Write Away Friday: For the LAST time!!!!!!

So I have recently figured out what I want to do this summer, Senior year, after senior year, and in college. I am pretty excited now that I have a reason to take the ACT, SAT and go to school everyday. Bahahaha. I mean I had a reason before but without a plan it seemed meaningless.  So far my plan is: 

• In the summer I will go to Girls Camp with my church. I will be a YCL (youth camp leader) and I will be in-charge of  team building activities, and doing beads. Also it is themed MISSION POSSIBLE!!! as a youth we have camp names and my name is Agent Foxy Mama (pssst. it is still a secret so don't go spreading rumors!!!!) But anyways I will be singing what does the fox say and it will be great!!!! Then I will work on quilts for the Linus Project and I need to finished the quilt I started for my brother years ago. Awhile after that I will have the opportunity, hopefully, to attend a Latin Dance class everyday. I am so so so looking forward to that. I don't know about this next plan but I will also be attending R.Y.L.A if they accept me. In it I will learn a bit about leadership! I hear it is kinda like the camp in the parent trap. My next activity will be a youth trek again in my church. In my church I am a member of the youth council, which means I am going to help plan it too!! Well that is pretty much the plan for summer.
• Next year in school I am mostly excited that I will be doing Excel. I want to be out of school so badly. I am kinda done with High school but give me a summer and that might change. 
• After high school I plan on  getting a job so that I can pay for a Mormon mission. 
• Then comes College and my future. I want to attend BYU. At BYU I hope to major in Physical Therapy and minor in Ballroom dance. I want to be on the BYU dance sport team. I may maintain a job after college but i may not. The most important thing to me is that I am smart enough and capable enough to be a mom. That is what I ultimately want to do. I hope that I can prepare well enough. Something that change me when thinking about what I want to do is something my sister said. She told me that a lot of time woman who plan on being moms say that they need to go to school in case something happens with their husbands. But this should not be the intent. College should be something that you want to do to be smart and be able to be a good mother and caretaker. I thought that was great advice.

Ultimately I  don't know what will happen but this sounds like a good plan to me. Also to talk a little about what I have done recently and learned recently. I took the S.A.T this morning. I think  I did well but I am not so sure. What I am most excited about sharing is the Frankenstein essay we are doing in Mrs. Hansens. I feel like I have done this whole essay really well. I am excited about learning how to write. I have always wanted to be eloquent in speech and for once I think it might happen!!! Hahaha probably not but I am so happy to be learning a lot. The more I learn, the more I feel prepared for the future. Oh and the last thing I wanted to talk about before I close is the thing about the cardiovascular system that shocked me. I had no idea that the sound of your heart comes from the valves closing. There are so many things we know about that we never understand or care to ask. It is just crazy!!! 

Fetal Blood

Fetal blood comes from the embryo.  At about 27 days the baby starts to create blood from their Hematopoetic blood cells. The blood type in the fetus is determined by the childs' genes. For example, a parent with Heterozygous type A blood mixed with another Heterozygous type B blood can have any kind of blood type. That combination can mean that there is a 25% chance of AB blood, 25% chance of A blood, 25% chance of B blood, and 25% chance of O blood. Whether or not the blood type is positive or negative is also genetic. In this case positive blood is the dominant type of blood and negative is recessive. A problem may arise with an Rh-negative mom having a Rh-positive baby. If a small amount of the baby’s blood mixes with mom's blood, their body may respond as if it were allergic to the baby and make antibodies that can cross the placenta. The mom's antibodies will  attack the baby’s blood. They break down the fetus’s red blood cells. This condition can become severe enough to cause serious illness, brain damage, or even death in the fetus or newborn. Normally, the mother's blood doesn't mix with the babies because of the placenta. However, It is common for the blood to mix in delivery though. This has little to no affect on that particular child but the antibodies will have been created by the mom. Rh antibodies are harmless until the mother's second or later pregnancies. If she is ever carrying another Rh-positive child, her Rh antibodies will recognize the Rh proteins on the surface of the baby's blood cells as foreign, and pass into the baby's bloodstream and attack those cells.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15906238
http://www.quia.com/jg/2502993list.html
http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/rhfactor-2.html
http://umm.edu/health/medical/pregnancy/specialcare-pregnancies/blood-group-rh-incompatibility

Write Away Friday: Lie Detectors

1. What tasks have you completed recently?  
Recently I have finished the book Frankenstein. Also I have finished another packet in Spanish Class.  Recently I have also started riding my bike again. I have done that really well and often. On Tuesday's though I go to my dance class. I have learned to do East Coast Swing. Every week we learn something new and I am loving it!!!!

