Christmastime is here...

Christmastime is here!  

What a good time we had leading up to the birth of Christ.

We did some things but not too much.

We spent time at home enjoying the tree and lights.

Lydia found her love of the Holiday Baking Championship! Yes!

Matching pajamas for Lydia and Felicity!

Samantha is at the doll hospital for a leg reattachment.  Ouch!

Lydia Rose, the swirling, twirling snowflake princess.

LVE 3rd Graders put on a mini rendition of the Nutcracker.

She nailed it.  No anxiety.  No stage fright.  Smiles!

We surprised her by inviting grandparents, something we haven't done for past school events because she's typically so worried and anxious that she specifically asks for only mom and dad.  Such improvement!

Annual Cookie Day with Grandma!

She rolls with the one handled rolling pin like Grandma.

I'm pretty sure that rolling pin was my Great Grandma Rose's.

This year we opted for a gingerbread donut shop!

Someone turned 8 1/2!!!

Someone turned 40!!!

We celebrated all weekend long with dinner out with my parents, a night at the symphony and more Christmas fun at Crown Center and Union Station.

Our annual trip to the KC Symphony Christmas Festival!

We made a staycation weekend out of it and stayed downtown.

We go to Crown Center and Union Station every year to look at the decorations and see the sights!

For a couple of years we saw Santa, but Lydia opts for mailing her letter these days.

Just waiting out the days, hours and minutes until Christmas!

 

Living with gratitude.

Fall is for family photos.

Fall is for making memories.

And singing our hearts out and dancing for hours.

Fall is for book fairs.

Fall is for Wednesday Addams.

Fall is for leaf piles.

Fall is for sick days. 

Fall is for family.

And Thanksgiving and being grateful for this crew.

Fall is for 9 year old birthday parties,

Impromptu art shows, 

and the start of baking season!

 

And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.

Fall Weather, Fleece and Barbie Themed Soccer Practice!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

 

CPAP Yoga at bedtime and garage sale puzzle finds. 

Some old and some new outfits!

Cozy spots and trunk or treat pre-game outfits.

Twinning!

I went to Seattle for a week and ....

Lydia went on a girl scout camp out overnight without me!

First overnight without parents or grandparents. 

You rock, Lydia Rose.

Lydia who?  Hermione Granger ready to Expelliarmus all your candy out of your hands!

 

Human Growth Hormone - 10.5 inches in 3 years

 

Growth Hormones

October 2020 to October 2023

10.5 inches grown in 3 years.

We are hopeful for another foot, at least.

Lydia is predicted to have short stature because of her 22q11 genetic deletion.  It causes growth differences, primarily short stature.  These kids have a higher likelihood of their bodies not producing enough HGH.  Luckily there is a really good replacement therapy!

One injection, six nights a week, through late puberty.

Yikes, is that like 6-8 more years?

She grew 4.5 inches between October 2020 and 2021.

She also started to lose that chunky, pudgy, cheeky, squeezable cuteness.

She grew 3.5 inches between October 2021 and 2022.

She started to gain muscle and realize new things she could do, 

like ride a bike, roller skate, and conquer all the playgrounds.

She grew 2.5 inches between October 2022 and 2023.

Now she's just chiseled!