2/2--More sock puppets--a frog for Makenna and a princess ballerina for Avery. They both designed theirs, I just put them together. Avery was quite particular about all the bows and bells. And, of course, the princess had to kiss the frog!
2/3--The things my silly girls do:
2/5--In their room--blankets, tons of stuff animals (OF COURSE!), sea shells, toys, kitchen stools, balloons, keyboard, you name it!
2/6--For my beautiful, sweetest-ever niece. Please read to bring awareness to Turner Syndrome so it can be diagnosed in a timely manner and potentially save a life.
The lack of a complete second X chromosome prevents the female’s body from maturing normally, which is why most women are diagnosed around the onset of puberty. The most universal symptom is short stature; untreated girls rarely grow over five feet tall.
Other symptoms include a broad chest, late onset of puberty, fertility challenges, heart defects, recurring ear infections and social challenges. A woman with TS may exhibit any combination of these symptoms, and no woman will exhibit them in exactly the same way. It should also be noted that women with TS display normal intelligence distributions and are capable of achieving at high levels.
Women can be diagnosed with TS at any point using a karyotype after genetic testing or before birth through amniocentesis. Early diagnosis is key to combating some of the more pernicious effects of the condition, making the education of parents and physicians essential.
The most widely used treatments include growth hormones and estrogen replacement therapy. Growth hormones, when administered at a young age, allow most women to reach near average height. Estrogen replacement therapy encourages the onset of puberty and helps with key brain development. These treatments have made a huge difference in the lives of women with Turner Syndrome, but researchers continue to develop better options with the support of organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States.
The most recent advances include an article published by Dr. Judith Ross in the New England Journal of Medicine. Ross’s research found that a combination of two hormones dramatically increases the height of women with TS. It was also recently determined that the risk of aortic dissection in women with TS is often significant enough to prevent a safe pregnancy. An aortic dissection is the tearing of a major artery leading out of the heart, and it is almost always fatal. As a result, even women whose ovaries are developed enough to facilitate conception are often unable to carry pregnancies to term. The connection between cardiology and Turner Syndrome means that any advances in cardiac care are also advances in the treatment of TS.
The Turner Syndrome Society of the United States is the most influential Turner Syndrome advocacy organization in the United States. Each year, it organizes a national conference where girls and women from around the country can meet others who understand the unique challenges of living with TS. This conference is also an opportunity for parents, spouses and siblings to get the support that they need.
These efforts go a long way toward building a vibrant community of Turners women and those who love them. For more information about Turner Syndrome, or to contribute to ongoing research, visitwww.turnersyndrome.org.
2/8--We had parent/teacher conferences today and got their 100th day of school books that they each did.Their teacher used an app to make them look old. 🤣
Avery's:
Makenna's:
Mrs. Redd told us Makenna is reading beyond what they test for in 1st grade! Avery is already at level 20 (above average); they only test to level 26 for 1st graders. They are both great students and Mrs. Redd is always telling me how cute and sweet they both are. 😊
2/10--I took the girls and a friend (our new neighbor, who moved from one street over and built in the lot next to us) to the kids museum Saturday evening, then we went and used a gift card at Smashburger (yummy but slow).
2/13--Missing home, the food, the fun today! My friend, Kellee Reilly, brought a mini cream cheese king cake to me the day before and I picked up some cream cheese and pecan praline king cake from Kiki the next day.
Oh, man! I was REALLY holding my breathe during Shaun White's last run! Amazing! I LOVE the Olympics!!!
VALENTINE'S DAY--The girls told me exactly what they wanted on each of their Valentine boxes (unicorn for Avery and panda for Makenna). I had to make them because it required hot glue.
I painted the girls' nails the previous night and added some cute Valentine's nail stickers and the little Valentine presents I bought from the PTA on parent/teacher night were delivered to them in class that day (plush owls and mini heart stamps).
They were so excited to bring their boxes to school!
They had a lot of fun at their class party, at which I did the Conversation Heart Bingo.
Conversation Hearts Bingo:
Valentine's Day word search:
Conversation Hearts stacking game:
Decorating cookies:
Putting valentine's in their classmates' boxes:
As soon as they got home from school, a friend delivered a valentine to them right as we were fixin' to leave to deliver valentines to their neighbor friends, so the three of them ran off to deliver valentines together.
Jared gave the three of us balloons filled with confetti and candy that we had to pop (so fun to pop!), then I gave them little boxes of chocolates, like I do every year. They also got to open their Valentine boxes and see everything they got from their classmates.
For dinner, we ate heart shaped pizza and cheesy bread sticks and Grandpa came over.
