Partly Cloudy (New Soundtrack)

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Choose a Healthy Lifestyle

Your livelihood will depend on your health status from the moment you move out and support yourself and your family. Your family’s health will affect your financial well-being also.  If you are ill and miss work or are unproductive, that will affect your paycheck in a big way. If your child is ill you might miss work or lose sleep caring for the child and that may affect your paycheck too.

So, what healthy choices can you make for yourself and family?

ü Get enough rest, at least 7 hours per night

ü Exercise at least 30 minutes 5 days per week

ü Eat fresh produce ( fruits and vegetables)

ü Limit red meat

ü Increase fish

ü Include a Meatless Meal once per week

ü Meditate, do yoga, read, listen to music

ü Avoid fatty foods

ü Avoid processed foods

ü Avoid sweets

ü Get flu vaccines

ü Keep immunizations current for self and family

ü Drink plenty of water everyday

ü Have a healthy attitude

ü Avoid smoking or second-hand smoke

ü Clean with green products

ü Avoid drugs and alcohol

ü Have a hobby or play sports

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Banking Services

Financial Institutions offer several services to help you manage your money.

Savings account- this is a safe short-term investment to earn interest. The federal government backs these accounts with the FDIC, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
Market Money Accounts – a higher rate of interest
CD or Certificate of Deposit – The bank holds your money for a set period of time and you will be penalized if you withdraw before maturity.
Checking accounts – a place to hold your money and is available to you at any time. It usually doesn’t earn interest but will be charged fees for this account. The bank tracks your deposits and withdrawals but you must also keep accurate records so you know exactly how much you have available.
ATM- you have 24-7 access to your money through the ATM at your bank or a machine at another location. There are fees involved and maximum amounts of transactions
Online Banking – you can deposit and manage your money online. Most bills can be paid online as well
Mortgages – to buy a house
Loans – to purchase big ticket items
Safe Deposit Box – to secure papers and property
Debit Card – to use instead of cash or credit

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Moving Out

Do you want to move out because you feel mature and ready or are you trying to avoid rules and restrictions from parents?

Ask yourself these questions:

ü Do you have a job?

ü Can you hold down a job?

ü Where do you want to live?

ü How much income do you have?

ü What expenses do you currently owe?

ü What’s your credit rating?

ü Do you have a bank account?

ü Do you have transportation?

ü Will you have a roommate?

ü How much money do you have saved?

ü Do you own household items?

ü Do you know how to plan and prepare meals?

ü How will you do your laundry?

ü Who will care for your child?

ü Can you get yourself up each morning?

ü Can you do household chores on your own?

ü Do you mind being alone?

ü Do you have reliable child care?

ü Would you understand the lease agreement?

ü Could you take care of yourself if sick?

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Pack Your Bags

You should have your bag packed when you’re in your 8^th month of pregnancy. Some

things you’ll need during labor and other items after you have your baby. 

• Picture ID
• Insurance card
• Birth plan
• Bathrobe
• Book or magazine
• Phone & charger
• Comfort Items (favorite pillow, blanket, music)
• Cosmetics, hair items
• Toiletries- deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush
• Comfortable clothes to wear home

Don’t Bring

• Jewelry
• Money
• Medication
• Vitamins

For Your Baby

• Going-home outfit
• Car seat

For Your Coach

• Camera, memory card & charger
• Cell phone & charger
• Comfortable shoes and clothes
• Snacks
• Cash for vending machines and parking lot. 

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Minor Discomforts and Remedies

Pregnancy is a joyful experience that can also bring some minor discomforts.Here are the reasons you may feel the way you do and suggested remedies.

You might  have morning sickness from an increase of pregnancy hormones, dehydration, and an empty stomach.

*Eat crackers 15 minutes before getting out of bed, sip water during the night.

You might have a backache because your spine is supporting the weight of the uterus.

*Have good posture, take a walk, apply a heating pad, wear low heels.

You might have breast tenderness because the milk glands are enlarging.

*Wear a larger, cotton bra with firm support both day and night.

You will have to urinate frequently because the uterus is pressing on your bladder.

*Avoid wearing tight clothing and empty your bladder as needed.

You might get sharp abdominal pain when the ligaments around the uterus are stretched.

