Wednesday, September 30, 2009
beautiful fall day
A quick tuttle update on a beautiful fall afternoon! It is really too gorgeous to be inside on the computer, but Heath is napping and Ella Brooks could use a little down time before we head back outside...
We're doing very well!
Today we're packing for our annual trek to the Waterford Fair in my Nana's town in northern Virginia. The rain has stopped, hopefully, and we look forward to a great weekend away with my family.
It has been a few weeks of visits from family and friends--what fun! Uncle Jamie returned from Haiti for a few days tacked onto the end of his trip to southern Georgia representing MFK (Meds/Food for Kids, the organization he is working with in Haiti) for a Georgia peanut convention/farm tour. Our dear friends, Pen, Lindsey and Wells Peery came through town too, so we got to have a good short visit with them (and a little dance party for the kids!!). Bob came after school the same weekend and stayed for a couple days, and a great treat was that Aunt Diane (Bob's sister) was able to come down from Salem, VA, to see us as well. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Robert came over for dinner...My Aunt Nancy was able to come visit on Monday--and we got to have a good visit with she and my cousins Margaret and Rodger at my mom's house too. Then, Aunt Jo (Strow's sister) came into town on Thursday and we had a fun lunch date with her too. Wow--does that make you tired? During that weekend/week, several people said, "wait, you mean you have a different family member here now?" It was actually a FABULOUS time with everyone!!! Never a dull moment in the Tuttle household, that is for sure.
Our friend Rodger Nishioka was here doing a "spiritual enrichment weekend" at Westminster (he had been signed up for this for a couple years, actually), so we got to see him and catch up on all the fun happenings at columbia. Even Rodger was unable to escape the lovely Tuttle evening dance party...although he only had to watch.
Perhaps we are also getting all our visits in now as we prepare for flu season. Apparently the flu is running rampant around this area. Reality has begun to sink in that it is about time to start to hunker down for flu season with Heath. That is particularly tricky because the sweet guy is about the biggest extrovert I have met in quite some time!! (and you know me--that is saying something!) He doesn't meet a stranger. I just have to figure out how to say, "please don't touch the sweet toddler who is trying to talk to you..." We probably won't stay in quite as much as last winter, but we've already stopped taking him to church or to pick EB up at school or putting him in too many shopping carts.
Ella Brooks taught Heath how to say, "poo poo," for which I am so grateful (very sarcastic). Ah, older siblings. It is actually pretty funny, so I am trying to master the fine art of the "parent sternly saying "no" and hiding how tickled your child has made you. Thankfully, right now he is pretty obsessed the word "ball," so I can distract him easily. He has a VERY LOUD VOICE and yells at people from our screened porch. He is pretty hilarious. I wish you all could see him in action.
That, believe it or not, is my update. No sickness, no heart caths. I hope all updates can be as normal (well, its all relative when it comes to our family, but you know what I mean...)
love, carrie
We're doing very well!
Today we're packing for our annual trek to the Waterford Fair in my Nana's town in northern Virginia. The rain has stopped, hopefully, and we look forward to a great weekend away with my family.
It has been a few weeks of visits from family and friends--what fun! Uncle Jamie returned from Haiti for a few days tacked onto the end of his trip to southern Georgia representing MFK (Meds/Food for Kids, the organization he is working with in Haiti) for a Georgia peanut convention/farm tour. Our dear friends, Pen, Lindsey and Wells Peery came through town too, so we got to have a good short visit with them (and a little dance party for the kids!!). Bob came after school the same weekend and stayed for a couple days, and a great treat was that Aunt Diane (Bob's sister) was able to come down from Salem, VA, to see us as well. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Robert came over for dinner...My Aunt Nancy was able to come visit on Monday--and we got to have a good visit with she and my cousins Margaret and Rodger at my mom's house too. Then, Aunt Jo (Strow's sister) came into town on Thursday and we had a fun lunch date with her too. Wow--does that make you tired? During that weekend/week, several people said, "wait, you mean you have a different family member here now?" It was actually a FABULOUS time with everyone!!! Never a dull moment in the Tuttle household, that is for sure.
