October Update

Happy Fall! This is our favorite time of year... the air is getting crisp, the leaves are falling. But it's really busy at the Tanner house right now. Here's a quick update:

Steve is busy finishing everything to have kitchen cabinets installed a week before Thanksgiving. We are moving our kitchen into what used to be the TV room, but the room needed new outlets installed, the windows shortened, a little drywall work, the walls repainted, and floor stained. So no big deal :). He started painting last night and should finish soon, the floor and lighting is all that's left before the cabinets can be installed. Then he also has to do the plumbing for the sink and wiring up the outlets.

I am taking 9 credit hours (3 classes) for my MBA program. One is an internship that I a doing through my current job, so that one isn't too much extra work. I have two research papers due the same week the cabinets get installed (of course), so I am rushing to get one finished up and the other started. I then have a financial plan and 3rd research paper due right after Thanksgiving and two finals the week after. Greg & Kasey get married the week after that, then it's two weeks before Alex turns one and Christmas. So no slowing down until the new year. As far as school goes after this semester, I am taking two classes this spring and two in the summer and I will be done. I should officially graduate in August 2009, so I am getting close to being done!

Miss Alex is doing well. We've had some health concerns to deal with, but I don't think anything that will have long-term effects (hopefully). She has had ongoing tummy problems since she was born, but we think she is diagnosed correctly now with a milk protein intolerance, which most kids grow out of around their 1st birthday (only two months away!). The problem is she cannot have any dairy or meat in the meantime, so she has gained less than 1 pound since she was 6 months old. She is off the bottom of the growth chart for her age, so her doctor is concerned. We are working to get more calories in her, and she's going to see a pediatric dietitian the week of Thanksgiving for a consultation. Hopefully they can give us some good recommendations, because I'm at a loss for what to give her. Fruit, veggies, grains, and formula aren't really calorie-packed foods. The doctor also detected a bit of a heart murmur last time we were there, so we have to take her to get an echo done. Good chance this is nothing, it's a fairly common occurrence, but we need to get it checked out now just to be sure.
Besides all the health stuff, she is doing great. She stands up without holding onto anything or even using hands for assistance. She will be sitting with her bottom on the floor with nothing around her and just pop up. She stands and plays with a toy or something for even 3-4 minutes, and then sits back down. She has no interest in taking a step though. But she is a fast crawler, so we really aren't encouraging her to figure out how to walk either!

Sorry for the infrequent posts. As you can tell by the little run-down, there's a lot going on right now... even more than the highlights even mention. I'll continue to try keeping everyone updated at least monthly or so, and we'll definitely have new pictures posted as they become available.