Yesterday, Chris went to the radiation doctor.  He decided to do radiation.  The doc thinks that that will help with the pain in his back.  They did the "tattoos" and mappings so that next Thursday he can start.  Doc said it would probably be about a month before he feels any relief.  Side effects not to bad.  Tired, possible loose stools, stomach pain - all of which Chris already has - so, not much different than what he is already experiencing. 10-12 treatments.  He will go everyday.  Mon - Frid. until he has finished the number of treatments the doc wants him to have.  The area that is being radiated is close to the other spot that was radiated in 2008-2009 so they have to be careful not to get that spot.  The mapping will be critical.  His chest looked sooo cute:)  He had "new tattoos" that were circled in black sharpie and the old ones that they aren't going to use were circled in red with an x through them.  He was in a lot of pain yesterday:(  He also threw up.  Not sure what that was all about.  He said that his chest hurt because of the tattoos.  Not sure why anyone would willingly cause themselves pain. lol.
Today, we officially start summer!!  School out at 1:30.  Yipppeee!!!  Oh, except Tay - lol.  He starts his summer school PE class today:)   Chris has had Tay and Jacob out running so that they can be ready for cross country training (Jacob just loves to run - and I think he likes looking at the muscle in his legs - ok, showing them off. lol.)  Chris rides in the car along side Tay yelling words of encouragement.  I've got to get my video recorder out and film it.:):)  As I wrote before we have a lot of exciting things happening in the next week - wedding reception of Megs friend, Dakota's brother getting his endowments out, his farewell, Meg's best friend Tressa getting her endowments out and her farewell, eye doctor appointments, Tay PE class, cross country training starts at the high school on Monday, Chris' radiation (Thursday), and best day of the week - Monday - Megs email:):) (I put pictures up of her and her companion on her blog- soo cute)
Have a great day.  Love ya,
Ricki

We went to see Dr. Whisenant on Friday to get the results of the scan and to have Chris' port flushed (he needs to do that every 5 weeks).  All tumors look smaller:)  Dr. could feel the tumor in his neck getting large again.  He looked at the swelling in Chris' groin area - he believes that it is swelling from all the pain in his back.  Dr. wants Chris to do radiation on the area in his back which is hurting him TONS AND TONS.  So, we go and see the radiation dr on Thursday of this week.  You can't do radiation more than once in the same spot.  So this would be it. Then who knows how we get rid of any future pain.  Chris isn't to crazy about this idea.  so will see what he wants to do.   He is in excruciating pain.  His left leg has been hurting him and at times it is hard to sit, stand or lay down.  He tries going for walks but comes back hurting even worse and feeling worn out:(  He mowed the lawn this week, went camping with Taylor to the annual Turkey shoot (they shoot guns!!:), taught Gospel Doctrine and went home teaching with Taylor.  He just comes home in tons of pain and very tired.  Naps are good:):) Also, the mass that we saw that was bright yellow was his heart.  Dr. says sometimes the scan makes it light up.  Crazy because last scan it didn't do that. 
Can you believe school is pretty much over??!!  Tomorrow, I will have a SENIOR, a FRESHMAN, a 6th grader and a 2nd grader!!!!!  Time flies when your having fun!! 
Rye has a girlfriend.  Her name is Tayler (spelled correctly:) we went over to Tayler's house this week to surprise Ryan and meet her family.  Rye, wasn't to smart he gave us enough clues about her house that we found it.  You should have seen the look on his face when we came in the house.  hee,hee.  Tayler has 7 siblings and they all adore Rye (Tayler is the oldest).  He always comes home tired from their house:)  For FHE on Monday we helped Rye with his make up work from ditching seminary - stinker!!  We learned about Jericho and baptisms for the dead and then he had to read scriptures with his family two nights without complaining and he had to participate. lol.  I did a dumb thing - when we made his schedule for next year we put seminary as his last period.  Hope he doesn't have to much make up work next year!!:)  Kids here are so spoiled to have it during school.  I had to get up for four years at 4:45 am!!!
For scouts this week Jacob went to the pool and jumped in with his "every day" clothes on.  He had a great time getting his pants off and then making a flotation device out of them:)
For young men's Tay went and did baptisms for the dead and the Turkey shoot.  Lots of fun shooting guns and playing in mud (it had rained a lot here) Chris decided to make dutch oven lasagna and dutch oven peach cobbler.
This week is a crazy, crazy week.  Last week of school for everyone.  Today, I make snow cones at the middle school.  Wed, I make snow cones alllll day at the elementary school.  I'm looking forward to hanging out with all my wonderful friends and eating, eating, eating snow cones until I'm frozen solid.  mmmmm.... blue raspberry ........mmmmm ....dr pepper snow cones.  You probably don't want to come near me at the end of the day.....shaking, talking to fast, bouncing off the walls........(the crash won't be pretty - lol).  Thursday, is Chris' doctors appointment. Friday, is Katie and Jacob's last day of school and Tay starts his PE summer school program. We also get to go to Megan's friends wedding reception (Kenzie - the girl she went to China with) lots of pictures for Meg:).  Saturday, we have the honor of going with Dakota's little brother to the temple so he can get his endowments out for his mission. He is going to Mexico.  His farewell is on Sunday.  I told Meg I would take notes of his talk and lots of pictures after.  We have a lot of exciting things happening.  such wonderful young people making wonderful choices.  Next week Megs best friend Tressa gets her endowments out and has her farewell.  she is going to the Baltic.  She has to stay in the MTC for 9 weeks - that's a long time.  I'm patiently waiting for Megs Monday email:):) (ok, not so patiently - lol - this letter would get finished faster if I wasn't flipping screens:)  I will write and let you know what Chris decides and check Megs blog later today to see if she sent us an email.  Things are good (as good as they can be with a husband/father dying - lol).  Life is fun:)
"Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out."
 Gordon B. Hinckley.

Sorry, this paragraph was written on April 23rd  (now it's May 20th:)  Chris had his last chemo treatment today - for awhile.  When you are done you are suppose to "ring the bell" but Chris told them "no, that he'd be back for more treatments in the fall."  His weight was good, blood count good.  He's been having bloody noses lately and right at this moment is throwing up (I can hear him:(  A lot of the pain that he has been experiencing has gone away - hip and neck.  His back still hurts on his left side but he can live with that he says.
Now it's May 20th.  Sorry, we have been very busy.  Mostly with Megan - I know, she's  gone.  We have spoiled her rotten in the MTC (she only gained 1 lb!!! Whatever she didn't eat she passed to the elders.  She said that they always told her "that they loved her" hee,hee).  Packages, letters every day, more packages, photos....... I had to spoil her in the MTC because once in Portugal it's over (I wasn't worried about her being home sick- she knows where she wants to be - yes, I'm a proud mama).  Have you seen the mailing prices for packages?????????  It cost $1.69 to mail a letter that will take atleast 10 days to get there. 
Well, now that I've started writing about Meg I will finish and then we can get onto Chris. lol.  Meg left last Tues (May 14) for Portugal.  She and 55 other missionaries going to Portugal (I don't know how many others there were going other places) rode the front runner from Provo to the airport.  She said there were some moms on the side the front runner as they passed holding Portugal flags (cool - next time I will do that:) We got to talk with her for about 15 minutes in the SL airport.  She was mostly crying because her airline ticket had a different time on it then eveyone elses (the other 55 missionaries-over half r sisters) and so she thought that she had missed her flight.  It said 12:15 and everyone elses said 2:25.  We tried to comfort her but thank goodness her companions father (sister Hayes) who travels a lot was in the airport at the same time and was able to get it figured out.  I'm still waiting to ask Meg this but then he flew with them to Dallas TX.  We don't know if he bought a ticket right then so he could help Meg and his daughter or if he already had it planned.  Any way he flew with them to Dallas and took Meg, his daughter and the rest of her district (8 of them) to a very nice steak house in the airport.  Meg said she got the cheapest thing on the menu and it was a fillet mignon!!  she also had a large piece of chocolate cake:) she hadn't eaten since 7:15 am so she was starved (it was around 5 r time)  he also bought her water for the plane ride and let her use his phone to call us.  That time we only talked about 20 minutes.  She said she would call us from London but it never happened:(  not sure why, still waiting to find out:)  Meg took two suitcases.  One weighed 49.5 lbs and the other 48 lbs.  She also had a carry on suitcase which she said was almost 50 lbs and a back pack.  The only thing she sent home was letters that she had received in the MTC and her planner.  She was able to fit everything else in her suitcases.  Tuesday, I stayed home alllll day and jumped every time the phone rang.  I did  A LOT  of cleaning.  More than I've done in a lonnnng time. lol.  (I am actually writing the blog as I wait for her email - lol)  We have a lot of questions:)  I have been "worried" (I knew she was safe and that she had made it - we tracked her on flightradar, but until you see the email that says where she is and that she's happy - I worried) since yesterday afternoon when I FINALLY received her email - a one liner ( I was ok with that) that said "I'm in the Azores on the island of Sao Miguel in the city of Ponto Delgada.  My companions name is Sister Davis she is from Riverton, UT.  I love, love, love being a missionary.  email you tomorrow."   Can I just tell you that email meant everything to me!!!!  I feel like a different person.  I can eat and I can stop biting off people's heads. lol  Oh, and I can stop crying.  If you said  Megan, Sister missionaries, missionaries or Portugal you got to see me cry.  Even the Deseret News paper was against me yesterday morning.  The Travel section was on ............Portugal!!!!!!!!!!!!! Meg then sent another "one liner" that gave us the Davis' phone number and asked us to call them and help them set up their skype so that they could talk/see their daughter for Sister Davis (the mother) mother's day call.  she still hadn't gotten that:(  so we went over set it up for them. had a great time swapping pictures and stories of r daughters.  I also took pictures of  Chris setting up skype with Bro Davis looking on and of their family so we could email them to Meg and she could see her family:)  Tyson, sis Davis' brother is a runner for Riverton HS and so Chris and Tyson talked and talked about all the meets.  We've probably seen Tyson running and the parents at meets.  Small world!!!  - 55 new missionaries - WOW!!!  I'm sure that mission president was very busy.  In fact, because their were so many of them they were staying in a hotel instead of at the mission home. (I keep flipping screens - hoping that she will email me while I am writing this and then I can give you more details - check her blog later today and I will have put her email on:)  So, Meg did a lot of traveling.  SL to Dallas.  Dallas to London.  London to Portugal and then Portugal to Sao Miguel (google earth it - it's beautiful and she is right on the coast) another 2 1/2 hour flight.  It is 900 miles from mainland.  She and Sister Davis are only the second pair of sister missionaries to serve there. It's been just elders.   Sooo, exciting!!!  I'm in this ldsmissionarymom email group and they put you with other mothers that their child is in the same mission as yours.  One of the mothers was telling us about a city that her son was serving in called Coimbra.  This city has the oldest University in Europe and it is where JK Rowling got a lot of her inspiration for her books - Harry Potter!!!  Students wear cloaks to school!!!  cool! Meg would love to serve there, I'm sure:)

