Never Judge a Disease By Its Medicine

Today we’re going to focus on something that’s a little more serious than some of these other entries.  Today we’re going to be talking about a serious disease that we are still trying to find a cure for.   Do you know what I’m talking about?  That’s right — cancer.

Now, you know those happy cells that know when they should stop doubling.  But cancer cells keep doubling unstoppably.  Here is a picture of cancer cells:

It seems bad, but cancer is not contagious.  That means it can’t be spread to other people.  Many people get cancer each year.   There are different kinds of cancer.  There’s lung cancer and brain tumors and many more.  When people go to the hospital, their treatment doesn’t always go as well as you’d think. 

Now, from the title of this blog entry, Never Judge A Disease By Its Medicine, it tells you that the disease cancer does not give hair loss.  It’s actually the treatment, it’s called chemotherapy (Kee-mo-ther-uh-pee).  Mouth sores are another therapy problem.  It can also cause you to, well, kinda gross, vomit.  You know, throw up. 

But one of the hopes is, well, get this, lemonade stands!   In fact, Alex’s Lemonade Stand is one of the most famous. Our class had a lemonade stand and we raised $700, which was $200 more than our goal! Shall I do the math or shall you? Okay, that means our goal was $500. It was pretty exciting, too. Anyone who brought in a donation could have a cup of lemonade from a stand that we had in the cafeteria at lunchtime.

Here is a picture of Alex’s Lemonade.  Eli says, “I like Alex’s Lemonade Stand!”

If your friend has cancer there are three ways you can still be friends with them.  First, you can visit them.  Then, you can mail letters to them.  Or you can email them.  

Anyway, next time, prepare to see crabs, planes and, well, you know, sand dunes.  Next entry is going to be about the Outer Banks of North Carolina! 

Operation Ribbit: Part Three

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Just wanted to tell you some awesome news.  Eggy’s growing his back legs!  Great news, eh?  I think it started somewhere like three days ago. 

My brother Eli’s observations are: “I noticed he was zig zagging a lot.  And, I watched him eat a lot. And, I like his name, Eggy. Oh, one more thing. Do you have a pet? A cat or a frog or a tadpole or a dog?”

That was just some of Eli’s opinions on Eggy.  He also wants to ask, “What does your pet do? And does he have food or dog biscuits if your pet is a dog or fish food if your pet is a fish.  And one more thing.  My brother, Miles, loves science and I love him very much.”

We shall put up a photograph as soon as possible.

I Got A Letter From The President!

I got a letter from the president just yesterday!

I wrote a letter to him and it’s been a couple of months since, about two or three.  The reason it took so long is because the president is very busy.  Heck, he’s the head of the entire country. 

I wrote the letter about the Iraq War and about an idea I had to stop it.  I decided we could write a peace letter to the Iraqi government.  Here is a picture of the letter I sent him and the reply.

He mentioned that he liked me sharing my ideas and thoughts and that he liked getting letters from fellow Americans. He also gave me some websites on the White House. White House Kids and The White House These are some great websites and now we are linked to them.

Here is a picture of another thing he sent me, a picture of him and his wife. I really enjoyed getting a letter from the President of the United States and I am very proud!

Operation: Ribbit Part Two

Eggy seems to be doing fine in his new environment, called the Tad-pool.  Eggy seems to be turning gray, which I believe is part of his metamorphosis.  Just in case you don’t know, metamorphosis is exactly like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.  But a frog doesn’t have a chrysalis or have to eat leaves.  A frog starts out as some eggs that look like eyeballs in a small pond.  When the eggs hatch, little tadpoles come out that are just about, I believe, an inch long.  The tadpoles can grow bigger until they can be, say, three inches long.  Then their front arms sprout and then their tail starts growing in.  Then, after the tail has disappeared, its back legs sprout and it has completed its metamorphosis.  The frog will grow bigger and bigger until they are ready to live on land. 

 Here’s a picture of Eggy in the Tad-pool.  This picture was taken just today.  Eggy is at the bottom.