Our friend Rodger Nishioka was here doing a "spiritual enrichment weekend" at Westminster (he had been signed up for this for a couple years, actually), so we got to see him and catch up on all the fun happenings at columbia. Even Rodger was unable to escape the lovely Tuttle evening dance party...although he only had to watch.
Perhaps we are also getting all our visits in now as we prepare for flu season. Apparently the flu is running rampant around this area. Reality has begun to sink in that it is about time to start to hunker down for flu season with Heath. That is particularly tricky because the sweet guy is about the biggest extrovert I have met in quite some time!! (and you know me--that is saying something!) He doesn't meet a stranger. I just have to figure out how to say, "please don't touch the sweet toddler who is trying to talk to you..." We probably won't stay in quite as much as last winter, but we've already stopped taking him to church or to pick EB up at school or putting him in too many shopping carts.
Ella Brooks taught Heath how to say, "poo poo," for which I am so grateful (very sarcastic). Ah, older siblings. It is actually pretty funny, so I am trying to master the fine art of the "parent sternly saying "no" and hiding how tickled your child has made you. Thankfully, right now he is pretty obsessed the word "ball," so I can distract him easily. He has a VERY LOUD VOICE and yells at people from our screened porch. He is pretty hilarious. I wish you all could see him in action.
That, believe it or not, is my update. No sickness, no heart caths. I hope all updates can be as normal (well, its all relative when it comes to our family, but you know what I mean...)
love, carrie
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Carrie signs on!
hello dear friends.
i finally told my dear friends Sarah Beth Christie that i thought i was ready to take over the blog writing, and we realized that there wasn't really a way to switch it to Carrie Tuttle without losing all the posts of the past, so she has allowed me to take over being "Sarah Beth Christie."
so I am writing this from the dining room table in a very quiet house. i shouldn't say that, though, because inevitably one of my wonderful children will wake the moment i post...and the quiet will end.
we are celebrating that we have just gotten news today that the biopsy of the heart that was taken during the cath on thursday looked good! we already knew on thursday that the pressures and numbers taken during the cath were trending just the way the cardiologist want them to go, so we are very happy about that.
we are also learning a little more about the ups and downs that will come along the way. as we celebrate the heart being in great shape and getting through the cath, we have been dealing with a tummy that just won't work quite right. After taking an extra antibiotic about 4 weeks ago to fend off a potential infection with his cough, Heath started having tummy troubles. It continued, and after all sorts of tests and long nights up and not having much more than white bread and pedialyte for a long time, it seems now that it might actually be caused by one of his medications. We had been warned that this could happen periodically, even if no meds had changed. So we have our ups and downs. As our wonderful pediatrician said this week (after one of many, many phone calls trying to figure his issues out), heath is just probably always going to take longer to deal with these sorts of things than most of us. We rejoice in a healthy heart, though, and with that we'll take each day as it comes.
Ella brooks has LOVED being back in school at Westminster. She is going 5 mornings a week, and tonight was making us all sing the "wake up song" as we were trying to get her to do the opposite. She is pretty hilarious these days with her "almost 4" self. She has been a very sweet sister to Heath--even eating some of the BRAT diet just so he would follow his big sister!
Heath is talking without actually saying words that we understand. He is so demonstrative that you pretty much know exactly what he is trying to say, though. He is a funny guy--right now "DADDY" is said all the time with great inflection, which I personally LOVE in the middle of the night when he wakes up! I roll over and say, "um, Chris, your son is calling you..." :)
He said "water" the other day and "ball" is heard loud and clear in the neighborhood. He waves at every car that passes our house--which is pretty hilarious. Step by step. Deep breaths and good laughs along the way, without nearly as many tears. We'll take that!
we've had some great visits with our friend Mindy and our friends Gair, Rick and David. We have so much enjoyed our great neighbors--and being the house where the bus stops, so the kids can play, play, play together. Life is good.