Now onto Chris. lol.  He thinks I have forgotten all about him.  All I ever talk about is Megan:):) hee,hee.  I tell him "she is much more interesting" lol.  If I was to put 1-6 chemo treatments in worst to not so bad I would put them this way .... 1 was definitely the WORST and then I would rate 6 the last treatment as the next WORST.  So, much throwing up, bloody noses, pain, fatigue, .... I also had children having melt downs on 1 and 6.  Rating melt downs treatment 6 was the worst.  I had THREE children having melt downs at the same time and Chris moaning and repeating over and over how awful he felt.  You can read from the first paragraph that it was rough.  He had all the same meds and plenty of anti nausea meds but it was still bad.  He has lost  A LOT of hair.  You can see his scalp all over his head.  I told Meg that any hair she found in her food that I sent her was dads.  It can always be found on the kitchen counter:).  He had a PET scan on May 16th.  We have the disk and have looked at it several times but since we aren't doctors we aren't quite sure this time.  All tumors are smaller and the one that was in his lung is gone (or atleast really small).  There is one spot that is baseball size that lights up bright, bright yellow.  We aren't sure if it's the stomach.  We have an appointment on May 31st with the doctor.  I will probably call the nurse tomorrow and have her read the report to us (takes a few days for the doc to get it).  The tumor that causes tons and tons of back pain is still there.  Right in the joint.  He is in tons of pain especially the lasst couple of days.  Seems to be getting worse.  He just keeps plugging a long though.  He mowed the lawn last week (won't let the boys do it "they can do it after I'm dead"), rototilled the garden and planted seeds.  For mother's day he and Jacob planted flowers in the flower bed in front of the house.  On Mother's day Sunday he taught Tay's Sunday school class and my primary class.  Yesterday, he taught Gospel doctrine.  Wednesday is his bday.  He will be 46!!  Tomorrow is Katie's bday she will be 7.  Time is flying by!!

Just things that happened in past few weeks:  Meg went to the dentist before she left and later we found out that it wasn't covered by insurance because she isn't a "student."  Tay went to Youth Conference.  Jacob went on a scout camp out - first one.  He made it through the night:):)  and had a great time.  He told me that he was really cold on his camp out and I asked him "why?" he had taken a sleeping bag and it wasn't that cold.  He said that he had forgotten his pillow so he used his sleeping bag as a pillow!!!!!  I tried really, really hard not to laugh.  He is a genius but sometimes common sense isn't there:)  I told him next time he could wad up his clothes and use them as a pillow.  Poor boy!!  Tay spoke in Sacrament - he did a great job.  He wrote his whole talk by himself.  Dakota - Meg's boyfriend in Brazil decided to extend his mission one more month so now he will come home this October and Meg will come home next October.  She thought that was pretty cool. hee,hee. 
For Mother's day Chris took Katie and I out to lunch.  He kept saying that he wanted to celebrate mother's day for Katie also because he wouldn't be around to see her become a mother.  So, he spoiled Katie also - she loved it:)On Sunday, we sang I Am A Child of God in Sacrament meeting.  I had Katie on one side of me singing in English and Chris on the other side of me singing in Portuguese.  Yes, I cried a ton.  It was beautiful.  something I don't ever want to forget:)  I know that I've left out a lot of stuff but Chris says that this is toooo long. lol.  So, just two more things that I think are important:  Remember how I told you that Chris' phone went through the washer and was stuck to the inside of the dryer wall?  Well, we put it in rice for days.  I tried turning it on it didn't work (I cried tons), I put it in a drawer so I wouldn't have to look at it although I was reminded every time I wanted to talk or text Chris or have him look up something. I must say this is going to sound crazy but I prayed and I prayed for that phone to work.  Chris uses it when he is doing chemo.  When he is sick it distracts him.  I was sicker then sick to know that one thing my husband uses was no longer usable.  He never asks for anything.  He's in tons of pain and his life sucks (according to me:) He never wants anything new for himself..... Well, one day for some reason Chris decided to try it again.  And guess what???? Prayers were answered!!!!!!!  The phone WORKS!!!!!  I believe that it is a miracle.  Heavenly Father knows each of us.  He knows what we need.  He knew we didn't have the money to get a new one.  He knew how much Chris used it to distract him from pain and He knew how badly I felt.  IT is a MIRACLE!!!  You can think what you want but I saw that phone with its busted screen and how it was stuck to the drum of the dryer.  I thank Heavenly Father every time I see him use that phone:):)
 Chris and I were talking one day about how we didn't think that we could afford to pay $50 a month for Meg's mission (the other $350 a month is covered thanks to wonderful family members).  Ryan heard us and piped in that he would pay it.  We thanked him and asked him if it would be ok if he paid $25 since he still needs to save for his mission.  So, at the beginning of each month he now pays $25 towards Megs mission.  We are sooo proud of him.  Grateful for the man that he is becoming.  Proud parent moment.
It is now 8:30 pm in Portugal.  We didn't get an email from Meg and Sister Davis' mom called and said that they didn't hear from her daughter.  Pday is over and  I hope that next Monday we will receive a really, really long email.  I'm just grateful to atleast know where she is:)
This week we have FHE, Chris is helping with Jacob's scout group tomorrow, Tay has early morning band practice and a concert this week, Katie and Chris' bdays, Rye works.  Nothing to exciting but enough to keep us hopping. lol
"Don't be gloomy.  Do not dwell on unkind things.  Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.  Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face.  'Accentuate the positive.'  Look a little deeper for the good.  Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart.  Love life."  Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley
Love ya,
Ricki
P.S.  ha,ha just got off and decided to look at yahoo one more time.  Just got an email from Meg:)  Check it out on her blog.  megsisonamission.blogspot.com:):) Mom is a happy, happy girl!!