*Slowly bend toward the cramp or take a warm bath.

You might have nasal stuffiness because hormones that increase mucus production and membranes in the lining of your nose will swell.

*Use saline solution, apply a warm, wet cloth to your face, use a humidifier.

Your gums might bleed from increased blood circulation and the pregnancy hormones.

*Use a soft toothbrush, be sure to floss and get dental check-ups

You might be more prone to getting headaches caused by tension or congestion.

*Rest in a darkened room, do relaxation exercises for your neck and shoulder area.

You might get heartburn caused by progesterone relaxing all the soft tissues in your esophagus allowing acidic fluids to rise from your stomach to your throat.

*Eat smaller meals, avoid spicy, fatty sugary foods, don't lay down after eating.

You might have sleeping difficulties from uncomfortable positions.

*Drink warm milk before bed, take a warm bath or shower, use a pillow between your legs and tucked under your abdomen.

You might have dizziness which is caused when progesterone dilates your blood vessels, making blood pool in your legs and decreasing your blood pressure.

*Move around often when standing, try laying on your left side and eat every 2 hours.

You might be constipated or get hemorrhoids because your bowels will function more slowly.
*Increase fiber in your diet, drink prune juice, walk, drink warm liquids in the morning.

Dehydration will cause low blood volume and increase the level of oxytocin which triggers premature labor.

*Make sure you are always drinking liquid throughout the day and night. If you are dehydrated go straight to the hospital!

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Old Wives Tales

Tales, in general, have been passed down from generation to generation before information was recorded, published and read. Old wives tales explained things that people didn’t understand. Here are some examples:

• Pregnant women should not take baths.
• Pregnant women shouldn’t lift her hands over her head.
• Heartburn means the baby has lots of hair.
• More babies are born during a full moon.
• If you sleep too much labor will be harder.
• A woman will lose a tooth for every baby she has.If a pregnant woman drinks too much coffee the baby will have a brownish birthmark.
• Pregnant women should eat for two.

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Fine Motor Development

Fine motor skills involve the control of muscles in the hands, fingers, feet and toes. Also the muscles of the tongue and lips that help children speak and sing. Improving fine motor skills will lead to self-care.

•tying shoes 

•zipping and unzipping

•buckling and unbuckling

•playing games that require precise hand and finger control

•pinching objects between fingers

•using locks and keys

•manipulating buttons and snaps

•putting small objects together

•doing puzzles

Small finger muscles can be challenged with nesting toys, puzzles

Smaller blocks to stack and arrange

Arranging and gluing  beads, pasta, cereal and string

Encourage children to turn the pages of books and to point to things on pages.

Dexterity means having the ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Discussion: Can you think of some occupations that require precise manual dexterity?

•Musical Instrument Builders Repairers and Tuners

•Structural Iron and Steel Workers

•Upholders

•Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

•Surgeons

•Dentists

•Pilots

•Nurses

•Hairdressers, barbers

•Make-up Artists

•Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators

•Automotive Mechanics and Service Technicians

•Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters

•Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

•Sewers

•Craft Artists

•Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

•Aircraft Mechanics and Services Technicians

•Plastics Molder

•Landscaping, horticulturist

•Drywall Installer

•Culinary Arts, Baker, Chef

•Glass Cutter

•Sign Maker

•Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

•Wood Patternmakers

•Machinist

•Medical Lab Techs

•Electricians

•Jewelers

•Brick masons and Block masons

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Quench Your Thirst

Hydration is important for flushing waste products from your body, and aiding the liver and kidney function in both you and your baby.

You will need 8 to 12 eight ounce glasses of fluid. Fill a pitcher or large sports bottle and drink in small amounts throughout the day.

Avoid caffeinated and sweet beverages which can actually cause dehydration.

Dehydration can

• make you feel queasy
• cause fatigue
• cause toxemia
• lead to miscarriage
• cause preterm labor
• can be life threatening to baby and mother

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Have a Ball

A colorful ball has lasting play value:

Newborn – visual interaction

4 months – reaches

8 month – crawls to ball

1-2 yr old – practices releasing

2-3 yr old – kicks

3-4 yr old – throws

4-5 yr old – bounces

5 years old – tosses & catches

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