirit -- jersey, t-shirt, crocs, hat, and gum (where do you even find MU gum)! Now, he can sit in style as he watches his new Planet Earth DVDs!

I have talked to Courtney, and the stage is set for their Christmas tomorrow. Hopefully, she will get some good pictures. After Christmas morning at the Mitchells, Courtney and Olivia will head down to Grandma Donner's. So, lots of festivities planned!

Merry Christmas!

Blurb

Now that the gifts have been given, I can announce a great new site we found for creating memory books. We did a "first year" book at Shutterfly for Olivia, but the Blurb book is cool too. We did one for Katelee that can be checked out here: Katelee.

Rota Walk 2007

It is 9:00 p.m., and we just completed the 2007 Rota Walk. The Rota Walk consists of all the people on Rota Drive decorating their houses full tilt. Think National Lampoon Christmas:

This year, it was a little tougher for me. I didn't have Courtney saying "that's not enough lights." Also, with plans to move soon, it was hard to be motivated to decorate the house we'll be leaving. But alas, I was able to string some lights across the top of the house, run some lights down the sidewalk, and create a snoopy stand (Lucy's Psychiatrist Stand).

This year, I made the stand out of wood paneling with some reinforced 1x4 pine boards. Then, I secured it to my Craftsman tool chest. Unfortunately, weather was not in our favor tonight.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy and windy with showers developing after midnight. Low 77F. Winds ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Translation: Mark will have to hold his Lucy Stand all night to keep the 30 mph winds from whipping it away.

But, most people seemed to like it, and many took the opportunity to get some good pictures with their kids in the window of the stand. That is, until about 7:50, when the last part of that forcast kicked in -- rain. Quick downpour, but enough to call it quits for the night as all the people ran for cover.

All in all, it was a good night though. And since the Walk was cut a bit short, that leaves me with 10 bags of Kit Kats and 4 bags of Hershey Kisses.

For a full history of Rota Walk, you can click here: Rota Walk History.

Elfin

For a good laugh, visit:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1407337748

Not sure how long it will last, but it's funny.

Major Dad

Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!!! Major Mark Taylor has a pretty nice ring to it, don't you think? And it is official! Mark was notified yesterday that he is indeed a major select! Depending on his line number, his promotion pin-on should come sometime within the year!

Seriously, I have the best husband and our girls have the best daddy ever. I am blessed.

Up, Up, Up

After 33 posts in November, we've slowed back down in December. Mark is back in Guam, and the girls are still in Missouri. So, it is up to Courtney to get new pictures for posts!


Katelee has continued to gain weight. She has gone from 4 lbs 6 oz. at discharge to 4.10 about one week later. A week later, she was up to 5.6, and she weighed 5.10 yesterday. She is gaining weight quickly, which is good!


They were able to get Katelee's passport photo taken yesterday, and it should only take about 2 weeks to get her passport back.


We did receive good news from our NICU neighbors who had triplets. They sent pictures, which can be seen here: http://web.mac.com/kevinennis/iWeb/Triplets/Triplets.html. We certainly wish them the best!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

Sadly, Mark had to leave his girls and get on a plane to return to Guam.

• Katelee is doing well now. We do have to wait until her birth certificate is officially filed (expected this week) before applying for a passport (4 - 8 weeks). Then, she can travel the globe! She had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and she is up to 4 lbs, 10 oz. Thus, she is gaining about 1/2 oz per day.
• Olivia is still doing a great job of being a big sister. She loves to hold, touch, and kiss Katelee. She seems to have an incredible, nurturing disposition. She probably gets that from her mom.
• And, of course, Courtney is a wonderful mother and wife. Sleep deprivation doesn't seem to slow her down at all!!!

Needless to say, we are disappointed to spend Christmas apart this year, but we are blessed to have supportive family helping. We are thankful for all the help.

Big Smiles

Santa Claus

Olivia visited Santa at the Mall tonight. It took some bartering to even get her close to him. First, her cousin had to come with her. There is safety in numbers.

Second, Santa had to agree not to say, "Ho, Ho, Ho." We have no idea why this one was a critical item, but Olivia thought "Ho, Ho, Ho" was too scary.

Santa agreed, and the two entered Santa's lair. CJ, her cousin, was quite brave and hopped right onto his lap. However, Olivia kept her guard.

r Sitting on his lap? Out of the question.
r Standing within his reach? No way!
r Sit on a stool at his feet? Maybe.
a Move the stool out a little bit and touch it with her hand while smiling for the camera? Ok!!! This certainly seemed safe enough.

