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.