So, first r internet is down. We get a new provider. Then, r computer decides to freak out. We have been without a computer for a couple of days. Thank goodness Chris is still around, he fixed it. If it breaks again I won't know what to do. Told him I'll just buy a new one:)
Chris had chemo on Thursday. Only four drugs so it didn't take as long (four hours instead of seven). One of the drugs that Chris receives comes in a glass bottle instead of a plastic pouch. I asked them "Why?" They said that the drug would eat through the plastic pouch!!!! Yikes!!! Kids were off for spring break so they came for awhile and then my mom took them home. Katie was sooo cute with all the "grandma's and grandpa's" she sang songs to them from Tangled and played "guess which hand the item is in." I enjoyed watching people smile who usually don't smile because the chemo room just isn't the "happiest place on earth." We colored Easter eggs Wednesday night thinking that he would be to sick to do anything after Thursday but, he hasn't been sick. (even went to Meg's track meet on Saturday) Just tired and his face hurts. He is beginning to get acne. He has fun squeezing them and watching the puss come out (ohhh, Ricki you are so dead for telling!!!) He of course doesn't care about scaring up his face like he would have if he was younger (and of course not dieing:) His face is splotchy red and he says it hurts:( He continues to take antibiotics twice a day for infection and for itching. He also CRAVES things!!! Right now he can't get enough PICKLES!!!! He eats an entire jar in two days!!! He also can't stop eating Taco flavored Doritos chips!!! (the ones they brought back from r childhood). He eats a bag or two a day (depending on how many helpers he has). My food storage is now stocked with jars of pickles and Doritos:) Chemo, again this Thursday. Seven hours!! Pizza for dinner:) Grateful to my mom.
Jacob and Tay r still punished but I would have to say "I'm punished also" I hope that I can endure this and follow through. It is sooooo hard having to stay on top of them - no tv is the worst. Sometimes you just sit down and watch out of habit (Rye is really good at making sure that I know if they r watching tv - hee, hee). Having chores ready for them to do and of course listening to them whine about how they have nothing to do "We're bored" especially over spring break. Ahhh, I wanted to pull my hair out!! I don't know how we will make it through the summer. They have only completed 25 since last Saturday. I am even giving them an easy one - bring your scriptures to the table when we read and follow along (earns them a point-which is something they should be doing anyways- I'm such a softy). I was worried about them going to friends houses to play electronics but I called parents and told them. They have all been wonderful to uphold the punishment also:) All I can do is pray that this always stays with them. That they learn from it.
This week is crazy. We r finishing up Rye's Eagle project. 13 wards. Friday, we will collect the stuff and take it over to the church. Saturday, we will assemble the kits. A very sweet young lady and her family in r ward have kindly volunteered to tie the fleece to make it into a blanket. So far, they have done 11. It has been really helpful. Other wise the scouts would be doing it on Saturday. Thank you. Thank you to all of you who have donated to Rye's Eagle project. What a great cause. Can't wait to see the faces of the people who work at the hospital when we bring in the kits and the soda pop (you should see my living room!!!). And of course I will smile really big when I see a cancer patient with a kit (I will also be sad - bitter sweet).
