Back on Track

Hey, I realized I hadn't given an update since we got that letter, so I am going to do that.

After we received it, we called Dr. Groot and asked him what it was all about, why he sent it, etc. He was again great at setting our minds at ease about the decision, letting us know how good the odds were both ways, and encouraging us to accept our decision and have peace about it.
So we are feeling pretty good about it again, thanks for your concern.
Luke

Tazer

I had to pass this along. Enjoy

Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. This was submitted by a guy who purchased his lovelywife a "pocket Taser" for their anniversary.

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & PawnShop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety.... WAY TOO COOL!
Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two triple-a batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!!
Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave. Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-a batteries,... right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries) thinking to myself,"no possible way!" What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.....
I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.... I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed thebutton, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASSDESTRUCTION@!@$$!%!@*!!!
I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the sidedoor, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found,with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedlythinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!" Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-.... that hurt like hell!!!
A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of thefireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I'm still looking for my testicles? I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return. Still in shock, Roger P

GRRREEEAAAT

Hey, a little update. Things were going great, feeling good about our decision and stuff. But yesterday we got a letter from Dr. Groot in S'toon, with a little information about the surgery and stuff. It was all well and good, commenting on 9 cases. Of the 9, 8 waited until after delivery to do the surgery, and all but one are disease free. But the one that isn't disease free died 7 years later because it had spread to the bones. The reason it gave was because treatment was delayed because of an intervening pregnancy. Don't know if they meant the original pregnancy or another one, it wasn't very clear or easy to understand.

So obviously that rose some questions as to how to deal with this. Is this just an attack to make us doubt? Or is this a sign to reconsider? We are asking a nurse friend of ours to try to translate the letter for us so we can get a better idea of what it's trying to say. Until then...

Decided Finally

Sorry it had been so long, but that's how long it took to decide. I doubt anyone reading this blog hasn't seen this letter by now, but I will just post it in that slight chance of that happening. It explains it completely.

To the prayer warriors and encouragers in Canada, whether you live in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, or BC; in the US, whether you live in Minnesota, kansas, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Oregon, or Alaska; in Mexico, England, and all others...thank you!

How can we tell you as family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers how much of an impact you've made in our lives, and how we couldn't have gotten where we're at, the way we did - without you. Saying "thank you" is quite the understatement for your unselfish involvement during this time of grief and confusion in our lives. Hearing that you were thinking of us, praying for us, concerned for us whether directly or indirectly really meant a lot. Your encouragement has been overwhelming in the greatest way, getting us through each day, moment by moment. I (Erin) am most often in that category of people who try to stay away from such attention. This however, has been interestingly different. The more encouragement I got, the more I wanted, and felt I needed. So, for being obedient to the call of sharing in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings by comforting us, we want to share with you the comfort that God's given us through this trying journey. Here's an update of what we've learned from doctors and how God's been leading us in making a decision.

Just from the informational standpoint, all but one of the doctors that heard of our case told us that the odds were good both ways. In the words of our specialist, the risk to our baby to have the surgery now during the second trimester is very small, but the risk of the cancer becoming more serious by waiting to have the surgery after delivery is equally small, if not smaller. We were shocked to hear that we were in such a fortunate position after hearing the diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. This type of cancer as most of you heard, is non-aggressive and the "best" you could hope for. Ironically, this made it harder for us because we were given a choice of when the thyroidectomy would take place. We decided, after one month of research, doctors appointments, prayer, and lots of struggling - that we are going to wait. This means that the surgery and the iodine radiation treatment will take place 2-3 weeks after delivering our baby.

The peace in making this decision isn't fully with us yet, but we feel such a burden already lifting because we've surpassed this stage, and are on to the next. From the spiritual standpoint, we were given lots of information as well. God gave us scripture passages to help, but ultimately we would still have to decide. I couldn't ignore a thought that was constantly coming to mind: "go with the knowledge that you've been given." Another great one came from Proverbs in God's perfect time: "When faced with a tough decision, draw straws." We had to laugh at that one, but found it refreshing and liberating. So, with the desire to trust our specialist and the absolute knowledge that God isn't going to change, we were able to overcome this and move on. Moving on may be somewhat of a chore as well. We humbly ask for your continued prayer, specifically for healing, peace, and our baby's health.

We felt like we should write this not only because some of you asked to be informed of our decision, or to let people know the same thing all at once, or even because of my guilty conscience for my (Erin's) horrible habits of keeping in touch, but because we realized that it's not about us; but rather about God and the glory that He so deserves.

"I am strengthening and confirming and establishing my heart faultless, pure, and blameless in holiness in the sight of our Father in heaven so that I may glorify Him in everything I say and do."
I Thessalonians 3:13

"...these periods of shadow and doubt are but momentary in the eternal picture. What an assurance we have when we choose to abide in Christ - in times of glory and in times of grief."
Paul W. Kahn

Love in Christ, Lucas and Erin Carlson