2010 A New Year - A New Life!!

Hello Everyone! It has been a very l-o-n-g time since I've posted so I thought it wast time to bring you up to date..... We had a great 2009 holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving here. Shannon, Chris, and Brandon's families joined us along with GG Joyce for good food and fun. Since it was not my year to have the family here for Christmas we packed up and headed for New York to spend it with Taylor, Susie and the boys. What a blast we had! Even though it was absolutely freezing we ventured in to the city a few times and ate at some fabulous places including Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and my all time favorite Max Brenner's (a chocolate lovers haven)! Taylor took a few days off so the six of us had a ball together shopping, eating at famous and local spots and sightseeing. Those of you who know Susie also know that she is one amazing "chef" and we were the happy recipients of some delictable dishes including her famous beans. (She'd win a throwdown with Bobby Flay!) Tay and Susie are the greatest for opening up their home and providing great entertainment as well. Of course the best entertainment for Poppy and I was the boys. They really are the BEST!! It was very sad to leave them, but with their baby sister due in March we plan to see them soon.
We returned to Salt Lake after the new year and celebrated Mike's 61st birthday! He recently had a lens replacement in his left eye and is thrilled that he's been able to give up his glasses. We traveled to Arizona the last week of January for Kiewit's District meetings and enjoyed the beautiful weather there. My good friend Debbie picked me up one afternoon and we had a fun afternoon together at the Scottsdale Mall.
February 6th was Sofey's baptism. She is one special little lady, and we are so grateful to have her in our family. I wasn't sure I would be able to do it, but I finished her baptizm quilt just one hour prior to her getting wet! This has been a tradition in the past with GG Hughes embroidering a cloth with the granddaughter's name and baptism date on it. The girls choose several different (coordinating) materials and after they are cut into squares they design their own quilt. I incorporate the embroidered cloth and bind it to their wishes. I'll post a picture of Sofey's quilt soon. We're also finishing a book for her which will include letters and testimonies from family and pictures of her special day.
A Valentine tradition in our family is grandchildren receiving a bathing suit from Grandma and Poppy..... but this year the three older girls got a card with some money to go towards a bathing suit, but all the others received their valentine suit! Fun for grandma and thanks to Abbey and Sofey for trying on over a dozen suits to help me find sizes!!!!
Emrey is now dating and driving!!!!!! Sooooo she went to the Bingham high Sweethearts dance for Valentines and I'll post pictures of that, too. She is a beautiful, sweet, talented YW and a great example to her sisters and cousins.
Chris and Kristen and girls are getting settled in their beautiful home after months of remodeling, and are enjoying life here in Utah. Brandon and Dawn absolutely love Midway and now that their best friends from AZ have moved up there with them I don't think they'll ever move down to the valley, and I don't blame them! Shannon and Jaren love their new home and neighborhood and are busy with their church callings. Shannon will turn 40 years old tomorrow. It seems impossible. I think it was just a few days ago that Mike and I were coaxing our little volkswagon up E street to the LDS hospital where she was born?!? My how time flies.
Life is good, and I am more than grateful for good health, family, and friends. I am getting used to the "new" me (as my doctors put it) and I think my family is too. I love them more than words can say, and thank the Lord that so many are near me and I'm able to see them often. I'll post pictures soon, but gotta run. It's my bookclub night. I love bookclub, and my friends there. till next time......
Shirlene

Family Fun

Thanks to Livi and Haley for posting "Picture updates" on my blog. Everyone is getting used to my chemo hair but me. It still surprises me when I look in the mirror, but please don't think I'm complaining. Even though the curls are out of control it's a blessing to have hair. I'm told the curl lasts about a year after chemo then it begins to relax - so we'll see!

Susie and the boys came for a visit and we had a ball. The girls couldn't get enough of them and it was a very sad day for all of us when they had to go home. Ian is a gentleman/scholar extraordinaire! and Colton is pure comedian! Between the two of them it was entertainment 24/7 and we loved every minute of it. We were on the go almost everyday and have fun memories of swimming at Lifetime, Lagoon, Liberty Park, the Children's museum downtown, miniature golfing, Midway, shopping, movies, and hanging out at Grandma's. We sure missed Taylor, but Susie is a wonderful, sweet daughter-in-law and I just can't thank her enough for making the brutal 12 hour trip (each way!!) with the boys so the family could be together.

Chris and Kristen were supposed to have been here during Susie's stay BUT they sold their home in AZ in July so they were packing like crazy and preparing for their move to Utah!!! They arrived on the 9th of August- just two days before Susie left- homeless, and without a job . Chris was a "little" stressed at first but now that he has secured a fabulous job, purchased a beautiful home in Sandy, and the girls are settled in school they are happy to be here. We are THRILLED out of our minds to have them here and love having our Sunday dinners with 11 happy, screaming, laughing girls once again.

