July 20, 2007 by Melanee.

Kevin Peter Lonegan came into the world today at 2:07 pm. He is 7 lbs 3 oz. Leah is doing fine. Little Kevin decided to come early because his due date was August 1st. What a nice surprise! I hope to post some pictures soon.

I got a call from Leah on the 19th saying that she was starting contractions at 4pm. I packed, did household things, sent Marlene off to a preplanned trip to Palmyra, NY, and left for New Jersery at 7:30. Arrived at 11 pm. Leah and Ed left for the hospital at 3 am. Then Anya woke we up at 5 am and we have been playing all day. I did get a nap with her this afternoon and was awakened by Ed phone call to say that little Kevin was born.

Kevin looks like Anya. His coloring is the most beautiful pink. A little pug nose. No eyebrows yet. His eyes are just like Anya’s. His head is covered with dark hair. He was making little squeaky noises and he was alert the whole time I held him. He took to nursing very easily.

I asked little Kevin how Grandpa is doing? I think Kev had some really good grandpa-time with him before he was born. Others may think this to be a little different way of thinking, but I think it makes perfect sense. Kev would be able to be with and prepare his posterity for our world.

I am having a blast with Anya. Grandchildren just make the world so much brighter and happier. So, hopefully I will keep busy with lots of grandchildren in the future.

It’s been a really good day. Tears were shed that Kev wasn’t physically here to share, but happy for a wonderful new person that has been added to our increasing family.

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July 14, 2007 by Melanee.

Marlene graduated from high school three weeks after Kev’s passing. The air was filled with excitment that Marlene made it. She had so many challenges, but she rised above them all. Kev’s parents, my parents, Marlene’s sisters, Wendell, and Anya made it to the graduation. The convocation was wonderful and went smoothly. I am so proud of her and I know Kev would be too.

I tried posting pictures to no avail, so stay tuned……I will get some up soon.

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July 14, 2007 by Melanee.

My daughter Mallory looked so beautiful and so happy when she got married June 22 in the Boston Temple. Wendell looked love struck. Wendell family did not make it to the wedding due to the weather moving their flight time. His brother was able to be there. We were so glad to have them there for the reception. The wedding ceremony was very nice. Tears were shed and hearts were full. Of course I wish Kevin was physically there, but I am sure he was spiritually there because he told Mallory he would be before he passed. Just as Mallory and Wendell stepped out of the temple it was raining very hard. Seven minutes later the sky cleared and we had bright sun to take pictures. Marlene’s photography teacher came to take pictures outside the temple. Mallory looked so beautiful and I am so happy for her.

When we were coming back from Boston the traffic was a nightmare and we were trying to get back for a catered BBQ for the Webster, Fackrell, and Florian families that would be ready for us at a near-by park. Rain clouds started to roll in and we were questioning whether we should have it outside at the park or not. We decided to keep to our plans and go to the near-by church if it rained too much.

Just as I arrived at the park the rain cleared up and the most beautiful rainbow appeared beyond the park. It was a full arch with vivid colors. One of my friends said he saw the double arch which I did not get to see. I had never seen a more beautiful rainbow. To me it was God saying he was pleased with Kev’s and my sacrifice. Kev is in good hands and heaven is happy to have him.

Geoff posted some pictures on his blog of the wedding reception. Just click on the link below. You can tell by the pictures we had a wonderful time. Kev wouldn’t have had it any other way. I will try to get pictures posted of my own when I learn how to do it.

http://www.geofffox.com/MT/archives/2007/06/24/kevins_daughter_gets_married.php

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July 13, 2007 by Marlene.

I lay there among well kept grass and engraved stones almost caressing the grass above my father. Even in life he wasn’t much for heart to heart conversations, at least with his daughters so the lack of conversation isn’t so unnatural. I guess I should have spent more time with him and got to know him more, but maybe I can make up for all those hours I spent upstairs in my room without him by laying next to his permanent bedside every once in a while. In all reality I know that the father I knew isn’t there. Right now it’s just a cement box filled with flesh and bones and bodily fluids that I care not to think about. The Dad I knew could be sitting right next to me at this moment or he could be making friends with all the other victims of cancer, or watching over countless people just like he did in life. That would be just like him.

