This summer has been crammed full of family time: two whole weeks of Daddy time, every single day with mummy and H, and a week in Cornwall with my family. G has absolutely ADORED this. For her - family is everything, and various health professionals have gone as far as to suggest she struggles with separation anxiety. So 6 weeks and 2 days down the line, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that G’s greatest angst is the return to school.
As routine is key, and change is the enemy, the start of a new school year is always going to be a tricky one to navigate. Thankfully one element of change has been removed by fact that G is having the same teacher again this year. Different classroom, different children, but same teacher. A small win for G. We are ready for the morning with prayers, the promise of after school treats, morning routine chart, a scrummy breakfast and a calming colouring sheet. Watch this space!
This summer we’ve realised that G genuinely is at her happiest and most carefree when she is by the sea. Wetsuit on and curls flowing freely in the sea air, G is a picture of joy. And that makes us all happy. A week in Cornwall was the tonic that was needed, as it is every year. But for G that release is needed more frequently....We spoke a lot this summer about our dream of owning a VW Transporter so that after a tough week of school, we could just take off on a Friday evening and head to the sea to allow G’s stresses and anxieties to just melt away. Sadly for now the reality of mummy not doing her ‘proper job’ anymore means that the ‘camping in the VW by the sea each weekend’ dream, remain just that. FOR NOW.
In other news:
* G has grown! Though according to her endocrine paediatrician, only by an ADEQUATE amount (just over 4cm). As a result, we were ordered to increase the dosage of G’s daily growth hormone injection. But... after I had pointed out her recent blood results had shown borderline high/too high growth hormone levels, only a small dosage increase was agreed. Not sure why it took me to point that out, but heyho.
* As G has struggled with high anxiety for quite some time, our paediatrician had decided to make a referral to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Now I’d already been given a heads up by a different paediatrician (whose children I happen to have taught) that if there is anything ‘else’ going on with your child, then CAMHS will often pass the buck. I remained open minded and we were seen fairly quickly for the assessment (very handy having that friend whose children I taught...). HOWEVER, as G’s school have made a referral to the Autism team, and due to G’s diagnosis of Turner Syndrome, the CAMHS team felt that we ought to continue down the current lines of enquiry. They felt her anxiety was linked to her TS and most likely Autistic Spectrum traits. I guess this one can be viewed as a ticking the box exercise.
* G has new glasses. This was very exciting news in our household! It was her first ever time at a regular opticians as all of her previous appointments had been hospital based. She did get the classic tummy aches and panic, but she did incredibly well for her first eye test. Her prescription had changed which meant two new pairs of glasses. If only she was still that excited 5 weeks on...
* G finally loves a film. We only have a small selection of vetted films as there are so many elements of film that can cause anxiety-music changes, baddies, bright lights, sudden sounds, sadness but to name a few. But this is a huge step. The most recent additions to the safe list are The Little Mermaid and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
So that’s us up to date, I think. I’m not sure how I managed to miss a July and August blog. Far too much family time fun ❤️
Ooooo and did I mention that we are on the countdown to the Turner Syndrome Annual conference? EEEEEEEEEEEEK! I just seem to have failed in my mission this year to secure full funding for the conference. That will most certainly not be stopping us from attending the best gig in town with THE best extended family though. Too precious and important an opportunity to miss.
Love you G!!
