Category: Featured

By Simon Zimmerman-

Penn Manor students have been inking themselves up more frequently, but are they aware of the serious health affects that can come along with the images on their skin?

As of 2003, surveys showed that 15 to 16 percent of American adults ranging from the ages 18 to 50 have a tattoo. Recent surveys, however, say that this number is on the rise and has reached as much as 24 percent.

Tattoos have certain side affects that should cause concern for anybody who gets one.

Hepatitis B and C and MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can be transferred from unsterilized needles used in some tattoo parlors and some freelance tattoo artists who work out of their home.

MRSA is a type of staph infection that does not respond to some antibiotics that are commonly used to treat staph infections. Hepatitis B and C, on the other hand, are inflammation of the liver due to infections of the hepatitis B or C virus.

Some students from Penn Manor say they are aware of these infections and do take measures to stay away from parlors that could be disease-prone.

“I knew I was going to a clean place so it didn’t bother me getting my tattoo,” said Penn Manor senior Kyle Black, who has a large tattoo on his side that says “young, wild and free.”

Black also offered that some of his friends who have inked themselves up have received ‘jailhouse’ tattoos.

A jailhouse tattoo, according to Black, is a tattoo that is acquired from a tattoo artist who is sometimes inexperienced and who operates out of their own home.

These tattoo artists are not regulated and may not live up to the standards of commercial tattoo parlors.  These amateur operations can have a reputation of being unclean because they are unregulated.

Black’s fellow classmate, Lauren Anderson, got a so-called jailhouse tattoo when she received her tattoo on her foot.

But just because they may undergo inspections, doesn’t mean all commercial tattoo parlors are guaranteed safe places to get a tattoo.

“I got it (when I was) underage at some guy’s house who used to work at [a commercial tattoo parlor] and stopped because there were cases of MRSA and Hepatitis B and C,”  said Anderson.

“He sterilized the needle so I knew everything was okay, I wouldn’t get a tattoo unless I felt completely safe,” Anderson continued to say.

Anderson said she does show concern for her health, but this is not always the case for many teens anxious to get their first tattoo.

As the number of  young people getting tattoos continue to rise, so do the number of cases of MRSA and Hepatitis B and C.  Those are two diseases that can be deadly.

In 2011, more than 18,000 deaths were attributed to MRSA in America. In the same year, 16,000 deaths were attributed to the more widely known threatening disease, AIDS.

At the same time, the rate of tattoos obtained by Americans ages 18-50 continue to rise and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

By Dayonte Dixon –

Administrators at Penn Manor High School said this is the year there will be graduation and other consequences for students not scoring proficient on the PSSA.

But the consequences are not completely clear cut and some students said they were aware of new consequences while others were clueless.

“I’m going to have to take online courses or something in the school to prove that I know the material,” predicted junior Natosha Polaski if she is not proficient this year.

“I don’t graduate,” said Lindsay Hutchinson.

“Wait, is that what happens?” said junior Becky Miller, responding to Hutchinson’s comment.  “I didn’t know that’s what happens.”

Administrators promised that this would be the year that class members would suffer consequences if they didn’t take the test seriously.

They are talking the talk, but are they walking the walk?

Administration members said earlier in the year they would mail home letters to parents of students letting them know the consequences of not passing this year’s PSSA test, but it seems many of the consequences, including the letters, have fallen through the cracks.

“There were no letters sent home,” said principal Phil Gale. “Just requirements they have to fulfill.”

Gale outlined the most recently added consequences that will befall students not scoring proficient on the PSSA, including a three-step program that makes it almost impossible not to graduate.

“If they don’t develop proficiency in math and reading, as defined by state standards, then we will develop a program for them to demonstrate their proficiency,” Gale stated.

The three-step program starts with the PSSA testing. If the student does not score proficient, he or she will have to retake the test at a later date. If the student again fails to score proficient, then the school will design an individual program for that student, that is designed specifically for that student to pass, according to latest administration reports.

