Merry Christmas!

This is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. May you rejoice in the birth of our Savour, Jesus Christ.

Home Study Completed & Submitted!

Well, we received word today that our social worker has submitted our completed home study report to the adoption agency. Mike and I are really excited about moving forward and officially start the wait for a match.

Mike has also told me I can start looking and shopping for some of the infant necessities that we will need for our home and when we are matched with a baby.

It really is wonderful, exciting news to know that for Christmas we can look forward to the second 1/2 of our journey to parenthood!

Adoption Calendar Fundraiser...

Today I finished a 2009 calendar of the Outer Banks Lighthouses. I really hope that friends and family will enjoy the calendar. My hope is that they will consider buying the calendar as gifts for themselves or other individuals in their family. It would also be great if word could be passed on outside our immediate network of friends that the sale of this calendar helps support our dream of becoming parents providing us with the financial means by which we can adopt.

The average cost of adoption per child in the United States is between $15,000 up to $25,000 and in the rare occasion can even be more. We are open to adopting a sibling group but the adoption fees due at the time of placement would be doubled.

Again, we would appreciate your help in our desire to become a forever family through adoption. Please consider supporting us through the purchase of the 2009 Lighthouse Calendar.

As an FYI... more products will be added in the very near future. I hope to add individual photographs that would be made available for purchase as well as several other calendars and possibly a cookbook.

Best wishes and sincere thanks,

Pam & Mike

Radioactive Iodine Treatment

After meeting with my Endocrinologist, we have dates set for my Radioactive Iodine Treatment. RAI will be the last week in October into the first week of November. The worst part is probably going to be the low iodine diet that I have to be on for almost three weeks as well as the "relative" isolation for 7 days.

For 3 of those seven days, I must keep all contact with people to a minimum and it is especially important that I have my own bathroom. After the three days, I can be in the same room as my husband but must be separated by a minimum of 6 feet for the majority of the time although we can share very brief hugs (no more than 1 hour a day of close contact).

I think my cats will have the toughest time dealing with my isolation since they cannot be near me for the full 7 days.

Cancer Confirmed! Trusting God in all things...

Well, it is confirmed that the Thyroid did contain cancer on the Right Lobe but the left lobe was fine. Also, 2 lymph nodes that were removed indicated that a small amount of the thyroid cancer had spread to these lymph nodes.

The next step is to continue to monitor my calcium levels then return to my Endocrinologist to find out about doing Radioactive Iodine treatment (RAI). Based on research, I believe I'll be doing the RAI the end of October or early November.

At first I was very upset about having to do RAI especially since I was and still hope to breastfeed our adopted infant (assuming we adopt an infant). However, today, I think I've had a break through finding peace with whatever happens regarding the adoption and breastfeeding. I have discovered that it is OK to breastfeed as early as 6 months after RAI. There is also no guarantee that we will be placed for a child until mid to late 2009 which means I would be able to breastfeed.

This process is reminding me of the importance of trusting God with all aspects of my life. He is in control and really does know what is best for me, my health and my family. Peace is mine to have and accept when I put all my trust in Christ.

Pam

Home after Surgery

The Total Thyroidectomy is done! I no longer have a thyroid. Surgery went well but it was horrid staying in the hospital overnight. Sleep was, generally, not to be found! I didn't get much more than a total of 3 hours of sleep.

Today I was released from the hospital around 11am. We were hungery and decided to go to Bahama Breeze for lunch - Good News is that we found a wonderful restaurant! The food was excellent even though I wasn't able to enjoy the soup I ordered. The soup was very good but the "heat" hurt my throat when I would swallow. Now, I really enjoyed the Chocolate Banana Shake! Yummy... Felt wonderfully cool on my throat.

After lunch, it was time to go directly home and take a nap. I only napped for about an hour but it helped. I've been up for about 3 hours and feel good other than having a soar, achy throat. Sometimes it hurts to talk.

I'm glad to be home! Pam

Thyroid Surgery...

Today I met with a surgeon that specializes in Thyroid Surgery for a 2nd consultation. I have decided to have Dr. Faust do my thyroid surgery. From the moment he walked into the exam room I was very comfortable with him and impressed with how thorough he was in explaining the procedure to me. He also agrees with my endocrinologist that we should do a Total Thyroidectomy.

Now my next decision is where to have the incision on my neck.

Surgery is set for Friday, September 12th.

Pam