January 29, 2008 by Melanee.

Can you tell we had a great time?
Marlene did so well in the race. She was able to sustain the whole course with the help of her running partner Cody and lots of prayers. Her running time was 10 minutes faster than last year.
She was really smart and ran 4 minutes and walked 1 minute. Her ankle held up which she was really worried about.
I cheered on all the 10,500 runners along with Marlene as she raced by. Got lots of high fives and thumbs ups, and thank yous as they ran by. A drum group played the whole time I was there. The atmosphere was very festive. Lots of fun.

Experiences were compared with other team and family members effected with pancreatic cancer. PanCAN did such a great job organizing the event. They are great people!

What a wonderful time! Thank you so much for your support in helping with research to find a cure.
There was a six year survivor on the running team. He is doing very well. He is a doctor who caught his cancer early and he is trying to help with research. The hospital has two studies trying to work on a vaccine and the other is a blood test to find PC at an early stage. He says they use his blood to do the research. PanCAN has contributed to the research. PanCAN does so much more too.
The running group was able to raise 70,000 dollars for the cause.
There were about 30 in the group and they were from all over the country. Many family members have been affected by pancreatic cancer and we are just at the start of trying to raise awareness for this devastating diagnosis.

Thank you everyone for your contribution. We are very grateful. Marlene is very happy to be part of making a positive effect in someone’s life through her cause.
We are very pleased to see that we only have $500 more to go. I know we will get there. I plan to submit an article in the local newspaper so we get the word out.

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January 28, 2008 by Marlene.

Good news! I’m not dead!
I ran the half marathon with Cody. My ankle is treating me well, but I wish my muscles were treating me as nicely as my ankle. I’m a bit sore so walking to classes tomorrow will be interesting. I’m so stinkin proud of myself though. I chopped off 10 min off my time last year and I didn’t hit a wall and I pushed myself more than I thought I would be able to.
Actually, that’s partially because there’s this part where the half marathon splits from the marathoners and there’s this big inflatable thing that labeled each chorale. Cody and I thought it was the finish and we were even told so by some people guiding the crowds. We pick up speed and are almost ready to sprint when we realize that oh no..we still have a little while’s to go. But then again it got us into “push it” mode so I just continued increasing my speed until I got to the finish line then basically died after that. I think I beat Cody, I can’t remember.
Anyway I need to go for now but I may give you more of an update..maybe I won’t. You’ll just have to check back and see for yourself.

~Marlene

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January 28, 2008 by Ashley.

I’m not sure if my Mom has told people yet, but for those who don’t know, we recently got our 20 week ultrasound and found out the sex of the baby. It’s a girl!! Everthing checked out ok, thankfully. The technician was a total jerk (another reason I didn’t write that day because I was quite upset) and wouldn’t let us get very much fun video, but we managed to get a little clip which is attached below. As more time has passed though, I’m really excited we’re having a little girl.

It’s been even more fun lately because the baby is starting to kick really regularly. A couple night’s ago- I don’t know if it’s what I ate or what- but I think she was performing gymnastics or something because it was the most active she’s ever been. I like it when she’s really active because then Pat can feel her too. Usually it looks like my stomach just has a muscle twitch, but that night she was really moving and Pat likes her making big movements (he’s kind of over the little twitches). Also feeling her move lets me know things are still ok health-wise with her, which I’ve been really worried about.

Like I said we have some video of our ultrasound - check it out!!

Explanation of Video:
We thought we’d tell you some kinda funny things to look for. In the beginning is a face shot and you can see her kind of jump a little. Then she brings her hand up and it looks like she’s picking her nose (at least we like to joke she is ). And you can see her look away from the “camera”. After all the moving you can see her feet dancing on my bladder - which was quite uncomfortable at the time.
Click Here to See the Video

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January 26, 2008 by Melanee.

Packed-check, itinerary-check, comfortable sneakers-check, call to Marlene-check, short sleeves shirt for 70 degree weather-check, excited-check.
Marlene’s running partner Cody Lord will meet us in 45 minutes and off we go to Miami. This is bitter sweet because Kev was able to go with us last year and cheer them on. I know Kev will be running with Marlene-encouraging her, telling her she is going to make it, and saying how proud he is of her. That’s what he would do.

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January 23, 2008 by Marlene.

