Jekyll & Hyde ~ 5K ~ Portsmouth...

I have to admit, the last couple of months have been hard...especially the last couple of weeks.  Couldn't figure out why I was on the verge of tears almost constantly.  Then I realized it is just a little over 3 months since Sue passed away.  I can't even believe I'm saying that....still doesn't seem real.

The kids keep asking "when are we going to Boonshoft?"  I keep putting it off.  It was Sue's Christmas gift to the boys.  I just can't go there yet.  (the last couple of times I took them there, Sue went with me. She would take one of the boys, I would take the other.  We had so much fun.  They LOVED their Aunt Sue.)

And it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), I miss Melissa EVERY day.  Hard to want to go on some days.  But my calendar keeps  filling up, and that is  good for me.

I'll start with A.J.  (this would have been the headline if Melissa were posting the blog, I guarantee it)

I say I'm A.J.'s cousin.   But really, A.J.'s GRANDMA is my first cousin.  That just makes me sound so old.

A.J. is a senior at Fairmont.  A very talented senior.  Last week, he had the lead in the musical Jekyll & Hyde.  He was Jekyll, and he was Hyde.  Here is the bio from the program:

"Jekyll & Hyde is the fourth Fairmont musical for senior A.J. Breslin, who played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden and Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd.  He also played Dr. Gibbs in the 2010 performance of the play Our Town and starred in the Fairmont's fall 2012 production of Ordinary People.  A tenor in the a cappella group Eleventh Hour, he also has been a member of Illusion Show Choir, the a cappella group Fusion, Men's Chorus and Symphonic Chorale."

...and they forget to mention that he is related to the Fortener's.  On Pam's side.  My dad would say he gets his singing talent from him.  I've heard his mom sing...(Leanne), I think he gets it from her.  And as for our family, Melissa wasn't a bad singer either.

He is going places.  Remember his name.  And someday, you can say "HEY. I know him from somewhere...OH YEA.  Fort's blog!  He's related to Fort!"  She would be SO proud of him. (The story is, his grandma babysat me and my siblings, I babysat A.J.'s mom, A.J.'s mom babysat Melissa & Nick, Melissa babysat for A.J. Lindsay, & Katie, now Lindsay has babysat for Andrew and Max.  Pretty cool, huh?

Anyway, A.J. was AMAZING in Jekyll &Hyde.  I actually do a pretty good rendition myself on a daily basis...but nothing like he does.  His siblings are all pretty talented too - Lindsay plays on the Fairmont Varsity girls basketball team, Katie is on the track team and Michael plays ice hockey.
I dont know how Leanne and Tony do it.  All good kids too.

I wish Melissa were here to follow all of them...


FIRST ANNUAL MELISSA FORTENER McLAUGHLIN 5K 
HUGE SUCCESS!
  The Fairmont Softball team took the "Firebirds Fighting Cancer" one step further by adding a 5K this year.  In Melissa's honor!  A portion of the proceeds will go to Melissa's Scholarship fund. (Recipient of Scholarship to be named in the next couple weeks!)

133 people registered, 116 participated.  The cold morning might have kept some away, but it was actually a perfect morning for a run/walk/crawl.    The 5K was to be followed by a weekend of softball games (several schools were registered to participate) but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate and the diamonds weren't playable.  But it didn't stop the 5K OR the Balloon Release that followed.
It was awesome.

Thanks Chelsea for organizing this event, and Marianne and Marcy for the amazing pictures!
And thanks to everyone who participated!

      Logo on the tshirts (medals had same logo)

Shea Morgan (from the girls basketball team) and a teammate from her AAU team

I got to do a little public speaking - I LOVE talking about Melissa, and some info about breast cancer awareness...and the race is on...

Runners/walkers/crawlers...on your mark...get set....

GO!

...and they're OFF!

Rachel, a friend of Melissa's (in the pink) running her first 5K!

The line of people (with the stroller) rugby friends of Melissa's!

Bob Franz, Fairmont Head Softball Coach @ Finish Line

Patti, Dave & Jodi, good friends

Pamma, Andrew, PopPop, ready to cross the Finish Line!

Mia and Riley.  Daughters of friends of Melissa's!