As we have thought a little more about where we are right now, we realize that we would be in a much tougher place without the good health insurance that we are provided through the PCUSA. During this tough time of debate and questions about health care reform, i urge you to pay attention to the debate and think of all the people with illnesses as dire as Heath's who go untreated or people who go bankrupt trying to save their children. We met them; sat alongside them every day in the hospital. Ours has not been an easy road, but there are many more people in this country who struggle every day to pay for meds or treatment.
ok, enough. blessings to you all.
carrie
will post more pics soon.
i finally told my dear friends Sarah Beth Christie that i thought i was ready to take over the blog writing, and we realized that there wasn't really a way to switch it to Carrie Tuttle without losing all the posts of the past, so she has allowed me to take over being "Sarah Beth Christie."
so I am writing this from the dining room table in a very quiet house. i shouldn't say that, though, because inevitably one of my wonderful children will wake the moment i post...and the quiet will end.
we are celebrating that we have just gotten news today that the biopsy of the heart that was taken during the cath on thursday looked good! we already knew on thursday that the pressures and numbers taken during the cath were trending just the way the cardiologist want them to go, so we are very happy about that.
we are also learning a little more about the ups and downs that will come along the way. as we celebrate the heart being in great shape and getting through the cath, we have been dealing with a tummy that just won't work quite right. After taking an extra antibiotic about 4 weeks ago to fend off a potential infection with his cough, Heath started having tummy troubles. It continued, and after all sorts of tests and long nights up and not having much more than white bread and pedialyte for a long time, it seems now that it might actually be caused by one of his medications. We had been warned that this could happen periodically, even if no meds had changed. So we have our ups and downs. As our wonderful pediatrician said this week (after one of many, many phone calls trying to figure his issues out), heath is just probably always going to take longer to deal with these sorts of things than most of us. We rejoice in a healthy heart, though, and with that we'll take each day as it comes.
Ella brooks has LOVED being back in school at Westminster. She is going 5 mornings a week, and tonight was making us all sing the "wake up song" as we were trying to get her to do the opposite. She is pretty hilarious these days with her "almost 4" self. She has been a very sweet sister to Heath--even eating some of the BRAT diet just so he would follow his big sister!
Heath is talking without actually saying words that we understand. He is so demonstrative that you pretty much know exactly what he is trying to say, though. He is a funny guy--right now "DADDY" is said all the time with great inflection, which I personally LOVE in the middle of the night when he wakes up! I roll over and say, "um, Chris, your son is calling you..." :)
He said "water" the other day and "ball" is heard loud and clear in the neighborhood. He waves at every car that passes our house--which is pretty hilarious. Step by step. Deep breaths and good laughs along the way, without nearly as many tears. We'll take that!
we've had some great visits with our friend Mindy and our friends Gair, Rick and David. We have so much enjoyed our great neighbors--and being the house where the bus stops, so the kids can play, play, play together. Life is good.
As we have thought a little more about where we are right now, we realize that we would be in a much tougher place without the good health insurance that we are provided through the PCUSA. During this tough time of debate and questions about health care reform, i urge you to pay attention to the debate and think of all the people with illnesses as dire as Heath's who go untreated or people who go bankrupt trying to save their children. We met them; sat alongside them every day in the hospital. Ours has not been an easy road, but there are many more people in this country who struggle every day to pay for meds or treatment.
ok, enough. blessings to you all.
carrie
will post more pics soon.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Heart Cath on Sept. 10
Just a quick update to let everyone know that Heath is scheduled for a heart cath. tomorrow. Please keep Heath and everyone in your prayers that this new "routine" is simply that...routine.
Blessings, Gran Sarah
Blessings, Gran Sarah
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 30 Update
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
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 13 Update
A great update from the Tuttles....
Hi Gran Sarah--
I am sitting at the kitchen table listening to Heath yell (he is still not quite talking yet, so it sounds like a mix of sounds and names) and run around, occasionally yelling myself, "Heath Tuttle, get out of the dog water!!!" (that seems to be his most fun new hobby--dog water splashing--yes, he is a regular child!!). I just downloaded a ton of pictures and realized that I hadn't written a blog update recently!