Ok here’s another update from me. As my mom said I’m running a half marathon this weekend…Let me rephrase that. I will be walk/running and trying not to die this weekend. My ankle has been bothering me so I was trying to decide if it was worse to destroy my ankle getting ready for the marathon and possibly permanently injure myself or just take it slow in Miami. I voted taking it slow.
SO we’ll see what happens and if I’ll be able to walk to classes when I get back. Oh goodness I hope so.
Well my professors have decided that it was time to dump the work on their students. I have had to write..oh goodness 5 ish papers in the last 2 weeks with 2 more due tomorrow. I think that’s the right number. I dont’ want to count, it’ll just depress/anger me. Unfortunately I’m still getting over my procrastination issue and let’s just say that it’s not smart to procrastinate 2 papers due in the same day until the night before.
I’ve been converted to the library. While in my room I simply cannot get things done, my entry writing here is proof of that fact. Yesterday I did homework in the library with my friend for about….4.5 hours with an hour break for dinner. Then I was in the homework mode so I stayed up until about 3 to finish the rest of my work, then do more of it in the morning. I sure do love college.
Ok, so there’s a hint of sarcasm there but I really do love college. It’s great to have everyone my age and be so friendly and such. I’ve been getting to know quite a few people and I’m feeling much better about the social scene. Granted I’m not buddy buddy with people quite yet but there’s still plenty of time for that. Kyra’s hall(same floor as me, different hall) has adopted me into their hall so I crash their parties and eat with them and such whenever I feel like it. It’s so great. That’s only one group that I have incorportated myself into.

I was getting really worried about raising enough money for The Marathon for a while. Granted we still have a ways to go but I feel so much better now that people are donating again. Thank you all for your support, seriously. I’m still trying to scrape money from my poor college friends and I think you can imagine how well that’s working out. Anyway I should be off to my many studies now.
Until next time.

~Marlene

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January 23, 2008 by Melanee.

Miami here we come!
Marlene is nervous, but ready to run. Wow! She is 19 years old and will have two half marathons that she will have completed. Never thought our lives would go in this direction, but we are happy to do so.
We are very close to our goal. We only have $560 more to make it. Thank you everyone for your contribution. This will help PanCAN fund research, distribute information for those just diagnosed, ask for more research funding from the government, have free symposiums around the country to educate those who are fighting for their lives, etc, etc.
The organization gives tremendous support to those who have pancreatic cancer.

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January 15, 2008 by Melanee.

Marlene has still been training for the half-marathon she will be running on January 27th. She will be running with the PanCAN team in Miami Florida. Last year was an awesome experience and she has found her niche to help with those who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer like her father was. She is 1350 dollars short of her goal. So we are in the middle of the big push. We have till January 22nd to raise the funds. PanCAN also gave us time till February 24 to be reinbursed for any monies donated after the January 22nd period.

We consider this a very good cause because they were there for us with all the infomation and support we needed. They gave us hope and information that helped Kev during his fight.
Pancreatic Cancer is still at its early stages of research and cure. This cancer is so hard to beat, but your part will help.

Thank you to all those who have contributed. Marlene is so pleased with your support.

Click on “Help Marlene Run for the Cure” on the side bar of this blog
When you get to the Kintera site, click “search” in the box of Top Fundraisers on the right.
type in Marlene Webster’s name in the “Enter Participants Name”.
Then click on her name when the amount shows up which will bring you to her page,
then you can donate at her page.
or
write a check for the amount your choose to PanCAN
Then send it to their headquarters in CA. Address is on their website
Please make sure you write on the checkin the memo section
- Miami Half Marathon-Marlene Webster
So she can get credit.

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January 11, 2008 by Melanee.

Alright! Who said time has to go by this fast. I haven’t even had a chance to talk about Christmas, New Years, and Marlene being delivered to college. I’ve been home for five days now and don’t know where the time went.

Christmas was so wonderful because most of the daughters were here. The house was full of family and that is what I like about the holidays. Mallory and Wendell made the trek from Tennessee and Leah, Ed, Anya, and Kevin came up from NJ to join us. We missed Ashley and Pat, but totally understand the circumstances of the pregnancy and wanting me to save my money to see them when the baby is born.

I was so glad to have the house full because it was a little hard to keep my emotions in check. I was rocking Anya one night, she was holding her blanket and she took her thumb out of mouth and told me that when she is older, like 4000 years old, that she will carry and rock me. I lost it, but was smiling through it-what a sweet thing for a three year old to say to her grandma. Grandchildren just make the world right. Anya and baby Kevin had most of the gifts under the tree. Anya wore her Island Princess dress-up for quite a while after she opened it up.
Kevin got some handsome outfits to wear and sleep in. Along with some fun things to do.

Getting together with my family for Christmas Eve is always an experience. We had some food that would envy most of the chefs on the food network. Then Christmas carols were sung along with a rendition of “Oh, Holy Night” solo sung by my sister on the cell phone with speaker phone on because she was at her in-laws house. She said she was in the closet singing it. It was very funny imagining the whole scene. Then gifts were opened by about 18 in attendance of the 23 grandchildren. Because I have seven siblings we draw names and we opened the gifts each of us gave to the name drawn. The name I drew was the sister singing on the cell phone, so I have to send her gift. I brought a picture of Kevin sleeping on one of the chairs in the living room with my sister trying to kiss him during the caroling from last year proudly displayed near the nativity set.