Santa was nice enough to give Olivia a book before she left. And, Olivia finally felt safe enough to tell her mother to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas -- a HORSE. Then, she questioned why Santa didn't give her a horse right then. But, a trip to Chuckee Cheese helped ease the disappointment. We did get one of the best pictures of Olivia at Chuckee Cheese, and we'll post that tomorrow.

Cookies!

Cookie Monsters

Turning the Corner toward Christmas

Olivia puts her painted hands on the Christmas tree skirt

Katelee makes her mark too

Time to decorate the Christmas tree

Turkey Day Crash

Grandpa & Katelee watching football

Thanksgiving Blessings

All the grandkids at the Mitchell's Thanksgiving Feast!

Olivia vs. Turkey Leg at Grandma Donner's
Winner: Olivia

Olivia vs. Pumpkin Pie
Winner: Pumpkin Pie

No Turkey for me?!!
I'm so hungry I could eat this hand!

Build A Bear

As part of Olivia's "I'm a big sister" initiation, Grandma and Grandpa took her out to find a doll/stuffed animal. They went to a Build A Bear store.

Can I have the Bear?

Ok, no Bear? I'll take a cat.

Now, time to give this cat a cool name . . . like Gilbert!
*Gilbert comes from the cartoon Caillou

Every good cat needs some blue PJs

Ta-Da! Meet, Gilbert the Cat!!!

Out of Here

Well, we are out of here (noon on Tuesday)!

Olivia was quite excited to be able to hold Katelee. She wants to hold her hand, pat her head, and love on her.

Failure

Katelee had her car seat test today. Unfortunately, she did not study hard enough. Her oxygen levels kept dipping below 90%.

But, with some good prayers, she is still allowed to go home. She'll just go home in a sleep carrier. She's taking after her older sister!

Success

Night 1 in the Care-By-Parent room was successful. Katelee ate every three hours. The nurse checked on her at 2:30 and she had lost just a bit of weight, but she was not overly concerned. Katelee woke up with a big appetite this morning. The best aspect of the room? No windows! It is so nice and dark! Our hospitality room had a huge window with a sheer curtain and large street light positioned outside of it. It was also located on the other side of the hospital, which meant a long trek for Courtney, which meant less sleep. So, everybody is happy!!!

Changing Rooms

Great Aunt Vicki and Grandma Donner visited today. This is the same Aunt who used to give Mark swirlies, so Olivia and Katelee were warned.

We learned Katelee is graduating ahead of schedule into another room. The private room is complete with TV, refrigerator, and a set of parents. She will reside in this room for 2 days. If she continues to gain weight, not get caught smoking or drinking, and behaves herself, she will be allowed to leave the hospital.

Grandpa visits Katelee in her new room.
Look Grandpa, no wires or feeding tubes or monitors!

Cha Cha Chimps

Olivia, Dangles (the chimp), and Mom enjoy Cha Cha Chimps
(a definite recommend!)

Post #101

Angels watching over me

Sister Time

Introductions

Katelee, meet Grandma Donner

Olivia, meet your new little sister

Katelee, meet your family
No, your sister usually doesn't wear a mask

World, meet a bundle of trouble!

13 Nov 07 Update

Katelee graduates to big preemie clothes after her IV lines are removed. She still has monitor wires attached though.

You like my new duds?

Debbie is taking good care of me, but she gets me frustrated as she rubs my head to keep me awake during feedings. And, she keeps sticking me with needles! Other than that, she is ok.

Olivia Time

In order to get some good Olivia time, we escaped from the hospital to the ADHD nightmare of Chuck E Cheese's! It turned out to be a great outing. Courtney ate all the pizza and ordered dessert, Mark played all the games, and Olivia crawled through the free tubes (after we bought 25 tokens). She did enjoy several of the games, the mechanical singing animals, and Mom & Dad time. We brought some pizza back for Katelee, but she was sleeping and could not eat it.

Olivia Attacks Dad at Air Hockey

Clifford The Big Red Dog (one of Olivia's favorite cartoons)

Mom & Olivia pose at the Sketcher Picture Machine

Olivia has been practicing "I Love You" through the window to Katelee

Great Grandma Visit

So, this is who I got half my name from?

Granna (Kathron) visits