Shurtleffs in pictures

I have so many pictures to share I thought they could use their own posting....Here ya go!!!!

Clay loved swimming in St George. Notice the amount of hair. He is almost ready for a hair cut.

Lily drowning Cole. Isn't sibling rivalry the best?


Cole pitching for his fall team. He had fun this season.

The last trip to Utah we visited Heber City Railroad. Clay is saving the helpless girls from the train. An evil boy tied them up.

We could not keep Clay off the top of the fragile falling apart rail cars. Each and everyone he climbed to the top.

Lily had a photo shoot with a dear friend of mine. She has taken a bunch of pictures for our family. I recommend her to everyone. She is awesome!!!
www.reneethephotographer.wordpress.com

Shes SAFE. First game of the season. She loves loves loves her team.

Aunt Dani ran the St George marathon last weekend. She is amazing and I look up to her. Thanks for giving us a reason to get away for the weekend.
Lily loves her Aunt Dani!!!

Clay is still being a dare devil. Sshh, don't tell his doctors.

Cole and Alex. Cousins are the greatest. We love Alex and are so proud of how much he has grown up in the last year or so.

Septemebr and October doings

Hi there family and friends. We have missed you so much. Just to bring everyone up to date health wise, we are all fine. You know the old saying no news is good news, well, we are there and we love every minute of it!!!!

Here is an update on each kiddo and also how Clay is feeling.

Cole is doing good. He is doing very well keeping his grades up this year. He isn't straight As but he isn't missing any work. He has become excited for basketball this fall. He has been staying after school and playing with the basketball coach. tryouts will be sometime in November. In order to be on a school team he must maintain a C avg. He is bound and determined to do that. He finished his fall season of baseball and had a blast with the team. He chose not to do another fall league so he could play basketball at the YMCA. My thought is any 14 year old who is over 6 feet tall should play basketball.

Lily is, ugh, well Lily. She is having a blast with her softball team, she returned to the Angelz. She has been playing really well and hit a solid double tonight. Lil is also cheer leading for the elementary school. So far she is having fun and likes being with the girls. Her grades are great as usual. If she focuses she can do amazing work. We love her and she makes me crazy!!! I wouldn't want her any other way.

Clay is getting back to a normal life, well as normal as Shurtleff life is. He plays outside every night and is getting some school work done online. He has been released back to school in January, I think he might be counting down the days. His health is really good right now (knock on wood). He had a cold a couple weeks ago but his body did what it was supposed to do and he is all better now. It was a little worrisome at first but after talking to the all knowing Dr B he said it was a good thing because we were able to watch his body fight the cold in his blood work. Clay still has to wear a mask indoors but is able to start going to restaurants and movies and places like that. it has been nice to let go of the reigns a little.

Tad and I are a nutz as always. Tad is coaching Lily's softball team and just finished Cole's baseball team. He and I are both working like crazy and managing all the kids schedules.

I am planning on flying up for Clays dr appt next week. I will be doped up on anti nausea meds and have the motion sickness patch on my ear. Not looking forward to it, but we only have until March to do this, so we can keep it up for a couple more months.

Clays appt is next week, like I just said, so as soon as I can I will post how well he is doing after the docs tell me how amazing he is and what a stud my boy is.

Love to all,

Tab

Candlelighters 5K

Our team. Kickn it for Clay.

My heros. Childhood Cancer Survivors.

No matter how much she grows up, there is always going to be Elmo.

Laura's fam came to watch. Thanks Erin and Pat.

Clay and Lily are walking together. Don't tell them but they actually got along on the walk.

Clay took pics with a bunch of characters

All the Ladies rockn their bright green.

The boys and Heather rockn the bright green. Get this, Heather ran the 5K and then left to go coach Lily's softball team. She is a stud.

Today was such a great day. It is an honor to be a part of such a great program. Candle lighters has been there from the beginning of Clays diagnosis. Candlelighters helped Tad get back and forth from Utah by giving us gas cards. Today was the 21st Annual Candlelighters 5K. We were able to create a team for Clay, there were 12 walkers/runners. We had 3 competitive runners who did our team proud. They all finished below their goal times and Laura even made a personal record. A big thanks goes out to all our team members. It was our 5, Laura, Michelle, Coach Heather, Ikiaka and Kelly's family. We also had numerous donors of money who didn't or couldn't run. Unfortunately we never made contact with Kelly's family. There were so many people there and we got lost in the crowd. I am so glad she made it and I feel bad I was never able to tell her that in person. So Thanks Kelly!!!!