All of the Tuttles are doing very well. As you wrote after our visit to Burlington, they were so impressed with Heath's progress at his appointment a couple weeks ago, that we don't even have a heart cath date because they weren't very concerned about needing one immediately! YEAH! He is a busy, busy guy. You can tell he understand everything (read: turns around and smiles and walks away for a few minutes when i yell to get out of the dog water) but he is still not talking a ton. No one is concerned, but we are going to go ahead and do a little speech therapy to maybe help jump start the process. I am pretty sure that one day he is just going to look at me and say a complete sentence. He still only has 2 teeth, which is a little funny-looking for an 18-month-old, but not too much of a big deal. We are going to take him to a pediatric dentist to make sure all is well in the teeth department. BUT, if those are our two major issues, we'll take them!!!
He is hilarious. He is such an extrovert. When we go to Costco or another store, he just waves at strangers until they see him and wave back. It is amazing to see the smiles on their faces, and they don't even know what a miracle he really is...And he is a climber, like his Uncle Jamie was at his age, which makes for a little stress for whomever is supposed to be watching him. All in all, you would never know what he has been through if you didnt' see that little scar peeking out from under his shirt. That works for me.
We have had quite a busy summer for people who thought that they would be house-bound with an immune-suppressed child. I sent a bunch of pictures that capture what we've been up to so far. You can see him giving his Bop (Chris' wonderful 97-year-old grandfather in Black Mountain!) a high-five. We've been to Black Mountain a few times to see Chris' family and also several of our best friends and their children who were at Montreat for various reasons...We got to meet baby Sam Lamar for the first time. My college roommate, Page, and her kids were at her mom's house in Greensboro down from Connecticut, so we made the drive over to see them, which was a great day. We have enjoyed playing in our new yard with lots of friends. We were so sorry to have missed Mimi and Papa (Chris' parents) stint as the Grand Marshalls of the Montreat 4th of July Parade. We couldn't make it work to get there, but we were thrilled to have a wonderful visit from our great friends the Oedys! Yard projects have begun with a huge mountain of mulch (as you see in one picture) that was delivered by an enormous dump truck that made Ella Brooks' day. I was even able to serve as liturgist with Chris at Westminster on July 5--which was my first time back in worship leadership since October, and it was really nice.
Chris is in the middle of a DMin class with Barbara Brown Taylor at Columbia Seminary in Decatur. He is enjoying the class, and perhaps a little extra sleep, but I think he misses his crew at home! He came home this weekend to see us and got caught in my fury of car research & shopping (his car died the day before we moved to our new house in May), and after spending all day on Saturday looking, we purchased a "very cool" used Honda Odyssey. So, yes, my odyssey as an at-home mom continues with a vengence! :) We'll get to have a quick family trip this weekend, and then Ella Brooks and I are off to Nags Head to the Miller/Rhoads family beach trip, while Chris returns here with Heath and his mom comes to take care of him.
Speaking of the care of children, I am constantly reminded that it has truly taken a very large village to get us to the great place where we are right now. From my best buddy from high school, Wendy, coming for the moving weekend (can you imagine volunteering to come visit to MOVE someone??--she is awesome) to our wonderful families, I am so grateful I don't ever know how to say "thank you." Sarah Edgecombe (Chris' sister) stayed with us ALL last week and endured my nutty car shopping and gave me the courage to work on our children's sleep issues. My mom, strow, nana and uncle jamie (who is coming home from Haiti for a month TONIGHT!!!) are now taking a turn of helping us for this week. Chris' mom is coming next week to stay with Chris and Heath while EB and I take a little vacation...so many people make it possible for us to function. I tell you this, I also have a great new respect for single parents--I don't know how they do it on a day in, day out basis.
As i believe we wrote in another blog update, Heath and Olivia got to meet finally (she was his roommate in the PICU who we have talked so much about). There is a picture of that too and one with Ella Brooks and Whitney, one of the awesome physical therapists at Duke. Olivia was able to go home to western NC this past week and is doing well. Hooray! I ran into Chad Stewart, one of the wonderful cardiologists who cared for Heath during his hospitalization, the other day. In fact, Chad was the on-call fellow the day that Heath crashed and ended up on life support. It was so good to see him! We also saw Michelle, one of the ecmo techs who took care of Heath ALOT, at Target last week. Oh, we love our friends from Duke. it is amazing how much like family they feel...I guess they should after all they have done for us.