Angie crossing the finish line with Bennett

Donny & friend Jay Niswonger with their medals

Balloon Release

Fairmont H.S. Softball team, ready to hand out medals.

Thanks girls for volunteering!

Firebirds for FORT (with Fort bracelets)!

Donny & Coach Chelsea (in the navy jacket) awarding medals.

Chelsea was the event organizer.  She did an incredible job.

THANKS CHELSEA!

G.G. Fortener.  Donny's mom.  She guarded the finish line.

She was a little emotional when SHE got a medal!

(Melissa would love this too)

After the race, stopped by to visit Melissa...she gets a medal too!

If you didn't make it this year, the good thing is, this was the first ANNUAL.

That means we're doing it again NEXT year.  So we'll see you then.

It's good exercise (breast cancer prevention) and FUN!

*~*~*~*~*~*

The fun continued this weekend.  We have been trying to make it to Portsmouth for the six months to visit our friends Curt (Mange) and Mary.  They are the couple we went on the cruise with last summer. Bought tickets to concerts TWICE that we had to back out of at the last minute.  And THOUGHT it was going to happen again.  First I will tell you that Curt & Mary are our friends whose daughter Courtney was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was 14.  She survived that.  When she was 22, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Fought it for 6 years.  She died two years ago when she was just 28.  They have two other children, Caitlyn, who is getting married in about a month, and Tyler, who just got engaged yesterday.  On Thursday, I got a text from Mary saying she was in Cincinnati with Caitlyn.  She was having surgery.  For cancer.  She has basal cell carcinoma, and had it removed from her nose, and a small spot on her shoulder.  The surgery went well. But it was traumatic going through this AGAIN.  I talked to Mary and said "if you want to cancel, we are ok and will understand". But she said "I need to do something fun."  So we went.  She is my inspiration.  They are right where we are, but somehow they are in the midst of planning a wedding, now another wedding, AND going through this cancer thing again.  We finally got to go to a concert with them (and some of their friends) at Shawnee State College in downtown Portsmouth.  Great venue - and, well, for OLD people, great bands.  The Buckinghams (Kind of a Drag), and The Guess Who.  Went out for a drink afterward, then back to Mange and Mary's to spend the night.  We were up until 2 talking.  We are quickly becoming pretty good friends after not seeing each other for almost 40 years...we have a lot in common.

Mange and Donny 

Pam & Mary

Got up late, Mary made breakfast and we talked for another two or three hours.  Left Portsmouth and headed for Hocking Hills.  Donny has been wanting to go there for a LONG time.  Hocking Hills is between Ohio University and Ohio State.  I'm pretty sure Melissa has been there a few times.  I seem to remember some stories (if you remember any stories of her @ Hocking Hills, can you share with me?)

Anyway, it was a beautiful day, perfect weather for hiking.  So we did.  Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls.  Just a couple of miles to each...I mean, if we can do a 5K, we can hike a few miles AND enjoy the beauty of nature!

Will definitely return.  Didn't have enough daylight to see everything Donny wanted to see. 

Might even make it a weekend next time...

Ok...you know the routine.  

Have to end with Andrew and Max.  It is only right.  It is what MELISSA would do.

Found a LEGO magazine and was reading it to Andrew & Max.  There were pictures of kids in the magazine that had built things and sent their picture in.  Andrew runs over to his legos, whips this thing together and says "take my picture Pamma and send it in!"

...and of course IMMEDIATELY Max puts something together and says

"take my picture Pamma and send it in".

He wants to be JUST like his big brother.  

Ok.  So we start at 8 a.m. and never stop.  Until lunch.  Then I AM exhausted.

So THEY need to take a nap.( I mean I  need to take a nap).  But they won't.  I say "you don't have to sleep.  Just rest."  That lasts about 15 minutes.  Then we go nonstop until we take them home.

We pull up in front of their house, I turn around and say

"Ok boys.  We're home!"

and this is what I see...

I have them two days a week.  The other five I am recuperating.  Seriously.

But I wouldn't have it any other way...

And although I said I will always end with Andrew and Max, I found a picture

of me and Melissa.  It's at OU.  Mom's Weekend.  Which when SHE was there was always the first weekend in May.  Such good memories.  I miss her so much.  Still can't believe she's gone...

