4th Week Down!!!

After our first tests of the semester, we, the PA class were rather wiped out.  I found myself relaxing in front of the TV, spending time with family or going to bed early just to get caught up on sleep.  

 Typically, I stay on campus until about 7 or 8 at night.  Of course depending upon the day, I'm home in time to help put the girls down for the night and then I sit at the desk and study 'til about midnight. I came home early from school one day and we as a family, ventured out to a unexplored park. Hillandale Park is an older park with lots of pavilions. And tons of coverage by the trees!  It also has a great path for running or riding your bike.

Enjoying the beauty of the earth!

Hannah cruising on her bike!

Grace and Clara loving the ride!

Another fun activity we did this week was: the local library and children's museum put on a Milk/Diary day!  We visited the children's museum for the first time and realized all the great activities that are available.

For that day only, they had a cow and a calf.

Of course the arts area!  Medium: black paint with a cut sponge.  Very creative!

Clara playing in the produce stands! 

A theater area: the girls applied some make-up.  In the back there is a stage with tons of dress ups.  O, can't forget the awesome sound board and lighting controls.

Grace showing of her make-up skills!

The funniest part of the day, was when Ronald McDonald was walking around.  The kids were either super scared of him or loved him.  We could tell when he was around because we would here a child screaming!  lol!!!

This week for me, flew by!!! During dissection lab, we started on the abdomen.  We initially identified the muscles of it and then went deeper and opened the abdominal cavity! Upon pulling back the walls (skin and muscle) we noticed the abnormally large liver - hepatomegaly.  As mentioned previously, this body had a huge heart - cardiomegaly.  We are learning more and more about how this individual was a heavy alcoholic!

The greater omentum seemed to cover a large majority of his organs, especially his spleen, stomach and liver.  We also learned the greater omentum tends to grow towards disease within the body.  This massive apron of tissue made it difficult to identify the specific sections of the intestines, eventually we found them as well as the appendix. 

I didn't download the pictures, but during physical Dx class we were studying the chest/thorax regions. We had to draw on each other while we located the lungs and diaphragm.  We identified them by way of stethoscope and percussion sounds (finger thumping). Some of the students got really creative and drew other organs on their bodies.  Three days later, I am finding pen marks on my axillary region that aren't washing off! 

Also, we are organizing leadership groups within the PA program.  I am over the Area of Representatives.  In other words, I go to meetings and report back to the class. As a class, we are putting together a golf tournament as a fundraiser.  Lots of activities!