"Over the river and through the woods...

...To Grandmother's house we go...."

Yep, that's right. My Mom and I are going to visit Gramma & Grampa in Iowa. We'll get to see most of my aunts and uncles and some of my cousins. The "little" cousins will be there but the "big" cousins are off to college or already have jobs and they can't be there. Oh, well. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the ones I get to see.

While we are there my Mommy will get to see some of her cousins and some friends from where she used to work and go to church. She's excited to see them all. We will also do the Walk to Defeat ALS in honor of Dan Dowson. Come on out and join us for the walk! Oct. 10, Principal Park in Des Moines. :) It's gonna be a lot of fun.

Since Gramma & Grampa don't have internet we won't be able to update the blog very often while we are gone. Oh, we'll do the best we can! So, while I'm having fun with friends and family,... you do the same, OK?!

OK, off to bed now. We have to catch that airplane!! Good night.

Walking -- Because I CAN!

"Keep your Dobbers Up!" Yep, that’s what Dan would say to encourage others when the going gets tough. Keep trying, keep pressing on, go the distance.

In an earlier post my Mom had asked prayer for her cousin Lisa’s husband, Dan, who has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or what most people understand as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS destroys a person’s motor neurons, which are responsible for relaying messages from the brain to the muscles and a person eventually loses all their muscle function. Simple tasks such as buttoning a button, brushing teeth, standing, smiling, speaking and eventually breathing are lost. There is no known cause or cure. Sad but true, death is the only certainty.

This year my Mom and I are going to be able to participate in a Walk to Defeat ALS while we are in Iowa. The purpose of the walk is to raise funds and to promote awareness of this terrible disease. We will be walking with Dan’s family and friends on the “Dobbers Up” team. Last year this team set a new world record for the most team members. Well, Dan being the competitive person that he is has set his goal for this year as 1,500 team members. So, (you knew this was coming!)… would you consider joining us – either with a contribution of any amount – or as a member of team “Dobbers Up”? To sponsor me and make a donation, go to http://web.alsa.org/site/TR?fr_id=5777&pg=pfind then click on “find a walker”. I’m in there as Guille Gonzalez. Or you can make a check payable to The ALS Association.

If you’d like to join the team (whether you can be there or even as a virtual walker), go to the same website, then click Register, Find a Team, Dobbers Up. The walk this year will be held on October 10 at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Thanks for your help,

Walking –because I can,

Guille (& Joan)

A walk in the park

Last week Mommy, Daddy & I went to visit an old courthouse that isn't too far from our house. It sure is a big building, but I'm getting quite big myself.

Lovely flowers, if I do say so myself.

Mom's note: Lovely CHILD!

This flower garden with flags and memorial plaques is on the courthouse grounds.

Mommy TRIED to get my picture here, but you know me...

... Speedy Gonzalez!!

Daddy was telling me about all the important things that happen in a courthouse.

It was all so much to take in. I decided to lead the way to a nearby restaurant so we could eat supper. I'm always hungry, you know.

And since I'm always hungry, we have to go to the grocery store...too often.

Let me tell you, this is the way to "shop 'til you drop".

As we turned down this aisle, I grabbed Mommy's hand, rested my head in the palm of her hand and promptly fell asleep. Some nice lady who was shopping in the same aisle was nice enough to get the camera out of the diaper bag so Mommy could take this picture.

Happy shopping, y'all.

On Sunday we had a picnic in the park after church.

I really like this fountain and all the geese... honk, honk.

OK, fans, don't try this at home.

An amazing balancing act.

It took a lot of concentration... I had to think, think, think.

Independence, what a great feeling!

I had lots of fun climbing on the rocks.

My cousin Aaron used to say this is a "saucy" look.

So, to my other cousin, Leah who was the first to be pegged with a saucy look,

Here's to saucy looks!

And maybe one of the best parts of the day was when we were heading back to the car.

There is a great hill for running up and down... so I gave it my best shot!

Watch this!

Oh, yes, for those of you wondering how I am doing after my surgery...

I'm doing GREAT! Sometimes I get some yucky stuff in my nose, like yogurt, apple sauce, sweet potatoes... you know... mushy stuff. Mom's going to call the Dr. tomorrow to make sure that's "normal" for having an unrepaired hard palate (that surgery comes later). I'll let you know the word on that.