Love you and miss you pretty girl....

every minute of every day.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Five years ago tonight, we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our second grandson, Andrew Charles.

His arrival was "pre-planned", aka C-section, so we knew we would be meeting him April 4, 2008. Five years ago, Melissa was still here...and as hard as it was for her, Andrew was the light of her life.

She got to spend a lot of time with him in his first eight months, and we will never let him forget his Aunt Fort.

He is SO smart.  Just like his mom and dad.  

I have the kids on Mondays and Tuesdays.  On Tuesdays Andrew goes to his Speech appointment. I take him, and Mere meets us there.  She surprised them with smoothies.  Well, it just so happened that before we left, Andrew asked if we could go to RITA'S later in the day.  I told him we would go after his appt.  RITA'S sells italian ice.  Kind of like a smoothie.  When we were leaving his appointment, he asked when we were going to RITA'S.  I told him that he didn't need a sugary drink in each hand.
He said "But I have two cup holders...."  He's so smart.  He won.  But we didn't go until Pop Pop got home from work around 4.  Just in time to spoil there supper.  I don't do that often.  But this is his birthday week, so I caved.

Tomorrow I have the honor of taking Andrew to his Kindergarten screening.  I can't believe he'll be in kindergarten next year.  I'm pretty sure he'll ace this "test" tomorrow.  They'll probably want to put him in first grade....but that won't happen.  Because "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW YOU LEARN IN KINDERGARTEN".

So I thought I'd do a little picture timeline of Andrew...


                                                            Baby Andrew

Aunt Fort lovin' on Andrew...

Look how much they look alike!

Happy 1st Birthday! (in Siesta Key Florida!)

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Ring Bearer in Uncle Jeff's wedding

Balloon Release with Great Aunt Sue

Christmas with Great Aunt Sue

Celebrated his 4th birthday in his new house in his STAR WARS bedroom!

His birthday party is Saturday...will share some pictures then!  

Happy Birthday Andrew!  We love you!

SPRING?

Can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted...it's been a rough winter.  I miss Melissa every single day, and I'm missing my sister Sue...a lot.  I miss her daily phone calls, I miss her going to lunch with me, keeping me company with the boys.  The boys have been begging to go to Boonshoft, (the local Museum of Natural History).  I love taking them there, but realized I'm having a hard time going because SUE was supposed to go with us.  In fact, that was her Christmas present to the boys - a day at Boonshoft....looking forward to warm weather so I can distract them with another activity.  Just can't go there yet...

A lot has happened since my last post - a lot of GOOD things.  We'll start with Fairmont basketball....

This was the final score of the STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP game...FAIRMONT 52!!!!  Melissa would LOVE this.  As you know, the reason we follow the girls basketball team is because it was the LAST thing Melissa wanted to do, and couldn't...(remember? she was coming home from Hospice and said she wanted to go to the girls game.  I told her NO! there will be too many sick people there...duh.  So she asked the doctor if she could go - she said "she can do anything she wants to, her oxygen tank is good for 2 hours.  I got that "I told you so" look from Melissa, and we were planning on going to the game.  A visit from a couple of good friends that morning wore her out, so we didn't make it to the game.  We haven't missed one since)  And that year was the beginning of an amazing transformation of Fairmont girls basketball.  Although they didn't make the State Tournament that year, Cassie Sant was a junior and received the first Melissa Fortener McLaughlin B POSITIVE Spirit award (Cassie now starts for the University of Dayton Flyers-who just made it to the second round of NCAA tournament, they played #2 seed Kentucky, although they lost in the second round, Cassie was the leading scorer in that game!)  The next four years would take Fairmont to the FINAL FOUR...losing in the first round the first year, losing the finals the next two years - to the same team, Twinsburg.  Then THIS year was Fairmont's turn.  I KNOW Melissa would have been with us at the games...in fact, I'm pretty sure she WAS there.  I could feel her there.

Wow. I got a little A.D.D. there, didn't I?  I do that a lot lately.  Anyway, some fun shots from the
games....

              Fairmont gets a Police escort to I-675 on their way to Columbus.....

Celebrating after the win!

ONE HAPPY TEAM!!!!!!

Pam and Donny with their FAVORITE player...Lindsay Breslin (my cousin Sharon's granddaughter!)

