ACP Foundation: Health Literacy

In light of my finishing my Medical Terminology course, I thought I would share with you this little video I saw during the semester. It was really eye opening to me... we had a group discussion in class about possible solutions and reasons this problem is increasing. Sure makes you think.

Thank you Quick and Easy Medical Terminology

Last night I finished one of my classes for the semester! It was a self study course that you could do at your own pace. I decided to crank out my last two exams and quiz last night after a day of studying. The course was on Medical Terminology and taught the Greek and Latin roots of words that help you to understand medical terms in a quick and easy way (oh how convenient!).

I do feel very well versed in the medical terms which I think is important for anyone to know... I mean how frustrating is it to go to the doctor if you don't understand what they are talking about. However the main thing I took away from this class was a list of diseases and disorders I am glad that I don't have and hope to never contract in my life. Here are just a few, in no particular order:

• Kyphosis- A condition commonly known as humpback or hunchback


• Dysphagia- Inability to swallow or difficulty swallowing.


• Trichosis- Abnormal condition of hair growth, including baldness or excessive hair growth in an unusual place


• Exophthalmos- Protrusion of the eyeballs

And here are a few self diagnosis of my current health condition:

• Polyuria - Excessive urination... especially in the middle of the night.


• Polyphagia- Excessive hunger and uncontrolled eating


• Cephalalgia- Headache


• Narcolepsy- Sudden attacks of sleep that occur at internals

The above was not meant to be a complaint... I am quite enjoying my pregnancy these days. Feeling the baby move is really exciting and makes everything else seem like no big deal.

Candid

These are my siblings. It was my Brother Ben's birthday on the 17th.
I love this photo because it's not phony... I feel like it captures a lot about each one of our personalities (note the spoon of ice cream in my hand).

Candid photo's are the best
and
I love my family

Photo credit: The handsome and always charming Charles H. Call

Stretchy Pants

Viva La Stretchy Pants

Chuck took me maternity clothes shopping a few days back. Two pairs of "secret fit belly pants" a sweater, a pair of tights and two long sleeved shirts.

Not much when you consider it's pretty much my entire wardrobe now... although I continue to stretch out many old shirts and wear unbuttoned pants with the BellaBand now and again.

I have realized the power of clothes that actually fit. It's really liberating to not feel like your circulation is being cut off by your pants... or that your shirt might roll up and expose your midsection or top of your bum. Consequently I find myself moving around a lot more this week... I went for a great power walk with a pregnant neighbor and am trying to exercise a little bit each day.

We scheduled our first Ultra Sound for November 8th... so in about a month we will be able to find out the sex of the baby and see what's going on in this belly of mine!!!! We predict a boy... but are not counting all of our chickens before they hatch.

Lots to look forward to...

No nUtZ in here!!!

I don't know if I have mentioned this previously or not, but the squirrels that live around my apartment complex are on crack.

Usually on a weekly basis I catch one doing something ridiculous, and I always wish I had a camera to show people... because it is kind of unbelievable.

I have seen squirrels eating hot pockets, hot dogs, bagels and just about anything else they can find in the garbage. I have seen them sitting on my bike seat... all proper like they are going to ride away on it. They climb in and out of people's storage bins, mess with their out-door furniture and dig up people's gardens.

Most often however they are climbing on the screens of my windows, it's like they are spying on me (or peeping would be a better way perhaps to describe it). I threw a pencil at this one shortly after I took the photo... he didn't even flinch!!

On a side note I find it interesting that it is common in American culture when someone (or some animal) acts crazy or unusual we jokingly claim "crack" as the culprit. Yet actual crack addiction is far from humorous (see side effects listed below).

• changes in blood pressure, heart rates, and breathing rates
• nausea and vomiting
• anxiety
• convulsions
• insomnia
• loss of appetite leading to malnutrition and weight loss
• cold sweats
• swelling and bleeding of mucous membranes
• restlessness and anxiety
• damage to nasal cavities
• damage to lungs
• possible heart attacks, strokes, or convulsions

Please DO NOT use crack!

Thank you.

Depends on how you look at it (Week 14 on Planet Pregnancy)

You might think this is a picture of the marshmallow statues on top of the mighty black mountain. Yet those are just my little feet peeking out from under my growing belly.

I wanted to show you all my pregnancy bump.

Yet these first two photo's more capture the way it FEELS to be expanding, and not necessarily what it appears like to all of ya'll.

Sometimes I just feel like I'm blowing up like Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory... Only I wont have to be sent to the juice room for squeezing, more like the delivery room for pushing:)

Yet from the side, it's not all that big yet... I have a long way to go, and lots more growing to do.

I have always loved seeing other ladies pregnant bellies, I think they are cute. It is just interesting when it's your own, because at times it can be a little uncomfortable. I am sure it will be different when I buy some maternity clothes, right now I am wearing all my regular clothes... stretched, unbuttoned, and tight.

Bring on the stretchy Pants!