The Griffin Adventures: Oak Grove Elementary School

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Fast asleep....

Dear friends,
We have recently decided to start the new year off healthy and lose some weight. Bubba has lost 26 pounds and I have lost 13 so far. We are eating turkey, chicken, fish, fresh vegetables, plenty of fruit, whole wheat bread and no SUNDROP. It has been relatively easy considering all the temptations. We plan on it just being a lifestyle change instead of a diet.
Atlee, Ian and Brody all love to eat healthy, so it works for all of us. Brody has changed from spaghetti oh's to progresso chicken noodle soup and we are so happy! He is doing well in school and has adjusted to the new house very well. He likes his bedroom and the comfort of the living room. Ian is behaving in school and was very excited about today getting to do "two centers". Atlee is busy being social.
We are having the spring fling spaghetti supper on April 30th at their school and then it will be time for Brody's Birthday Bash on May 30th. We are having it in Rock Creek Park and we expect over 500 people. Check out his facebook fan page, "Who's Brody?"
Life is good and God is great!
Blessings,
Wendy

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Brody, Brody, Brody

Here we are again without a new picture. Brody has had an incredible summer and we are very pleased. Ian and Atlee both got baptized on Sunday and it was a glorious day. God is so good to our family. They are both at Henry Horton Christian Camp this week and they have loved it! I strongly recommend it. Brody and Bubba have been hanging out working on our gardens. We have almost got tomatoes ready. Our flowers are beautiful.
We got a new used van this past week. It may be my forever vehicle. We just love it. Brody is a lot more comfortable in it than the little mini van. Today someone called it my "prison van". Only a few days when we are crazy parents with crazy kids would it resemble that remark.
Four more weeks before school starts and then we are all in first grade. I am the PTO president this year and Whew! what was I thinking? It will be an AMAZING year. With a little help from my friends, we hope to take Oak Grove the distance.

The Top Ten Things You Should Know About Fragile X Syndrome

By Mary Beth Langan and Sally Nantais

1. It’s genetic.
2. If a woman is a carrier, she has a 50/50 chance of passing it on to her son(s) or daughter(s). 1 in 100 to 200 women are carriers **.
3. If a man is a carrier he will pass it only to his daughter(s), and they will only be carriers. 1 in 800 men are carriers.
4. Fragile X Syndrome does not discriminate; it doesn’t care which ethnic group you belong to.
5. Fragile X Syndrome is a spectrum disorder. Symptoms may vary from mild learning disabilities (including shyness and social anxiety) to severe cognitive impairment (mental retardation).
6. Premature Ovarian Failure, more commonly known as early menopause, is a condition that affects 20-28% of the female FXS carrier population.
7. Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), discovered in 2001, is a neurological disorder that can involve tremors, balance irregularities, difficulty walking and dementia which sadly is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's and/or Alzheimer’s. This condition is present in some older FXS carriers (typically after the age of fifty), usually in males but FXTAS can also affect female carriers.
8. There are minor physical traits noted in many persons with Fragile X Syndrome, but not in all. These are traits which may also be present within the typical population, nothing unique which would necessarily indicate FXS testing is necessary for your child.
9. When testing for Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), it is critical that the correct tests are ordered – the Fragile X DNA (Southern Blot) and PCR analysis. Inaccurate results occur far too often with the generic chromosomal panel. Test for FXS to obtain a diagnosis or to rule it out. If you don’t have what may be the correct diagnosis of FXS, then you will never be aware of improved treatments or the cure when it’s found.
10. Where to go for the most accurate and up-to-date information on fragile X syndrome:http://www.fragilex.org/, the National Fragile X Foundationhttp://www.fraxa.org/, Fraxa Research Foundationhttp://www.conquerfragilex.org/, Conquer Fragile X Foundation** American Academy of Family Physicians, News and Publications, Vol. 72/No. 1 (July 1, 2005) http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050701/111.html
Mary Beth Langan and Sally Nantais are both Fragile X Syndrome carriers; each has a son with Fragile X Syndrome. They can be contacted at mblangan@hotmail.com and sally_nada@juno.com