Like Wendy, Like Alice

Y'all get the idear!  Now, I have to hurry up and squeeze Alice into all of the OTHER saved Wendy dresses ASAP!  These four were taken "on time," but the others, ahem, may not fit quite the same, if you know what I mean (I procrastinated), but it doesn't really matter much.  They're built so differently.  Wendy had these super long baby legs and Alice has a longer head!  They just look different!  Beauties in their own way!

Kids Update!

Wendy---
Ok, so our 8-year-old Wendy is at this very moment, taking the STAAR test at school!  Because she is anxious, like me, and because her teachers emphasized the importance of a good night's sleep before testing, she had difficulty falling asleep and awakened with a nightmare!  Predictably.  BUT!  She was cheerful and ready to go this morning!  She asked me to write a note in her lunch.  Of course I did!  And I filled it with goofy lettering and a fun picture of her blowing a bubble (because they get snacks and GUM during test days!)  Thursday will be fun for her as it's a camp-in day at school.  They get to bring a stuffed animal, blanket, pillow and books and relax after their test!
She is into, and when I say into, I mean INTO fairies!  She is a magical thinker and believes that they are real...and believes she is really one of them.  It's fun to see her creations around this house, all having to do with her fairy fantasy world.  There are drawings and stapled books complete with fairy lifestyle details.  It's really quite sweet.
She's such a reader, she of course asked us Sunday to go by the Half Price bookstore to get new chapter books for after she completes test sections this week.  She got about three Diary of a Wimpy Kid books..and a prank book, which when she used the key to unlock it and read it, got red glitter all over her hand, which she thought was just PERFECT!  Yesterday, our bedroom was rearranged, object-wise, with toilet paper wrapping my lampshade beside the bed, etc.  A prank for which she recruited Linc's help, and which "tricked" us parents!
Lately everyone comments on her height!  "Wendy is TALL!," they say!  It's true!  Thanks to James' grandmother and great aunt's genes!  Tall German women!
She just got her hair cut, and I allowed her to tell the stylist what she wanted!  She got "edgy" layered bangs that hang over her eye intentionally.  I asked to keep the length of the rest of her hair though, as it's thick and pretty!  So now she's really looking like a young Jody Foster to me.  It's dark blonde and she comes in all sweaty from the trampoline and with these wild layers over her eye!  (I kinda wanna clip it back!  AH!)
Lincoln, a few days ago when we reviewed them, had about 5-6 letters left to recognize.  We have worked on his letters, off and on, taking 6 month breaks when he had NO interest earlier on, since he was three.  Wendy picked them up freakishly early and so read early, but Linc is not wired to identify his letters with ease, for some reason.  But.  BUT!!!  The boy understands math. 
Just this morning, he asks, "Mom, how many 2s are in 10?"  I answer, "5."  He goes, "So 20 times five is 100!"  A little while back he looked deep in thought in the car one day and he declares, "29 plus 5 is 34, RIGHT?!"  Another time he asks if 8 plus 8 is 16, and then he goes, "so 4 times 4 is 16!"  We don't know how he does it, but he does it in his head.  I don't think he could write it.  So along with this math mind, he's into Settlers of Catan, and after James explained it to him, he got it.  He enjoys board games, like his dad.
He's a good boy.  He's a dream boy.  He hugs EVERY woman we see out and about, if the opportunity presents!  He also hugs his little friends, both genders, at Sonshine school, speech and Power Sports, and he's popular among these little people!  Joshua's mom says he asks her if it's going to be a "Lincoln day?" and Carter, at Linc's party, said to me, "I'm Lincoln's BEST buddy!," while hugging him.  Soooooo sweet.
Alice, aka Ally Boo, aka Owlet M'toe.  She is still just super fond of other kids' attention, her brother and sister's in particular!  Linc loves to hold her and they snuggle their foreheads together and cuddle!  She crawls over to me if I'm sitting in a chair and kisses my leg!  If I'm also on the floor, sitting, she crawls over and lowers her forehead into my hands, as a little bow of love.  As I taxi her around on my hip, she spontaneously kisses my shoulder.  Daddy comes home, and she says, "Hi!" 
Her physical therapy is twice a month, and we work with her here at home, but it's slow going.  She's made progress though!  Since that first assessment, she learned how to get into a sitting position and learned to crawl properly.  I have seen her pull up to stand maybe twice, but it was very shaky! 
She is a RED HEAD!!!  More and more I get that confirmation from strangers who comment randomly, "Oh a ginger!"  "Look at that red hair!"  I.  love.  it.  So special she was born on St. Patrick's day and has this red hair!  Wow!
Well, I'm taking my little ginger with me to Aerofit here in a second, so I must pack my diaper bag and be gone! 
I'm so behind on posting recent pics from recent events so I'll try to catch up at some point, ah me, I have three kids and a lot going on all of the time!
James and I have become super involved with church (Sundays are full!), and it's a joy, and then I'm co-chair for VBS, trying to plan for homeschooling Wendy for 4th, and waiting to train to become Hermann Sons insurance agents!  And then there are other things going on as well.  We wait to hear the date of my dad's heart surgery, my folks continue to clean out Suzon's apartment and tie up her loose ends, and things are happening with James' job, and on and on and on! 
Doctor appointments are a big focus in recent times...I had to do lots for my nephrologist (2 24-hour collections, labs again, ultrasound, nutritionist, etc) and I hope to find out if lithotripsy damaged the vasculature of my kidney, causing my high blood pressure, which is what I just know happened.  If so, God's will, but it's been hard for me to get over it.  I need to know for sure.  Is my kidney making too much renin?  I think that's what I'll ask to test, if it hasn't been checked yet.  Ok, rabbit trail!  I am the worst!  MOM ADD!
Signing off for now, before this stream of consciousness goes all psychedelic on ya!