“If they don’t develop that proficiency, then there is a possibility they don’t graduate,” Gale said about those who fail the three-step program.

“We need to show a 10 percent increase in each section (reading and math),” Gale said referring to the percentage of students in eleventh grade who need to score proficient on the PSSA this year.

Penn Manor High School PSSA results from previous years.

Grade 11

Reading
 69% (2011)
 72% (2010)
 67% (2009)
 72% (2008)
 75% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 69% in 2011.

Science
 47% (2011)
 46% (2010)
 50% (2009)
The state average for Science was 41% in 2011.

Writing
 90% (2011)
 89% (2010)
 91% (2009)
 95% (2008)
 95% (2007)
The state average for Writing was 85% in 2011.

Math
 59% (2011)
 60% (2010)
 59% (2009)
 68% (2008)
 67% (2007)
The state average for Math was 60% in 2011.

The school has experimented with many different ways of improving Penn Manor’s overall PSSA scores.

One of the more recent changes Penn Manor has made is that juniors now have remediation periods almost every day in either math or reading.

“We practice problems that will show up on the PSSA,” said junior Erica Williams, referring to what happens during remediation sessions.

Basically there is an extra 45 minutes for one of the classes, depending on what day it is.  And that time is dedicated to remediating students who may not be proficient on the test.

“It was amazing how many seniors made growth,” principal Krista Cox said about the results of benchmark exams after remediation.

Some students are worried about the consequences of the test while others are not.

“I am a little worried about taking the PSSA, but I feel like I am ready,” Williams said.

Some think that there should be more of a negative repercussion for not passing the PSSA testing, that it would make students take it more seriously.

“I think it should effect a student’s course selection,” said senior Jared Banzhof, who has witnessed the recent changes the school has made to improve PSSA scores. “Or it would give the kids more incentive, if they lost their electives.”

“If you take away stuff, then kids become less interested,” said junior Mark Hutchins, referring to privileges and punishments. “But other than remediation, I haven’t really been paying attention to any of the other consequences.”

According to Gale there are no punishments, only requirements to be fulfilled.

But there are possible incentives as well.  Seniors who improved or were proficient or advanced on their PSSAs last year got free parking passes this spring.

As of now, it seems Penn Manor is sticking to their three-step program. Which could prove to be successful in due time.  But only time will tell.

By Jay Jackson –

A new study just came out saying that if you are excluded when you are a kid then you are more likely to be overweight. You gain weight and then as a child you  are excluded more and as a result you gain even more weight.

“I used to be fluffy when I was little but I wasn’t ostracized. I was just naturally a little bigger,” said Brandon Smertz a senior at Penn Manor.

The idea for the study was brought up by Jacob Barkley, who is an assistant professor in exercise science at Kent State, after watching his three sons play out side.

“I noticed when friends came over, the intensity of their activity increased dramatically. After seeing that, I went and looked at the literature in terms of peer influence and physical activity behavior,” said Barkley.

It is a dangerous cycle that harms kids around the world everyday, according to the research. Some think that this is a major break through  in the understanding of childhood obesity.

“As you get more ostracized, you get heavier; you get more ostracized because you got heavier and things get worse and worse,” explained Barkley.

In this study 19 children boys and girl from the ages 8 to 12 completed both sessions of experiments. The first session they were on the computer and playing a ball-toss computer game. Some children got the ball a third of the time during the game and the others were excluded almost the whole time.

After this session, they were taken into the gym and not told what to do. The kids that were included in the game were found to have a 22 percent increase in physical activity than the children who were excluded. On the other hand the children that were excluded were 41 percent more likely to particiapate in sedentary activities such as reading, coloring or playing matching games

This study really shows and confirms the link between emotions and obesity, researchers said.

Amy Stanford who works with obese children at the Sports Medicine Center at Akron Childrens Hospital said they support any physical acticity.

“We try to encourage kids to find things that they enjoy doing. That does not always mean it has to be in a group. If there are things that get them moving and physically active that they can do with their families or with a best friend or even by themselves, we encourage that,” explained Stanford.