And another thing... my Mommy's cousin's wife (Darcy), the one with leukemia has undergone two rounds of chemo and is now resting AT HOME, while waiting to have a bone marrow transplant. Please continue to pray for her and her family as this is such a hard time, and thank God with us that she is able to be home for these few days before heading off to more testing and procedures.

Silly & Fun pics

I sure like wearing my hat these days.

Wow, a bear that wasn't sleeping.

It didn't growl at me though.

You mean I used to walk like these penguins?

That's funny!

What big teeth you have, Mr. Shark!

Aarh! I have sharp teeth too!

And I like eating fish, so watch out!

Go away, Mr. Shark. I have other animals to visit at this zoo.

On my way to more fun and exciting things.

Liquid diet, anyone??

NOT FOR ME, THANK YOU!

I went to the Dr. on Wednesday morning and he said I could eat REAL food!

I can't have anything hard or crunchy yet, or anything with tiny seeds, but other than that, he said I can EAT! EAT! EAT!!

And that's just what I'm doing!

Mmmmm

Ooooh, it's soooooo good!

Thank you all for praying for me through my surgery and that dreaded liquid diet.

Four months

Hard to believe it has only been four months since we first held little G and tried to soothe him as his world was turned upside down. Today I held him and tried to soothe him as he so desperately wanted just one bite of banana, but I couldn't let him have it due to his recent surgery. We have been so incredibly blessed by the gift of this little one in our lives. He's such a joy to watch, curious about everything, wanting to help with everything, wrapping those little arms around our necks and pressing his little lips against our cheeks. In a way, these four months have flown by and then again, we can't imagine life without our little fella.

He's doing very well in his recovery. He's still a bit clingy, but he's spending more time playing with his toys without having to be sitting on someone's lap. He's drinking more all the time, in fact, drinking so much that a diaper lasts about 2 - 3 hours! I guess I'll change him before I go to bed.

He's wanting to eat. He likes to eat and this week has been hard on him. Last night I was talking to a friend on the phone and he came into the living room carrying a pudding cup. (His arm is getting longer! That pudding was up on the kitchen counter!) It was hard to tell him he couldn't have the pudding as pudding, but he was satisfied to have it mixed with enough milk that he could drink it. Then this morning he came to me with a banana. Again, wanted to just eat it, but was content with banana-milk. I sure hope his doctor gives him the OK to eat when we see him on Wednesday.

Here are a few more pictures of our blessing:

MMMmmmmMilk!

Look what I found! Can I have it, please??

Look at me! I smiled so big my eyes closed!

Swingin'. What a better way to spend these recovery days.

In fact, I've been spending so much time in my swing that we came up with a new, crazy way to swing.

Who needs to go to the carnival when you have your own crazy swing in the back yard?

I don't know how you folks walk in these big shoes.

You should try some little ones, like mine.

Time together

Guille is getting stronger and better every day. He's drinking more at each meal. He's getting used to me grinding and straining everything he drinks, to the point that this evening as we were playing with the duplos he threw several into a bucket, shook them up, pointed his little finger into the bucket (as if it were the blender) and made his blender sound, dumped the duplos out, then tipped the bucket to take a drink. I can tell that he's still in quite a bit of pain so please continue to pray for him.

Sunday we drove to Lake Erie for a day-trip. Before getting out of the car, Guille thought it was pretty cool.... Then we got out of the car and made our way toward the water's edge. He changed from thinking it was cool, to being pretty sure it was COLD!

Brrr! This wind is COLD! Let's get back in the car!

Daddy put some water in his hand, then let me touch it.

Wow, was that water cold.

Let's go back to the car!

We found a spot that was out of the wind and the sun was shining,

so Mommy and I walked in the sand for a while.

We also stopped at a playground.

Since I LOVE to swing, we had to spend some time there.

I found a new playground item that I really like!

Watch this video!

All that wind, walking, and playing really wore me out.

It was good to get back in the car!

I got to help Daddy change the oil in the car.

I think I need to grow a bit more before I can do that myself.

This morning I found a nice place to sit and ponder everything that has happened in the last couple of months. I'm glad I'm here. My Mommy & Daddy love me so much, and I love them. I have so many new aunts, uncles, cousins & friends. I have my Abuela, Gramma & Grampa....

I'M A GONZALEZ!

This is where I live,

And don't you forget it!!

I LOVE MY FAMILY!