WOW!

Well, I had my "surgery" on my lower left eyelid to remove the cancer spot this morning. I am not complaining but it was a bit more involved than I thought it would be and it HURTS. I now have
about a 1 inch incision below my eye with about 8-10 stitches. So much for the "couple stitches" the Dr. originally said he would have to do. He also remarked when he was finished that he hoped he got it all. He damn well better have got it all after all this. At this point all I can do is pray. Haven't done a lot of that cause I didn't think it was a big deal. LOTS of people have much worse. But I think God will understand if I ask for the cancer to be gone, my lower eyelid to go back to where it is supposed to be and for the stitches to not leave too much of a scar. I am not vain and I really don't care what I look like(eg. gray hair at my age) but I think sunglasses are in order for the next couple weeks and I think I am going to take tomorrow off too. The stitches won't come out til the 13th. And I really don't want to keep explaining "What happened" when people see me. Well, I am off to bed @1:25 p.m. to ice and rest. I still plan on getting Trent and Addy this afternoon so I better rest now.

another funny Trenten story

Jon and I went down to Alan's sister's wake with Tory, Abby, Ashley, Trent and Addy tonight. Took Trent into the bathroom with me to comb my hair. Trent decided he had to go. He went into the stall, locked the door and proceeded to do his business. Another lady came in, went into the other stall and proceeded to go to the bathroom. Trent heard her and said, very loudly, "Is that you Mama?" I said no, another lady had come in to use the restroom as dignified as I could. The lady then blew her nose and I will admit rather loudly and then Trent said just as loudly, "Wow, what was that?" By this time, even the lady was laughing too. Too funny. Moral of the story: Don't go to the bathroom or blow your nose when there is a kid in the bathroom with you. They will call you on it every time.
Heading to bed soon. Have to be in Dbq at 6:15 tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will get some of my Christmas shopping done after my procedure.
Rainy day today. But still warm for November.
Oh yeah. I did call mom yesterday and ended up going up to see her. While there we put out her Christmas decorations. Good thing too. Sherry and Joe decided to have the Gotto Christmas on Christmas day at mom's. It was a good afternoon. Mom actually had a lot of company. Chad stopped in to see her. Dan and Tyler also stopped in. Sherry showed up to visit and help. And mom's cousin just popped in to say hi cause he was in the neighborhood. I am glad that mom has people stopping in all the time. I don't want her to be alone or lonely. Maybe I should worry more about myself. Mom seems to have a very active social life. I think that's the key to her staying young and active.

Sons

Still have not heard from Adam. He could have at least text Happy Thanksgiving. Are all sons like this? What is it about the male species that makes them leave home, which is totally cool, then never communicate with their mothers again unless they need something? I really feel sorry for the mothers who have only boys. Do sons ever realize it's not that hard to just call mom and say how you doing? Is there still hope or is this just the way it will always be? I guess I just miss Adam and am feeling sorry for myself. I am happy that he is happy. Keep saying roots and wings. Roots and wings. Those are the only lasting things we can give our children. But I am so glad I have a daughter. I think I am going to call my mom and see how she is doing.

overnight guests

Trenten and Adelyn stayed overnight at Mama and Papa's last night. They were as good as gold til their mom and dad came, then Trent had a couple of meltdowns. Typical! Trent helped me make cinnamon rolls last night. He got to roll the dough and actually he did a pretty good job. I just have to teach him how to do it all and then he can make them for his daddy:) He also got to help Papa make popcorn. Another of his favorites. Little miss Addy didn't want to sleep in the afternoon, so she went to bed early and slept til 5, had a bottle and then went back to sleep til 7:45. So did Mama. That is why God made women have their babies when they are still young. These 50 and 60 year-old women who have babies are CRAZY! Don't believe them when they say it's fine. There is no way they are not totally exhausted. Love my grand babies but I also love sending them home with their mommy and daddy so I can rest up for their next visit.
Beautiful day out today. So was yesterday. Went down to help Tory and Abby do wood. Hopefully they have enough now to last the winter. Maybe we will have a mild winter. We are due after the last couple.
Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Chuck Pierce said I am the proud new owner of a Farmal 560 and no longer the owner of a Gator. Not sure how that happened but Jon is on his way home with said tractor right now. Jon traded the Gator, which we never saw because Tory was always using it, for Chuck's 560. Then Tory is going to buy the Gator from Chuck Tory said I could borrow the Gator whenever I wanted. It is here right now so Jon can work on it. Might have to keep it awhile. Make sure it is working right. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Bye -bye turkey day

