Christmas 2011

December 2011

Well, it's that time again...the Elf has been visiting us from the North Pole. Thomas, our spunky two-year-old, has given our special elf the name, "Goofy!" Every night he reports back to Santa in the North Pole about Thomas. Thomas knows he can't touch him or he will lose his magic and he is very quick to give us the same command, "don't touch Goofy, he will get sick and have to go to the ER!"

We are truly enjoying this stage in Thomas's life, it seems like just last week he was a little 8 pound bundle and now he is walking, no, running, talking, climbing, jumping, coloring, happy and, yes, sometimes we see a little of the terrible-twos. For the most part, he is as pleasant and playful as can be. He attends a Parents Day Out program at a church just down the street two days a week and loves it. He has learned so much and made many friends. He is quite the social butterfly.

As for Carter and Susan we are doing the same. Carter is still a conductor for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Susan is still working weekends in the NICU, hoping to change her schedule at the beginning of the year to work during the week so we can be more involved in our church.

Petey and Zena have finally become used to having a toddler around, they are good dogs despite the "abuse" Thomas unleashes on them daily. The phrases, "don't pull her tail," and "please don't poke Petey in the eyes" have become like a broken record around here. The dogs are now very good at hiding in corners when Thomas is in the room!

We have been blessed beyond belief to find a wonderful friend to watch Thomas while we are at work. Thomas loves Oma and we are so grateful for her willingness to care for our baby!

That's all the news that's fit to print from the Caugh Corner. We pray you have a healthy holiday season! In closing, have a wonderful New Year and may Christmas blessings be yours.

Love,Carter, Susan, and Thomas

December 2011

Well, it's that time again...the Elf has been visiting us from the North Pole. Thomas, our spunky two-year-old, has given our special elf the name, "Goofy!" Every night he reports back to Santa in the North Pole about Thomas. Thomas knows he can't touch him or he will lose his magic and he is very quick to give us the same command, "don't touch Goofy, he will get sick and have to go to the ER!"

We are truly enjoying this stage in Thomas's life, it seems like just last week he was a little 8 pound bundle and now he is walking, no, running, talking, climbing, jumping, coloring, happy and, yes, sometimes we see a little of the terrible-twos. For the most part, he is as pleasant and playful as can be. He attends a Parents Day Out program at a church just down the street two days a week and loves it. He has learned so much and made many friends. He is quite the social butterfly.

As for Carter and Susan we are doing the same. Carter is still a conductor for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Susan is still working weekends in the NICU, hoping to change her schedule at the beginning of the year to work during the week so we can be more involved in our church.

Petey and Zena have finally become used to having a toddler around, they are good dogs despite the "abuse" Thomas unleashes on them daily. The phrases, "don't pull her tail," and "please don't poke Petey in the eyes" have become like a broken record around here. The dogs are now very good at hiding in corners when Thomas is in the room!

We have been blessed beyond belief to find a wonderful friend to watch Thomas while we are at work. Thomas loves Oma and we are so grateful for her willingness to care for our baby!

That's all the news that's fit to print from the Caugh Corner. We pray you have a healthy holiday season! In closing, have a wonderful New Year and may Christmas blessings be yours.

Love,

Carter, Susan, and Thomas

The Scare

September 13, 2011 I received a call from my physicians office stating that my thyroid biopsy results came back "COLD" (which I know now means cancerous.) I have papillary carcinoma in my thyroid and possibly in the left lymph node. Whatever she said afterwards sounded like the teacher on the Charlie Brown specials, "wah wah wah wah wah." I heard "surgery", "radioactive iodine treatment", "cannot be around Thomas for almost a week because I would be "toxic." My head was spinning. I happened to answer the phone in bed. When I hung up I buried my face under the covers and burst into tears. How can I have cancer at 36. I eat pretty well, I get plenty of exercise. I have a two-year-old for heaven's sake. He is certainly not going to understand Mommy's "ouchie neck." Let alone that Mommy won't be able to sing or talk very well for a few weeks.

I cried. Carter held me. I cried. He held me tighter. I cried some more. For the next few days I was in a fog, didn't pray, didn't talk much, didn't even acknowledge the fact that I would have to make a decision regarding treatment pretty quickly as this carcinoma has been known to spread quite aggressively. Things like Wills, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney, Advanced Directive, Do Not Resuscitate kept swimming through my mind. We don't have any of those and really had never given them much thought.

I have now come to grips with the acceptance of knowing, yes, I have cancer but with God's abundant grace and my phenomenal surgeon, the cancer won't have me much longer! Please remember to always check your neck, thyroid carcinoma is one of the fastest growing cancers among women in the United States. Each year 350,000 people will be diagnosed with this disease far surpassing breast cancer yet it still is "the forgotten cancer." Do it for you, your loved ones, and friends. Thanks For Listening!
Love, Susan

Fun Fall Pics

Our Day with the Sunflowers!

I got a stick!

My "up to no good" look!

Sweet baby!

Mommy and me!

My favorite pic!