Some Penn Manor students feel like this isn’t always the case.

“That can’t always be true. I had plenty of heavyset friends and nobody ostracized them,” said Kara Ann Overmyer another senior who goes to Penn Manor. “I mean I guess it could be true but I doubt it.”

However others saw some validity in the preliminar research, like Penn Manor’s Bob Warfel.

“I can see that being true. There are a lot of obese kids around and most of them I could see being ostracized. I have seen it happen to kids and it sucks but it happens every once in awhile,” said Warfel.

By Jay Jackson –

Fat Tuesday around here is always jam-packed with powdered sugar, glaze and cinnamon but it’s not always that the delicious traditional fried doughnuts can be enjoyed with the sun shining on the muncher’s face.

This year Fausnaught Day seems to be the start of an early spring, unlike last year. It is almost a full 20 degrees warmer this year than last year’s chilly, snowy winter.  The weather is supposed to be flirting with 60 degrees all week.

Apparently our famous groundhog, Octoraro Orphie, the ground hog who DIDN’T  see his shadow this year, got it right.

“It is supposed to to be so nice out this week,” said Janelle Musser a senior at Penn Manor. “I just hope it stays nice.”

Every year Fausnaught day swings around but many students don’t know the history of this  holiday.

Fausnaught day originated as the day before Lent starts when people usually give up unhealthy foods or habits. Tradition has it that Fausnaught day was used to clean out the cabinet of all of the sugar, lard, fat, and butter that people give up during the time of Lent.

But many here are not familiar with the traiditon.

“I have no idea why we have Fausnaught day,” said senior Drew Purzycki.

For those that don’t know what Lent is, it is the Christian season of preparation before Easter.

In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter.

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ for his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.

But around here, most kids just want doughnuts.

“I just know that it is Fat Tuesday, and I love Fausnaughts,” Purzycki said.

“I love Fausnaught day, I eat so many that I want to die,” said Forrest Paes.

Penn Manor students may not know much about it but they do know how to celebrate Fausnaught day.

“I have like three boxes waiting for me and I am so excited to get home,” said Purszycki. “Powered sugar is definitely my favorite. It isn’t even close.”

“I went to Pine View (Acres Dairy) this morning to get mine. You have to get the best ones which are cinnamon sugar,” said Musser.

Musser may be an exception because she actually knows some background information about the fattening holiday.

“Yeah, you use up all of the fat and unhealthy stuff that you have before lent,” said Musser.

There are definitely some Fausnaught fanatics  in Lancaster County.

“I like the gooey richness and the powdered sugar sprinkled across my lips,” said Ian Toomey who clams to be the biggest Fausnaught fan in Lancaster county.

Lent observers better eat up because the season of sacrifice is beginning.

“I am going to try to eat better and eat less junk food but it’s going to be so tough,” said Musser.

However some Penn Manorites aren’t going to give anything up.

“No way I am going to give anything up even though I probably should,” Toomey explained. “I just love Fausnaughts.”

By Brady Charles –

Penn Manor alum Peter DeLuca starred in his own show Sunday, making a name for himself in Division 1 lacrosse.

In a live televised event on NBC Sports, DeLuca, a sophomore at Jacksonville University,  tied a career-high in saves (20) in an upset win against national powerhouse Navy.

Sunday’s showcase was a part of  Moe’s Southwest Grille Classic at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Everbank Field, which also included a game between Ohio State vs Denver beforehand.

But it was Deluca who stole the show and the television announcers couldn’t get enough, showing replays over and over of him defending the goal.

“That’s Deluca again,” said one after one amazing save.  “He’s only a sophomore.”

“That’s All-American Play,” proclaimed another.

After the game it was Deluca and his coach, Guy Van Arsdale, who were interviewed on the sidelines.

The young goalie already has had a huge impact on the beginning of the Dolphin’s season, but Sunday was the first Division 1 win for the season.  DeLuca’s career high of 20 saves came first in last year’s season finale against Duke.