Don't forget Wednesday, April 27th is Baskin Robbins .13 cent scoop night starts at 5pm -10pm. We usually travel around to each of the BR stores in r area until we make ourselves sick (that's dinner and dessert-sometimes they have limits on how many scoops. I'm a chocolate fudge and bubble gum-yes together:). Tons of fun!!!:)
Love ya, Ricki

Sorry, I know many of you are wondering how Chris is doing but r internet has been down for four days (we are getting a new one on Thursday:) and I have been verryyyy, verrrryyy busy. (and we went to Disneyland and the beach for 7 days - one last fling:) Chris had chemo last Monday (April 4th). Chris lost 7 lbs since the last time he had been weighed. Saw the doctor. He gave Chris antibiotics to take twice a day to help with the itching from the rash and also to prevent the rash from getting infected. He is suppose to look like a teenager with bad, bad acne. It will take about two weeks for his hair to fall out. First he will notice his hair thinning. We were at the hospital from 9:30-4:00. It was a verry long day. Every other week will be like this. Chris will have treatments every week for six weeks. One week he will receive 3 drugs. Next week 5 drugs. Chris has had a very hard time with this chemo. He has thrown up a lot and been nauseated the whole time. Wednesday, he had me call and get him anti-nausea medicine (which he hasn't ever taken before). He has stopped walking - to tired. Sleeps. Plays computer - when it's working. It was hard watching Chris not have an "outlet" for his pain/boredom and to help him keep his mind off of the nausea. His face is splotchy and red. Hair feels a little thinner. He is almost completely gray:( Soon bald:( He is also very weak. Stumbles a lot. He hasn't been able to go to Rye and Megs track meets, too sick and tired. Rye has officially started his Eagle Scout Project!!!! We put posters up Saturday and Sunday. We are doing 2 stakes. 13 wards!!! Rye spoke in 7 wards. It has been a crazzzyyy couple of days. I keep reminding myself two weeks of utter craziness and then we will be done. Rye, delegated the posters to different women (and 3 to Megan's guy friend:) in r ward. They did a fantastic job. Thank you, thank you. They looked incredible. We passed out sign up sheets (Rye, had Meg make them) yesterday. Items r to be taken to ym president's homes, we will pick up on the 29th and then assemble kits on the 30th. I made A LOT of phone calls this weekend (Rye delegated this part to me:) to YM leaders (and their wives - so they would know to expect stuff coming to their homes) and RS leaders (I can always count on the RS to go above and beyond to help:) If any of you want to donate we'd love it. We r making kits for the newly diagnosed cancer patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute (where Chris goes). We r needing: bottles of lotion, purse sized Kleenex packages, card games, chapsticks, adult puzzle books, reusable water bottles, and fleece blankets (50"x60") or fleece material to create blankets. We hope to make at least a hundred kits. We r also asking for donations of soda pop. When Chris was there on Monday they ran out of soda. No big deal for us, I was there and could go to the vending machine down the hall but for others who don't have someone with them, "what do they do?" Broke my heart:( Chris doesn't have chemo until Thursday of this week. I asked to change it back to Thursday because that is a better day for my mom, and since we need her help, which we appreciate soooo much. Especially with the chemo treatments being so long. Thank you. Thank you. Last Friday, Katie had kindergarten orientation:( Am I really getting that old???? Chris was able to come. After the orientation the three of us went out to eat to celebrate. We tried to make it really special knowing that Chris might not be around when Katie actually starts school. Saturday, Tay, Jacob and some friends decided to play golf in r backyard. 15 golf ball holes in r vinyl fence!!!!!!!! Punishment!!!! We had Tay give us his $100.00 that he was saving. No electronics until they pay back 600 chores (each equally $1.00). Tay and Jacob have it figured out that if they do 5 chores a day then they can be done in 3 months. Also, chores done on Saturday and cleaning the cat box don't count towards the 600. We think they did about $700 worth of damage. Neighbor boy who also helped (Chris saw him) said that he didn't do anything. Parents believed him so Jacob and Tay r wayyyy mad at him and of course he isn't welcome at r home (for awhile). We weren't asking them to help pay, just wanted him to know that what he did was wrong. Chris and I r still trying to figure out "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING????" You would think that after the first hole in the fence you would stop - knowing that you were going to get in trouble!!! Meg, has decided to not work at Disney World. She is afraid of missing Chris, not being here when he dies. I told her we would fly her home if it looked like he was going. She said "no." Mixed emotions - want her to live her life and enjoy opportunities that come along but I also understand her not wanting to miss "the end." She is going to get a job in Provo so that she will have it when school starts. (haven't heard if she made princess yet). Chris and I celebrated r 21st wedding anniversary on April 13th. Chris has been to ill to do anything but that's ok we had a ton of fun last year and just still having him here is good enough. Thursday, Friday and Monday the kids r all home for spring break. You all know how it goes the last two months before school ends becomes verry, veryy busy. This year especially with having a senior. Can't believe that school is almost over!! Life just goes way to fast. The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, "Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily." Love ya, Ricki