Alright people, this is a QUICK blog:)  This morning I woke up stressed out about all that I need to do but after reading my good friends blog whose husband is doing chemo and lives on the east coast - dealing with hurricane Sandy.  I guess I will be alright "my hurricane" will only last a few hours.  Good luck friend:) 
Rye did well in state.  Next year:)  The day of State I let him drive the car to school.  When he got back to the school a .... parking ticket was awaiting him!!!!!!!!!!!!!  They said the school parking sticker (that I paid $20 for) wasn't attached to the window.  It was.  I had just been trying to be kind and I put a piece of paper behind it so that you could see it better. lol.  I of course went in and talked with them and then I took the piece of paper off the back:)
Chris and I voted the first day the polls were open for early voting.  There was a line (that's good:). Meg is voting today.  She's down here visiting us.  She's going to help drive us to the airport tomorrow at 4:50 AM and then "clean out r refrigerator" hee, hee.  While we are gone r neighbor across the street is going to (lucky for her) go to the mailbox EVERY DAY and see if Meg's call has come.  Meg texts me everyday at least twice, until I get out to the mail box.  I told my neighbor "don't give Meg your cell # unless you want to be bugged."  She had two friends who put in their papers one day before her receive their calls (going to Brazil).  so, she is hoping.  I've been debating on being a "mean mom" and taking the mail keys with me.  You know you just have this image of how things r suppose to go.  All the family sitting in the living room, cameras rolling..... all the anticipation, yelling.......excitement.........tears.......Skype just isn't the same:(  So.... now we have to take a poll to see where YOU think she might go.  I say Brazil.  YOU?
Chris' parents came back through after visiting their other children in Oregon.  fun to see them twice in one week:)
Katie, Jacob, Taylor and I  we went for a hike (Provo canyon).  We saw a moose, played in lots of water and on big trees and had a dog take the walking stick that Jacob had right out of his hand (owner did nothing!!!!!!! - dog as big as Katie)the hike was suppose to be 5 miles round trip.  We started out a little to late in the day so I started getting nervous so we turned around - didn't want to get stuck in the woods at night.  So we headed down before we made it to see the falls.  We were disappointed so... we went back the next day (hee, hee).  I asked Katie if she wanted to come - I was worried about her having walked 5 or more miles yesterday.  She came, but did plenty of whining - no one ever carried her.  After walking 5 miles we decided to turn around, (and seeing a HUNTER!!!!) So are hike was a total of at least 10 miles that day and we never got to the falls.  It was absolutely gorgeous!!!  The leaves and the fresh air - mmmm.  Refreshes a soul:)
Last week we had the strangest thing happen to us (I still think it might have been a dream).  As a family we went to the fabric store to get material for r costumes.  On the way home it was dark and raining/snowing.  I didn't see it in time but I hit a LOG!!!  It was big enough that it got stuck under r car!!!  I pulled over and tried to get it out.  NO WAY that thing was stuck!!!  Poor Chris, with a hurt back and it raining he got the jack out and jacked up the car so that we could get the log out from under the car!!!!  What a night!!!!
We are being characters from Jake and the Neverland Pirates (Disney channel cartoon) for Halloween.  We have been sewing like crazy.  Chris has done a fantastic job of making up patterns.  He made up a pattern for shoe covers that look like boots and a vest pattern (with collar) for one of the pirates.  Jake - is Taylor, Izzie - Katie, Cubby - Jacob, Me - pirate princess, and Rye and Chris r pirates from the show (can't remember their names).  Lots of work but a lot of fun.  It was fun sitting at the table working with Chris on the costumes.  something I won't forget:)
Went to the back doctor and got the OK that the stitches look good and that now he just needs to take it easy for 3 months.  I laughed soooo hard when doc said that.  Chris isn't going to take it easy!!  I call him the "vacation nazi!!!"  He runs us ragged!!  I always need a vacation after my vacation.  Even when the rest of us decide that we've had enough, he still goes - just by himself:) 
I think I pretty much have everything done - 18 teachers -check, SEP dinner - check, voted - check, packed - no, clean house - no (needs to be clean in case we die - don't want anyone saying I was messy - lol), cat - going to ma Ingles' house, mail key - I guess I'll give it to the neighbor:), .......... so many things to do - not much time.
Take care, Love ya, Ricki