“You got to play for 60 minutes, and that’s what got us the W,” said DeLuca after the game was over and Jacksonville had won 13-7.

DeLuca was named “Game MVP” by NBC Sports, and during the interview, many noticed  the MVP’s facial hair.

DeLuca was sporting a mustache, which the team does as a tradition.

“Everyone grows out a mustache until our team’s first win, we have fun with it,” said DeLuca.

Luckily that win came quick.

Jacksonville is a third year lacrosse program on the rise in Northeast Florida. With the location of the University just miles off the beach, many top recruits are drawn to the school.

“Being in Florida and being so close to the beach I think gives us an almost unfair advantage in recruiting process,” said DeLuca.

Jacksonville is one hot topic on lacrosse forums such as Laxpower.com, Lax.com and Insidelacrosse.com.

So is Pete.

Some followers of the game are putting DeLuca in the early discussion as an All-American candidate.

Something DeLuca’s familiar with.

As a junior in high school DeLuca was named an All-American, which was only months prior to his recruitment by Jacksonville.

In only their third year of having a lacrosse program, the Dolphins had a coaching change to Van Arsdale, a Hobart grad, and former Division III “Player of the Year” in 1983. Van Arsdale was, coincidentally, a goalie.

“Our new coach is more of a disciplinarian then our old coach, it’s a little different, he taught me a bunch of new things this year that helped me out a lot,” DeLuca said.

“We work very hard, and our coach is tough on us. He expects a lot out of us,” Deluca said.

Jacksonville faces a tough non-league schedule which includes Duke and Michigan in a five-day span. DeLuca feels confident about the upcoming Duke game.

“They looked very beatable in their loss to Notre Dame this weekend, we feel good about it as long as we play like we are capable of playing,” DeLuca said.

Jacksonville will face off against the highly touted 10th ranked Duke squad  Sunday in Durham, N.C. at 1 p.m.

By Alicia Ygarza –

According to ESPN breaking news, “He was such a man.”

World renowned  baseball catcher, Gary Carter, died from brain cancer at the age of 57, on Thursday, February 16, 2012. And fans here at Penn Manor and around the world felt the loss.

ESPN said Carter was reported dead at 4:10 p.m., Eastern time.

According to baseball-reference.com, Carter was a star studded baseball player throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Carter was the true Sandlot character.

He was a mystical baseball player that kids looked up to, and a man that many people adored.

He was like a hero out of a cartoon.

According to abcnews.go.com, “A two-sport athlete as a boy, Carter won the 7-year-old national division of the NFL’s first Punt, Pass & Kick skills competition in 1961. He was a pitcher and shortstop in Little League and switched to catching in high school after a scout suggested it was the fastest path to the big leagues, turning down a chance to play football at UCLA.”

He was like a kid, being able to pick and chose whichever sport he desired.

Suiting him perfectly, “The Kid” was made his nick-name.

“Carter was known as much for his effervescent personality as his talents at the plate and behind it. He earned the nickname “Kid” as an eager teen in his first major league camp and the label stuck for the rest of his career, and beyond,” states abcnews.go.com.

Sadly, as you grow older your body changes, and you can no longer live in a kids body.

Waiting.com states, in May of 2011, “Carter was diagnosed with four small inoperable brain tumors, and he underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Duke,” according to the 2011 new reports.”But recently his condition has deteriorated, and on Christmas he fell and damaged his rotator cuff,” this article was written January 19, 2012.

Carter made his force known for 19MLB seasons, and he was also apart of four different teams.

Carter played for the Expos, Mets, Dodgers, and Giants, states baseball-reference.com.

According to abcnews.go.com,”Carter’s daughter, Kimmy Bloemers, wrote on the familywebsite. ‘This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to write in my entire life but I wanted you all to know.'”

Carter will be forever missed, just as much as those teams missed him once he had left.

R.I.P. Gary Carter.

