Chris had chemo Thursday. They said he needs to start drinking Ensure (or something like that) because he is loosing to much weight. He hates that stuff, we've tried all different kinds but Chris says that they all taste awful. His white blood cell count was at 1.3. Not good. Anything below 1.5 they have to go and talk to the doctor to see what he wants to do. He said to "go for it - full dose." He has been verrryyy sick. Thrown up alot - even with having taken anti-nausea pills. His face is getting redder and drier. Still has plenty of hair:) And veryyyyy tired. He was only able to come to Ryan's Eagle project for a few minutes and then he just didn't have the strength to come with us yesterday to deliver the stuff to the hospital.:(
Which takes us to Ryan's Eagle project. . . . Friday, we collected the stuff and organized it at the church. Tied blankets, sorted, put boxes together, ran to the store for things we were missing. Had to run to Harmon's and ask for 100 more reusable grocery bags. R goal was that we would make 100 kits then the goal was we would make as many kits as fleece blankets that came in. They just kept coming:) We had lots of great help to get us ready for Saturday. Saturday morning we started making the kits. Had lots of helpers. We finished making 200 kits in 45 minutes. We still had stuff left over soooo my mom ran to Harmon's and asked for 50 more bags. A friend was kind enough to let us use his truck and trailer. There was NO way 250 kits (40 boxes) and 100 (12 packs) of soda (100!!!!!!!!) were going in my van:) As of today we have made 271 kits!!!!!!!!! Items just keep coming. R friend and his family came with us yesterday (Chris stayed home he was reallyyyyy sick and tired) and helped us unload. I called the hospital earlier in the day to warn them to find room and see if there would be some people that would be able to help us. Also if they could round up any carts. We arrived at 4:00 and started unloading. My dad organized all the boxes as the rest of us carried them in. One of the nurses organized the 100 cases of soda and all the snack foods that had been donated and we gave the secretary at the front desk all the hard candy that had been donated (the sweet secretary has been using her own money to buy candy since their budget got cut). It was exciting bringing it all in. Gave the patients something to watch (hee, hee). They are on the second floor so they watched us out the window. We had some extra kits that we had made since Saturday (had to go back to Harmon's and ask for more bags:):) and Ryan walked around and gave those out to patients having chemo. I hope the kids will remember what they saw and heard today. It was verry touching. One man that we gave a bag to had been a scoutmaster for years and he told the boys how proud he was of them. That Rye needed to remember to "pay it forward" to his brothers when they work on their Eagle projects and how much the kit meant to him and the others. Two ladies cried and hugged Rye. We had r doctor sign Rye's eagle paper to say that he had completed his project. Usually, the manager would have but I asked if Dr. Whisenant could do it. Now the paper has r doctors signature on it and it has Chris' (he being on the scout committee). Cool paper to keep forever. Thank you. Thank you to all those who donated, whether time, money or both:) We have to thank also the family who tied 40 blankets for us. As we received them we would take them to their home and they tied and tied and tied. And a big, big thank you especially to r friends that let us use their truck and trailer. Couldn't have done it without you guys!!! (the dad took off work early and man did he have that trailer protected from wind and rain:) Taylor says that he wants his Eagle when he's thirteen. He told me I have ten months to recover:) What's crazy is that now we have to make more then 271 kits. Will probably put fliers on every door in the community and start asking companies for donations earlier (I mean Tay will delegate this to someone - hee, hee).
After the last two weeks this week is a piece of cake:) Today, I take Meg to the dentist (she has a cavity!!! naughty girl). Lunch with my brother and sister-in-law to celebrate their bdays, pack meeting, track practice and a meeting about Senior Sunset - the after graduation party, I'm on the committee:) Tomorrow, PTA meeting, and Tay has scouts, Thursday, chemo, track practice and math lab. Friday, Rye gets to go on a field trip to Rodizio Grill (a Brazilian restaurant) and eat and eat and eat:) Lucky him. May is always a crazy month. All the schools are doing fun things before letting out. Can't believe Meg is almost done with school.
Thank you also to those who have mowed my lawn, fertilized it. The beautiful blanket that was sent to us from all over the United States (very cool!!). Brought us dinner . . . always one less thing off my shoulders. I think today I can finally stand up tall - the Eagle has taken flight:):) (just have to do paperwork - which will be like pulling teeth with Rye)
Thanks again for the wonderful memories that so many of you helped create. We love you!!!
"Though it is often difficult to endure, truly, we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct." Elder Christofferson.
Love ya, Ricki