Even when he was in excruciating pain he still took the time to learn the nurses’ names and to thank the men who brought him an extra towel. He was good at keeping everyone in mind and making them feel like they were worth something. I guess I try to return the favor now by spending some time with him, stroking the grass like it was his hair and being almost silent out of respect for the hundreds of sleeping bodies surrounding us. For him, maybe I can change the world like he did. I bet he’d be proud of me for that like when I ran that half marathon for pancreatic cancer with my aunt and raised over $8,000. Maybe I can do something that will increase the survival rate of pancreatic cancer so that other fathers don’t die so young…so young. He wasn’t even 50 years old when he died.

In truth, Dad wouldn’t have wanted me to spend my life moping about his absence. He would have wanted me to live like he did, and to learn from his life. He would have wanted me to consider everyone around me and to never be anything but the very best of myself. He would have wanted me to always be doing something and always helping out, whether it’s gathering firewood for a campout or giving kids rides to church. Dad would have wanted me to do a lot of things but he would be happy with whoever I became. He loves me. He didn’t have to say it then and he doesn’t have to say it now because I know that to be a fact.
Thanks Dad.

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July 8, 2007 by Geoff Fox.

I know… I’m not one of the Webster girls, but this is my favorite photo from Mallory and Wendell’s wedding

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July 5, 2007 by Mallory.

So I figured since everyone else is updating about their lives, I might as well do a little update about me. With everyone that knows about our family, I am “the one that’s getting married”. Everyone that I didn’t even know would say, “Oh! You’re the one that’s getting married!” So yes, I am finally married and loving it! It’s great. We are here in Tennessee. I wish I could say that we are settling down, but that is far from what we are doing. This summer, we’ll be going to Indiana, then Idaho, then moving into a new apartment, so we can’t even settle into the one that we’re at now. But it’s good. My husband (whoa…that’s crazy) has a window washing business, so that’s what we’ll be doing while we’re in Indiana and Idaho. His family is also in Idaho, so we want to spend time with them before his schooling officially starts. Things are going great. I’m trying to get my job all lined up and set. It’s taking a little more effort than I thought it would, but it’ll all work out in the end. But in general, things are just peachy. I can’t wait to finally be able to settle into our own apartment. For the past 3 months, I basically either haven’t had my own room, or have been living out of suitcases, so it’ll be nice to finally just be somewhere and stay in one place for a little while. Life is great!

~Mallory

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July 3, 2007 by Marlene.

Hi everyone,

This blog is to update everyone as to how we are doing so I figured I would write how we are adjusting. Anya and I came home the last Sun. in June. For those of you who don’t know I am 9 months preg. and I had not seen my Dr. in a month, so I figured I should probably do that. Plus I needed to get home. We drove home that Sun. and a normal 3 hr. drive took us almost 5. Apparently everyone had the same idea to drive south. I hate nothing traffic, at least let there be an accident or something. During the drive I had contractions about every 10 min. and they continued for 2 days. My Dr. told me it was ok as long as they didn’t hurt and my water didn’t break and then old me don’t go into labor until next week. We have been home for a week now and the only thing done is bags are unpacked and laundry is done, other than that we still look like we just got here. Anya really missed her toys and wanted to play with them all at once, and there is only so much bending I can do. Plus I have orders from my Dr. to take it easy and put my feet up. How can I deny him? So life is quiet and I am trying not to go into labor, quite yet. Anya says hello to her picture of Grandpa every morning and is enjoying being an energetic 2 yr old.

Leah

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July 2, 2007 by Melanee.

Thanks to Geoff, our blog has been established.

I can’t believe it has already been a month since Kev’s passing. The days will go slower now that the girls are back in their own homes and the house is quiet with Marlene and I. This is when reality will hit. Get ready to read about Marlene’s graduation, Mallory’s wedding and the upcoming birth of little Kevin. I don’t know how I had the strength to get through it all. We have received so much support and help from everyone. Thank you cards are on my to-do list, but I think it will take weeks to write them all. We have been blessed by so many loving words and good deeds. 

Maybe Kev would have said my first entry is plain and simple and maybe even a little ugly, but here we go…..

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July 2, 2007 by Marlene.

Here’s the new blog that we promised. We’ll be keeping you updated on our life and post-cancer activities as we go along and we hope to have you join us in our journey.

~Marlene

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