The host today said there were over 2,400 runners and they raised over 100,000.00. Can you believe that? The money raised helps to funds the activities that all the kids can go to, as well as help families pay for their medical bills, or gas cards, or perscription reimbursement. There are so many wonderful things that Candlelighters does for the childhood cancer community. I am just in awe of all the families who will benefit from this fundraiser. There was one little girl, no more than 7 years old, who raised as a team over 10,000.00, she alone did several Alex's Lemonade stands and raised over 6,000.00. That girl is so neat. I was able to meet her and she was so cute and humble.

During the awards ceremony there was a moment of silence for all the kids that were lost this year. I couldn't help it, I shed a tear. I was looking at so many teams who were walking on honor of a lost kid. It breaks my heart to know that every day 7 kids die from cancer. Every day I am grateful we are not one of those 7.

Anyway, it was such a fun day. Clay has come along way in a year. He has been diagnosed and survived cancer. Today it was nice to be normal, we were outside so no masks, Clay was running and playing like normal, Tad and I were hanging out with friends. Everything was just normal. Normal is good so we are good.

Thanks to Candlelighters, our team and our donors,

Tab and Clay

One Year and Counting

Now

Then

August 27, 2010 - August 27, 2011.

One year ago Tad and I left for a normal days work. Clay, Cole and Lily were home enjoying their last day of freedom before the school year started. I get an insane phone call from Clays Dr who said to get Clay to the closest hospital, he was worried. As we walked into Summerlin Hospital I was greeted by a nurse who took us into the ER. There a really nice Dr told us there was more blood work needed and they had no answers for a couple of hours. I did my best to stay positive and keep Clay from worrying. Tad met us there and we were then taken into a room just Tad and I. The Dr told us Clay had Leukemia. What how in the world can MY kid have cancer. That's not possible. The Dr confirmed yet again it was cancer. Clays white blood count was above 300,000. The Dr then told us there was no time to spare and he was being transported to UMC for better and more critical care. We were admitted to UMC and met our new Oncologist. Dr Bernstein has been amazing. He sat with Tad and I for hours that night. He didn't leave Clays room until after midnight. In a matter of a couple hours Clay had 2 procedures. He had a lumbar puncture/bone marrow biopsy and he had a Hickman central line placed. Clay was solid as a rock the whole time. We kept asking him if he was okay or had questions or needed anything. He as good, he was smart. The Dr ask him if he understood what was happening and how Leukemia happened. He was able to explain it and understand it. Thanks to his amazing 4th grade teacher who taught him cells in science. Strozzi, you rock. After the initial diagnosis we got settled in to our room and figured out what the next step was. Clay was at UMC for 10 days. He had some visitors and lots a emails phone calls and texts.

That Sunday our amazing ward, family and friends had a fast for Clays health and safety. From that day on I knew he would be okay. We all did. Clay has been protected by our Heavenly Father. we have found strength in his love and comfort in the knowledge of the atonement and the promises we have been given. We (I) have always known he was going to be our kid who questioned the church and what his life was all about. This hand he has been dealt has brought him closer to Heavenly Father. He has grown as a person. As a family we have also grown. Now, I'm not saying the fighting stopped or we are perfect. The kids still fight all the time and no one does their chores. What i learned is that I don't care that much anymore. It is more important to have peace and happiness. It is funner to play and be together than it is to yell and scream and ground and punish. The kids still get grounded and still have to be good but it is different now.

We have been told by so many how brave and strong we are. I feel that we were just doing what was needed. It has taken me a while to say this with out crying but I have a kid who had and beat cancer. I have a survivor. Clay is a survivor.

I love you # 2. I love your power, strength and stubbornness. I love your patience with me, dad, the doctors and nurses and your siblings. And your lack of all those things. Thank you for fighting this evil nasty disease and being a hero to us. I also have to praise Cole for saving my sons life so we could celebrate this beautiful day.

Love to all,

Tab

Trips to Utah

So pretty.

Clay and Cole at Bridal Vail Falls.

Tad and Clay at Sundance

Red Lobster. They were so nice. Clay still cant eat out. However he was beggin for Red Lobster. Grandma Nicki called and talked to the mngr. He made all of Clays food special. Even dessert. He had a pad of brownies waiting for him. He even made a special pan of rolls so Clay could eat with us. Everyone needs to go to the Re dLosbter by Fashion Place Mall in Utah.