It is an absolute miracle to have Brandon and Chris with their families living close by. I know I don't deserve it, but I am the most grateful and happy mom/grandma in the world.
We're all looking forward to our family vacation the end of September, and I can't wait to be with my little boys, and Tay and Susie again.

I continue to be amazed at the love and blessings the Lord offers me. His tender mercies abide with me daily and give me strength to carry on. He has heard the prayers and pleadings on my behalf and granted me blessings greater than I deserve. I'm tolerating my biological treatments (oral anit-cancer drug) and beginning to feel stronger every day. Friday will be the first of several reconstruction surgeries. It will be a quick outpatient surgery to replace the left tissue expander that had to be removed in December. My surgeon is very optomistic and I extend my deep gratitude for good doctors, a great ward, and cherished friends and family.
Till next time!
Love,
Shirlene

PICTURE UPDATE!

my new 'do!




























zoe's b-day party











gg and the boys

em and lola

liv and hay being silly

the children's museum

mini golfing

poppy and colton the genius

cute boys!

BYE BYE CANCER!!

I'm Olivia, Shirlene's granddaughter. I'm posting for her today because her computer isn't working. On Monday, my grandma had her last herceptin infusion. All of my cousins and I made a poster board that we had all signed and wrote little things like, "Our Grandma is tough!", and, "Our Grandma is AMAZING!" Haley and I made a heart shaped cake with the Breast Cancer ribbon on it (made out of sprinkles.) We all walked in to surprise her with pink balloons, our card, and our cake. All of the patients in the infusion center were very excited to watch all 10 grandchildren go and sit by our grandma. After her treatment was over, she got to ring the bell. All of the nurses and patients clapped and hoorayed. We all love our Grandma SO much and we are all so excited that she is done with cancer! She was so brave and strong throughout this whole year. Grandma has been so amazing with the best attitude. She has taught us all the meaning of gratitude this year. We love her so much and are so proud of her, but now it's time to say, BYE BYE CANCER!!!

Lola Jane

Lola Jane Seare arrived at 11:55 A.M. July 1st weighing in at 6 lbs. 5 oz. She is our 13th grandchild, and I can't even tell you how thrilled we are to have this beautiful baby girl join our family. Both Dawn and Lola are doing great....they've been through alot this past nine months and it is a blessing and a miracle to have them both here. Dawn admitted she gave a huge sigh of relief once she could see how perfect and healthy Lola is. Zoe and Tatym are amazed at how tiny she is, and love holding their new baby sister. Brandon is a very proud and grateful dad.

Curly Hair

It's been quite a while since I last posted and just wanted to get everyone up to date. I'm looking forward to my very last treatment which will be July 7th!!!! I get to ring the bell and say goodbye to my wonderful nurses at the Infusion Center.... hopefully for good. My hair is coming in nice and thick and very, very, very CURLY. They tell me it will losen up in about 10 months but I can't wait that long to shed my wig now that summer is here. Any advice?
We did get to New York with Abbey and Ivy and had a wonderful time. Memorial weekend was huge for us as we moved Shannon and her family out of our basement into their new home. We also moved my mom into a beautiful retirement home, and Brandon and Dawn moved up here to Midway!!! Everyone is exausted, but settled and happy. Dawn is scheduled for an induction on the 30th, but hoping she'll go into labor on her own before then. We can't wait for Lola!! I'm working on her quilt and hope it will be ready by the time she gets here.
It's been so fun having Brandon, Dawn, Zoe, and Tatym join us along with Shannon's family for Sunday dinners. When the GG's and Auntie join us we're about the size we were in AZ, just different faces!
Saturday is a reunion for the Liberty Park Ward. It's located in Salt Lake City and the ward I attended for 18 years. I'll be taking my mom who is one of the oldest living members. We're really looking forward to it and hope to see lots of friends from the old neighborhood.
Summer has finally arrived in Utah, and life is good. I'm grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me abundantly and to family and friends who continue to support me along this journey. It will be one year on the 27th when I was first diagnosed. I wouldn't be here today without your love prayers......THANK YOU!!!!

RACE FOR THE CURE

What a day! Many thanks to everyone who ran or walked on May 9th for my team "Shirlene's Shufflers". Angie Seare was our team leader and she did a great job getting everything organized for us. I wish we had pictures of all my supporters, but it was impossible with 18,000 participants!! It was really thrilling to cross the finish line even though it took me quite a long time. I didn't know until I arrived there that Shannon had signed me up for the 5K, so I went for it and felt great for 2.9 miles. Mike and Sofey shuffled with me every step of the way and had to practically carry me in. Participants were given a pink paper to pin on their backs listing the person(s) they were celebrating or remembering, and it was very emotional for me to see my name on the backs of so many. Survivors were given pink shirts and hats and I was really surprised to see so many. I'm really grateful I was able to participate, and look forward to improving my time (alot) next year!!