Well, Meg is finished with her paperwork and she doesn't have TB:)  Her papers have been sent electronically to Church Headquarters (this happened Saturday:) Sooo, will see what happens(already met with bishop:)  Only two things to worry about 1-If Meg can sell her apartment contract. 2 - Money.  It's $400 a month.  #2 has since been taken off the list.  Thanks to grandparents, aunt and uncle and a dear family friend we've got it covered.  She will need money for clothes, deodorant (hee, hee) etc.  but hopefully she can earn some money before she leaves and I'm sure that we can come up with a few dollars:) Shee is sooo excited.  One of her roommates just came back from a mission so she's been bugging her to tell her everything:)  Poor Meg has been sick the last week.  She started a new job yesterday but had to leave after only being there 3 hours.  Hoping she gets better soon.

Chris, is still in pain.  He went to church Sunday to teach his lesson.  During Sacrament he stood out in the hall for awhile and then asked me to take him home so he could rest til he had to give his lesson.  He had a craving yesterday for Del Taco so I drove him there. 

We got a rental car yesterday so they could fix r van.  2013 Ford Explorer.  fun, but I like my van better:)  We had lots of company this week.  Chris' mom and dad visited us and r crazy family:). 

Saturday morning Ryan ran into my room at 10 am and said that he was going to Homecoming (that NIGHT!!!) that he needed money for the day activity that they (and another couple) were leaving in less than an hour!!!  Going to Timpanogoes Cave and out to lunch.  It was awesome - all the kids ran to their rooms and grabbed their cash.  Meg $27, me $30, Chris $2.00 and Katie $15.  I told everyone I would pay them back later that day.  Funny story:  Katie told me that "if Rye used her money that I owed her $20"  I said "you only gave me $15"  "I know but you owe me $20!!"  I ended up getting her money in all dollar bills - I didn't fool her.  I ended up giving her $16.  What a funny girl.  The girl that Rye asked goes to a different high school, he met her the night before at a football game, they got talking and Rye found out that her boyfriend had dumped her just before homecoming that she already had her dress.  SOOOOO..... being the sweet boy that he is...... he asked her to his.  We were able to get a corsage and Rye double dated with his friend and the football team at Texas Roadhouse.  It all worked out:)  Crazy day/evening:)  Another funny story involving Katie (lol):  last night for family home evening we talked about the Word of Wisdom.  I read a part that said "if you smoke you could get cancer"  You should have seen Katie's face - she looked right at Chris - "you smoked?!" The face was priceless.  After we stopped laughing we explained.  She sure is a character - I can't image r life without her:):)
Tomorrow, is Ryes' big state championship race for cross country.  He switched shifts with a girl so that he could go to bed early tonight, and I've got carbs ready for dinner.  Weather is suppose to be awful!!  55 and raining. 
For the Literary committee that I'm on at the middle school we are reading - A Monster Calls.  The teacher that I'm partnered with emailed me and told me that it would probably be a hard book for me to read.  The mother dies of cancer.  I told her I'd have my tissues ready:) 
You all will be sooo proud of me.... I let Rye drive the car to work last night (Mostly I just wanted to stay away from that spot lol), and today to school.  I'm ssooo nice:):)
Kids are all out of school this Thursday and Friday.  Everyone goes back to school Monday - soo sad:(  We did make a really fun item while off track -  bow and arrows out of PVC pipe.  sooo fun.  Chris kept telling me "I was crazy" and that "I would regret making them" he's had a great time saying that to me - it really hasn't been that bad.  The kids/cousins/neighbors have had a lot of fun.  The worst part was going to the hardware store and finding all the stuff.  But the Lord sent an "angel" and he walked me around the store and helped me get all the stuff and do all the math so that I could make 9 of them. Hee,hee.  He, had a great time laughing also.
Love this one!!:)  "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the piles and piles of laundry will disappear all too soon and that you will, to your surprise, miss them profoundly."  Thomas S. Monson
Love ya, Ricki