Round FIVE (almost done:) Chris has been very tired and in a lot of pain. His "chemo brain" has started. Saturday night he was up alll night. He said that he used the restroom 20 times that he hadn't slept all night. His really nice 4G cell phone went through the washer and then the dryer:(:( It is sitting in a bowl of rice and the rest of us r praying, praying, praying that a miracle will happen and that it will work again.
We have the best tax guy. He did r taxes for free and then he did Megan's taxes for free because he doesn't charge missionaries. Sooo blessed!! If you need a tax guy for next year let me know.:)
Since Meg left we called r insurance and had her taken off. We also went back to r old insurance (they didn't want us when we had Meg lol). We gave back the contraption that was on Megs car. We are now saving $84.00 a month!!!! What two tickets and an accident can do to your insurance!!! I'm not sure we want her back. JUST KIDDING, we totally miss that girl!!
Thursday, Katie and I made chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies for Meg and her companions. Katie found a girl cookie cutter - so we ended up making 8 sister missionary cookies - only took 5 hours by the time we frosted each one. Each one was different since we don't know what the girls look like - except Meg. We ended up sending only 7 because someone ate one of them!!!!! (there are 8 sisters in Megs district and 3 elders). Katie and I had alot of fun making them. Sooo much fun that we did it all over again on Friday:):) My niece was having surgery and so Katie thought it would be fun to make her a bouquet of cookies - so we did. Flowers, stars, hearts and one girl (I was not doing anymore than that - I was still tired from the day before:)
Friday, Chris went to the Jazz game with r brother in law Jim. He had seats on the fifth row!!! Chris was tired when he left for the game. He came back exhausted. Tooo much excitement. He told me that one time he yelled at the ref in Spanish. Ref turned and looked at him and the audience around him laughed. He had a great time:)
Saturday, r good friend Russ and his son Brayden came over and painted r bathrooms. I think they were tired of in the hall bathroom looking at the chocolate brown paint that Katie started peeling and then others joined in - it was r look at the wall and "see what you can see" design. Most popular is the "rhino" Like looking up at the clouds. The master bath was "outlined" in chocolate colored paint. It's only been 2 years since I started these painting projects. The bathrooms are now tan. They look great. Thanks sooo much. Saturday was also Chris and I's 23rd wedding anniversary. Chris bought me flowers:) and we went out to dinner with Russ and Kristen Wilson to Braza Grill. (thanks groupons:):) Sooo yummy. I did cry when Chris started speaking Portuguese to the waiter -my Megan (yes, I still cry alot:)
Last night for Family Home Evening Jacob gave the lesson and I taught the activity..........we learned how to ........IRON!!!! Stop laughing!! We had a lot of whining and joking - since I don't iron myself. hhee,hee. The squirt bottle was the best part of ironing. Chris kept telling the boys "don't burn my shirt," "don't melt the buttons" inspite of all the complaining they seemed to have fun and hopefully learned something. Rye once again said he would hire someone or just wear it wrinkly. So, we've learned how to sew on buttons and iron - what's next? I think that once a year will do these over. A "refresher course" lol.
Last chemo - round six is Tuesday, April 23rd.
Jacob and Katie go back on track Monday:( Meg gets to email us today - can't wait. soo, look tomorrow on her blog for something new:) Thank goodness for a quiet week.
"Don't you give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead....It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come." Jeffrey R. Holland
Love ya, Ricki

Just got Meg's first email.  If your interested in how she's doing go to her blog:  www.megsisonamission.blogspot.com. Her address is also there if you want to drop her a line.  Her pday is Tuesday.  thank goodness Chris only has one chemo treatment left - on a tuesday.

I decided that I had better tell you that Round FOUR went alright before we start Round FIVE today. lol.  The last two weeks have been unbelievably busy.  Getting Megan ready for her mission. Chris and Megan had some really good heart felt talks before she left.  Chris told her how much he loved her and was proud of her and that he was sorry that he wouldn't be here when she came home.  He also gave her a father's blessing before we left for the MTC.  Meg will be just fine if he dies while she is on her mission.  She knows how much her dad loves her and loves missionary work. 
Katie put a bunch of papers together and stapled them so that Chris and I could write her a book.  Chris wrote about how much he loved her, would miss her and looked forward to seeing her again.  Real tear jerker!!!!  Needless to say that is one book that we will keep dear to r hearts.
One night Chris and I were at CHHS from 3:30-8:30 pm.  Rye had a track meet he ran the 800 and 1600.  Tay, had a band concert.  We were very blessed that they were both at the same place.  Chris and I enjoyed both events.  Fun to see r boys, and what a trooper Chris was.  He was feeling rotten but you would have never known it:)
Rye, had to do an interview to be accepted to a business school program at SLCC next year.  He did a great job.  They said in about a month they will let him know - which is good if he doesn't get in then we have to redo his Senior year schedule.  Chris and I got to hear what he said (it was done over the computer) and he mentioned that he had a 7 year plan.  Finish highschool, go on a two year LDS mission, come back go to business school and then own his own Chick fil a.  Sounds good to me:):)

We've had random things happen to us - Tay lost his library book and his retainer.  Jacob has a sinus infection - poor boy, I made him suffer for two weeks.  I finally took him to the doctor because we "the family" were soooo tired of hearing him cough and sniffle up his boogers (lol) he's now on meds. Rye, lost his track shoes - $120 and only 3 days old. The red car was hit - no one left a note.  Whoever it was had a white car - white paint on r fender.  Broken head light and fender pushed in (thank goodness for my dad who "patched" it up). I told a friend "get Megan into that MTC now - we need some blessings"  two days after she entered Tay found his library book (which he forgot he lent to a friend) and retainer (under his dresser - just had to do some cleaning). lol and we got a great deal on a new pair of shoes for Rye:) 
Meg had her farewell on March 24th.  She did a great job.  It was fun having family and friends around to hear her speak and then to hear Chris teach Gospel Doctrine.  We had a luncheon here at r house.  The weather didn't cooperate so my plans for having it outside changed to inside.  I wanted to protect the carpet so I bought some plastic table clothes to cover the floor with.  Meg insisted on making the plastic table clothes into the Portugal flag:)  We have had a lot of fun reading and looking at pictures of Portugal.  Chris had chemo on March 26th.  He did a great job keeping up with us even though he felt awful.  Thursday, March 28th my dad took Chris to the hospital to have his pump taken off and my mom watched the kids (spring break) so that Megan and I could get to two more temples before she left.  That morning we went to the Salt Lake Temple and did a session and then ate in the Garden Room at the Joseph Smith bldg. We decided to then go to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.  My sister was kind enough to watch my kids (they love playing with their cousins).  It was an amazing day!!!!!!!  Megan all to myself.  Doing the Lord's work.  Being in his House.  Something I will never, ever forget.  Words can't describe the happiness you feel knowing that your child has made some awesome choices.  Soooo proud!!!  and thanks to a wonderful family who helped Meg and I have one last mother/daughter day together.  It truly was a wonderful day. 
Friday March 29th Meg finished getting her shots, bank stuff etc..... she also had "one last fling" she went on a blind date. It didn't turn out so great but hey I would have been in trouble if it had. lol. At least she can say she got one last date in before becoming a sister missionary. 
Sat. March 30th Chris felt horrible but we had family pictures.  I wasn't going to do them - I have lots of pictures of us and I didn't really want to go into debt for them but something said to me "this is the last time that the seven of you will ever be together again"  which is soooo true because even if Chris doesn't die for a few more years, Meg and Rye won't see each other for four years, then Rye and Tay won't see each other for four and then Tay and Jacob won't see each other for four years. crazy!!!!!!!!  So, with lots and lots of complaining we had them done.  Chris wasn't feeling well so we did them inside at Kevin Lunt studios.  Chris wanted to be near a restroom and to be warm.  If you need a photographer he was amazing!!  He made it a lot of fun.  I video taped the session.  He had us laughing so hard. I came with "a list" of photos I wanted taken. hee, hee.  We also had Meg's missionary picture taken for her plaque and for on my wall next to the map and flag of Portugal.  After the pictures we went to In and Out burger.  Kids starving.  I have a picture of Katie with her head down on the table sooo tired and hungry waiting for her food.  Overall, it turned out to be wonderful.  The seven of us!!!  such emotions. Meg, did a few more things when we got home and then she had a night with her friends.  They came over and got to see "Meg's Mess" all over my front room (took pictures of that also - stuff EveryWhere!!!) Two of her friends will be leaving on their missions soon. The rest of us colored eggs. I was wayyy tired so Meg and Chris got to play Easter Bunny.
Sunday, March 31st Katie woke up wayyy to early.  I let her go and get her Easter basket while the rest of us continued to sleep.  No one else is really that excited about Easter:)  All seven of us went to church as I "tried" not to cry through the whole three hours knowing that again this was the last time the seven of us would sit together in church.  I got a sub for my class so that I could hang out with Meg (I teach primary).  The primary had Meg come in during opening exercises and gave her a Book of Mormon in Portuguese to give to her first investigator with a testimony in it written in Portuguese (thanks to Chris) from the primary.  She did this twice.  Once in Junior primary and once in Senior.  I took pictures of all the kids so that I could put that inside the book also.  We then went to Sunday school where we sat by Chris and then we went to Relief Society.  My heart was being pulled apart.  We had Easter dinner at r house with all the relatives.
Monday, April 1st we continued to pack, clean, play..... for Family Home Evening (last one:) I asked Meg if she wanted to go and see a dollar movie or have friends over for dinner and cards.  She wanted dinner and cards.  We had r favorite meat - ranchera - from a Mexican market.  Grilled by Ryan's friend Brayden (Chris not feeling well, Rye at work).  We used to play cards a lot and then they (the Wilson's) moved away and r other friends (the Morris') started having kids and it just got crazy (lol - you know I love you guys - hee,hee) so when the Wilson's moved back we attached ourselves to them again.  They r family. We laughed though because Meg whose fhe this was decided that she and Katelyn were going to go and get a "few more things off Meg's list"  one being - eat at Chick fil a (so they saw Rye:) and two have a chocolate caramel drink ....freeze (something like that) before entering the MTC.  We had a ton of fun.  Soooo blessed to have wonderful friends.  R kids call them mom and dad 2 and their kids call Chris and I mom and dad 2.  We played until we couldn't see the cards anymore soo tired. lol.  (Chris was tired and sick but played).  I am going to miss my Meg and I's "slumber parties" every night.  Meg, Katie and I sleep in the same room because of Chris needing extra space and me needing sleep so I can be nice.  Every night that girl has something to talk about and since her life is much more exciting than mine I enjoy listening.
 
