Spring Fever

I'm not sure if it should be called "Winter Fever" or "Spring Fever," but it seemed that both our girls spent half of February and March battling sickness.  In between their viruses, fevers, and rashes, they did a great job carrying on with their regularly scheduled activities.

Emma's class kicked off February by performing the story of Esther in chapel. Emma was a narrator and had several speaking parts while her classmates enacted the story.

Hallie was invited to a classmate's birthday party at Funville, an indoor playground. Emma joined the fun, also, and they both had a blast playing with their friends. Hallie was even brave enough to fly off this slide a few times!

Unfortunately, she got a small, deep cut on her elbow at Funville, which didn't get washed well until we got home hours later.  (Major mom fail!!) Fast forward several days later, and she had contracted strep throat and a horrible rash on her elbow. The doctor wasn't sure if the rash was caused by the germs at Funville, or if she had scratched her cut after she contracted strep throat. Apparently, you can easily transmit strep to an open wound.

I have never wanted to be a nurse because I don't want to see things like this. 

Hallie took a strong course of antibiotics to help her heal, but we had to bandage and clean these pus-filled sores for a while. And wash everything she touched with hot water. We're still traumatized by The Diseased Elbow of 2024!  

We celebrated Valentine's Day with the girls, and they received their traditional chocolate roses and cards. 

They exchanged Valentine's treats with their classmates and came home with a ton of loot! Their school also had "Valentine Grams" that were available for parents to purchase for their students. Emma and Hallie both received teddy bears and heart-shaped balloons from us. While the Valentine Grams are optional in theory, you don't want your kid crying at school on Valentine's Day because everyone else's parents loved them more than you love your child. Heh!

Just as Hallie began to recover from strep and her elbow infection, Emma came down with a virus that kept her out of school for a couple of days. 

While both girls were sick, they decided they needed a spa day. They soaked their feet in warm water filled with Orbeez (gel spheres that swell in water).

  

Hallie and Emma made homemade spa soaps and scrubs from kits they received for Christmas.

Hallie, soaking her feet and sipping juice at the spa.

Unfortunately, Emma still had a fever on StoneBridge School's Liberty Day. Each year, they honor students' relatives who serve or have served in the military.  My dad is a Vietnam War Army veteran, and he always walks with the girls during the Liberty Day ceremony.  This year, he and Hallie carried the torch on their own.

Although Emma hadn't quite recovered, she needed to make a presentation for her final President project. She dressed as Sarah Polk, James K. Polk's first lady.  I took her to school for a couple of hours just to give her speech, and she wasn't the only kid on stage who sounded sick.

A photo of her beautiful hair, which I forced her to endure until the presentation was finished. 

Each 5th grader dressed as a different President or First Lady, and presented facts that they learned. Fun fact, we're related to James K. Polk through my dad's side! Apparently Emma's (many times) great grandmother was Polk's cousin, and she attended his Presidential inauguration.  

Thankfully, both Emma and Hallie were feeling well enough to enjoy a sleepover with their cousins, Naomi and Miriam, the following Saturday.  They had tons of fun jumping on the trampoline, making up games and songs, and playing with water balloons even though it was too cold for that!

The day after their sleepover, Hallie developed a rough, red, itchy rash all over her torso and legs. We think it may have been scarlet fever, which can be a side effect of strep, but it was strange that it occurred after a full course of antibiotics.  

Oh, I thought you said you wanted to see another weird rash. Sorry.

We kept an eye on it, and it seemed to gradually get better with topical ointments, so we didn't go back to the doctor. 

Through all of her sicknesses, Hallie still qualified to perform in her school speech meet. 

She recited John 14:1-6, and she received first place! We're so proud of her!

Hallie's class read the novel, "Heidi," this year, and celebrated with Heidi Day.

All the kids dressed up as characters from the story. 

Hallie was an adorable goat. 

I volunteered to help at one of the Heidi Day craft stations. We painted flowerpots, and each child received a bag of soil with seeds for them to plant.

Hallie's pretty rainbow flowerpot.  The kids also learned to speak German, made a goat craft, cut paper snowflakes, made paper mâché flowers, and tasted Swiss chocolate and goat's milk.

Hallie was invited to another student's birthday party at an obstacle course gym. The kids tackled the obstacles and played "The Floor is Lava."

I attended a big field trip with Emma and her classmates. The 5th graders took a charter bus to Mount Vernon, George Washington's home and plantation.

I was one of the parents who rode the charter bus with the students and teachers. It was about a three-hour ride, and they played movies on the way which helped the kids enjoy the ride.

We finally arrived at beautiful Mount Vernon. It was a little chilly in the morning, but it warmed up and was a gorgeous day later on.

Emma standing in front of the Mount Vernon model.

With her best friends, Remy and Diana.

The 5th graders seemed to really enjoy our tour through the house and grounds. They worked so hard this year learning about the Presidents, and it made their research come alive.

The students got to present a wreath at George and Martha Washington's tomb site.

We ended the month of March by celebrating our nephews, Aaron and Josiah's birthdays!

Josiah with his cousin crew.