Sooo, Meg is pretty much done with her papers:)  She filled them all out last night after seeing her Bishop and this morning 8 am went to the dentist.  I must say that this "is meant to be!!"  Yesterday, I called the dentist (Wed, only day Meg could go) they had just had a lady cancel not more than 5 minutes before I called.  Then this morning the dentist finds three cavities (where have we heard that before? lol) Meg begs him to just sign the papers and she'll come back next week.  He doesn't want to be struck dead so he says sorry (broke the girls heart) then the receptionist comes in and says that they've had a cancellation and that they can do it right now!!!!!!  After the dentist she got to visit with Ma and Pa Wach (from Texas) and 2 of their Chinese children visiting from China (they got to come for two weeks - headed to Yellowstone) for a few minutes until it was time for her doctor's appointment at 11am.  Doctor Hamp (who we just love - if you need a family doctor call me and I will give you his number- he's wonderful:):) gave Meg a clean bill of health.  He saw her before she went to China so he knew what shots she had before she left.  They ran the usual tests and then gave her a TB test.  Meg was verry, verryyyy bummed because with a TB test you have to come back in 24 hours to see if you have it.  soooo, she can't turn in her papers tonight like she wanted to.  poor girl!!!:)  Friday night her papers should be on there way to (hee, hee) Salt Lake.  Maybe she should just take them down herself.  It's been a whirl wind of a day and it's not even half over yet:):).  Oh, and Meg starts a new job on Monday in OREM!!!!  We are so happy to get her out of the canyon and closer to BYU.  That's why the rush to get it done today.  You really shouldn't ask for time off after starting a new job:) 
Poor Katie's cheek is still very swollen.  I held her most of the night.  She kept whimpering.  My poor, poor girl. They said it could take up to two weeks to heal.  Swelling will gradually go down.  (they were so nice they called to check on her today).  I cancelled next weeks appointment because of her mouth being sore (don't want them to have to pull on it to work on the other side) and just in case she hurt her cheek again she wouldn't want to go to school and I wouldn't want to send her in pain.  And of course everyone has to be healthy for Disney World soo, will do the other 3 cavities in December next time we are off track - lucky girl:)
The lady that hit me decided to just have me file a claim.  She wanted to pay instead of insurance and I told her that she would have to do the leg work because I was busy.  I gave her 4 days to do it.  She called me last night and said that she was to busy.  I'm actually soooo grateful.  I was trying to be nice but screaming inside knowing that it was going to be a lot of work for me.  She has Progressive and I've worked them before (LOLOLOLOL) and they made it sooo easy for me.  Drop my car off at the shop and the rental car is waiting right there for you.  When the car is fixed go back give them the rental and they give you your car.  Piece of cake.  I could use that right now (both ways - cake you eat and easy:):)  So, now I just wait for them to call me and will get my car fixed. 
Love ya, ricki

Chris is still on the mend.  Lots of pain but he can walk.  Can't stand for long and sitting is very painful.  He has only sat twice since the surgery (once to the Priesthood session and today to Rye's meet).  Today, Rye had regions for cross country.  He did great! First place.  He started out strong and ended strong.  Chris had told me that he was going to only stand in one spot and "yell" but he ended up walking all over the course:)   Very excited for Rye!!:)  Next week is State.

Rye, Chris, Tay, Jim, and are friends Randy, Nate and Jake all went to the Priesthood Session Saturday and then out to eat.  The other men reported that they sat on the stage and Chris walked around or laid down.  My Chris is such a trooper - knowing that this might be the "last priesthood session he gets to attend with his sons"  he goes even though it is very painful. (I know we say that all the time - lol).