We enjoyed the Christmas spirit so much this year. I am sure Kev was sharing it with us at times. We tried to make the best of it even though I had my moments. This could be said over and over again through this blog and again we were blessed with thoughts, gifts, cards, caroling, and well wishes again by many wonderful friends and family. Love truly gets us through.

Mallory and Wendell left Wednesday and Leah and Ed left Friday and Marlene and I got busy organizing to get her to college. We brought out 7 suitcases. One was mine. We rented a hotel room near the airport on Sunday because there was a storm that started Sunday evening and would continue till Monday. We caught a shuttle with our 7 suitcases to the airport Monday morning at 5 am and flew out to Utah at 7 am. We celebrated New Year Eve sleeping at Kev’s sister’s Alison’s house in Salt Lake. We must have been exhausted because we did not hear them go outside and bang on pots and pans at midnight. It woke up the neighborhood, but not us.

We arrived in Provo and settled at my nephew’s apartment, they generously offered the extra bedroom for us. We started shopping for the things she would need in her room like sheets, towels, reading lamp, etc. My Wal-Mart receipt said 92 items.
The next day, we went on campus and took the official tour. then got her student ID, paid for tuition, ate at the Cougar Eat, and looked at her dorm. The campus is beautiful and Marlene and I came away feeling so privileged to be there. I am so excited for Marlene; this is where she needs to be.
Thursday we brought the six suitcases and 92 plus items to her room, checked in and started putting everything in its place, made the bed, and organized a little. Did some more shopping to get things we didn’t think of. Then we went and bought her books.
Friday, I attended orientation with her and said my good byes that afternoon in the lobby near the Varsity Theatre. I told Marlene that her father and I went to the Varsity theatre to see movies there on a few of our dates 29 years ago. I also pointed out the building where we first met. Through out the week my mind visited all the places Kev and I went, the memories were wonderful.
Now I have been home trying to fill my time, which is very easy to do because my to do list has been growing. Organize the house, Get repairs made, get our headstone, take it easy sometimes, do hand work, read, start Kev’s life history—-Where has the time gone?

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January 8, 2008 by Mallory.

It’s me….I haven’t written in a while, so I thought I would update on how our crazy holidays went. We started off flying to Connecticut, but the funny part was that we had someone from our ward drop us off, and he didn’t have a cell phone. When we got to the counter, we learned that our flight had been canceled and that we were put onto a flight 4 hours later…so we were stuck in the airport where we lived for 4 hours. How sad is that? It’s one thing to have a connection and be stuck, but it was where we live! It was pretty funny. Of course, my mom had planned to take us out to dinner for my birthday that night, which I missed. Bummer, I know. We spent a very enjoyable Christmas in Connecticut. Then we left the day after to go to Idaho. We got there at about 12:30 in the morning, and his sister’s wedding was the next day. They got married in the temple, and it was very nice. I helped her get into her dress. She was very beautiful. The reception was definitely different than what I’m used to. I had never experienced a “typical” Mormon wedding before, but it was nice. Interesting, but nice. And of course, there was A LOT of snow….yeah…can I tell you how much I don’t miss the snow? We spent about a week there. To my delight, on New Year’s Day, I got a fever of 101 and my throat was KILLING me. On our way home on Jan. 3, I was talking to my mom, and she suggested that I had strep throat, so on our way home, I made a doctor’s appt…and lo and behold, I have strep throat. I got antibiotics and he gave Wendell some to take too, just in case, but we are both feeling much better now. We are now back in school and getting back into the swing of things. It was nice to visit family, but it’s nice to be back in the warm weather (it was 70 today) and to be alone with Wendell. Life is good and it’s treating us well. We’re happy and things are going great. Wendell got a better grade than he thought in one of his classes, so that was a good plus. Hopefully we can update a little more, but life is pretty boring. We just do the same thing everyday. Anyway, until next time!

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January 7, 2008 by Marlene.

Well I haven’t written in a while and I figured that since I’m in a critical stage of my life I probably should update you.
As you may know I was accepted to BYU-Provo(and Idaho) and I am in Utah presently. I’m in my room in Helaman Halls to be exact. I really enjoy being here. I came halfway through the school year which has its pros and cons.
Pros:
Everyone is already adjusted so there are plenty of people to help
There packages of friends that you can join. (When you befriend one person, you befriend them all)
There are other people who start late and you all feel extra special together
Checking in is nowhere near as crowded as in the fall
Other reasons that I haven’t mentioned as well

Cons
You don’t know anyone
Everyone already knows each other so you have to be bolder to befriend people if they don’t approach you
You have zero idea where you’re going and almost everyone doesn’t think to help you out.\

I’m sure there are more but I can’t really think of them and at the moment I’m leaving for the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse to go workout with my roommate.
Until next time.

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