Chris had chemotherapy yesterday. Lost 3 lbs. White blood cell count 3.6. Still good but going down:( He had a verrryyyy difficult week. He was extremely exhausted, threw up, could hardly walk at times without tripping and craved Swedish fish, Noodles and Company, mustard, rice krispy treats and Slurpee's. I have also been cooking dinner out on the deck. Either barbecuing or using the crock pot. The smells make Chris very sick. I laugh lifting the lid to the crock pot outside. Thank goodness it has a locking lid. Hee, hee. Because he was soooo weak this week I asked them to run a potassium test on him to see if it was low. I remember something similar to this happening one of the many other chemo times and it was because his potassium was low. Hoping that's it. It's an easy fix. It takes 24 hours for that test to come back so will know later today. If it is low they just prescribe medicine or he would go in and do an IV. Yesterday, was a shorter day due to doing only two drugs. He has to have a bag of Benadryl first to help the itching that the other drug causes and it usually puts him to sleep (in May that's how it was) but these last two sessions have made him very restless and agitated. I spoke with the nurse and asked what was happening she said that she would put a note in his chart to only give him half the Benadryl. Thank you to the two different families that have brought us pizza for dinner the last two Thursdays. Helps a lot. Thank you, thank you.

Even with Chris ill we still had some fun:) We had a BYU vs UofU party here. Katie and I were the only BYU fans and Chris wore yellow so that he could be "neutral." Sooo much screaming!!:) The last part of the game I went upstairs and cleaned the kitchen. Just couldn't take anymore of their razing. All in good fun.

Sunday, Chris' Mission President from Brazil came over and spoke with Chris. It was very nice of him and his wife to stop by. They were in town visiting family. Kind of crazy how we found him. . . at back to school night for the middle school Tay, Chris and I were standing in line waiting to talk to the band teacher. The people in front of us were speaking Portuguese so Chris had to speak to them and come to find out the lady that we were speaking to was Chris' mission presidents daughter-in-law. How cool is that????!!!

Meg is still struggling with getting a balance of school, work and play time. Hates chemistry. She came home one night this week to say good bye to a friend entering the MTC and to say "hi" to us:) Meg received a calling - - ward missionary. hee, hee in Provo??!!:)

Rye, had his 24 hour cross country fundraiser. They ran over 200 miles. He also had a cross country meet Wednesday. Chris was very weak and sick and he exhausted himself even more by yelling at Rye at different spots in the course. Can't keep the boy down:) Rye, is also learning to DRIVE!!! I must say, and don't tell Meg but Rye is a better driver!! He doesn't swing the wheel into the curb as we turn:) He knows his left from right and he listens, doesn't argue. Meg used to tell me all the things I was doing wrong when I was driving. Thank goodness Rye hasn't gotten to that point yet. Poor boy, he looks so small behind the wheel. He has to lift the seat all the way up and forward.

Tay, went to his first meeting last night for the Civil Air Patrol. He has told us for years that he wants to be a pilot and we've told him that it cost a lot of money to learn to fly. I happen to be talking to a friend and he told me about his son being in CAP and how on his 15th bday he got to fly a plane!! They have scholarships they give out to members for flying lessons and if Tay wanted to someday join the Air force he would be a higher rank because of being in CAP. Because it was chemo day I knew that I wouldn't be able to go with him so I asked my brother if he would take him. Come to find out my brother was in CAP when he was younger. He used to go and rescue "dumb snow mobilers." Lol. Tay has to go for a month before he can join which is good. He needs to see if he wants to work and learn. It's a lot like boot camp. Last night they practiced drills, had a lesson on Job, learned about fire extinguishers . . .next Thursday they are doing an obstacle course relay. Should be fun:) and he continues to enjoy school.:)

So.... we can now say that we have had a child in the principals office for bad behavior. Child number FOUR (can you believe it - Not Ryan:):) decided to get angry at something someone said to him and he let them have it. He feels badly for how he acted:( We had to talk with the principal (who is wonderful), he had to write a letter saying he was sorry, and miss Fun Friday. Poor boy. still loves playing his violin:)

Katie and I started putting up Halloween decorations yesterday - are favorite holiday:)

Tomorrow Rye has a school alumni 5k that he has to be at. Sunday, Chris will ordain one of Ryan's friends a priest. Tay, will have a board of review for scouts. Thanks to his determination and his leaders hard work he is getting closer and closer to his Eagle. I look forward to Women's Conference tomorrow. The "girl's night out." This time the girls will eat out and watch conference in Provo so that Meg doesn't have to come here and so that her roommates can come also. Fun. And, of course excited for General Conference next weekend.

"We can't predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come." Elder L. Tom Perry

Love ya, Ricki