Soo, because of Saturday's big announcement in General Conference Meg has been driving me CRAZY!!!  about setting up doctor and dentist appointments for her.  She's ready to go and serve the Lord.  Her roommate already has everything done!!!  While I've been trying to write this she has texted me multiple times to find out if I've set them up:)  She meets with her bishop tonight and tomorrow has appointments with doctor and dentist.  This shouldn't be hard on her.... she already has her passport (thanks to China), she had a bunch of shots (thanks to China) and she has had her wisdom teeth out already.  Goooo Meg!!!!  Oh, and she told Dakota (her missionary). Dakota's mother said that he probably wouldn't wait for her, but as I've tried to tell her "If it's meant to be it will happen" Now she just has to be patient enough to finish out the Quarter at school!!  (she is taking missionary prep right now).   Hard to believe but I could have TWO missionaries out at the same time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I think I had better get myself a job!!!
Katie and Jacob went to the dentist this week.  Jacob no cavities.  Katie 6!!!!  Yesterday they filled 3.  Today she is VERY swollen still.  Dentist looked at her mouth and found that she had bit the inside of her cheek, making it hurt and that is why it is swollen - my poor girl!!!  Next week she will have the other 3 filled:( Funny story:  I tried to take her picture yesterday because she looked so cute (today I'm just sad) all swollen. She said "No, I don't want you to post it on the internet!"   Sooooo cute!!!!
Sad note:  The other day Jacob and I were talking and he was rubbing his neck, then he said to me "I think I have a tumor, I feel something like a lump."   BROKE my heart!!!!!!  I had to try really hard not to cry.  I touched his neck and reassured him that he was probably ok but that I would take him to the doctor if he wanted me to.  He said that he was ok.
I feel like I'm running around with my head chopped off but so grateful to be off track - it's made things so much easier. 
Tonight Rye works and Tay has scouts.  Tomorrow, I have a PTA meeting and a PTSA meeting and Jacob has pack meeting.  Thursday, Rye works and hopefully the kids and I will get in a hike before it rains Friday.
"The Lord will strengthen the back to fit the burden."  Pres. Monson
Love ya, Ricki

HA HA, just had to get on and let ya'all know that my van just got ..... (r you ready??) REAR ENDED!!!!!! Same spot as last time.  right in from of Chick fil a!!!!!!!!!!! 
Ryan was suppose to drive himself but he "lost" his license - already - only had it for 1 week!!!  Soooo I had to drive him to work and of course pick him up....
 Glad Chris wasn't in the trunk. lololololol
Soooo, tomorrow I have another job to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Going to bed now.  Oh, and Chris has been in pain today but he walked around the block and isn't in as much pain as he was before the surgery.
I told Chris it was probably time to get rid of this van!!!!!  2010 hit 3 times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm smiling.  Life is good.  Chris is still with us.
Love ya, Ricki

Sorry, I was sooo tired after getting Chris released from the hospital (they let us go at 9:45pm), getting him home and settled and finding out all the "things, I was suppose" to do for Rye and Tay for school that I went to bed.  Chris had surgery at 9:00 am.  It went well.  They fixed the disk between L4 and L5 and fixed the disk between L5 and S1. So they removed part of the disk that was pushing up against his nerve between a couple of vertebrae.  During the day he took pain meds and walked around the hospital floor.  Even though he was in pain he was sooo happy to be able to walk.  His right foot and calf are still numb but we hope over time that, that will go away. On more than one occasion on Sunday he was asked his pain level (1 none 10 bad).  One time he said 12 and another time he said 14:(  We are sooo grateful that he was able to have the surgery soo quickly and that he is in a lot less pain.  Yesterday, I called the insurance company to try and get an idea of how much being at an out of network hospital would cost.  My portion 40% and I found out that if I hadn't called -( I have to ask permission when being admitted to the hospital) they might not have paid anything (you have 24 hours to do so).  I'm learning a lot about r new provider.  Wish I didn't have to, r old one was much simpler.  That is why Chris had surgery yesterday morning and left that night.  He put his clothes on to go home about 1 pm. He was ready to go home - he hates hospitals.  Can you blame him?:)  He left without a prescription for pain meds, said ibuprofen was good enough.  I left a message with Dr. Rich's office (r back doctor) to have a follow up visit.  Today, he is in pain but handling it like a real trooper like always.  This could have been sooo much worse.  Thanks to my mom, Cherie (my sister), my dad, and Jim (my brother in law) they helped out sooo much we could have never done this hospital stay without them taking care of Chris, r house, the kids etc etc.  You're the best family ever!!!:)  Couldn't survive without you guys!!!!  Love ya tons.  Thank you also to extended family and friends for praying for us.  Thanks also for the goodies that showed up at r house.  We got a kick out of the ones that came to r house from Amy who brought us treats, dr. pepper, mountain dew and my favorite - waterproof mascara. LOLOLOLOL. You made my day:) 
Can you believe it's October?  We have a busy week but I'm good with that.  After being lazy for two days I'm ready to get moving:):)  We went to the ortho this morning for Jacob - he had a chain put on the back of his two front teeth to keep them from moving.  Went and got Tay a book for his language arts class from the library and then took it to him at school and then played on the new sky bridge by the middle school.  After I'm done here will put up Halloween decorations - I'm running behind:)  Rye works tonight and I will let him take the car (he works til 10- and maybe just to make sure my friends know that they are right - "that I'm crazy" I will follow him to make sure he does OK.  hee, hee) cross country practice (so glad that there isn't a meet this week - gives Chris time to recover), and Tay has scouts. 
Tomorrow, Rye doesn't have school because of parent teacher conferences 12-8.  Jacob scouts.
Thursday, Jacob and Katie have dentist appointments - time to see how their brushing lol., Tay has his parent teacher conference and Rye works.
Friday, Tay doesn't have school and Saturday I hope that Chris will be well enough to attend the Priesthood session and go out to eat like they always do.  My wonderful brother in law - Jim has already said that he would drive everyone and be there to help Chris (thanks). Now we can enjoy are off track time.
Keep the faith.  and as we say to r kids when they leave the house "remember who you are."
Love ya, Ricki