-April 8, 1954-February 16. 2012

By Blake Wales –

Cries of delight and and feelings of gratitude are echoing through the halls of Penn Manor by students who are getting free parking passes.

Penn Manor’s administrators decided to reward seniors who did well last year on their math and reading PSSA tests – either proficient or advanced – by giving them their parking passes for free during the second semester.

That is making select members of the senior class extremely excited.

“I was very surprised and shocked,” said senior Dylan Weber. “I was not aware of this.”

It’s that dreaded time of the year for most students who have parking passes at Penn Manor because that means they need to dish out more money to the school, $20 per semester. Students complain they have to pay for these passes while many students at other schools don’t have to pay a penny.

Principal Phil Gale said  he thought students would be excited and it would spur younger students to do well on this year’s test in anticipation of a similar reward when they are seniors.

“I composed the idea and Mr. (Doug) Eby finalized it,” said Gale.

This privilege is only accessible to seniors who have improved their PSSA scores from their eighth to eleventh grade year. The students had to have  improved on both math and reading with scores of advanced or proficient.

There are currently 89 free spring parking passes given to seniors and more deserving seniors can qualify for them, an estimated 120 in total.

But the school is losing an estimated $2,400 by giving the passes out for free.

But administrators said it will be worth it if students in their junior year perform better and make a good effort on state standardized testing that begins in March.

If juniors were around to witness the “gift” of the free passes, they very well may be inspired.

“They were pretty psyched,” said administrative secretary Heather Valentine who got to surprise the students.

“The kids that came up were so excited and so grateful because we were doing this for them for all the hard work they did for us,” said Valentine. “The word was getting out when students started to receive these passes so more and more students started to come to the table to see if they got one which was pretty neat.”

Senior Landon Alecxih was not expecting the free pass.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” he said.

“It’s a thing to look forward to so you do well on your PSSAs,” Weber explained. “Let this be a lesson to the juniors so they do well.”

Another senior Kayleena Hess had a similar reaction saying, “Well I was walking up to the office because they were handing out detentions  and that’s when initially heard about them. So I went up to Mrs. Valentine and she told me I got one and I was like ‘Oh Word,'”Hess explained.

The main office is still handing out these passes to eligible students. If you are a senior at Penn Manor and you have not yet redeemed your parking pass go up to the main office because you might be one of the lucky ones.

By Alex Sorce –

It was one of those simple walks.

You know the ones – the ones that can change the course of your life.

Morgan remembers how crystalline the water was and, at the same time, intensely reflecting the sun’s rays making it both beautiful and painful to look at.

Morgan had never expected this, never expected he would have a conversation with a college rowing coach.

He had already decided he wanted to attend the small liberal arts school in Maryland.  He knew it as soon as he walked onto the campus. But during his visit there with college admissions counselors his life, as he planned it, took an interesting turn.

As Morgan was finished with his tour of the college, the head coach from the school’s rowing team – Leekley – came up to him, introduced himself and asked Morgan if he wouldn’t mind taking a walk so they could chat and check out the boats down by the river.

Leekley guided Morgan along the Chester River where the rowing team typically practiced. Morgan recalled being a little confused since he had not rowed a day in his life and couldn’t quite figure out why Leekley wanted this chat.

But Leekley had guided Morgan to the river for a special purposed – to see if he was interested in joining the rowing team.

It didn’t seem to matter to the coach that Morgan had no experience with rowing – at all.

Leekley was very interested in Morgan.

“We look for guys like Josh, who are athletes and want to try a new sport, so when he came to visit we were excited that he’s looking to come to school here,” said Leekly before adding, “and try rowing.”

Morgan exactly recalls Leekley saying he, “would love to have him row.”

It didn’t matter that he didn’t have experience.

“Over half of all rowers in college don’t row before they come to college, so Josh will fit in with a group of guys just like him,” said Leekley. “Part of our program involves teaching guys like Josh who have no prior experience how to row, and they’ll race in events their freshmen year against other first-year rowers.”