Tuesday, April 2nd.  Finished up cleaning and packing.  Meg finally gave in and let me "borrow" one of her shirts that she was leaving behind.  I tried to explain to her nicely that even if she didn't hand it over to me now I would just find it later when she was gone. lol.  Katie now once again has a room.  We found things that had been lost since Meg arrived home and took over and took over her room:):)  It was hard to look at the room when it was done to see that there was nothing of "Meg" left except her bedding which would be taken down soon.  After all that packing we took Meg to get another thing off "her list" we went to Apollo Burger for lunch.  Chris was ill but kept going.  After lunch we stopped at UT/ID to get a map of Portugal (they didn't have any - so I ordered one).  We arrived home and Meg got in every last second of computer/cell phone time she could.  She finished her blog page www.megsisonamission.blogspot.com.  I laughed when she told me that I would be updating it.  Like I can keep up with this one!!!  She also took Tay and Rye to a movie - one last movie - the Host (which she didn't enjoy - poor girl) At 7pm we arrived at the Stake President's office to have Meg set apart as a Sister missionary.  President Nudd had Meg go around and introduce everyone.  We had Uncle Jim, Aunt Cherie, Lillee and Spencer Godfrey.  Ma Ingles. Pa Ingles. The Wilson clan. Becky and Wes Hutchins and.......Dakota's family:):)  All the men stood in the circle and set Meg apart (yes, I'm crying) it was a beautiful blessing that Pres Nudd gave.  WOW!!!  We have been waiting for this since October 31st when she received her call and now the time has finally come.  Afterwards we took LOTS of pictures and then headed back to r house for ice cream and to make sure everyone knew the schedule for tomorrow.  Also Pres Nudd reminded Meg that she was to hand over her phone to me and no more computer, cell phone etc. she was now a "Sister" missionary.  Funny story....Meg forgot to move some money from her savings to her checking so she had her girl friends move it for her as she "peaked" to make sure that they were doing it right. I have pictures and video very funny:)  Meg was soooo excited.  She just kept bouncing around.  Giggling.  Sooooo happy. 
We had Meg's favorite dinner that night but she didn't eat any of it until after being set apart (then she realized she was hungry).  That night she placed her packed bags by the door.  We sent everyone home early so that we could be on time for the next day.  Last family scripture reading and family prayer all together.  She will do a great job out there.  She is a hard worker.  Just hard to see my baby grow up.
Wed. April 3rd.  We got up and got ready to head out the door at 10am.  Bags in the car, father's blessing, family prayer and out the door.  We told Meg to look "one last time at her house" (and her car-it might look different when she comes home lol).  We met friends and family at Carrabas in Provo for an 11 am lunch.  They gave us a room of r own because we had 24 people.  It was a lot of fun.  They gave the kids/adults a piece of dough to play with while r food was cooking.  I took lots of pictures.  I couldn't eat-stomach in knots.  After that we headed to the Provo Temple grounds to take pictures.  LOTS and LOTS of pictures hee, hee.  Meg was wonderful - such a good sport about having her picture taken ALOT.  We walked down to the MTC to find the sign that says "welcome to the MTC" but we were informed that they took that down years ago (oops) so we hiked back up the hill to finish saying "goodbye"  sooo many people at the temple grounds doing the same thing tthat we were.  Meg was getting antsy to go.  At 1:50 (we were suppose to be there at 2 - for once I'm thankful for a last name that starts with a W).  She once again kissed and hugged each friend and relative and said "goodbye" r family got in the car and headed to the MTC.  They have quite the system on how you do things.  We drove in.  They told us to go to the #14 sign and that we would have 2 minutes to say goodbye.  As we drove to the sign there are elders lined up on the sidewalk welcoming your missionary.  "welcome to the MTC sister" we're so glad you are here" if you arent' crying before you get into the MTC you are then.  We got to #14 opened the trunk, everyone got out.  we took pictures.  Hugged and kissed Meg.  Meg's Host elder got her bags.  The hardest moment for me was watching Chris and Meg hug and kiss.  Maybe.  Maybe Not would this be their last time to see each other.  We watched Meg practicily RUN off.  She was leading the Host elder.  She never looked back.  Her walk was so fast and determined.  She had waited for this moment for sooo long.  She just wanted to get started.  Get working.    Katie started to cry after the Host elder took her bags out of the car, but everyone else was ok.  I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed after we drove away.  As soon as we pulled out of that MTC parking lot I lost it (still crying).  My baby girl has grown up.  My bestest(I know not a word:) friend has gone away for 18 months.  We had an amazing mother/daughter relationship.  She considered me her friend and mother.  She always told me things that other girls might not tell their mothers and at times she would invite me to go places with she and her friends.  I couldn't have asked for a better daughter. 
Alright now it's Tuesday, April 9th.  We have been waiting patiently to hear from Meg.  I am the type that only goes out to the mailbox once a month but since Meg left - everyday:)  I realized that in just a few short months approximately 14-16 months (short when I think about Rye.  long when I think about Meg - lol) I will once again do everything that I just did with Meg with Rye!!!  Time is going wayyy to fast!!! 
Chris had his chemo yesterday.  He looks terrible.  Feels terrible.  He has one more round of chemo on April 23rd and then he will have a PET scan on May 16th (they signed us up for PET scan on the 15th but I had to have them change it - that's the day Meg leaves for Portugal and the missionaries are allowed to call home that day - so you know where I will be:):)  We also had a crazy experience at chemo.  Chris started talking to the woman next to us who was receiving chemo for breast cancer.  We started talking about family, where we live etc.  come to find out that this woman is one of Meg's friends grandmother!!!  Kenzie who Meg went to China (and high school) with. Small world!  Oh, and another big one...... r oncologist is related to the Pres of the MTC!!!  He said that he could "pull the cancer card" and get Chris into see Meg.  Of course Chris said 'NO WAY"  but howwww cooool.  He said next family get togther he'd tell him to look for Meg. lol.

During the last week since Meg left I have been sooo blessed by friends and family who have stopped by, called, texted, brought goodies and cried with me.  This experience is like no other.  The pain and emptiness I feel is indescribable.  I'm sooo excited for her and yet unhappy for me.  Two emotions in one!! Sunday dinner I grabbed 7 plates to put on the table - then started crying.  Sooo, grateful to other mothers who are going through this/gone through this that have been comforting and encouraging me - letting me know "it's normal" "time goes fast" "you'll get in a routine" "you'll be fine, soon" "just wait til you get her letters" and how to send packages and the www.dearelder.com site where I can send a letter and later that day she will receive it.  I already love the people of Portugal and am sooo excited for them to be with my daughter and learn about the gospel.  I wouldn't change this for anything.  My daughter will come back an even better person.  What an opportunity she has.
Conference was different without her.  Every time someone prays for the missionaries I cry.
I sent her a package on Friday so that she could "be a part of us" conference bingo cards, cadbury eggs, conference packet - which I found in Portuguese (sooo coool), and a cinnamon roll. Cinnamon rolls Sunday morning. all traditions.  The kids made a fort out of blankets and chairs.  Jacob and Katie wanted to sleep down there Saturday night so I let them.  Around midnight Katie comes to me and says" mom I lost my tooth, Jacob hit me with his elbow and knocked it out.  I can't find the tooth" (it was already loose).  What a great Conference Session.  Chris took Tay, Rye and Rye's friend Justin to the Priesthood session and then to Cafe Rio for dinner.  He was worn out when he came home but happy.  Sooo, next April conference Jacob will be able to go and it will be Rye's last conference for a few years.  Soo, if Chris is around next April he will be able to take all three of his sons to the priesthood session.  I'm crossing my fingers. lol.
Also, I've decided that "I need to step up my game" boys are leaving earlier for missions.  they need to know a lot of things and incase I haven't taught them I've got to get started:)  sooo, last night for FHE I taught them how to sew on buttons - the 4 hole and the 2 hole.  Jacob, Katie and Tay really got into it.  Afther they did their buttons they started hand sewing other projects.  Jacob made a monkey with button eyes and Tay made a pillow all hand sewn.  Poor Rye got frustrated and said that he would pay someone. lol.  Mothers we've got a lot of responsibility!!!
Just found out that Meg gets to email us TODAY at 2:30.  CAN'T wait.  I will post everything on her blog. www.megsisonamission.blogspot.com

"Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart."  Gordon B. Hinkley
Love ya, Ricki
PS hope you don't find tooo many errors.  I had a lot to write. lol

Let me introduce you to "Sister Wach"  she leaves for the MTC in just a few hours:):) 

We are on Round THREE of chemo.   Chris had chemo on Tuesday.  He has lost weight (now 176 lbs) but white/red blood cells etc all ok for another round.  They gave him three anti-nausea meds before even beginning the chemo.  My dad took him back to the hospital Thursday to have the pump removed (Meg and I went to the Draper Temple - she and I once a week are going to a different temple -Thursday is her day off). His back and stomach are giving him A LOT of pain.  He has been taking anti nausea pills more and loratab at night for the pain:( 
I will try to fill you in on the other two:)  Round ONE was very, very rough.  That round they only gave him one anti nausea med.  He threw up at least once a day.  I made spaghetti one night and he threw up because of the smell (I now try to do all of my cooking in a crock pot that sits on the front porch - don't steal it please - lol- Oh, and if you have any good crock pot recipes please send them my way).  One night I was in bed and heard Chris start to dry heave then throw up and then run to the bathroom.  I was planning on getting up and cleaning it up but then I heard someone else in the kitchen (Megan) cleaning it up and then she took the garbage out.  I still cry.  What a sweet act of service that she gave to Chris and I.  I don't think she will ever know how much that meant to me.  She just did it without being asked.  She didn't say anything to me the next day - but I made sure to let her know that I appreciated it.  Chris woke up one morning and said to me "I wish that I hadn't woken up" (pit in my throat and stomach!!) I asked him "why?" and he said that "he was having the most wonderful dream - he was outside running" Made me sob - still does.  What I take for granted:(  During round one and two someone or a bunch of someones in the family were sick.  Meg had strep and sinus infection and I'm sure flu.  Katie flu, me flu, Rye flu, Jacob flu and Taylor round two of strep.  We are all finally well (except Katie has a cough still) and sooo, soooo grateful that somehow Chris was spared. Tuesday is once again pizza night.  Round three my dear friend and her family brought us pizza.  Thank you:)  During round one Chris was sick allll the way until Feb 25th one day before round two.  Sunday (the 24th) he taught Taylor's Sunday School class and the lesson in High Priest Group.  That Monday night Chris barbecued for us and we went and saw a movie at the dollar theatre.  It was nice having him back.  I was very scared for round two.  It was sooo hard watching my sweet husband suffer soooo much.
Round TWO:  The doctor gave Chris three anti nausea meds after we told him how bad round one had been.  He was very sick but only threw up a few times.  It was a crazy week for me with SEP dinner Thursday and Wednesday meeting with 15 teachers.  Tay and Rye SEP's.  Chris wasn't well enough to come to any of it:(  Funny story for everyone who knows me:):)  The cat (Aladdin) was out of cat food and Chris to ill to go to the store.  Me NOT happy.  I HATE cats!!!!!  Aladdin knows I can't stand him.  Sooo, I'm stomping around having a tantrum and Jacob looks at me and very seriously says "Buying the cat food might just save your soul."  Chris is always telling me that we arent' going to be in the same kingdom after we die because I can't stand animals and that "I need to repent" (says it just teasing/serious) toooo many animals growing up made it sooo that I can't stand them now.  I hate messes and I hate begging/nagging/punishing people for not cleaning the cat box. Sooo, hopefully I made some brownie points. lol.
  Chris was asked to give the gift of the Holy Ghost to a verryyy wonderful boy who turned eight.  We love his family - over the years Chris has been privileged to do a baby blessing, baptize, confirm and ordain the priesthood to the boys in this family.  What a wonderful opportunity.  Chris was ill the day of the baptism but you would have never known it.  He isn't going to let others know he's not well.  Chris also played ward basketball a few times when he felt well enough.  At one of the games the ball hit his port.  Stressed me out.  He was in pain and he got to show his port off because everyone was worried why he has grabbing his chest/shoulder.
  On Feb 28th Meg was freaking out (I mean freaking out!!) because she needed her FBI clearance papers to come so that she could send them off to the Church on March 1st when they were due.  Meg was at work and texted a few times to see if they had come.  If they didn't come then she would have to wait until May 15.  We needed that paper and others so that she could get her Visa.  The doorbell rang at 3:15 and it was the postman with her FBI clearance papers!!!!!!!:):)  What a blessing!!!!
Meg has been working very hard on getting ready to go.  At this point in time she only needs to find "a bag" to carry her stuff in.  She hasn't found one that she likes yet. lol. 
Only 17 days left til she leaves!!!!!!!!!!  We are to be at the MTC in Provo at 2:00 April 3rd.  Her "farewell" is March 24th at 11:00.  Anyone interested in coming let me know and I will get you the address.  We will be having an openhouse starting at 2:30 pm.  Praying for Chris to be well (chemo will be March 26th) and for good weather.  I really need good weather so we can have room for tables and friends. lol.
Tomorrow Meg has to be to work at 3 AM!!! Lucky girl.  Rye has started running Track.  Next week will be another crazy week with Tay having early morning band practice and then he and I hanging out at the band competition at one of the middle schools.  I also work in Katie's class that day.  I'm hoping that Chris might be well enough to take my place.  When I signed up to work in Katie's classroom I didn't know I would be chaperoning a band competition:):)  Scouts, Rye working, Track meet on Wed., me dentist and SEP dinner for the teachers.  Lots of fun things
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face.  You must do that which you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Love ya, Ricki

Sooo, if you haven't read Feb. 14th's blog post read that one first then you will know why I am now "going backwards."
 Tay was made a Teacher - now 14!!!  Grateful that Chris was able to ordain him:) 
Meg taught the Relief Society lesson.  She did a great job, she was soooo nervous.  She made a very cute handout and did the cucumber/pickle object lesson (lesson 3).  Dakota's mom and sister were kind enough to come and support her (I mean make her even more nervous - lol).  My primary partner was kind enough to do the lesson so I could listen to Meg.  I haven't been in Relief Society for 8 years - felt weird:)  I got to do a lot more talking than I wanted to.  It was a very quiet group.  She did wonderful and I was sooo proud of her.  What an amazing woman she is becoming:):)  The count down is at 48 days til she leaves.  she lets us know everyday the number. lol.  She got a job.  Orientation was on Wed. and she started Thurs.  She is working at a McDonald's closer to home.  she came home yesterday and told us that she works with a lot of Ryan's friends (she still thinks that the pants make "her look fat" but at least she wasn't crying. hee, hee).  She just needed something to keep her busy, make money and get her to stop driving us crazy "I want to go now," "Why can't I go now?"........it gets a little annoying (just a little!!!!!!!!)  Yes, we will miss her when she's gone:)  Last night we had r family Valentine dinner and Meg said "I don't remember having one last year."  That's cause she was in China - time flies!!  She was still "eating gross stuff" then it grew on her:):)
Last week my dad was kind enough to come over and fix my dishwasher - can't live without one of those!!!  And..... I was shopping in a store that had their light fixtures from $50 to $5 so I snagged two of them for my house.  One by the front door and one over the kitchen sink.  Sooo, my dad being a handy man put in one of them (I sprung this project on him so he hadn't left enough time for both) up and said he'd come back tomorrow to do the other.  In the mean time Dakota's mom (her name is Angie) comes over to bring Meg a gallon of ice cream to thank her for fixing Dakota's dads pants.  Meg sews:):)  She sees my lights.  She mentions that her husband is an electrician (which I didn't know).  Less than an hour later Angie and her family show up on my doorstep, her husband with his tools and installs the other light fixture.  Lucky, lucky me!!!  I say "if" but Meg says "when" she marries Dakota not only is Meg lucky but so am I to have a wonderful family who comes along with him.  They are a great family.  I just didn't know also "handy" lol.  Meg's "plan" is for Dakota and his family, and r family to fly to Portugal to pick her up after her mission and then hop on a plane to Spain so that she and Dakota can be married in the Spain Temple.:):):):)  Better start saving your pennies for those of you who want to attend.  She has also shown me her pinterest page that has all of the things I'm suppose to do for the reception - so Angie and I can start on them while she is gone.  did I mention she's trying to "kill me??!!":):)
Today, I take Chris to the hospital to have his stitches taken out (port).  He ate some lasagna last night but it came back up.  this morning he had a yogurt and I haven't heard any barfing noises.  It's been very difficult to see and hear him.  I don't like feeling helpless.  I wish that I could take some of the pain ( you know me "some" not "all":) away.  When he was having chemo on Tues he talked to this couple that the husband was just starting his first round and Chris gave him a big pep talk.  Chris didn't think that his first round would be so hard on him.  Soooooooooo hard to watch the one you love "your best friend" suffer.  I have thanked him for going through all this pain so that we can keep him with us.  He's just in sooo much pain.  He looks sooo skinny.  I am glad that I let him have r room.  He sleeps right in the middle of the bed curled up in a fetal position:(  He is able to watch tv any time of night and walk around without worrying about disturbing me.  I hope that he is well enough to teach his Gospel Doctrine class (which he loves teaching) and it is also the Priesthood Preview for Jacob (can you believe it???!!!!!!)  he will be 12 on Dec. 24th!!!!
Thank goodness this coming week is much quieter than the last two we've had.  Jacob and Katie have SEP's on Wednesday and I feed the teachers Thursday.  Tender mercy I received - I have plenty of money still  in my budget to still spend (you don't spend it, or you lose it) so instead of making dinner for the teachers I am buying them Olive Garden.  Because of year round school I have to do this twice:):)  So, now all I have to do is pick it up. lol.
No school Monday. Long three day weekend to rest:)  Yippeee.
"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." 2 Nephi 5:27
Love ya, Ricki

