Turkeys and Tonsillectomies

Well this Thanksgiving week started out with my sweet 9 year old having surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids.  Here is to hoping it stops his numerous bouts with strep throat over the last 4 years.  Here is my boy the morning of the surgery before we left the house.

He was in pretty good spirits and very brave about the whole thing.  He started to get a tiny bit nervous once we got to the surgery center but he had quite the entourage of supporters.  Once he got in his gown and in the bed he decided to play dead for them all when they came back to see him.

Such a silly boy!  The surgery went by quickly and went very well.  I was able to go back and see him as soon as he started waking up.  This time he wasn't so chipper.

Poor little guy!  They let us go home within 30 minutes of me getting to see him.  He was a real trooper and did great through the whole thing.  I am so proud of him.  He has had quite a bit of pain in his recovery and it is hard for us to see him hurt so badly.  He has slept, watched lots of Spongebob, and played video games until my eyeballs are about to fall out.  I have begged him at certain points to turn it off.

So Turkey Day rolled around and we decided to be especially low key this year due to our little patient.  Mom and Harry came over and picked up Cracker Barrel to go for our Thanksgiving meal.  It was delicious and stress free!  The little man got a turkey too, his just happened to be made of ice cream.

He got visits from his favorite cousins Leighton and Gracen and Uncle Toby brought him some Nerf guns for a get well gift.  Love these little turkeys!

After dinner we had lots more visitors including cousin Chase who made a surprise early return from New Zealand!  It was so great to see him and Kyle was so excited when he surprised him before his surgery on Sunday night.  We are so glad to have him home!  Future newlyweds Chelsi and Bobby were in from Maryland and visited also.  We are so blessed with so many family and friends that have visited, called and texted to check on our sweet boy!  Grammy and Nana have been over everyday and even cooked meals at our house to help out.  Thanksgiving is a great time to count our blessings and be thankful for all we have, but I feel truly blessed all year round.  I'm especially thankful for these little blessings.

Hope everyone had a blessed holiday!  Now on to putting up the Christmas Tree!

Sibling Love

When Lyla was born in 2008 Kyle was almost 6.  I didn't really plan on such an age difference, it's just the way things worked out.  Kyle was (and still is) such an easy going child so I wasn't too worried about how he would take the new addition to the family.

What I didn't plan on is how close they would be given their age difference.  Kyle really adores his sister and is VERY protective of her.  He likes to say he once saved her life by getting in front of an accent table that was about to fall on her (True Story).  When she was tiny he would cuddle with her and when she got a little older he would read books to her.

This relationship is mutual.  Lyla thinks her "brudder" is about as awesome as it gets.  She always wants to know where he is and what he is doing.  She misses him while he is at school and flies into his arms when he gets home in the afternoons.  So maybe, just maybe she chews him out every now and then. And maybe, just maybe she bosses him around a little (or a lot).  But it doesn't mean she doesn't love him so much.

They play together a lot more than I thought they would due to their age gap, and they fight a lot more than I thought they would due to their age gap.  Lyla is slightly demanding (sarcasm intended) and most of the time Kyle is pretty patient with her.  But sometimes he is not in the mood to deal with her and the fighting ensues.  Mostly they get along though and Lyla wants to be just like him.  Since he is into superheros, she is into superheroes.  For a 3 year old girl she knows a lot about Spiderman, Batman, Captain America and The Hulk.  She was going to be Belle for Halloween but as soon as she found out Kyle was going to be a superhero she had to be one too.

The sweet moments are my favorite.  Like when she cries or gets hurt and Kyle goes rushing to see if she's okay.  He is a sucker for her "sad face".  I've actually seen him tear up if she is that sad.  And if he is sick or has to go to the doctor she pats him and tells him he'll be okay.  It warms my heart in a way I can't explain to see how much they love each other. 

Last night I went to the movies with my best friend and when I got home I saw the most precious sight. They were both on the couch watching Scooby Doo together and Kyle was laying with his head in Lyla's lap and she was rubbing his hair.  Chris said Lyla had asked Kyle to lay with her.  It's moments like these that makes me feel like the most blessed Momma in the world.  I am so glad they have each other.

Random HouseHousehold Happenings

Today I am off work and going to use the opportunity to post about some random happenings.  First off we have had some beautiful fall weather here in the bluegrass.  Lyla has loved getting to go out and play.

With the holidays fast approaching I have been busy shopping and wrapping gifts.  Kyle is having his tonsils removed this coming Monday so I wanted to be prepared as possible.  Please say a prayer for this sweet little face when you get a chance.

We are praying this surgery will help with his too numerous to count bouts with strep throat.  In order to include him in the Turkey festivities Nana has ordered him and ice cream turkey for Thanksgiving complete with sugar cone "legs".  He is pretty excited about it and has already planned a joke for it.

Chris is out of town this week getting trained for his new business venture with National Scouting Report.  Things seemed to be going well and we are looking forward to him getting home and being able to get started with this.  The kids are missing their daddy lots!

With Daddy gone one of the kids favorite people came to stay the night.  They LOVE their "Aunt" Shelly and look forward to her visits. Lyla loves for Shelly to give her a bath and sing "Wash that Body" to the tune of "Rock that Body" by the Black Eyed Peas lol. And Kyle loves for her to watch him play video games ha ha.

And lastly on a completely unrelated note has anyone seen the trailer that came out this week for The Hunger Games??  Oh my gosh I am so pumped for March!  And may the odds be ever in your favor!

School Days

Lyla has been going to preschool 2 mornings a week since September. She likes school and loves her teacher Ms. Kimberly.

However she doesn't like getting up in the morning to go to school. This morning when I was trying to wake her up she said "Wait." When I asked her wait for what she said "Wait for me to finish sleeping." Then she pulled the covers back over her. I'm afraid she is just like her Mama in the mornings.

She doesn't usually get in a good mood until she gets in the car and can listen to her "songs" (which would be top 40 radio).  No kid songs in the minivan!  Then we go pick up her best bud "Sephie" (aka Seth) and head to Little Elks Preschool.  She gives me kisses and hugs and always says "Bye Mama" in her sweet little voice.  I love her so and sometimes wish she could be three forever!

Welcome to the Hould Household

Here goes my attempt to start blogging.  My life isn't extremely interesting or anything, I just think it is a great way to record family memories.  My sister Mandy blogs and I look forward to reading her posts about her sweet babies.  It makes me feel connected to what is going on in her life so I wanted to do the same. 

Right now the big thing going on in our lives is Chris' new business venture.  He has officially become a licensee for National Scouting Report.  The goal is to help high school athletes get scholarships.  He is a high school softball coach and this is a passion of his.  We are hoping (and praying, a lot) that he will be successful and help our family financially like he has always done so well.  So if anyone has any extra prayers we will gladly take them.

The kiddos are doing great and looking forward to the holidays.  They are both out of school today for the election and are currently fighting.  I am so blessed to be home with them! :)