Katherine Westbeld and Lindsay

Donny & Chelsea (this was at the celebration with the team after the game. It was in an auxillary gym outside the Schottenstein Arena.  They had music playing in the background...when I took this picture of Donny and Chelsea, VIVA LA VIDA came on...I haven't heard it in a LONG time.

I KNOW she was there.  She always finds a way to let us know!!!!

(Oh..Chelsea is a senior and will be playing at Dusquene next year!)

Pam & Katherine Westbeld

(Katherine is a junior...right now she is looking at U Conn, Notre Dame, OSU (I mean THEY are looking at HER!)...just to name a few. She is an amazing player and an even more amazing young lady.  I can't say enough good things about her.

Donny & Katherine

Can't say it enough.  We are SO proud of these girls...they are incredible ON and OFF the court.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

Finally got a chance to keep Bennett (Angie, one of Melissa's best friends baby)...OVERNIGHT!

He was so cute...just like this the whole time we had him!

This is what happens when you leave the room for just a minute, and leave a camera 

out for the boys to find...there were about 20 more pictures, most of them indiscernible,

you can at least tell that it's Drew and Max in this picture...

And finally, winter had a LAST HURRAH here in Ohio.  Late March, and it is SPRING.

Or so we thought.  Had to pull out the winter gear and get them outside for THEIR last hurrah!

Thirty minutes to get them dressed, thirty minutes outside, ended with a snowball fight (that THEY wanted...) I threw a couple at Andrew, then one at Max, when he was bending over...as soon as I threw it, Max stood up and it hit him in the face...it wasn't a packed snowball, just a soft one...but he DIDN'T like it.  At all. I tried to get him to throw one at me, but he was DONE.  Hot chocolate and a popcicle later and everything was fine.  Hopefully he'll forget this incident, because I more than anyone else know that paybacks are hell....

Probably can't tell, but that's a snowfort they are behind, and our snowman is in the background.

I am not the best  snowman builder, but they were happy to be outside!

So that's it.  The end of March.   Winter is over (FINALLY). Spring is here (FINALLY).

I am a warm weather person, and I need sunshine.  And there just happens to be sunshine today...so I'm out for a walk today. Need to get back into the walking routine.  It starts today.

Don't forget to register for the First Annual Melissa Fortener McLaughlin 5K.  If you need more info, let me know.  And have a good spring.

HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY NICK!!!

Here we go again. I do this on my kids birthdays, and I'm pretty sure Melissa would be ok with this.  Although she would add some stories (that I don't know about) I'm sure of that too.

33 years ago today, Nicholas Andrew Fortener was born.  I thought he was going to get here on Leap Year day.  At the time, I thought that would be cool to have a birthday on Leap Year day.  But knowing my son NOW, he would have hated it.  He LOVES his birthday...would hate to only have a "real" birthday every four years.

I actually went to the hospital on February 29.  Spent the day walking the halls, THOUGHT I was in labor.  He knew he didn't want his birthday on Feb. 29.  So he waited a couple more days.  It was a Monday, and early in the day I thought my water broke.  Called the doctor, went in to be checked, and I was wrong.  But going in to the doctor got the ball rolling.  By the time Donny got home from work, I had dinner on the table.  The three of us were eating dinner...me, Donny, Melissa.  The labor pains started, about 5 minutes apart.  Walked out the door to my friend Nancy, who was delivering Girl Scout cookies.  Headed to Jean & Steve's to drop Melissa off.  When we got in the car, Donny said "which way should we go?  Down Wayne Ave or should we take 35?"  "I DON'T CARE HOW WE GET THERE....GET ME THERE!"
We arrived at St. Elizabeth Hospital around 7:30 pm.  Nicholas Andrew was born at 8:47 pm.  No waiting for him!  Our family was complete.  A girl AND a boy.  Happiest family ever.  (and it was the first time I ever got roses too...Donny was VERY happy!)

So here we are 33 years later.  I can't believe I have a son who is 33.  I think we did good.  He is loving and caring and sensitive and funny.  And a good husband and dad.  We are blessed.

We love you Nick!  Happy 33rd on 3/3 (Donny and Nick are both into the #s thing, they think this is pretty cool too!)