Quick update on Chris..... he had chemo on Tuesday.  He lost 4 lbs from week before (now 177).  We stayed at Huntsman from 10-2:30.  Walked out to the car and Chris started throwing up.  Every stop he threw up.  He threw up most of the night and into Wednesday.  He didn't sleep at all Tuesday night.  He finally let me call the nurse and ask for fluids, something for the throwing up and the migraine headache he now had.  He kept trying to take anti-nausea meds and loratab but they didn't stay down long enough to do any good. We got to the hospital at 3 and they rehydtrated him and gave him some zofran.  He came home and tried to sleep but couldn't.  As of this morning he hasn't eaten (still dry heaving) and hasn't slept much (I just talked to him:(  I'm not sure what today will bring.  He has his pump on it's suppose to be taken off sometime after noon. 
Last night was maturation for Jacob.  (sorry, now the tears flow) You're suppose to go with your dad and if the date had stayed Jan 24th instead of being moved to Feb 13th we would have been fine.  I took Jacob (kicking and screaming) I told him that if there weren't any other mothers that we would leave.  We walked in and there were three other mothers so we stayed.  He had a very angry face on and I tried to tickle him, put my arm around him.... he would have none of it.  Half way through we see Chris come in.  He looks AWFUL!!! He comes and sits by us.  Jacobs face LIGHTS up, a total change of attitude.  I find out that Chris WALKED up to the school (we have a large hill to walk up and school is probably half mile - fine for people who aren't sick, also very, very cold outside - we were out of cars, Rye at work, Meg gone and me up at the school). I sobbed when I saw him and cried even harder when I realized the sacrifice he made to get there.  He sat by us for awhile and then needed to throw up so he left.  He came back and stood in the back of the room.  Chris to other people would look like he had the flu - the guy standing next to him looked uneasy (no one wants to get sick) until I mouthed to him that Chris had cancer.  After that he was very kind and asked Chris if he needed anything and would give me the thumbs up sign:)  After the class Chris just wanted to go so Jacob grabbed his goodie bag and we left.  I dropped Chris off at home and took Jacob to Chick fil a for a milkshake.  Worked out great I also checked on the red car that had had a flat tire and that Meg and Rye pumped up so Rye could get to work (I was at hospital-nothing like not being home:( and I hadn't seen Rye all day).  Got Jacob his milkshake and Rye tells me car is in the red line on the gas meter he doesn't think he can get home. Soooooo, Jacob and I take the car and go to the gas station and fill it up then return it back to him.
It's now 8 pm.  My dad was kind enough to take Chris to the hospital to get the pump off while my mother and I did the chocolate fountain for Jacobs class.  My mom is amazing she has this thing down to a science:)  She even brought a shower curtain that we cut in half  - placing half on floor and half on the counter.  After Jacobs party I headed to Katie's party.  My sweet mother went back to my house and washed out the fountain for me - you don't want to try and clean it after the chocolate has hardened - big, big pain!! Thanks sooo much mom and dad you guys are amazing!!!  Love ya
  Tay stayed home sick again today.  He had a doctor's appointment at 4:15 because he had all the signs of strep.   GO AROUND TWO!!!!  Tay has STREP - AGAIN!!!  It has been a very, very, very long and full day.  I can't wait to lay my head on my pillow.  Meg and Jacob both had melt downs this morning.  Meg about starting a new job and that her "pants made her look fat."  Jacob, because he couldn't get his contacts in.  We have to "reschedule" ourselves due to Meg and her work schedule.  She has to be to work at 9 am so she is "in r way!!"  Will do better tomorrow:)
  Broke my heart - Katie said to Chris this morning "Am I going to have to do what you're doing when I get older?"  (yep, more tears)  We tried to reassure her that she probably wouldn't have to.  It is very stressful around her right now.  Chris is in tons of pain.  Therefore, crabby.  He wants quiet, not to be touched, no fighting, got mad at Meg because she "smelled bad" (she had just come back from running outside), can't sit long, throws up, can't eat, smells bother him, can't sleep........ I have to keep telling myself to "hang on"  "tie the knot, hang on" there is no one else to get everything done.  I feel like I am letting people down.  I didn't do very well taking care of Tay these past few days - Chris first.  I pray that we all make it through this.  That Chris can find the relief that he needs from chemo so that he can be comfortable.  and I pray that the rest of us learn and grow, become closer and better people.  I'm feeling tired and overwhelmed.  Knowing that I need to handle things gracefully that the Lord won't give me anything that I can't handle.  One day I will look back and cherish these days (someday:) and I'm sure that I will look back and feel like I should have done better than I am now.  I did get r Valentine's dinner done: lasagna, green salad, raspberry jello, pink milk, pink rolls and for dessert I let the kids dip their own strawberries and fortune cookies into either milk, dark or white chocolate.  Chris stayed long enough for a picture and then disappeared.  Things can only get better.  Keep praying for Chris.  He's in sooo much pain.
Happy Valentine's Day!  Love ya, Ricki

