'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' news: Teresa Giudice in prison to celebrate 43rd birthday

RHONJ star Teresa GiudiceTeresa Giudice's Twitter page

Last week, Theresa Giudice celebrated her birthday behind bars. The star of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" turned 43 on Monday, May 18, and though she still has about six months to go before she is released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, her fans made sure to let her know that they are thinking of her on her very special day. 

On May 14, one of her biggest fans, Twitter user @Team_Giudice, urged others to show their love for the star, tweeting, "Teresa Giudice #65703-050 Bday May 18! Send cards please!!" 

On May 18, the Official Teresa Giudice Twitter page was filled with birthday greetings for the star, as well as throwback pictures showing the 43-year old posing with family and friends during happier times. 

It is not clear whether her husband Joe or their daughters Gia, 14, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5, were able to visit the reality TV personality on her birthday, as it has been previously reported that they make the trip from their New Jersey home to Connecticut on Saturdays to visit her.

However, it's most likely that she got a greeting through email or phone call, as Giudice is allowed to send and receive short email messages — heavily monitored by prison officials — and is also allowed a 10-minute call per day. 

The reality star has been incarcerated since she reported to prison on Jan. 5. She is serving a sentence for bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Giudice will be released for home confinement on Dec. 23 until her sentence is finished in early February, said her lawyer James J. Leonard Jr. By January 2016, her husband Joe will report to prison to serve his 41-month sentence. 

Giudice is said to have adjusted well to her life in prison as she spends her sentence getting back in touch with her faith, working in the prison kitchen, and going to the gym regularly.