Science Fair

Starting off this week was the 5th grade school science fair, and this evening was the district science fair. Thanks to all of Alexis' guinea pigs - grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins - who helped with the food tasting test! You people apparently know your potato chips!

With Chris being on science fair committee, he gets to help with the 5-8th grade district science fair every year which lasts well into the evening/night. Since Alexis was participating this year, the little girls and I headed out to walk around the fair for awhile.

We now know that Madagascar hissing cockroaches are insanely HUGE, and Daddy was brave enough to hold one ALIVE. Believe it or not, Mommy knows what a LIVE ball python's skin feels like. AND a Mammoth elephant's molar tooth weighed about 9-10 pounds and looks like a small boulder! We now have a 3-year old scientist…

*Their project had to do with tasting Lay's and Hy-Vee brand potato chips. (Yes, they came up with the idea themselves... We've already been through what they could have done to make it better, etc, due to the simplicity of the project - hey, it's their first science project!) Anyways, the subjects were blindfolded, given one chip of each brand and only asked to guess if A or B was the Lay's chip. Out of 18 people tested (they waited until the very last minute), 16 (89%) could guess which one was the Lay's chip, although many people said they tasted almost the same and it was probably mostly a guess! The differences people noted had to do with the saltiness, the crispness and the aftertaste. The more chips of each you ate, the more you can tell a difference! Lay's are better in my opinion. I tend to buy generic brands, but some things just need to be name brand (I think).

Alexis and her partner with their project

A nice man painted a beautiful butterfly on Little A's hand!

(I had to take a picture since I knew it wouldn't last long...)

Spring Break Wrap-up

We just finished up an enjoyable week-long Spring Break from school. Chris and Alexis had the entire week off, the little girls went to daycare for a good portion of the day to keep on their regular schedule, and I am on a 5-day "weekend." El is 14 months old today and as sweet as ever. My days were not as productive as I hoped, but I am a little run down with a head cold and hit bottom today I think. Hopefully it is all up hill from here!

Here are a couple recent photos after bathtime while the girls were playing before bedtime.

Status: At Home

Home with the babes today... E is fine but she gets to stay as well. Little A woke with a fever and has been coughing like crazy the past couple days. Poor baby. :( Sleeping soundly now which means I should be cleaning up the lunch mess... Ha-ha. Maybe this means Spring Break next week will be a healthy week!

3K=21:00
Goal=17:00

Fitness Goals & Ramblings

I am really trying to become more fit and set good examples for my children. Turning 30 has been rough on my body. Yes, I know I'm still young, blah, blah, blah... But, I have now birthed three children (one of which was in excess of 10 pounds and pretty hard on my body) and can see/feel the damage done. I realize my torso will never look or feel the same, BUT I've noticed a difference in my chronic back pain lessening! That problem alone will keep me active and working to get stronger. I still have bad days, and the pain will never be gone, but I tell myself that working out helps.

We have been Y members since last September, so it's been nice to use my portion of the membership on a regular basis now. With Chris taking another round of grad classes on top of his busy teaching career, the kids keep me busy during the weekdays. I consider myself very lucky to get 3 workouts in during a given 7-day week. That is another great thing about being Y members - free childcare (of course limited hours - IF they are ever healthy enough for us to actually utilize it!)

Last summer, four months postpartum, I participated in the aforementioned 3K run/walk charity event in my city. I jogged/walked it in 22:21, and it was a lot of fun! There were about 700 people ages 4-76 who participated. Last year after participating in this street run, I experienced terrible low back pain for several weeks. My chiropractor told me that it was likely due to running on the hard cement after birth when my body was trying to shrink back to normal and my bones were trying to settle in their normal positions. I quit running at that point because I was in so much physical pain. Seeing the race results, I have a goal this spring to run the 3K in 17:00. I know it's not far but a personal goal of mine that I can build on. Who knows...maybe I can even lose 6 or 7 pounds! It feels great to get back into an exercise routine! I'm no longer a nursing momma so my body feels wonderful. One day I hope to try the 10K run...and with my hubby!

And the Winter Blues Continue

I took E to the doctor today after being stuck at home to start off the week. They tested her for RSV due to her history of it and my own paranoia. She has been wheezing and coughing and had a slight temp yesterday. I was also worried about her right ear as she has been digging in it for the past few days. The RSV came back negative - thank God; however, due to the wheezing and lowered blood oxygen saturation level they gave her a breathing treatment in the office. She has bronchiolitis which is commonly caused by RSV, but since she was negative it should resolve quicker. Unlike bronchitis, bronchiolitis is caused by an inflammation in the small bronchioles of the airway tree. Little ones tend to get a tight chest from not being able to take deep breaths easily. The treatment seemed to help a bit, and we were sent home with a nebulizer machine and prescription for albuterol. Her right ear showed infection so we got a second prescription for an antibiotic. Another 10 days of meds at our house! Little A had her own health issues for a couple days but returned to daycare today. The plan is to send them both tomorrow and try to get back to a normal routine again!

Taking a breathing treatment before bed - not a big fan