It’s not hard to imagine Morgan as a rower.  Four years of wrestling under coach Steve Hess at Penn Manor, strengthened his body and his mind.

“(It’s) tremendous an athlete will try something new at a high level of competition, it shows a lot of grit, determination, and character,” said Hess.

“As a wrestler, Josh has learned how to push himself to the limits of his physical ability, said Leekley. “Rowing, like wrestling, is a total body sport that demands high levels of endurance and mental discipline.”

That is the perfect kind of athlete that Leekly wants, hard-working and dedicated, to benefit the team.

“Wrestling has definitely taught me discipline and work ethic, it has helped me become stronger both mentally and physically,” said Morgan.

To prepare during the off season, Morgan has to gain about 12 pounds by September. The team doesn’t have enough guys to fill a lightweight boat and Morgan has to gain weight in order to row.

To Morgan this is the complete opposite of what he is used to, skipping meals, watching his water intake, practicing with a sweat shirt on, all done to cut weight and make his class for wrestling.

“I’m looking forward to having a new experience, I hope to get strong and get some sort of consistent exercise,” said Morgan.

Although Morgan has not rowed before, he has caught the excitement about his new sport and the experiences that await him in the coming years.

“Washington College is a strong liberal arts school, it’s surrounded by the Chester River and close to the Chesapeake bay, it would be a good location to further my studies and social life… I love being in and around the water, that’s where I can relax,” said Morgan.

“I’ve never rowed a day in my life… I think it would be fun to have a sport where you’re on a boat in the water. To me it seems more enjoyable and gratifying than other sports,” said Morgan.

By Cody Straub-

Governor Tom Corbett released his proposed budget for Pennsylvania on Tuesday. As expected, it slashed funds to many state-run organizations that will affect students and staff at Penn Manor.

Overall Corbett expects the state budget to total $27.14 billion, which is $20 million less than the previous year’s budget. Major fund cutting is in store for areas like education, public libraries, welfare, the Environmental Protection agency, Military and Veteran Affairs, and the executive offices among other state organizations.

Some good news for PA residents is that higher taxes are not in Corbett’s plans this year.

But, state residents will have to shell out money in other areas.

College bound students or current college students will most likely see another increase in tuition on top of the five to ten percent increase from last year.

In Corbett’s budget 20 percent of funds for the 14 state-owned universities will be cut, including 30 percent from Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University.

“It’s encouraging more people not to go to college, which is going to make America a lot more dumb,” said senior Janelle Musser, who plans on attending a state college.

The funds for public education – kindergarten through grade twelve will be cut in some areas and was increased slightly in some categories. But with higher costs for public schools it may not be enough for school districts to avoid raising taxes.

“We have a fiscally prepared budget plan, so I think we will be ready for any budget cut the governor throws at us,” said Penn Manor Principal Jason D’Amico.

Many are upset about the cuts to public education.

“The governor is continuing down the ill-advised budget path he charted last year that pushes more and more of the costs of our public schools onto the backs of local taxpayers,” said Ted Kirsch, President of Pennsylvania American Teachers Federation in a recent article on MSNBC.

“While the governor may be taking a smaller step backward than he did in his first budget, he is still moving in the wrong direction,” Kirsch added.

He is referring to the fact that last year Corbett cut funding for k-12 education, and while this year he increased the budget Kirsch does not feel it is enough.

While Corbett is cutting welfare and higher education budgets he decided that it is necessary to increase the funding of the PA Game Commission for the sport of hunting.

Along with an increase for the Game Commission, Corbett also decided to increase funding for probation and parole.

The state Department of Corrections, after seeing an increase in funding last year, was one of the few organizations that did not see a decrease in funds in this year’s budget.

Feature photo courtesy of Post-Gazette.com

By Maggie Dubbs –

A 33-year-old teacher at Penn Manor is expecting, but the baby is not hers.

Jen Kroesen, is expecting a little boy April 25. But it so happens that this is not her child.