I am thinking about my Burlington youth who are at Montreat this week. I hope they are having a wonderful time. I love those folks!
Ok, i just realized that it is time for Ella Brooks to be AT school. Those of you who know me well, know that it is the same as usual (late--trying to do too many things!). Some things never change.
love to you all,
carrie
I am sitting at the kitchen table listening to Heath yell (he is still not quite talking yet, so it sounds like a mix of sounds and names) and run around, occasionally yelling myself, "Heath Tuttle, get out of the dog water!!!" (that seems to be his most fun new hobby--dog water splashing--yes, he is a regular child!!). I just downloaded a ton of pictures and realized that I hadn't written a blog update recently!
All of the Tuttles are doing very well. As you wrote after our visit to Burlington, they were so impressed with Heath's progress at his appointment a couple weeks ago, that we don't even have a heart cath date because they weren't very concerned about needing one immediately! YEAH! He is a busy, busy guy. You can tell he understand everything (read: turns around and smiles and walks away for a few minutes when i yell to get out of the dog water) but he is still not talking a ton. No one is concerned, but we are going to go ahead and do a little speech therapy to maybe help jump start the process. I am pretty sure that one day he is just going to look at me and say a complete sentence. He still only has 2 teeth, which is a little funny-looking for an 18-month-old, but not too much of a big deal. We are going to take him to a pediatric dentist to make sure all is well in the teeth department. BUT, if those are our two major issues, we'll take them!!!
He is hilarious. He is such an extrovert. When we go to Costco or another store, he just waves at strangers until they see him and wave back. It is amazing to see the smiles on their faces, and they don't even know what a miracle he really is...And he is a climber, like his Uncle Jamie was at his age, which makes for a little stress for whomever is supposed to be watching him. All in all, you would never know what he has been through if you didnt' see that little scar peeking out from under his shirt. That works for me.
We have had quite a busy summer for people who thought that they would be house-bound with an immune-suppressed child. I sent a bunch of pictures that capture what we've been up to so far. You can see him giving his Bop (Chris' wonderful 97-year-old grandfather in Black Mountain!) a high-five. We've been to Black Mountain a few times to see Chris' family and also several of our best friends and their children who were at Montreat for various reasons...We got to meet baby Sam Lamar for the first time. My college roommate, Page, and her kids were at her mom's house in Greensboro down from Connecticut, so we made the drive over to see them, which was a great day. We have enjoyed playing in our new yard with lots of friends. We were so sorry to have missed Mimi and Papa (Chris' parents) stint as the Grand Marshalls of the Montreat 4th of July Parade. We couldn't make it work to get there, but we were thrilled to have a wonderful visit from our great friends the Oedys! Yard projects have begun with a huge mountain of mulch (as you see in one picture) that was delivered by an enormous dump truck that made Ella Brooks' day. I was even able to serve as liturgist with Chris at Westminster on July 5--which was my first time back in worship leadership since October, and it was really nice.
Chris is in the middle of a DMin class with Barbara Brown Taylor at Columbia Seminary in Decatur. He is enjoying the class, and perhaps a little extra sleep, but I think he misses his crew at home! He came home this weekend to see us and got caught in my fury of car research & shopping (his car died the day before we moved to our new house in May), and after spending all day on Saturday looking, we purchased a "very cool" used Honda Odyssey. So, yes, my odyssey as an at-home mom continues with a vengence! :) We'll get to have a quick family trip this weekend, and then Ella Brooks and I are off to Nags Head to the Miller/Rhoads family beach trip, while Chris returns here with Heath and his mom comes to take care of him.
Speaking of the care of children, I am constantly reminded that it has truly taken a very large village to get us to the great place where we are right now. From my best buddy from high school, Wendy, coming for the moving weekend (can you imagine volunteering to come visit to MOVE someone??--she is awesome) to our wonderful families, I am so grateful I don't ever know how to say "thank you." Sarah Edgecombe (Chris' sister) stayed with us ALL last week and endured my nutty car shopping and gave me the courage to work on our children's sleep issues. My mom, strow, nana and uncle jamie (who is coming home from Haiti for a month TONIGHT!!!) are now taking a turn of helping us for this week. Chris' mom is coming next week to stay with Chris and Heath while EB and I take a little vacation...so many people make it possible for us to function. I tell you this, I also have a great new respect for single parents--I don't know how they do it on a day in, day out basis.