Baby Girls

This first shot is one I took of a friend's beautiful newborn.  Sigh...right?!

 The rest are of Alice wearing a dress and a bubble suit that Wendy wore! 

Life Lately

Well.  The Tanneberger Sickness Saga continues.  Since the last post on the subject, Alice has had two antibiotic treatments for a stubborn ear infection (one prescription we obtained visiting urgent care in La Vernia!), Wendy has had a virus and still has a lingering cough, and Friday I went to our urgent care and tested positive for Type A flu!  I also had kidney related symptoms so I received a shot in my rear to prevent pyelonephritis.  When I tell you it's embarrassing how often we're sick, I mean it!
In other news, Alice qualified for early childhood intervention physical therapy for a 3-month gross motor delay.  Three women came to assess her and found that she lacks upper body strength, balance but is otherwise on track in other areas of development.  So that is in the works-- just waiting for completion of paperwork.
I'm working on my second submission for the Messina Hof art competition.  The winning art will appear on the wine bottle labels, so we'll see if I place at all.
The theme is perceptions, and the rules are to feature their architecture in the style of a chosen artist, so my first effort was in the style of Vladimir the surrealist.
More updating and pics when I'm feeling better, lol, and the pics are moved to the external hard drive.  Lots more has happened, of course, including my nieces' baptism and communion, bday parties, church life (James is a deacon and I've also upped my involvement), etc.
Love ya and will catch up soon!

Weight Loss Progress

Before and After (Going Out)--Difference of 25 lbs.

Before and After (Side View)

(AND with the help of STITCH FIX!--Let me know if you want to try it, and I'll send you a referral!  I feel like at last I can dress like "A REAL Girl!"  I have NEVER before enjoyed jeans that FIT!)

Before and After (Working Out).  I was humiliated posing for the before pic.  That extra fluff everywhere.  UGH! 

I have the Zoolander face because again, I felt silly posing, BUT it does show that I've lost the poundage, and I want to encourage any viewers out there, that it can be done.  Just starve yourself!  Just kidding.  I was part of an amazing weight-loss group, led by my fabulously fit and beautiful friend, "C," who motivated me like crazy AND dished out, no pun intended, solid advice on losing the weight in a HEALTHY way.  I thought to myself, "calories in, calories out."  So!  I ate well, ate less, and burned more, by walking, primarily.  Honestly, if it hadn't been for this terrific friend, and her thoughtful encouragement, I wouldn't have done it, I bet.

Now...can I maintain?  Hmmm...I'm gonna try, y'all!  I did it this time WITHOUT Phentermine (which also works, but try the natural way first--easier to MAINTAIN long-term!)  And while I do still have "idiopathic hypertension," boo hoo, (I lament that fact), I am trying, and there is a sense of accomplishment in knowing I'm doing what I can, naturally, you know?  Maybe in time, my blood pressure problem will resolve.  I did go through a lot with the c-sec and kidney stone surgery...
Oh, by the way, the results of the 24-hour monitor--I have paroxysmal atrial contractions..like my dad.  Oh well!
Carry on!
One last thing.  My goal is 120 lbs.  So, I'm not there yet.  But it's great to have a goal.

