Mom's esophageal zenker diverticulum surgery

Yesterday I went to Kaysville to pick up Mom and Ferd. Mom had to go in for surgery, she had an esophageal zenker diverticulum removed. She has know about it for a long time and had herself pretty worked up over the whole procedure. The surgery went well, and of course Mom is a trooper. The doctor came out and said "Wow, she has strong teeth." They had a hard time getting the aluminum tube down her throat because she has such a small jaw and her neck had a hard time bending back because of arthritis. He said she is going to be pretty sore and "Wow, she has strong teeth". He said he was afraid he was going to break her teeth. I told him its a good thing he didn't because Mom would have skinned him alive.

I enjoyed my time visiting with Ferd. He's my last remaining hero, Grandpa Bertoch was my other hero. Ferd is getting old and it breaks my heart to see the effects of age. He's very tender and told me how lucky he was the day he met my Mom. He's so thankful for her and the three daughters he got out of the deal. I reminded him that he won us over when he brought Andy a big Flintstone Coloring Book with the biggest box of crayons available. The 36 count with the sharpener on the back. He became a hero on that June 13th back in 1964! He told me he feels like the lucky one. He then told me stories about his youth. When he was a kid and had a cavity, the dentist would strap the kids down in the chair and start drilling on their teeth. He said they didn't have Novocaine back then. He told me about being a truck driver and other various things.

It's sad we were together because of Mom's surgery, but oh how lucky I am for my parents and their Love! Mom's a trooper and will surely recover quickly, my moments with Ferd were priceless. I've already told my sisters its time for us to start helping them more. They can take care of themselves, but are more reassured with one of us near by. Ferd is going to be 82 in April and Mom will be 78 in December. You know what that makes me, 54 in November.

Life is good, I'm a lucky person.

Park City Clean Air

What a nice day! Today Kaden and I had to escape the terrible smog we are having down in the valley. The smog is so thick our eyes are burning, the air is brown and you can't even tell we are surrounded by mountains. So, we went to Park City for some beautiful, warm fresh air. The mountains were beautiful, the air was crisp and clean and oh so pretty. We went shopping and found some great bargains. Then we got some lunch and sat in the sunshine to eat it. Wish the sun could have lasted a little longer and we could have enjoyed it a little more. Kaden is such a good kid! I'm a lucky, lucky mom! He's not only beautiful on the outside but is just as beautiful on the inside. Thanks Kaden for your love and support. Oh how blessed I am!

Unkind opinions

I wanted this site to be nothing but good memories, but along with good come bad. Last night the Allreds had a birthday party for Peggy and Kirk. While I was there everyone started talking to Rick about his new job in Milford. I expressed my feelings about not wanting to sell my house and move to Milford. My mother-in-law attacked and told me, more or less, that I'm a loser, I don't have a job, I would be stupid to move to Logan to be near Megan, and that all the decisions I've made are wrong.

It goes into much more detail than that! But it hurts to bring it up. All I can say is she has more or less lost me, Kaden and Megan and her family. Kyle will probably continue seeing her, but I'm done. The thing that hurt the worst is that Rick wouldn't say anything. He can't stand up to his mother and he told ME to leave. I didn't do anything, I wasn't the one who was being mean, it was her. Rick thinks I'm in the wrong, so where is the love and security in this marriage. Gone when mommy enters. She told me that "her kids turned out great!" I wanted to say, but I didn't, that "yea they turned out ok considering all the abuse they were forced to endure in their childhood and the fact that the girls have spent thousands on counseling and the boys just go out and cheat." To the abuser, that's great. I wasn't abused as a child, to me that's not ok.

Look at her picture in the Christmas blog, it's probably the last I'll take. I've put up with her for 26 years, no more. In the beginning she would be drunk and tell he she hated me. Rick made excuses for her and told me to ignore it. I did, I was in love with her son. I won't ignore anymore! Time to go into "protection" mode. I'll be looking for a job, probably in Logan.

However, I'm a lucky person! I've got the greatest kids and the most beautiful grandbabies. You should have heard 2 1/2 year old Cole sing "I am a Child of God". Oh, so cute.