Quick update since I need to go to bed:)  We left for the hospital this morning at 9:40 after asking r neighbor (Deniese) to take r kids to church, help with my primary class and help get them lunch after church until Meg could get here.  she had church and was being sustained in her new calling.  Thank goodness for Deniese:):)  We got there at about 10am I pulled up to the front of the building and Chris got out of the 'trunk"  ER people watching.  We signed in, paid are copay and all the while Chris was in tons of pain.  They took us to the closest room (I hated that room - the doors to the ER opened basically into r room - smells (usually bad), and noises (usually bad) could be heard in r room).  Gave Chris morphine and basically that was it.  Chris insisted on getting the MRI.  Resident said "no" so we asked to see the doctor he said "sure" we waited and waited and waited.   Chris in sooo much pain.  He had a couple of doses of morphine.  They wouldn't let him eat or drink so he hadn't eaten or had anything to drink since last night (I was getting angry by 3). They came in and did paperwork and then we didn't see them again.  The nurse was kind enough to go to the MRI floor and see what was happening.  Finally at 6:30 they came for him.  Very, very long day.  Chris in so much pain really couldn't sleep and he wanted the lights out so I tried to sleep but the chairs are a little to hard and the room was soo cold (that's the way Chris wanted it) I put his clothes that he wore to the hospital over me to keep warm and thank goodness I had brought socks and slippers.  I saw Chris again at about 7:45 and we waited for the results.  I had called my dad earlier in the day, he was in Idaho - 8 hours away, he came to the hospital - he is spending the night with Chris.  He has it down pat after spending 14 nights with Chris when he had his whipple.  My mom, sister Cherie and Meg took care of everyone else.  Meg left at 7 so that she could get back for school tomorrow.  My mom is going to take care of kids tomorrow since we are off track.  And my sister made dinner for my family - Meg said it was wonderful.  Crazy start to r off track time.  After the doctor gave us the news he said that he had called the back doctor and that he was coming in to look at Chris' MRI.  He mentioned the name Dr. Rich and I thought that sounded familiar.  It was.  It is the same doctor that performed his back surgery in 2009.  We gave him r sob story and he fit us in tomorrow at 8:30 am.  On the MRI it showed L4 and L5 on the right side bulging.  L5 and S1 look like they are but he won't know until he gets in there.  If they are he will fix them also.  After he left the social worker came in and informed us (some of it I already knew) that IMC is not a preferred hospital for Blue Cross Blue shield and she wondered if we wanted to go to another hospital in network.  Of course Chris was in to much pain and "hello - it had been a lllllooonnnnggg day!!" One that I don't want to repeat.  Sooo, will just have to deal with the bill when it comes:(  The doctor said that he would do his best to get us out quick. ha ha not to quick:)   "No socks for you!!"  Chris was taken to a room on the 14th floor.  Pretty exciting that is one floor we hadn't been to - it was being completed the other times we were here.  My brother in law Jim and my dad gave Chris a blessing and I headed home.  I will get Rye and Tay up and out the door and then head to the hospital.  Grateful for it being just "the back"  Chris kept telling the doctor "this is good news"  I'm sure the doc thought we were crazy:) No cancer pushing on his nerves.  Chris has no idea how this happened.  It has been a very emotional week but it's almost over.  Chris will soon be back to his old self and hopefully he will be healed enough to make it to Disney World.  It's amazing how quickly life can change.  Thanks everyone for all of your prayers, love and Dr. Pepper (lol).
Love, Ricki