Some Videos --Not sure why they're blurry? Ugh. Wish I were more technologically astute!

Please Pass the Wellness--and a Dash of Peace

So here's an example of how parenthood can be hard, or...how in life, we experience tests of our sanity!
As IF we haven't dealt with ENOUGH sickness in this ONE little family over a SHORT period of time, we are dealing with sickness anew!  But I think other families are getting hit hard by all this junk, too.
On the 21st, I took Alice in because of a diaper rash that nothing was clearing up (Not A&D, not Desitin, not Boudreaux's Butt Paste, not even the prescription ointment the pediatrician had prescribed during her well-baby appointment on the 14th, and not the foot fungus cream the nurse had called back to recommend when the former failed).  And because her cough concerned us.  Lungs were clear BUT she had a double ear infection, and now, perhaps this rash was folliculitis!  Ok!  Didn't know she had ear infection, but now that I think of it, I had wondered if she'd been digging into her little ears because each ear had a couple small little red dots, little wounds.  Poor Alice!  And a new cream was prescribed for the bootie area (and small area under one of her armpits!). 
Returning to the HEB pharmacist has become downright embarrassing!  They HAVE to wonder WHAT is up with this mom literally handing them new scripts seemingly every week.  For weeks and weeks.  For head lice, for flu, for ear infection for me, for wheezing in chest, for James' sinus infection, for Lincoln's barfarama stomache virus, for Wendy's upper respiratory infection, for....it's unreal.  And as embarrassing as it is to be "that strange woman in constant need of drugs," it's even harder to care for chronically afflicted kids and/or self!  It's the PITS! 
Making it even more lovely were the PA's words, "Now, this antibiotic for Alice causes diarrhea."  Great.  Big soupy poos on top of folliculitis that I'm trying desperately to heal!  "You might want to elevate one end of her mattress so that the drainage won't clog her head."  But my baby moves around her crib like a fish out of water, with her head at one end, and then the opposite end, in a corner, sometimes her legs get stuck in between slats, a problem we need to remedy with plexy glass!  "You may want to use a humidifier in her room."  Oh ok, yes, the humidifier that we recently bought, the one that warped the wood flooring in Lincoln's room, and the one that would no doubt destroy the hoard of family photos I have crammed into her closet and drawers?  "Warm and dirty water can cause folliculitis."  Ah.... We'd gotten into the habit of, "Honey, can you hand me the baby?  She needs a bath."  As I'm in the water, rushing to get ready for church.  Water a bit on warm side.  Why's it dirty?  Oh!  The bath products that I've allowed Wendy to use in excess for "spa day for Barbies!"  Oops.  My bad.  I CAUSED THIS!
So, that night I try the antibiotic.  No go.  She's a tired mess.  Ok, I'll start tomorrow.  The whole next day, three attempts, she vomits it all up each time.  With the food that I've struggled to get down her because "it must be taken with food."  Now, I'm worried about dehydration, her poor ears which cannot heal without this antibiotic, her pain, and her bootie.  I drive through the same pharmacy where I'm weird woman, and ask if he can sweeten her antibiotic.  Pharmacist says, "We don't sweeten.  We flavor."  Ok then, can you please flavor it?  See, I'm wondering if it's drainage that made her vomit or the dadgum nasty med!  He's rude, "what flavor?"  I dunno.  Whatever babies like?  "You have to tell me."  Strawberry?  Ok.
Get home and resume my efforts.  Entire day is worthless.
Call my kids' doctor's nurse, who might think I'm as needy and weird as the pharmacist.  She gives some info, I feel better and today, the 24th, has gone much better than yesterday, which was better than the flop day before.
So, second stressor for me:  On the 14th, at her well baby appt, Alice was diagnosed with gross motor delay.  She needs physical therapy.  I was given the names of two places which would receive the referrals.  The first place has a wait period of at least 2 months-- not enough therapists.  The second place processing us now but there's this whole family cost share thing and because we may not fit into the category that receives help, it may be unaffordable, but they say they'll work with us, so I'm hopeful!  But the financial aspect of how it works is so confusing.
Third stressor is a situation I feel might be reckless to mention on a blog.  I'm aware of possible consequences.  But!  It's HARD!  That's all I can say safely.  PRAY!
Ok, I love my family and friends who follow my blog, and I am thankful for your blogs, which I follow with interest.  It helps to know that as we grow in this life, we are not alone.  Throughout the trials and junk of life, there is hope, there is potential--to do the work of the One who is beyond our comprehension of wonderful.  So, carry on! 