Crazy but today its been one year since Meg left us for China.  Time flies!!!! One year ago I was crying like a baby.  Soo, nervous, scared, excited for her and her new adventure, and soon she will be leaving us again for another adventure - - Portugal. April 3rd.  She and my mom have been working very hard on getting things bought (I've been lucky enough to have sick kids:( she has a lovely plum colored winter coat, blue raincoat, good walking shoes.... She continues to read her Book of Mormon in Portuguese along with listening to it on CD.  It's a lot of work to get ready.  Her mission farewell will be March 24th. She shows me blogs of other sisters there in Portugal and I cry.....another adventure that will just make her a better person.
Rye had a great time at Sweethearts.  They went to a trampoline place during the day and then a big group of them went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner then to the dance and then to a friends house and watched a movie.  It was soo nice that Rye went with a girl that has the same standards as him.  She had to group date, parents had to be home at friends house, good movie to watch and had to be home by midnight. Ahhh, soo nice.
Since Sunday I have had 3 sick kids.  Jacob came down with the flu and Katie and Megan got strep throat.  Soooo, if you are counting that is 6 out of 7 of us that have had strep.  We are still trying r best to keep it away from Chris and to keep it from spreading around us again.  Tuesday and Wednesday Megan was lucky enough to take care of Jacob and Katie so that I could be with Chris. As of today Jacob and Katie are still on the mend.  They haven't been to school all week:(  Hopefully tomorrow.  I was sleeping in the boys room because there was more room on the floor but I had to switch to the girls because Jacob's coughing was driving me crazy and.....his talking in his sleep.  He yells at Katie a lot.  I don't know how Tay stands it. lol.  Meg cleaned up the room so I am now sleeping with "the girls" again.  When Chris has his chemo I would have moved anyway... the pump he wears is very noisy and vibrates the bed when it touches the mattress. Loads of fun:):)
Last night was the Blue and Gold banquet for Cub Scouts.  Bitter sweet.  It was my last pack meeting that I will ever attend. No more boys in cub scouts.  We have been going for years!!! The women that put it together did a fantastic job.  Decorations were so cute and the arrow that Jacob received was very cool.  They even roped Tay into helping.  He did the scout oath and motto (Rye had to work).  I was very grateful that Chris was able to go he had had a long day.  He was even in the kitchen cutting up hoagie sandwiches for the dinner. Thanks cub scout committee for a wonderful evening.
Last week I got to meet with the principal of the middle school, Taylor and one of his teachers.  Since the beginning of school Tay has been in a class that doesn't respect their teacher.  They dance on the tables, talk disrespectfully to her, etc..... a very naughty class.  I have spoken with the administration a few times and they have been good about helping but for some reason last week things spiraled out of control.  The teacher decided that because the class was soo bad that she was going to punish the whole class by giving them a pop quiz.  My sweet, quiet Tay decided that he had had enough of being punished for the actions of others.  He stood up, told the teacher "No" tore up the test and threw it in the garbage.  Because I was sleeping in the boys room that night I was lucky enough that Tay spilled his guts (at about 10 pm when we were suppose to be sleeping. lol.).  Through this whole year Tay and I have just wanted the kids to be respectful to the teacher and to learn that she is of value not to let others treat her that way.  She is a great teacher and Tay enjoys her and her class (when they are behaving).  We talked about switching out of her class at the beginning of the year but Tay didn't want to leave the other good kids to defend themselves.  Needless to say.  The whole thing was quite the experience.  Tay can handle a lot but when he finally feels like he's had enough he's going to blow.  Watch out. lol.
Finally, onto Chris and his two days of torture:):)  Monday night turned into an emotional evening.  The hospital called to tell us that we would owe $1100 the day of the port.  It's a new year, we start over with insurance deductible.  I called insurance to see how it works.  The lady said that we pay first $2200 and then after that we only pay copays. Chris gave us the "we don't have the money."  I should just go on hospice and die." "I'm not worth it" "I don't want to go into debt and put it on the credit card or borrow money from family" The last two were my suggestions.  I know we have plenty of family members that would loan me the money and then I'd pay it back after he died from the life insurance money.  I swear he's trying to kill me!!!!!  Sooo.... then we had decisions to make.  PET scan cost $6,000 just by itself so there is the $2200 all by itself.  Tuesday morning we went for the PET scan.  He was very sick afterwards.  Shhhh don't tell (he doesn't read the blog), I called the doctor and asked him if we brought the scan over now if he would look at it and tell us if he thought we should put the port in or go on hospice.  Dr. Whisenant was very kind he looked at the scan - tumors everywhere  except in the kidneys and bladder.  He said that he would go through with chemo that he hoped that that would alleviate some of Chris' pain.  He was very sick that night - threw up, lots of pain:(
Wednesday, kids sick and Meg was kind enough to take care of them (so we missed breakfast with books).  Chris appointment was at 9.  We sat in three different rooms and they didn't wheel Chris away until 11.  I wasn't to happy I had a PTA meeting at 2 that I needed to be there for because we needed enough people to do some voting for and the Blue and Gold banquet that night I was in charge of food and feeling guilty leaving two sick kids at home (nothing like having your mom).  I say "if I'm on time so should you!!" lol. It takes time for the surgery and then after you have to wait to "come out" of it.  The whole thing was an hour behind.  While I was waiting for Chris to "come out" of it so we could go I over heard the doctor speaking to the people next to us because he was talking loudly (the man that had the procedure wore hearing aids but didn't have them in) he said to the man (I don't know his name) that he was sorry but that he had pancreatic cancer and maybe had about 6 months to live.  I immediately stood up and moved closer to the curtain separating us.  I had told Chris earlier before he went into surgery that the couple next to us looked familiar but I couldn't figure out where I had seen them.  They started asking a lot of questions especially about good surgeons.  then they mentioned Dr. Whisenant's name and I immediately appeared on their side of the curtain (my hands are sweating as I type this - me and my forwardness - I make myself nervous. lol).  I knew exactly where I had seen them.  The doctor this whole time had been very negative, the woman was crying.  I introduced myself (with the doctor giving me a crabby look) and told her about Chris.  That I could give her a wonderful surgeons name and that we went to Dr. Whisenant.  the doctor proceeded to tell me to go away "that we have hippa laws" and basically to "mind my own business" as he was pulling the curtain closed in front of me. I somewhat politely told him that I wasn't leaving that I had been through this same hell and I was staying.  The woman asked me to stay.  I quietly stood beside her and when the doctor was through I gave her Dr. Ott's phone number and she asked for my name and number.  She and her husband came over and spoke with Chris.  She and I hugged.  I know why Chris' surgery was an hour late.  I remember going through all of that.  We didn't know anything.  No one to tell us who the best surgeon was - you only want the best for your loved one.  What the next step is........... Thankfully this man has lived a full life - 7 girls and 16 grand kids.  I hope that when he thinks about what he has to go through he remembers Chris and that Chris won't get to grow old.  That he (the man)  has lived a good life - whatever choice he makes.  After they left Chris and I talked about that.  Chris has never thought about "growing old" 30-40 more years of life because he knows it isn't going to happen. Stinks for me I have tooooo!!!   I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for letting Chris and I be there.  right place.  right time.  I don't even know their names or if we will ever see or hear from them again.  But that one phone number to the "best surgeon" (Chris is still alive after almost 4 years from his whipple - March 9).  We think Chris is prove that Dr. Ott is pretty awesome. lol.
Found this quote this morning:  "No matter how many times I break down, there is always a little piece of me that says NO, you're not done yet Get BACK UP!!!"
Love ya all, Ricki

Just came back from the doctors.  Chris sleeping.  So, I will take a minute and let you know what was decided today.  Chris is in a lot of pain so he is going to go ahead and do chemotherapy again.  They may later add radiation but for now doctor needs the PET scan done so that we can radiate the area that has the most growth.  Dr. is also worried about radiating his neck because it will hurt/burn his esophagus, causing more pain.  Chris will have his PET scan Feb. 5th and his port put back in on Feb. 6th.  He was very, very unhappy about having the port put back in but knows that his veins aren't good enough.  He will start chemo Feb 12th.  It will be close to one that he has had.  It's called folfiri.  All acronyms for each of the drugs.  It's said "full fury"  so we had to laugh - good name for the stuff.  He will go in every other Tuesday and get his poison.  It will take three hours there at the hospital and then he will be sent home with a pump which he will wear for 48 hours.  Then we will return to the hospital and they will remove it.  On r way to the hospital Chris and I were trying to decide which day would be best for him to have chemo.  He wanted Friday so that he could still teach Gospel Doctrine on Sundays (which he loves teaching) and I wanted Thursdays because Friday is early out day for elementary.  Neither of us got are way. lol.  Dr. said Chris would be tired on Sunday but should be fine and then the following week even better, so maybe Chris and his team teacher can trade Sundays so that Chris can always have his "off" week off:):)  We scheduled chemo all the way to the end of March which was wayyy weird.  Time getting closer for Meg to leave.  He does chemo Feb 12 and 26th and March 12th and 26th.  So he should be on the mend by April 3rd when we take Meg to the MTC - wow where did the time go????? 
Next week will be busy for us:) between Chris' doctors stuff, homework, Rye work, Tay Jacob and Rye scouts, me helping at the middle school selling candy grams, breakfast with books, family having lunch with kids day at school (on Wed), and the Blue and Gold Banquet for cub scouts - Jacob receiving his arrow of light, webelos patch and his religious knot (exciting stuff).  It's all good stuff:):)
One of Meg's favorite scriptures:  "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Love ya, Ricki

Since my last post we now have 4 (me, Taylor, Ryan and Jacob) out of 7 of us on antibiotics thanks to me passing strep throat around. lol. Meds three times a day - got us all on the same schedule so that I can keep up. Finally, everyone is back to school. And.... will see who gets it next.....:)
Rye was asked to Sweethearts for this weekend - girl's choice.  Her name is Rachel and she works at Chick fil a with Rye.  Rachel's sister is working Rye's shift this Saturday so he can go to the dance.  Just waiting to find out what color her dress is so we can buy a tie and do the corsage:)
Meg has officially decided that she is going on a mission.  She has been working very hard on the paperwork.  Lots and lots of it!!!  She finished her FBI background check and fingerprinting (which she had to go to police station for) yesterday. She went on Sunday to meet up with a bunch of girls that just came back from their mission to Portugal and others that are leaving the same day she is.  She learned a lot about what to take.  She said it reminded her a lot of China.  They don't have dryers!!!  You hang your clothes to dry, which they never really get dry.  Take foot fungus cream because your feet will always be wet. lol. And they eat black, round squishy things from the ocean - which Meg says that she has already eaten in China, so she's good:):)  She said that she could totally handle it:)  I'm sooo glad she got to go to China last year she learned a lot.
Are cousin Sister Groneman is serving in the same mission as Dakota in Brazil.  Before she left we told her about Dakota and to look for him.  We also told Dakota to look for her.  Sooooo, last week their paths crossed:)  They ended up in the same restaurant on pday. Dakota's companion is (and other missionaries lol) totally in love with her and couldn't believe that he knew her, they wanted to be introduced. lol.  She is beautiful!!!  Dakota is in an area that is poor and has an orphanage.  He sent Meg a hair bow that he bought from a family that was selling them to save money so that they could go to the temple.  Soo, for Valentine's we are making hair bows, pencils (for the boys) and hearts out of candy canes to send so that Dakota can give them out to the orphans or the family that is saving money can sell them.  Whatever Dakota wants to do with them. We've had fun making them:):)
Chris is still in a lot of pain.  He continues to only take ibuprofen.  Can't sleep much, his back hurts, uses an icepack on his groin area tumor (it burns he says), his right leg isn't working right, his neck causes him great pain, and he is always tired.  Last night he fell asleep at the dinner table:(  He has an appointment with the oncologist Thursday.  Will see what he is planning on doing.  He continues to try to play ward ball, and ref ward games.  he has had some exciting moments on the court!!!:)  "Church Ball" need I say more??????????!!!! 
I will try and update you on what Chris decides to do sooner rather than later. lol.
Love ya, Ricki