As i believe we wrote in another blog update, Heath and Olivia got to meet finally (she was his roommate in the PICU who we have talked so much about). There is a picture of that too and one with Ella Brooks and Whitney, one of the awesome physical therapists at Duke. Olivia was able to go home to western NC this past week and is doing well. Hooray! I ran into Chad Stewart, one of the wonderful cardiologists who cared for Heath during his hospitalization, the other day. In fact, Chad was the on-call fellow the day that Heath crashed and ended up on life support. It was so good to see him! We also saw Michelle, one of the ecmo techs who took care of Heath ALOT, at Target last week. Oh, we love our friends from Duke. it is amazing how much like family they feel...I guess they should after all they have done for us.
I am thinking about my Burlington youth who are at Montreat this week. I hope they are having a wonderful time. I love those folks!
Ok, i just realized that it is time for Ella Brooks to be AT school. Those of you who know me well, know that it is the same as usual (late--trying to do too many things!). Some things never change.
love to you all,
carrie
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday Surprise!
Summer Greetings Folks!
Just a note about Monday's wonderful suprise. Carrie called me this morning and she and the "babies" were able to stop by the church today! Of course we were all thrilled to see them! It took Genie and I both to keep up with Heath and Ella Brooks-what two busy little folks! Whew! We enjoyed seeing the new building spaces together(particularly the youth spaces that Carrie envisioned-especially the stage in the Sr. High room!). Ella Brooks insisted on going to a "classroom"- a.k.a. her old daycare classrooms. We carefully did a "drive thru" in CDC with Heath in a stroller so we didn't pick up any "bugs"! Better safe...
The best part of the day is to see Heath looking so well and walking so fast his little chubby cheeks wobble when he walks! Ella Brooks was quite the great big sister - sharing her goldfish crackers with her little brother. What a great sight!
It was also great to hear that the Tuttles love their new home, all the wonderful space and enjoy being the proud owners of only ONE home!
Carrie reports that Heath is doing so well that his next heart cath. looks like it will be not be as soon as the doctors expected. The doctors felt like Heath was doing so well that the heart cath. could wait!
We all enjoyed a great visit today. Now matter how long the Tuttles can stay it somehow seems too short a visit! Thanks Carrie, Ella Brooks and Heath for stopping by-we always love seeing you. "Gran Sarah" just never gets enough of those sweet babies!
Blessings,
A very happy "Gran Sarah"
Just a note about Monday's wonderful suprise. Carrie called me this morning and she and the "babies" were able to stop by the church today! Of course we were all thrilled to see them! It took Genie and I both to keep up with Heath and Ella Brooks-what two busy little folks! Whew! We enjoyed seeing the new building spaces together(particularly the youth spaces that Carrie envisioned-especially the stage in the Sr. High room!). Ella Brooks insisted on going to a "classroom"- a.k.a. her old daycare classrooms. We carefully did a "drive thru" in CDC with Heath in a stroller so we didn't pick up any "bugs"! Better safe...
The best part of the day is to see Heath looking so well and walking so fast his little chubby cheeks wobble when he walks! Ella Brooks was quite the great big sister - sharing her goldfish crackers with her little brother. What a great sight!
It was also great to hear that the Tuttles love their new home, all the wonderful space and enjoy being the proud owners of only ONE home!
Carrie reports that Heath is doing so well that his next heart cath. looks like it will be not be as soon as the doctors expected. The doctors felt like Heath was doing so well that the heart cath. could wait!
We all enjoyed a great visit today. Now matter how long the Tuttles can stay it somehow seems too short a visit! Thanks Carrie, Ella Brooks and Heath for stopping by-we always love seeing you. "Gran Sarah" just never gets enough of those sweet babies!
Blessings,
A very happy "Gran Sarah"
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