Alice and Me

Update-
Yesterday Linc had his 5-year well child appt. and Alice had her 9-month well baby appt.  Alice isn't crawling, not pulling up to standing, and cannot get herself into a sitting position.  Dr. referred us to two kinds of physical therapy.  He asked if we have a family history of this..or that..mentioned neurology.  Lump in throat.  Had yesterday, the night and today to think about it. 
I was late walking.  15 months and 5 days according to my baby book.  Wendy was a little late walking--maybe 14 months, but she did take 3 steps at 13 months-ish.  Linc was a knee walker until 18 months, when he first walked like a human.  So.  We shall see. 
Here is how God is merciful.  Yesterday, Alice began to army crawl.  YES!  With that, at least she's already further ahead than she was!  So we shall find out what the therapist says.
Saw cardiologist today.  Echo and EKG normal.  Small murmur.  Strange sensations I feel regularly, that make me cough, and then they're over---sent home with a 24-hour monitor.  I look like a jellyfish!  See, hypertension had returned.  Frequent exercise and decent diet had resulted in pre-hypertension levels (without the med), but winter, sickness, etc, made us homebodies, and my blood pressure rose.  Took the labetalol.  :(  Now, I had a UTI and didn't know it until lab work showed it, so there is perhaps a tiny chance that had something to do with it, but eh.  Cardiologist said what others have said--I'm young to have hypertension, there usually is no reason for it to be found, but that with management, my prognosis is identical to someone without hypertension.  It's the feeling of being broken that I have to overcome, if that's the case.  I'm 36!
Interesting news--my father, while in the Navy, was told he was borderline.  They chose not to treat him because they didn't want to ground him over it.  They wanted him to fly.  Once he retired at 47, boom, on meds for it.  Hmmm..  So!  If it's hereditary, than WHY did it strike suddenly, for the FIRST time (no hypertension while big and huge and preggers?!), post-partum and following my kidney surgery (which was within days of delivering)?  So..next stop--nephrologist.  I have a referral.  Hoping it's some sort of scar tissue associated with kidneys, something that can be surgically corrected.  Would love to live my life, with my small kids, without any must-take drugs.  Side-effects?  I don't even know, but I know the Labetalol causes depression.  Great. 
It's okay.  Life throws these things and how we handle them is where God works on us, through us!  There is a motion to this life.  It isn't stagnant.  And there are challenges, as we know!

A Few More --Christmas

Look!  This was my coat when I was her age!  She doesn't like it, so will NOT wear it, but did for a pic!  I bet the same thing will happen with my wedding dress!

Illness Stinks

It started the morning of Dec. 13.  Linc emerged from his room.  "Happy birthday party day!"  He throws up.  We call to cancel bounce house set-up, let friends know not to come, and I pick up sheet cake, only to have it waste.  Poor boy is so sick, he opens presents later in the day, with slightly more spirit than he had all day--:(. We'd taken him to St. Joes, and he was dx'd with a secondary bacterial infection.  See, he'd been sick Thursday but appeared to have recovered.  Now he's on meds and party is to take place at some future point in time.  Because Christmas is next!
The 21st, his actual bday, we celebrate Christmas with the Reneau side at Uncle Chris and Aunt Tiffany's.  He gets a candy vending machine, fabulous, from Grandfolks, and gets a darling gum ball machine cake.

 

From there, big kids go to Mimi and Granddaddy's as James and I take Alice with us to outlets to shop.  On the 23rd, we return to take Wendy to Dr. Holmsten--upper respiratory infection.  The 24th, we (James, Linc and I) come down with the flu, and trip to ER confirms it.  Christmas Day, we are SO overcome with this virus.  Opening presents was a sort of twilight state experience.
We worried about my folks, but they want us there and assure us they've gotten shots.  But that night, we leave as we do not want to infect my brothers' families.  So, we miss seeing them the 26th, and go about the business of suffering the full 10 days.
We managed to dress the kids for a quickie Christmas pic--

So then!  James and I wind up returning to doctors (St Joes and I go to the Bryan clinic) and he's dx'd with a sinus infection and I'm dx'd with an ear infection and wheezing.  New prescriptions.
Fast forward to Jan. 9.  Wendy is scratching.  I discover a new (2nd time) head lice infestation!  As I am at HEB, filling the prior lice script, my doctor calls with my recent lab results--low iron, and I have a UTI!  So, I wait a little longer until my new antibiotic is filled (mind you, I finished my other antibiotic less than 24 hours before.)
All weekend long I duke it out with the lice, sanitize our home, again, email the school.
Seasonal affective disorder is real, but I can't help but wonder if winter bugs of all sorts are really to blame!!!
Below is the invitation to the party that shoulda been--

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 

 

 

 

A Poem. About Socks. By Me.