Thanksgiving 2010 has come and gone. Food was great. Leftovers are better. All the same food with none of the work. Heat and eat. Doesn't get any better than that. Went to Dyersville to RC2 with Abby and Addy to shop for Trent. Found 3 items he wants, a new 6-row planter, a grain cart and a 4020 tractor set with different items included in the package. When I showed Jon what I bought and he saw the 4020 and he said he wanted it. Imagine that. Oh well, wasn't sure what to buy Jon and Trent is easy so I guess I have to go shopping for Trent one more time. Not sure what we are getting Addy yet.
I am going back to the Dr. on Tuesday to have my spot removed 1 more time. Have to be in Dbq @ 6:15 a.m. I hope to get most of my Christmas shopping done that day. As long as I'm taking the day off I may as well make the most of it.

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving! What a relaxing day. Abby, Tory, Ashley, Trent and little miss Addy are coming for dinner tonight. Jon and I(mostly I) got so much done today. We got to sleep in.(Nice) Then proceeded to cook, clean and decorate the day away. AHHHH. Normally we would be in Missouri with the Reinbergs but this is ok. I am pretty much ready for dinner so we broke out the wine about 4 o'clock. Haven't heard from Adam and Joelle so I'm not sure what they are doing today for Thanksgiving. Miss them both. Wish they weren't so far away. But am happy that they are happy where they are. Will call them later if they don't call. Not sure if I am going shopping tomorrow or not. Maybe I will go uptown and do the shops. Much more relaxing than going to Dbq or CR. Jon has to work tomorrow and we are babysitting tomorrow night I think. The weekend will be gone before you know it. Thank you, God, for all my blessings. I truly am blessed with so much and so many.

Trenten was full of energy tonight. Kept singing and dancing while little miss Addy played the tin foil pan. Trenten said she was the musicer! Too cute. Wish I had half his energy. I have another Dr. appt tomorrow a.m. for the spot on my face. Just hope he does it and then I will have it over with and I won't have to go anywhere for 5 days. It was cold today. And I know it is only going to get colder. Must be getting old cause I don't particularly care for winter anymore. Night. Going to wake Jon up so he can go to bed.

Massages are great!

Got a massage tonight from Amber. Thanks Abby and Tory. Also got to see baby Addy smiling a lot more tonight. She is feeling better but still has a cough. Trent, Addy and Abby went along in to Dbq with me. They did errands while I got my massage. I got a few groceries at Hy-Vee then it was back home. Trent got McDonalds because he was a good boy for his mommy while shopping at Wal-Mart. He also got some M&Ms that he was going to share with his daddy but they were gone before he got home. Got most of my groceries for Thanksgiving. It is going to be a quiet one but that's ok. We are not going to the Reinberg's this year for the first time since about 1991 or 92. Adam will also not be home for Thanksgiving this year. Can't wait to see him at Christmas. Praying for good traveling weather so he and Joelle make it home and I don't have to worry about them traveling. Got a lot of my Xmas decorations up yesterday but still have lots to do. Hopefully I will be able to finish on Wed. That's the earliest I have ever had them up. I am heading off to bed. Must be the massage that is making me tired.

Melanie and Jeremy are married

Yesterday, November 20, 2010, was Melanie and Jeremy's wedding. It was a very nice wedding. The hall looked great. The bride was beautiful. The music was wonderful. Jeremy was very handsome. Nathan and Keaton were adorable. Perfect day all around. Congratulations and best wishes to the Junks. Now the work begins. Getting married is EASY. Staying married, not so easy. But definitely worth it. Hope that Melanie and Jeremy are as happy after 35 years of married life as Jon and I are. Not sure if I should speak for Jon, but I think he is happy. Keaton was so cute dancing out on the dance floor. You could tell it wasn't his first time on the dance floor. He also does not like his mom in a wedding dress. Must prefer her in her work clothes. Funny. Diane looked very nice in her dress. We met her new friend, Daryl, AKA, Loyd, and his daughter, Cassie.
We also celebrated Marty and Linda's 30th anniversary on Friday night. Also a very nice party. Their children actually pulled it off. It was nice but I would rather take a family vacation to celebrate. I better get planning if it is ever going to happen. I did try one time before but something else came up. Will keep trying and saving.
I am going to start putting up Christmas decorations so I better get going. Not sure why, but I don't get as excited about it like I used to. Yes, I do know why, I am getting older, not old, just older, and I know now that having my family all home together is the most important thing about Christmas, not the decor! Gotta go now!

