Soda Science

Today we attended a class at a local church. A homeschooling mom needed to raise money for her kids to go to camp this summer so she organized and taught a science class based on the properties of soda. Here's some of what we learned:

1. CO2 is what makes the bubbles
2. a can of diet soda floats but a can of regular soda sinks (the sugar in the regular soda makes it more dense)
3. when you put raisins in soda they dance (the bubbles 'hug' the raisin making it lighter so that it floats but, when it gets to the top, the bubbles pop releasing the CO2 and the raisin sinks again)
4. when you add sugar or salt to soda it makes it fizz (they react with the CO2)
5. when you heat a can of soda that has just a little bit of water in it and then dunk it upside down in ice water it collapses (the water turns to vapor, which takes up more room; when it is cooled quickly it condenses and reduces the pressure inside the can and the outside air pressure, being greater, crushes the can)
   
6. when you put a bunch of Mentos into a 2 liter bottle of soda it can make a 35 ft geyser (the sugar reacting with the CO2 again)

The moral of this story is that things that may damage your body can be used to improve your mind. And, not only did we learn a lot and had fun, we helped some kids get to camp. I thought it was very industrious of that mom (who just happens to be the woman that taught Luke science in highschool).

Thoughts

So, I've been a little silent here lately. I have to admit that I've been down about this whole broken foot/being on crutches thing. But I've been thinking about how small an inconvenience it is in comparison to the plight of others. For instance, my friend's sister just had to have surgery to remove a brain tumor. She had to leave her young daughter in the care of family members while she underwent a potentially life-threatening procedure and is now recovering but in a lot of pain. And then there is my friend who just brought her 9 month old daughter home from the hospital after surgery to repair the bones of her skull that fused prematurely. She is now recovering at home but is no longer nursing, which could compromise her recovery.

Instead of wallowing in my enforced laziness I should be extending my energies praying for these people. Instead of being bitter about my limitations I should be grateful that I am only dealing with minor inconveniences. Instead of complaining about the change in my circumstances I should be looking for the silver lining in them: my kids have had to learn to be more helpful and get along better and entertain themselves more imaginitively. I have had to learn to accept help from others and I have seen the goodness of so many people through this, especially my husband. Luke has really stepped up these past weeks. He's always been an involved father and a helpful and considerate husband but he has gone above and beyond and done it most willingly. I am so grateful to him.

So, in other words, I need to get my eyes off of myself.

This past week has been long interesting. I have been focusing on convincing Lily that she is indeed a big girl. You may remember me saying last summer that she was potty training. Well, she did and was successful for a short while. Then she decided that she just wasn't into the whole growing up thing so reverted to doing baby-ish things. We have had a year-long potty battle. This week I decided to pull out the big guns and end the war (hopefully). She has been 'stuck' in the kitchen for most of the week. It's part discipline and part protection for the carpets and furniture. It seems to be working. Getting out of the kitchen has been good motivation for her to do the big-girl thing. I just pray that it is lasting.

I have been upgraded to a boot that I'm still not suppose to walk on but can at least be removed. Oh, what a relief! A couple more weeks and all should be well.

P.S. Could you also be praying for the people I mentioned above?

What do you think

Of the new layout? I'm not sure I like it but I'll give it a chance.

Since some of you asked...

And P.S. What stinks the most about this is I can't carry my sleeping baby girl in from the car when she falls asleep on the way home. And when she woke up crying pitifully because of a bad dream the other night, I couldn't run up to hug and comfort her. I had to let Luke do that, which of course he is very good at doing, but I wanted to. Bitterness.

the latest

Well, I don't have to have surgery in the foreseeable future. The doctor spoke with another specialist who said it should heal fine and cause no problems down the road that couldn't be dealt with less invasively.

I did have to have my cast replaced: the first one was not put on very well and was causing a lot of pain and discomfort so they just switched it out. It feels much better now.

2 weeks down; 4 weeks to go. Hopefully.