Just wanted to share a few pics of Nick...


                                                     Nick...about 2 years old

Nick & Mom

...and grandpa

...and grandma and dad

...with "Uncle" Howard

GO IRISH!

...GOONIES, favorite movie of Nick AND Melissa!

...he can dress up too!

...a walk on the beach

...the boys

Nick, Mere and the boys with Aunt Sue

...and my two HAPPY kids!

This photo was taken on Melissa's 30th birthday.  She never celebrated another one. 

I can't believe my "baby" is three years older than my OLDEST.  

Will never make sense to me....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICHOLAS ANDREW!  The BEST son EVER!!!!

***

University of Dayton Lady Flyers for FORT

After Breast Cancer Awareness game...they all wore FORT bracelets (thanks to #33 Cassie Sant!) and agreed to have their picture taken wearing them!  After this photo, they spent 90 minutes signing autographs.  They are ranked 12th in the nation as of today, and will definitely be playing in the NCAA tourney.  GO FLYERS!  

Photo below is Cassie Sant - #33.  She played for Fairmont, and was the first recipient of the 

Melissa Fortener McLaughlin B POSITIVE Spirit Award.  THANKS CASSIE!

***

2013 Melissa Fortener McLaughlin B POSITIVE Spirit Award goes to...

Makayla Waterman

Congratulations Makayla!  This is the third year in a row Makayla has won the award.  

Last year, Makayla sat out several games recovering from a torn ACL.  She's back this year, and defensively has been incredible.  She has been struggling offensively some, and when Coach Cogan present the award, he said "when you are struggling, look at this plaque, and remember the adversity that Melissa went through.  B POSITIVE!"  I think Makayla took that to heart...on Saturday's District Final game, she had her best game of the season, ALL AROUND.  And scored 14 points that we needed to win this game!  We are so proud that Makayla Waterman is the recipient again this year. 

Congratulations Makayla!!!

***

And CONGRATULATIONS to the FAIRMONT LADY FIREBIRDS on ANOTHER

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP!

We are so proud of you...Melissa would have been there for sure, cheering you on...but I KNOW she was there in spirit!

When we got to the game, Nick and Melissa's Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McVey, and her husband sat right in front of us...had to get a picture - they both  LOVED Mrs. McVey!  She said "Oh Melissa was the most mature student in my class!"  I ran into her several years ago, and that time she told me, 

"Melissa was our timekeeper.  She would always say "Mrs. McVey, it's time to go to art (or music, or gym, or lunch)..."  She could tell time (on a regular clock) in kindergarten.  She was pretty smart!

Chelsea and Alona with the District Championship Trophy!

Team photo ~ Way to go FIREBIRDS!

Alysa, Lindsay (my cousin), and Shea

Chelsea (our awesome point guard who will be going to Duquesne next year)

and her mom Grace...(told you you'd make the blog Grace!!!)

Cousin Lindsay gets the first cut at the net!

The Firebirds play Mason this Wednesday at Wright State Nutter Center @ 8.  

The winner moves on to Regional Finals on Saturday.

GO BIRDS!!!

***

Lots of good things going on this winter.  Thank God for my husband, son, grandsons and Fairmont Basketball.  I know I would be hibernating without them.  Weather has been crummy, and I have been under the weather in more ways than one.  I miss my daughter, I miss my sister.  And I need sunshine. (Thought we were going to get THAT in Florida...HA!)  But somehow, I get out of bed in the morning  and go on.  Some days I hate it.  Then I get a message from a good friend Chelsea VanHorn(of course from the Franz family) that the Fairmont Softball team is sponsoring the 

"First Annual Melissa Fortener McLaughlin 5K".  If you live in town, the 5K is Saturday April 13. Come join us!  I think it starts at  Lincoln Park (by the Fraze). You can register at

http://www.keysports.net/events.php.  Just look for Melissa Fortener B POSITIVE 5K.

Part of the proceeds will go to Melissa's scholarship fund.  

And my life has meaning again.  I know she will be remembered.  And THAT makes me smile.

Enjoy MARCH MADNESS.  Spring is coming...and I HOPE sunshine too.

Have a good one.

***

Love you Melissa Marie and miss you EVERY SINGLE DAY.

***