2. What have you learned recently? 
 So last Friday I had a substitute in Spanish Class. He was an old F.B.I agent. He taught us a little bit about lie detecting. That is where the pictures come in. Automatically a person will look right when they make are making up something creatively. Conversely, when they look left they are recalling facts. Lastly, when they look down, it usually has to do with love. In every culture, people look to their heart when recalling the emotion love. I find this knowledge incredibly interesting. It is not a perfect science, however because distractions can change where you look and there can be other factors. That is why it is easier to pick up on these small hints in an interrogation room. But overall I find that it is cool that we all do this.   


3. What are you planning on doing next?
This week I plan on working really hard to finish my application for mayor's top teens. Also I have to work on my essay over Frankenstein. A few other things that I have to do include taking notes, reading my book, and other things to prepare for my classes. This week is a little short but I really cant think of anything else to add. 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Woman_in_white_top_looking_down_22March2009.jpg
http://www.viewzone2.com/liar.middle.jpg

Write Away Friday: Happy New Years...Wait... WHAT?!?!

1. What tasks have you completed recently?  
You know how the beginning of the year is always the time to set new goals. Well this year I didn't really set any goals, and if I did, I don't remember them, so that tells you how sincere they were. Anyways this week I decided that I was going to spend more time on the things that matter.  I decided I was going to stop being on Facebook and Candy Crush as often. I decided that I was going to spend time doing things that are important. So here is what I have decided to do and what I have done so far. I decided I was going to make more time for reading the Book of Mormon. I have read it/ pondered about it for at least 20 minutes everyday this week. I also decided that I was going to think about my prayers and not just say simple repetition. I have done that a little bit and I have started to realized that I am talking to someone. He hears me. The next thing I am going to do is exercise. I didn't set up a goal for how many days but I am trying to fit it in where I can. This week I rode around my block Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I went 5-7 miles for about half an hour. The next thing I was going to do is get more sleep. I consistently go to bed around 10 or 11 and my goal is still 9:30 but I always have homework. Along with these goals concerning my health I have decided to eat healthier.  I have chosen better foods and have resisted fatty foods. Which empowers me:) But I still eat ice cream once in awhile.  I also want to be a better friend and feel better about myself and who I am. I am still working on that. The last thing I decided was to get good grades and endure to the end of this year. Frankly I am ready for high school to be over!!! Anyways I have set up a lot of goals and I will see them through. 

2. What have you learned recently? 
Recently I learned new vocabulary words for English. i also learned how babies are born along with how that effects the mother (which now terrifies me!!!). I have learn about the Cold War.  I have enhanced my knowledge of nutrition. And I have learned that sometime your best is all you can do. But there is always tomorrow. 

3. What are you planning on doing next?
Well a lot of  what I put under the first question apply to this one too, but I am planning on working on a lot of homework and studying this weekend. I need to get ready for the A.C.T. It is going to be a long weekend:(

Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery

Anatomical Changes:

• The uterus enlarges as the baby does. As the pregnancy continues it starts to push into the abdominal cavity. The abdominal organs start to push on the diaphragm, which also causes the ribs to flare and the thorax to widen. 
• The changes in the abdomen causes the woman's center of gravity to change and has a negative effect on the back. Often leads to the development of  Lordosis.
• During the last few months of pregnancy the placenta produces a hormone relaxin that prepares the body for delivery. It starts to relax and widen the pubic bones and makes them more flexible. 
• The last change is the intake of better foods as well as a slight amount more because the growing fetus needs building materials and so the mother takes them in to provide that.