Ye widow socks galore,

Your sight I do abhor.

For trailing through my mind,

Each straggler I must find!

But lo the search is tough,

Cuz kids, they kick them off!

Sweet Babe in Matilda Jane (gift from Adria)

Thanksgiving!

We did not even plan for the girls to match so nicely!  Each dress had a turkey on the lower side! 

 Linc picked pecans by the basket!

On Grandpa's new dear stand.

Wendy made this!

For our 10th anniversary, Wendy created this all by herself!  She wrote it without help, and used the computer independently, too!  Wow!
I thought I had posted it already, but it looks like I hadn't, so here it is!  I just LOVE it!!!

Catching Up---Pics!

First, some PRAISES!  These blessings are foremost on my mind, y'all, because when God chooses to deliver us from things that are painful, it's just such a mercy.  First, I had some dental work done not long ago, and boy howdy, my teeth (underneath, it seemed) and jaw joints truly, truly hurt me for a long time following.  So much so that I returned to the dentist twice to get it checked out.  He thought maybe a tooth was cracked under the wedge of material involved in the restoration.  I mean, I tell ya, that was not a pleasant thought--next would be a more involved fix.  And I could not tell him WHICH tooth it was as my pain was all over!  Tylenol worked but would wear off, you know.  I waited and waited ---and prayed.  Now, it's been a nice long while with nada pain, and I'm over it, and I'm thankful for God's mercy. 

Second item was my high blood pressure.  It was super high after having Alice and my kidney stone surgery.  They'd ruled out renal hypertension and all that was left was the forced acceptance that this might be the new me.  Apparently, some women develop sudden onset hypertension after giving birth and never do get off the med.  I have been on Labetalol and have also been working hard to lose weight through eating clean and working out.  I have lost 10 lbs give or take.  With breastfeeding, I think it was harder to lose.  Anyway, I decided to stop taking the med to see if I still needed it, checking my bp with my home cuff.  I did see some highs but a LOT of lower numbers, too.  When I'd see a high combo, I'd sigh and take a pill.  But then one day, I noticed the fluctuation was wild.  I went to HEB to ask the pharmacist, since that's where my monitor came from, and while there, I checked it using their machine three times.  First reading was high but next two, after shopping, were considerably lower.  Anyway, pharmacist said swings are normal and due to lots of factors, but a first-thing in the am reading is a fair idea of what's going on.  Well, my am readings have been perfect!  And what's more, I'm seeing great bp throughout my days lately with NO highs in a while!  And this, OFF the med!  I think God may have delivered me from the bp now, and I'm so thankful!!!

Oh!  And James became a deacon officially this morning at church.  For that opportunity to serve, I am also thankful. 

 Chloe is one of my most cherished friends, and her daughter, one of Wendy's!  Here you can see that Alice is quite into her hair!

 Both James' and my parents came for the Renaissance Festival and even though it rained, we all still had a great time!

 After this first visit, Wendy had a field trip back!  I don't have pics from her school experience there, but she said she enjoyed it!  And then, below, James took me (and Alice, as she's breastfed) for my birthday!  This time, I got my first ever, very own costume!  It was special as I borrowed Aunt Karen's costume on the occasion of James' and my FIRST meeting--at the Renaissance Festival! 

 The art that I created in celebration of Fall holidays!  Featuring none other than the Tanneberger "triplets!"

 Halloween Night!

 Ummm...do not ask me what I was.  I don't know.  I was a mess of eyeliner, a spooky fascinator and some odd 80's style work out attire.  Why?!

 And at around the same time, Wendy dressed up as The Little Mermaid for her school's Book Character Day!

 Below, Reformation Night at our church.

 I talked Wendy into holding Jason's pet!!!

 Below are some portraits I've taken recently...

 And last but not least!  Nicole, Mary, Julie and I enjoyed our reunion in Fredericksburg!  Nicole got us two nights at Enchanted Porch and boy, was it nice!  I brought along Ally Boo and Julie brought along her much newer Scarlett.