Heath started making noise in the monitor at 5 a.m., and then he went back to sleep. My brain, however, woke up in a big way...don't you love it when that happens??We've been busy in the last month, and I suddenly allowed myself to think about what day it is: Heath Tuttle is 4 years old today!!
Sometimes I remember that day like it was yesterday. Sometimes it feels like a million miles away, lost in a fog of what happened at his nine month well-check and after. I have realized recently that that it is not fair to him, or to ourselves, to live too much into this "before the fall, after the fall" mindset, at least when it comes to our family. We're working really hard on living as normally as possible (emphasis on "possible" by the way).
Sometimes I remember that day like it was yesterday. Sometimes it feels like a million miles away, lost in a fog of what happened at his nine month well-check and after. I have realized recently that that it is not fair to him, or to ourselves, to live too much into this "before the fall, after the fall" mindset, at least when it comes to our family. We're working really hard on living as normally as possible (emphasis on "possible" by the way).
Right now that consists of working on Heath's willfulness, which has been pretty spectacular in recent weeks. Several members of my family have stiffled wry smiles with funny little comments about "payback is hell..." We had good visits with lots of family for the holidays--and made it though quite a bit of travel with no illness, save Chris' stomach bug on Christmas eve/day (see the recent pics where self-proclaimed "Super Fix" was making his debut & holding Santa's cookie/reindeer carrots).
Now we're kicking off the year getting back to school and routine (daddy just turned in his draft of his DMin final project!!! yippee!). We're trying to help Heath work on the new year's "resolutions" that we have made for him--to get rid of diapers and several other "baby" things that he is adamant about KEEPING (is it fair to make resolutions for your children?? :). Exhibit A: He just woke up and I said, "Happy Birthday, big guy!" To which he answered, "But not too big to sleep in my crib. I will sleep in that big boy bed when I am bigger than daddy!" Awesome. that could be a long, long time, buddy.
Medically, he's doing pretty well. We're still really struggling to get him to wear his boot, and although the botox seems to have helped with his range of motion, he still has periodic bouts of leg pain at night. We had some funny bloodwork results in mid-december, but it turned out to be a medicine interaction issue, and all of that stuff is ironed out. All the other tests came back looking GREAT! We'll do his annual cath late feb./early march. Other than that, we keep plodding along, working on all those other glorious things I have already mentioned, trying to balance expectations about helping him be as "normal" as possible but also realizing that sometimes that is not completely realistic given what he has been through in his short life.
Medically, he's doing pretty well. We're still really struggling to get him to wear his boot, and although the botox seems to have helped with his range of motion, he still has periodic bouts of leg pain at night. We had some funny bloodwork results in mid-december, but it turned out to be a medicine interaction issue, and all of that stuff is ironed out. All the other tests came back looking GREAT! We'll do his annual cath late feb./early march. Other than that, we keep plodding along, working on all those other glorious things I have already mentioned, trying to balance expectations about helping him be as "normal" as possible but also realizing that sometimes that is not completely realistic given what he has been through in his short life.Our dear friends, David and Deanna, came to Greensboro a short time after Heath was born and took the pictures at the top of this post. Wow--4 years ago. And look at my sweet girl--so precious. He's looking up at her, as he still does each day. Heath just asked, "Is that me? Who is that girl holding me??" Then he said (sort of like he was old man asking a rhetorical question to himself), "when did I get so big?" I keep asking myself the same question, but I sure am happy you are so big, buddy.
And then we had a pretty hilarious exchange about babies drinking mommy milk, which i will spare you. :)
Here's hoping your day is full of good things. We are grateful for your love, support & prayers all along this crazy journey. I am going to join my fella in the dance that he's doing right now.
Here's hoping your day is full of good things. We are grateful for your love, support & prayers all along this crazy journey. I am going to join my fella in the dance that he's doing right now.
blessings, carrie
