Stitches and the Doll Hospital

Lilah has had a exciting few weeks.  She got her first stitches three weeks ago and then last weekend she had to send her American Girl doll to the doll hospital. 

She fell and busted her chin open at New York and Company and ended up with 6 stitches when it was all said and done. She was walking (for once...not dancing or running!) and somehow still managed to trip into a shelving unit.  Even though she was behind me, I knew from the sound it would require stitches. I'm just so thrilled it was her chin and not another part of her face or her teeth!  Uncle Jon came to the rescue with a diaper to stop the bleeding and I really thought the store manager was going to hit the floor from seeing all the trauma.  Lilah was a trooper and I cannot say enough about the people at our Children's hospital. We are SO, SO, SO blessed to have them so close.  The Child Life specialist held the iPad over her the entire time the doc stitched her and I'm pretty sure she had no clue it was even happening.  The doctor APOLOGIZED to Lilah whenever she "got in the way" of Lilah's iPad viewing.  It was too funny!  We even happened to run into the doctor at Kroger the next day and she checked the stitches to make sure everything looked okay.  GOLD STANDARD! 

Before the numbing gel....not super happy about needing stitches.

Lilah was less than thrilled that they only had white hospital bracelets so they let her decorate hers.

Makeshift hair tie!

All stitched and armed with a new "bath squirter."

Onto Christmas.  Christmas is Lilah's American Girl doll that Nana bought her in New York.  It took awhile for Lilah to name the doll so for awhile she went by Nothing McStinky Pants and I was seriously scared that the name would stick forever, BUT out of nowhere Lilah decided the doll's name was Christmas.  Christmas is more than a doll. She's a companion.  We seriously have to dress the doll each day and change her for bed each night.  We also have to brush her hair daily if not more than once a day. 

However, about a week after Christmas was named, Lilah decided to put her on the humidifier "to make her hair warm."  Well, let's just say after that Christmas' beautiful long red curls were no long curls. So, we decided to make the trek to Columbus to have Christmas' hair re-curled at the beauty salon.  Except, they don't re-curl hair.  They have to send dolls with these types of problems to the doll hospital in Chicago. 

The "doctor" came out to speak with Lilah about the surgery Christmas would need.  She even filled out pre-admission paper work where Lilah was asked what types of food and t.v. shows the doll enjoys "so she would be comfortable at the hospital."  Lilah took all of this remarkably well.  She didn't even cry when they changed Christmas into a paper gown and asked Lilah to kiss her goodbye so she could board the "ambulance." 

Not a day goes by where Lilah doesn't mention that she misses Christmas, but she's holding up so far.  Christmas should arrive at our door in the next 4 weeks.  I know Lilah will be happy to see her!

Something I Don't Want to Forget

I don't think I'll ever forget this Brian story, but just in case, I thought I'd better write it down. 

When Dad died, Brian was pretty quiet about it as he is with most things.  He did ask me to drive him to soccer that night, so I knew he was ready to talk.  On the way to soccer, he said,

"Mom, I know Pappy's spirit has gone to heaven, but what about his body?"

Me: "Well, buddy, they are going to put it in a box, a coffin, like they did when Grandpa Frank died, and they'll bring it to his funeral at the church."

B: "Oh.  But what about after?"

Me: "After the funeral, they'll bury his body in the coffin."

B: "But why?  Why can't they just bring him home?"

Up until this point I thought I had done a pretty good job of explaining death to my kids. 

Me: "Ummm....don't you think that would be a little weird?  Like having his body at Nana's house, but not his spirit?  We couldn't really hug him or talk to him...."

After a long pause....

B: "But Uncle Billy has all those deer heads on his wall!"

SERIOUSLY!?  Well that about sums up Brian's understanding of death at 7.  In a neat little package.  With a bow

Me: "Yeah, buddy, it's not really the same.  It would be really creepy to have a human head on the wall.  The deer heads are creepy enough."

B: "Okay." 

Yep, I never want to forget that one.

Christmas...and the month of December!

For simplicity I am going to throw the whole month of December into one post.  My kids (and the entire free world, basically) think that the entire month of December is Christmas anyway, so it works!

Our month started with Brian making his second sacrament!  He was a tad bit nervous about his First Reconciliation, but he survived it.  He did an AWESOME job learning his Act of Contrition and he looked so handsome in his shirt and tie.  I couldn't have been more proud! 

Once again Breakfast with Santa and the Reds was an awesome event!  Mom's rep offered to let all of us come, which was really, really nice.  Santa pics with all THREE Aydt grand-babies...yay!!

Brian won a medal at his first Lego Team Competition! 

 Santa visited Lilah's preschool!  Last year she and I both had the flu so we were excited to get to participate this year!

Brian participated in two Christmas performances this year.  He was in the choir at his school performance.  (He is STILL singing the songs!)  He was also a shepherd in the St. Pat's Christmas Eve skit.  He had one line, but had to punt for a shepherd who didn't show so in the end he had two lines!  Lilah was a sheep and Patrick was the baby Jesus.  I have no good pictures of either.  We WAY under estimated the crowd at the school performance and were too far back to get anything good.  Plus poor Brian was slightly (okay A LOT) overwhelmed and it wasn't his best showing.  Since I'm in charge of the St. Pat's performance I never get to take pictures.  Shawn tried, and I think Teri may have some....but for now, no pics!

And then it was Christmas!  Dinner out with the family, a frenzy of paper and presents and visit with Nanny.  We were all exhausted. 

We had a low key New Year's Eve...ice cream with the Klaene's and a movie at home.  We FOUND OUR HOUSE on New Year's Day (cleaned and cleaned and cleaned) and tomorrow, we all head back to school/work.  Here's hoping for a 2016 with only good surprises!

Cape Trip

We made a quick trip to Cape to visit family at the beginning of Christmas break.  It's always a tiring adventure, but we had a good time.  The kids ROCKED the car rides which was a huge blessing!  Archie had fallen a couple of month ago and ended up with a broken hip so she's in a rehab center.  My aunt Beth is staying with her there and they've hired some nurses to sub in especially at night.  With her inability to remember that her hip is broken, she pretty much needs someone right there with her at all times. 

I was worried about how this trip would go sans Dad for the first time.  I'm not going to lie, it was super emotional for me, but I'm glad to have another first over with.  The kids always have fun playing with cousins they rarely see.  I don't blame them!  I love seeing my cousins that I never get to see too! 

Mom summoned a bunch of old friends to Shemwell's which is the barbecue place in Cairo where my parents grew up and it was fun to see everyone.  My favorite friend, of course, was John the Greek.  He was my grandfather's best friend and I used to go out to meet him for "coffee with the boys" with my grandad.  This meant I drank a cup of "coffee" that consisted of 1/20th coffee and 19/20th milk LOL!  I love John and the memories we share. 

Brian is always a little shy around older people....Nanny...Archie, but he did his best to be friendly with Archie.  I was really proud of him.  Lilah charmed her, as she does most people. 

Here are some more pics with the family...

Snuggling with Andrew.

Fun with the Moreland twins!

Making a gingerbread house with Taylor.

Harassing Matt...

Visiting with Chloe and Aunt Beth.

Snuggling with Sarah.

A bedtime story with Mike.

Also of note, we ate at Lambert's in Sikeston where they throw rolls at/to you.  It was so fun!  We will definitely be returning!!