Kroesen is a surrogate mother. Although she has three children of her own including Jude, 6, and a set of twins, Jett and Joelle who are 4, she decided to take this unusual step so that she could help someone else experience the joys of parenthood.

Someone who could or maybe should not risk a pregnancy.

Kroesen said the genetic parents of the child she’s carrying are from Manhattan, New York. The mother is 39 years old, considered by medical personnel to be at an advanced maternal age to be having a baby.  Statistics show a child born to an older mother is more susceptible to physical and mental disabilities.

But according to Kroesen, who did not know the couple before the pregnancy,  the wife couldn’t have conceived and carried a baby at any age because she has an underdeveloped uterus and therefore cannot get pregnant.

They met over the phone.

The parents in waiting came to Pennsylvania for the seven-week check-up to hear the heart beat for the first time. They also met Kroesen at the medical office for the 12-week and 20-week check up.

At the 20-week check up, they were then able to determine that the baby is a boy. Kroesen said the parents don’t have any names in mind yet, and are just glad to know the baby is healthy and growing.

“It really just felt right,” said Kroesen.  “Not only have I known many people with infertility and pregnancy issues, but so many people have just had rough pregnancies and deliveries. I’ve had none of that.”

Coincidently, it was the infertility of a friend that first planted the idea of surrogacy in Kroesen’s mind.

A close friend of hers was having trouble getting pregnant.

“I offered to carry for (that) friend who was having trouble, but fortunately she did get pregnant,” Kroesen said.  “After I made that offer, my husband and I talked more about it and decided we would apply to an agency to make the offer to someone we didn’t know.

“I realized how blessed my husband and I were with our three healthy kids,” she said.

But Kroesen said she worried how people would view her when she found out that some people do this for large amounts of money.

Although she declined to say how much the couple is paying her to carry their child, she said she is not doing it for the money.

There were other issues as well.

She also struggled with the fact that some clinics would fertilize many eggs at once, and then discard the unused ones. Some also performed selective reductions or abortions of unhealthy fetuses.

“(I) did not want to be a part of any of that, or go to any clinic that would do that, and didn’t want to be associated with it,” said Kroesen. The clinic that performed her in vitro did not support any of these things.

She chose to find a clinic that would meet all of her prerequisites including being able to choose what kind of parents she would be delivering to. She wanted the future parents to be married and know that they would not want to abort the fetus if any issues occurred.

Even though she chose the clinic that was right for her, the clinic also had to choose her.

In order to qualify as a surrogate, Kroesen had to have an extensive physical. Both her husband and she also had to take very intense psychological tests.

“A lot of the questions were weird, they were definitely repetitive but worded differently every time,” Kroesen said.

Kroesen knows some will wonder what her own children will think of the situation.

“They are too young to understand how this happened and too young to grow attached to a baby they can’t see,” reasoned Kroesen.  “They probably will never remember this. If spoken about, we always refer to the baby as belonging to his parents.”

Kroesen freely admits there are some downsides to the nine-month experience.

“I don’t have as much energy to play with my kids,” she said.  “I like to exercise and I can’t do that. I don’t regret it but I don’t think I would do it again.”

But for Kroesen, pregnancy has always been a natural and easy thing.

“I didn’t have morning sickness or any complications with my pregnancies,” she said.  “My deliveries were induced because I could have carried longer.  Even my pregnancy carrying twins was easy.  I worked right up until the induction of both pregnancies.”

Kroesen said her athletic build is a positive in the situation.

“I’ve also carried very healthy babies,” she said.  “Some doctors believe that women who have bigger babies do so because their bodies give more nutrients to the babies they are carrying.  I had bigger, healthy babies and am tall so I am built to carry them.  This baby is already over the 90th percentile for size.”

But she said it was a blessing to be able to do what she is doing since there was only a 35 percent chance that the surrogate pregnancy would work.

Although Kroesen doesn’t believe she will stay in close contact with the parents she won’t be surprised if the couple sends email updates or even Christmas cards.

“I really just felt like I was the perfect candidate for something like this, and I was called to do it,” said Kroesen