Finally!!!!  Meg sold her apartment contract Thursday.  Lucky for me I have been sick and she needed to be moved out by Thursday night.  Didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped.  1- she "thought" she had packed. 2- she had to return library books and pick up a check from the Admin bldg by 5 pm. 3-clean. 4- 5 flights of stairs will exhaust anyone, especially a mother who went to the doctor earlier that day because of strep throat. (mother's NEVER rest - lol). It was quite the day.  My sweet sister in law watched my kids while I was gone.  Car was soo full that we had to go home and unload first before I could go and pick them up.  I drove by my favorite hamburger place  which I would have stopped and eaten at if I could taste and if I knew that it wouldn't feel like I was eating shattered glass. sooo, now all seven us live under one roof again.  We are all trying to adjust. Hee, hee.  Meg was telling me that the next time she gets all her stuff out of r house will be when she gets married!!!  Crazy!!!  She still doesn't know what she is doing.  If you follow her on face book one minute she is counting down the days and the next she is finding out that Dakota's coming home sooner than expected.  Now, she is looking for a job but doesn't know if it is for 3 months or for longer.:):)  For her bday Chris took her, Jacob and Katie to dinner.  Tay and I were to sick to go and Rye was working.  It wasn't a very exciting bday for her:(  Yesterday she cleaned the temple for the first time.  She said she would clean it everyday for free:):) (I was suppose to go - I figured I wouldn't do the Lord any good laying on a bench:):)
Last Monday at Rye's work party he won a 32 inch TV:):)  He brought it home and told me it was mine- he felt bad he had forgotten my birthday.  What a nice boy:):)  Tay and Rye just finished semester number 2 at school.  They did a great job having missed so many days while we were in DisneyWorld.  Rye now has college credits to add to his resume.  He is taking Math 1050 this quarter. 
Jacob loves his contacts.  Tuesday, Jacob and Katie go back to school:( 
Chris is still not well. His back is still killing him and he is always very, very cold no matter how many sweaters he has on.  He has been refereeing ym and men ward bball games.  That doesn't require running up and down the court, he feels useful and he enjoys it and.... he's good at it. (he used to ref highschool bball games for money) he tries to play on the team but can only be in for about 2 minutes:( 
Life is never dull around here.
Love ya, Ricki

Toooo bad for Chris, but he is still here.  He feels horrible and his back is giving him a lot of trouble.  We went out for ice cream on my bday but had to leave sooner than expected because he just felt horrible.  Chris' new goal is April 13th - r wedding anniversary:):)  That's ok that's about three months away. 
Pooor Meg is in a dilemma of her own.  Friday afternoon a girl called wanting to buy her apartment contract.  Office was closed until Monday.  Girl didn't realize that Meg's contract is until Aug.  She wavered back and forth.  Still at this moment we aren't sure what the girl is doing.  Meg wanted me to help her move her stuff out last Saturday but I told her to wait - don't quit your job, don't drop your Portuguese class, don't move your stuff.... not until paperwork has been signed and deposit is on it's way back to my bank account:)  Sooo, who knows what Meg is going to be doing.  If the girl buys her contract then she is headed back home to look for a job and drive us crazy:):) until April, maybe???  or stay here until September when her boyfriend comes home from Brazil..... did I tell you she bought her wedding dress??????  She bought it from China, same city she taught in.  No shipping fees!!!!  It's beautiful - she looks beautiful in it.
 Dakota made her a very nice gift - each month she is on her mission she is to open a box with a little gift in it.  She opened the first one ...shhhh.... and it was written in Portuguese.  Chris read it to her:):)  So, now she is a little wishy-washy about going on a mission.  We've told her that no one will care which way she goes they are both wonderful choices.  Life choices:):)
Love ya, Ricki

Yes, I know I haven't written for a while. I do have plenty of excuses and .... I did start three different times... they're just in the "draft" section of the blog. lol.
So, I will try and sum this up quick so that there isn't a "fourth" draft:)  Chris is NOT well at all.  We have stopped sleeping in the same room due to the pain he is in and the sleep he isn't getting.  If I don't get enough sleep I am a very unkind person.  He tried sleeping on the couch so as not to bother me but I found out that the couch has a permanent "dip" in it because of all the other times he has slept on it and that was hard on him so I made him "stop being nice" and take the bed.  Now he can watch tv if he needs to, lay in the middle of the bed, moan and groan all he wants, walk around the room or stand on the floor and bend himself in half and lay on the bed (all of which he does to try and alleviate the pain).  His back is hurting him a TON, his hips are gone and so he can't sleep on his side.  The tumor in his neck is very large and making it at times hard to swallow.  Breathing is becoming difficult, he is skinny and the tumor in his groin area is growing.  And....... he wants to die on my birthday.... Jan 11.....so that I will always remember him!!!!!!!!  I'm sure that it won't happen but he is done living.  He is in sooo much pain.  He asked me a couple of weeks ago "to let him go"  I of course said "no."  I told him it was fine to die on my bday but that put the funeral around Meg's bday (Jan 16) and I wasn't ok with that.  It's one thing to ruin my bday for the rest of my life but not hers.  I also keep reminding him that Taylor turns 14 on Jan 29 and will need to be ordained to a teacher.  Can't go anywhere!!!!  (Meg turns 20!!)  When you see him he doesn't act sick, but he is.  Tay asked me a few days ago "if dying hurts?"  I think we can all feel that it is getting closer.  We have witnessed a lot of miracles/blessings these past few months.  Megan getting her endowments and Chris being able to attend.  Being together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New year's... spending good quality time together. There is always a pit in my stomach each morning until I hear the bed room door open - then I know he is alive:):)  Chris played a HORRIBLE trick on me the other day.  It was morning and I came into the room to get something and to me he looked like he might be dead, so I snuck up close to see if the blankets were rising and falling - nothing so I went closer and all of a sudden Chris sits up and yells "gottacha!!!"  I wanted to hit him really hard but instead hit the mattress and told him that I hated him. lol.  What a brat!!!! 
Meg is down at BYU again.  She couldn't sell her apartment contract so not sure how this is going to work when it's time to leave for Portugal.  She is working at the MTC and taking a Portuguese class.  and will celebrate her 20th bday on the 16th.  This is a secret...... you didn't hear it from me.....Meg will hang me by my toenails...... but she had her first colonoscopy on Friday.  Due to family history at age 19 each child will have one.   I must say it was a very emotional time for me..  I had Dr. Doxey do the colonoscopy for Meg.  He is a very kind man we saw him a few times in 2008 in the ER and I have never forgotten his kindness.  I knew he would understand my stress:)  Thankfully, she is ok and doesn't need another one for three years.  What a relief. (if you need a colonoscopy we have a wonderful doctor - I can give you his number:):)  My half glass empty personality was sending my thoughts reeling.  Not a good time to be around me. lol. So as for this mission stuff  I know this will all work out we just have to keep reminding ourselves that the Lord has a plan.  Have faith:)  Anyone needing an apartment in Provo by BYU? call us. lol.
Rye is working at Chick fil a still.  Adn he and Chris just finished a big school project last night.  Thanks to Chris I'm sure that he will get an A plus.  It was a power point presentation which Chris has always been good at:)
Tay babysat the neighbors bunny while they were gone at Christmas.  Did a great job at his Christmas band concert and is filling out the paperwork for his Eagle project. Will turn 14 on the 29th.  (just in case I don't write before then - lol)
Jacob turned 11 on Christmas Eve.  We spoiled him all month for his bday.  We went to Play Planet with friends and is covered from head to toe in Agent P clothing from Phineas and Ferb.  He just got contacts yesterday.  You might think he's a little young but he is very responsible (not like others in this family), he wanted them and hey, new insurance started this week. lol. (we have a great eye doctor if you need one:):)  We are off track right now so it is perfect for getting used to them.
Katie is alllll girl!!!!  and verry, very spoiled:):)  She got a cotton candy machine, and a  cake pop machine  for Christmas (all messy:):). 
Chris just reminded me that he has three days left!!!!  I reminded him that "he should go out in style"  there is the laundry to fold, the dishwasher to empty....... lol.  He's not to happy that I put this on the blog.  He really is a great guy:):)  Those of you that know us know that this is how we deal with it.  We laugh, we joke.  It's been four years.  I get tired of fixing my makeup from crying so..... joking it is.  Don't think badly of Chris.  I always try to put myself in his shoes and think how I would be... I would be afraid that  I would be forgotten also.  I know he is.  He mentions it often to us. I've tried to reassure him that we will never forget him.  He and I have been together over 23 years.  There is nothing that he hasn't touched in my life.  I told him I will cry every second!!  He doesn't want that he says.  Life is a roller coaster of emotions.  I'm sooo grateful for the gospel.  Without it I can't even imagine!!!!!!!!!!! 
We love ya all, Ricki