At the Joseph Smith Mem building.

Clay has an appt once a month in Utah. Here are some pictures from our trip in July. We were able to go up over the 24th of July. We had so much fun. We lit fireworks, had a bbq, went to temple square, went to Bridal Vail Falls and Sundance resort. It was a nice but quick trip.

In August Clay and I flew up. I remember now why we NEVER fly anywhere. I get motion sick, bad motion sickness. It was not pretty and I feel bad for the cute little Asian girl who sat next to me. Anyway, Clays appt went great. We were warned to keep our eye out for some things and the blood work that Primary needs once a month. The docs say Clay is doing awesome and they are proud to see how well he is doing and how much he is growing. Clay is 77 pounds, at his least he was 63 lbs. Ha has also grown 2 inches. From the month of Sept on he only has to go to the doctor once a month. Well twice. Once here in Vegas and once in Utah.

Clay had a huge milestone on august 9. He had his line removed. That is a step in the right direction. He did well, he was put under full anesthesia. He woke up really good and was hungry. Since his line has been out he has taken a bath or shower every day and has been swimming lots. He loves the freedom. There has been no worries at the skate park or wrestling or anything. It has been nice for him and me.

So Much To Say, So Little Time

This is right after he had his line taken out. The spot is where the line went in. I know, ewe gross.

Ewe gross. I knwo what some of you are saying. The others, cool what is it? This is his line. This is the tube that kept him alive, it is called a Broviac.

This is from the morning of the surgery. It was early and he was tired.

Clay and Gabe at an arcade. Those two are so much alike its scary. We love Gabe and are so glad to have him in Clays life.

I know, I know, I know. You guys have all missed me. I am so sorry. It has been a very long summer. It has been tough getting back into normal life. It is getting better, but the old saying is true. So much to do, so little time to do it. Thanks for being pateint with me and I will do my best to bring you up to speed.

Clay is doing very very well. He has been able to get back to swimming and the skate park and hanging out. And that has brought you up to date. Hahaha, just kidding. He has beein doing great. The docs said he is progressing as normal. His blood work is looking as good as ever. His line spot is healing beautifully and he had a cold but is better. Knowing his line has healed and his cold is gone means he has good white blood cells that know how to do thier job.

His meds have dropped drasticly. If you remmeber when we first came home from the hospital he was on 23 pills twice a day. He is down to 3 pills twice a day. His anti rejection med is one pill twice a day. He should be off all meds by September 1. That is when we have to start watching for Graft V Host. let me explain...His anti rejection med has been telling his body to not fight the new marrow. When he is off the med his body may kick into gear and scream attack on the new marrow. Hopefully the new marrow is healthy and strong that the old blood cant fight it and no problems. If there is any issues, well, I dont know and we will cross that bridge when we get there.

Clay will not be going to school unitl January or later. He still at risk for colds, germs and infections. In Jan he should be able to go to school but again we live in the world of we will see. For now he will be in an online homeschool program.

Now that you have the update on Clay I should let you know about Cole and Lily. Cole turned 14 on July 31. He wanted to have a birthday party at the gun range. Yep, you read that right, not go karts or pizza or swimming, the gun range. Tad took him and a couple friends who we are close with and they shot guns and then went for In and Out. Cole is now 6 ft tall. I dont know when he went from being my cute little red head who curled up in my arms to this gigantic 14 year old with attitude. He is going into 8th grade and was accepted into the advanced guitar class. He was so excited to get into the class. Cole is playing baseball this fall and hopefully will be playing basketball later in the fall. Again any boy who is 6 ft tall should play basketball.

Lily, well what can I say she is Lily. Her room is a mess and she draws pictures on everything. She sings and dances where ever she goes and has no sense of time. She has grown up so much. Lil is entering into the last year of elementary in our house. She is in the best teachers class and is going to have a blast. Lil has also started softball. She is returning as a Angel and loves her coach and team. She has alot to learn still but has fun with her friends. She makes me crazy but we love her.

Okay, well yu are now updated. I know it was really long, next time I promise to update sooner so it wont be as long next time.

Love to all,

Tab

I know Im a slacker. I promise to post soon. Really soon. Here is a picture to hold you over.