Physiological Changes:

• Gastrointestinal System: The elevated levels of progesterone and estrogen causes many woman to have morning sickness (nausea) until their body adjusts. Heartburn is another problem due to the displacement of the esophagus and overcrowding of the stomach which favors reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Constipation occurs too because motility of the digestive track declines.
• Urinary System: The body has to now dispose of fetal metabolic waste so more is produced during pregnancy. Also the uterus puts pressure on the bladder which causes the urge to urinate more frequently and urgently.
•  Respiratory System:The nasal mucosa becomes swollen and congested because of estrogen. Therefore pregnant woman are more likely and do experience nasal stuffiness and nosebleeds. The respiratory rate increases but the volume compacity of the lungs decreases making it difficult to breath.
• Cardiovascular System: The total body water rises and blood volume increases by 25-40%. Blood pressure increases to help propel the greater quantity of blood throughout the body. However the pressure that comes from the uterus pushes on pelvic blood vessels and may result in varicose veins.

A premature baby on the left and a normal baby on the right. 

Premature Babies:

They don't know exactly why some babies are born premature but according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research you are more at risk to have premature baby (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) if the following thing apply to you, including :

• Having a previous premature birth
• Pregnancy with twins, triplets or other multiples
• An interval of less than six months between pregnancies
• Conceiving through in vitro fertilization
• Problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta
• Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs
• Poor nutrition
• Some infections, particularly of the amniotic fluid and lower genital tract
• Some chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
• Being underweight or overweight before pregnancy
• Stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or domestic violence
• Multiple miscarriages or abortions
• Physical injury or trauma
• Unusual shape of the uterus

Although some of these are out of the mother's control it is important to monitor eating habits and stress. Also avoid injuries and drugs. Doing some of these things will help to decrease the risk.  In the United States about 1 out of 8 pregnancies end prematurely. 

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-birth/basics/risk-factors/con-20020050

http://www.suehallmd.com/aboutprematurebabies.html

http://doctorstevenpark.com/what-all-pregnant-women-must-know

http://serviceartist.net/music-a-boon-to-premature-babies-health/

http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-healthy-living/newborn-care-weird-but-normal-things-about-your-baby/17777

http://www.csh.org.tw/dr.tcj/Educartion/teaching/PregChange1/index.htm

Write Away Friday: Is it Wisdom?

1. What tasks have you completed recently? 
Recently I have gotten all four of my wisdom teeth out. That's also kinda why this blog is so late. I was being rather selfish. I thought " I need to have a lot of fun while I am feeling up to it and I can worry about school stuff later cause I don't want to waste the two days I have before I can't eat or do what I want." So on Friday I learned how to do a dance they fiddle to at a contra dance. On Saturday I did a lot with my family and then I went to a baptism. And on Sunday I went to a church activity in Roswell called  a fireside where I heard Alex Boye speak. He is a famous LDS singer. He talked about his life and it was really inspiring what he has learned from it. I will post a youtube video he is in at the bottom. Monday I got my Wisdom Teeth out. I pretty much just watched a Korean Drama for the past three days including today. It was 20 hour long episodes. I finally feel good enough to start doing stuff. I mostly just laid around, slept , and ate mushy things for the past few days. It was nice if my jaw didn't hurt it would have been better though. For school stuff I have almost finished the coloring packets and I have a few things to do. But I think this is the first time I just forgot everything and took a few personal days since summer vacation and  let me tell you it feels good. We all need to take a few days to unwind sometimes. It's not good for our heath otherwise. Its too stressful.
2. What have you learned recently? 
Recently I learned from my dentist that laughing gas is Nitrous Oxide which is N2O. Also I discovered through experience that the lower jaw has a different set up of nerves because when they put the anesthetic in it started to feel numb everywhere even in my tongue, chin, and lips when they the top was a lot different and didn't effect so much. It mostly just effected that one area they got. Which I think is why the top hurt a lot more than the bottom. And also I had forgotten how swelling works. (And let me tell you it does). But I was sitting there going why can't I really open my mouth and my brother reminded me about how swelling works and then I remembered and now it makes sense. All I need to do now is remember to swish with mouth wash and salt water to make sure it doesn't get infected. Also I have been thinking a lot about a question that I see people ask a lot that I sorta went through but not to a big extreme. Often times when bad things happen to them people doubt what they know and ask, "If god is real why is this happening to me?" Well I like to think that god is like a parent to us. That's why I call him Heavenly Father. Anyways this is very similar to getting my wisdom teeth out. I knew sorta why they had to come out. Obviously it was because I didn't have room but while I was going through it I was really scared and I couldn't understand but I knew at the same time. I know my parents love me but I didn't quite believe they really had to come out or that they''d make me go through this. But sometimes in our lives bad things happen and they hurt and they require healing but sometimes it has to happen to avoid problems in the future that we can't exactly foresee that He can. And I am sure when I came out of the dentists office crying my mom probably thought for just a moment " why do I have to see my daughter suffer?" But that pain I went through had to come. It was unavoidable. But It was considerably lessened from what it would have been. And that isn't always the case but most times we don't see how painful things can actually be blessings that it wasn't worse. I don't know if this makes sense but I feel stronger and I am in a way grateful that I had this experience. I probably sound crazy but I feel stronger and maybe even a bit braver for what I am able to endure or sacrifice for better things in my life.
3. What are you planning on doing next?
Next I am going to finish coloring, drawing notes, doing the glog, and signing up for things to prepare for my future. I am ready to get back to normal. Or maybe I will rest some more. We will have to see:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJYk1jOhzk

STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS

Stress!!!! I am probably wrong when I say this, but I feel like there is no one more acquainted with it than I. Personally I have found myself crying uncontrollably at  the littlest things because my emotions were so sensitive due to stress. I have had nights where I couldn't sleep because I was stressed. One night at three in the morning I was in my family room crying and watching a movie, drinking herbal tea, and just trying to let my mind relax so I could go to sleep and not be tired all day at school. Just this past week during the play I found myself unable to eat because I was nervous and stressed for the performance. I felt nauseous and I thought I was going to throw up on stage. My fight with stress comes and goes but I have felt that if bad enough can even cause me to get sick. As a whole stress is not a bad thing. Short-term stress is normal and once the threat is gone the body returns to normal conditions. However in today's society I think that stress is not a good excuse to not getting things done. We as a society are so concerned with deadlines and understanding things to a certain standard that we do stupid things to our health to get our homework done or just accomplish certain things. I am stressed out all the time but if I were to tell my teachers that I didn't do it because I needed to go to bed on time so I could be less stressed or I was late to school because I didn't want to fall asleep behind the wheel because at night I just can't relax  they would laugh at me because it is only when something bad happens that it becomes an o.k. excuse. So that leads me to the story of my life: Long term stress. The article about stress at the bottom says "For those constantly dealing with excessive and chronic stress, the body’s fight-or-flight response is constantly on. In turn, the resulting stress hormones released are chronically high." Cortisol  helps the body handle stress. In long term stress this lingers to help return the body to normal but it also increases appetite. However in our society the things that cause us stress don't usually burn calories so this response can cause us to gain weight. The article continues, "Another physiological reason that was found recently for why stress leads to obesity is a molecule that the body releases when stressed called NPY (neuropeptide Y). NPY appears to unlock certain receptors in fat cells, causing them to grow in both size and number." Long term stress can cause weight gain which can cause stress and continue. Long Term stress is a vicious cycle that can start the effects can lead to more stress. Long Term stress is unhealthy to normal body functions because it leaves the body in a state of fight or flight for a long time and can set normal functions out of wack. When I took the Stress inventory I had a total of 490 points. I could only cope to a total of 35 points. This is unhealthy. My body feels like I just go and go and it doesn't have time to relax or recope. This week ( I am not starting out to a good start) I will try to get more sleep. I will try to also go to my dance class again since the play is done. I think if I can manage to do that my stress will go down. For now I feel like I am piled under a mountain of stress and lists of things to do. But I haven't cried and hyperventilated like I did first semester so I think I have learned to cope a little bit more this year.  The video on this page was interesting and I really liked it. It looked so relaxing to me. I am now looking eager to try out relaxing. I also thought I would go to yoga this week too because I have missed the last two!!! So that's all for now and I hope you enjoy!!!

http://www.lowdensitylifestyle.com/health-and-wellness/stress/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

So some time has passed and so I thought I would update you about my goals to go to my dance class and to get more sleep. I can tell you that I don't feel so stressed and I have somewhat accomplished both. I have gone to my dance class every week since this post, but I haven't reached my goal for sleeping more the way I wanted to.  I wanted to go to sleep at 9:30 and I don't think I have ever done that once, but when I wrote this I was going to bed at 12 or 1 in the morning. I have been able to go to sleep at 10 or 11 so that is a ton better and with spring break I have been able to sleep in and rest. It is definitely helping and I feel a lot happier and peaceful.