A wonderful update from the Tuttles....
Hi Gran SARAH!!!
So Chris looked at me yesterday and said, "um, we haven't had a blogupdate in a while..." and i said, "well, do you want to write it?"and he gave me his very sincere face (those of you who know him well knowthis silly fake sincere smile) and said, "oh, but i always like it when youwrite it..."
so, here are some pictures for you--i wish there could be more because there are so many pics of all of our wonderful family and friends who we have spent time with this summer.we've had such a lovely summer. and such a busy summer. As ourlast blog update left off, we went to Harker's Island with chris andheath and ella brooks, mom and strow, and had a marvelous time. Then, Ella Brooks and I went on a girl adventure in our new mini-van (oh yeah, we did it) and took the ferrys up through the outer banks to kitty hawk to meet up with my extended family (or "the cousins and pops" as she said the whole time). She and I had a much-needed respite and girl time, even in the midst of staying with 20 other family members in one house!! I hated that heath and chris couldn't come, but it was so great to see everyone. Pat came to Durham to stay with Chris and Heath, and they had a really good week together.I think through those times with family you could perhaps have SEEN the stress of the last year roll off of all of us amidst the beauty and calm and laughter and hugs.
So Chris looked at me yesterday and said, "um, we haven't had a blogupdate in a while..." and i said, "well, do you want to write it?"and he gave me his very sincere face (those of you who know him well knowthis silly fake sincere smile) and said, "oh, but i always like it when youwrite it..."
so, here are some pictures for you--i wish there could be more because there are so many pics of all of our wonderful family and friends who we have spent time with this summer.we've had such a lovely summer. and such a busy summer. As ourlast blog update left off, we went to Harker's Island with chris andheath and ella brooks, mom and strow, and had a marvelous time. Then, Ella Brooks and I went on a girl adventure in our new mini-van (oh yeah, we did it) and took the ferrys up through the outer banks to kitty hawk to meet up with my extended family (or "the cousins and pops" as she said the whole time). She and I had a much-needed respite and girl time, even in the midst of staying with 20 other family members in one house!! I hated that heath and chris couldn't come, but it was so great to see everyone. Pat came to Durham to stay with Chris and Heath, and they had a really good week together.I think through those times with family you could perhaps have SEEN the stress of the last year roll off of all of us amidst the beauty and calm and laughter and hugs.
We were back in Durham for a couple weeks. We got some good time withUncle Jamie before he went back to Haiti, went to a Bulls game withAunt Sarah (it felt like, "Heath takes the Bulls Park..."), enjoyedthe annual Barnes Picnic, and celebrated our good friends the Irons inburlington before they left for Italy. Then, I even took the kids upto northern virginia to spend some really good time with Nana, Pops(my dad), Uncle Pete and Aunt "mona", and carson and emma and Uncle Al, Aunt Laura and "D" (and Kat, who Eb likes alot!). Then lastweekend we had a great time in Black Mountain celebrating bob'sbirthday! and got to come back in time to celebrate our dear friendLen's birthday *(and uncle jamie's from afar).I tell you all this to say that we got to have what I can only imagineas a "regular" summer.We had sacred moments in the midst of "regular" times because we knewthat we were lucky to be there--watching a little boy try to run intothe waves giggling, watching him dance (he has quite a bit of rhythm)to the Dixie Chicks in the car (long story and very hilarious), tearing up as he and ellabrooks embrace impulsively, hollering at him to stop climbing onsomething, enjoying the splendid little person that eb just is. For all those moments we are grateful.
OK, so you are probably wondering about actual health issues--Heath isdoing quite well. He has had a yucky cough for the last 3 WEEKS,which has caused his family a bit of stress, but doesn't seem tobother him in the slightest. The poor folks at Chapel Hill Peds hadto endure our "please check him and make sure his chest sounds clearvisits" quite a few times, especially our dear friend and pediatricianAndy Dunk! He has come through it beautifully. Our cath has finallybeen set for Thursday, September 10. Hopefully if all goes well andlooks good, we'll even be able to lose a couple of the medicines. Hehas a few more teeth, and he has said a few more words (his version of"bubble" is hilarious). By the way that you can tell that he fullyunderstands everything and thinks that he is communicating veryclearly (specific noises and pointing or handing you your shoes andmaking his door turning motion), you expect him to one day just comeout in a full sentence. He actually brought Chris the black leotardin one of these pictures with the "put this on NOW" noise--promise.we do know that we'll have to start being a little more conscious ofour immune-suppressed guy now that school is back in full swing andthey are expecting issues with H1N1. He willl have all those shotspretty soon, and we'll just have to figure out how to be home a littlemore and maybe not journey into the world quite as much as we havethis summer. We'll take that as we go, though, knowing that we dowhat we have to do.
Perhaps our best medical news comes from a different angle this month. We received word the other day that after a final round of tests EllaBrooks is completely clear of any of the possibilities that could cause any heart condition. I don't think i had realized how much that was weighing on my own heart until I heard Chris' teary words in the phone and burst out into tears myself. My poor friend Amy and the children who were riding in the car with me perhaps did not get it immediately, but, they all know i am a little nutty anyway. :)
We're doing well and hope the same for all of you. Thank you fortaking the time to still read about our journey. Thank you for your continued prayers. It has been such a joy to see many of you this summer.
love, Carrie