Trenten's 3 year old preschool program was last night. Talk about funny. It was so cute. You didn't know who or where to watch. I don't think any parents could be embarrassed because all the kids were all funny and spontaneous. I am a teacher and I don't think I could ever try to corral that many 3 year olds. Trenten was actually pretty good for Trenten. He listened and followed along fairly well. He must get his acting ability from his father and godfather. Too cute! Then it was on to Melanie and Jeremy's rehearsal supper in Farley. Food was great and eveyone was fed with food to spare. We need to learn to scale back. We are getting more like Sherry. Busy weekend ahead. Cold outside. Feels like winter is maybe finally here. But we can't complain because we had a great fall so far. One more Trentenism. Yesterday, I was talking to Cole, one of my students about his trip to Colorado next week and Trent was listening. When Trenten heard Colorado, he immediately said that's where Adam and Joelle are. I am always astonished at how much Trent remembers. Wish I did as well.

Went to DBQ tonight with Jon, Abby, Trent and Miss Addy. I talked Jon into going telling him we would be home by 7:30. Didn't quite make that but we got everything done we absolutely had to. Dropped decorations off at Farley first. Then on to Dbq. Abby went to US Cellular first to have her phone fixed. Then on to Culver's to eat while Abby made a quick trip to Kohl's. Then my favorite store, Wal-Mart. (not) Trent was with Papa and me and he thought we needed to find the toys. We started one way and didn't find them. Trent thought we should turn around because in his words, "I was wrong". Papa and Trent went to the toys while I ran around like a mad woman, looking for what I needed so we could get home. Actually Trent and Addy and Papa were very good considering how late it did get. I hate shopping! Especially at night when everyone is tired. Made one dessert for Melanie and Jeremie's rehearsal tomorrow night. Should be making my second one but I am tired. Heading to bed.

Monday Monday

Busy day as usual. My 5th grade math is going to drive me nuts this year. I refuse to let them get the best of me though. They will learn if it kills me. Went to Stone Hollow tonight after school and got to see Trent and Addy. That was good. Went to leave without picking Addy up and she let me know that was not OK. She started to cry so I had to hold her for a little while. Trent was Trent. Active and vocal. I am going to look for some more math sites for my 5th graders so I gotta go.

It was a great day for mom and the Gotto clan. Everyone made it except for Mike, Katie and Olivia, Jacque, Adam and Tory. My how our family has grown. Hopefully we can celebrate many more happy, healthy birthdays with Mom. Took picture of great grandchildren on the stairs. 32 of them. Precious! I am going to learn how to download pictures to my post next.

Not sure about this!

Not sure how well I will do with this blogging but what the hey! We are celebrating mom's 85th birthday today at Mike and Lois'. Her birthday was Friday, Nov. 12. Just the kids and some spouses went to Schroeder's Fri. night to celebrate. It was great that we could all be together. That doesn't happen to often. I am soooo lucky to have had my mom for a role model all these years. She truly is an incredible woman. When Dad died 34 years ago she continued to farm, support her family and finished raising her family on her own. We were very unlucky to have lost our dad so young but we were blessed with a wonderful, strong, independent, wise and loving mother who has always been here for us. She has the respect, admiration and love of all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. Happy birthday Mom and God bless. We love you.

Had a good day yesterday helping Abby, Tory, Trent and Addy splitting and stacking wood. Trent was a very good helper. Of course he talked and was very entertaining the whole while too.

It feels like November out there now. We have been spoiled with great weather so far. Sure like our GeoThermal :) It will be so nice to come home to a warm house this winter.