We’re having a

Due date: March 7th, 2004!!

This time has been long awaited!!
For those of you who don’t know, we’ve been trying for over a year to get pregnant. I’ve done several cycles of clomid (a “lite” fertility drug). I was also put on Metformin also known as Glucophage. My hormone levels are off because I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I took a couple months off from the fertility, the dr’s appts, the shots, etc. and wouldn’t you know it…we turned up pregnant!! I really didn’t think I was pregnant. I just figured it was another “normal” month for me, but I decided to test just in case. I thought it would be a miracle if I was and then I could surprise hubby for his birthday, which I did! Needless to say he was so shocked!!

Throughout my pregnancy….
July 9 (5 weeks) – ++Positive Pregnancy Test++
Well this morning I decided to test because I haven’t had a period and it would be really neat if it was ++ for Rob’s birthday. Too my disbelief it was ++!!! I’m in complete shock…I am shaking. I had to look back at the pregnancy test directions several times because I just didn’t believe it! I called to make my orientation appt. at the dr. and when asked my birthday I had a hard time thinking of it!So I’m going to try and wait till tomorrow to spring the news on Rob!

Your baby is about 0.12″ long. The outer, muscular walls of the heart are forming. By the end of this week, the heart will begin to contract. Between week 5 and 6, the heart will begin to beat on its own. The neural tube (brain and spinal cord) is beginning to form, yet is still quite primitive. The liver and kidneys are beginning to form. Eyes are forming on the sides of the head. Bones are slowly developing but are not yet ossified. You can differentiate between the head and the tail.

July 10 (5 weeks) – Rob’s Birthday
Today I gave Rob’s birthday gifts to him as Andrew and Rob’s parents and family watched. He was in complete shock. Not expecting this…I think he may have been a little ticked at me for doing it in front of everyone, but I thought it was really cool!

I think he’s happy, but like me, we have a lot to do and plan, so it’s overwhelming. We’re also apprehensive as this is early in our pregnancy and I didn’t have to go through all this with A-man, because I didn’t know!! I’m scared, but I don’t need to be worried because God is in charge!
So I’m going to try and wait till tomorrow to spring the news on Rob!

July 11 (5 weeks)
Rob took today off, which was nice. I showed A-man pictures of how the baby is right now and how it will grow in the next months.

July 12 (5 weeks)
I woke up this morning with cramping. I’ve had some cramping off and on the last couple days. I’ve been worried about it as it seems to early to be having ligament cramping, but I’ve read on some message boards where other women are having the same thing.

I’ve also had headaches, but I’ve been trying to not take anything and let them pass naturally. I’ve real tired more often than not. I’m starving at times, but can’t eat much at one time.

July 13 (5 weeks)
Last night I went the party at Krista’s house and I told Shannon about me being pregnant. She was excited and happy. I had a good time at the party except I had a horrible headache.

July 14 (6 weeks)
One week till the Dr.’s orientation! I can’t wait! I’m so scared about miscarrying since I have PCOS. I’m not going to ponder that right now.

I was just looking at my list of names I had saved on the babynames.com website.

Your baby is now about 0.25″ long. The heart is beating regularly and the blood is circulating throughout the baby’s body. The heartbeat is visible on ultrasound. The heart begins to divide into the two chambers of the heart, the atria (the upper portion of the heart that collects blood) and the ventricles (the lower, muscular portion of the heart that pumps the blood throughout the body). The umbilical cord is beginning to form and protrude from the baby’s belly. The neural tube closes. All major divisions of the central nervous system are formed, consisting of the forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord. If you have been taking folic acid, your risk for neural tube defects will be significantly decreased. All major organs are continuing to form. The larynx and inner ear are beginning to form. Arm and leg buds are present.

July 15 (6 weeks)
Well, tonight is the MeatLoaf concert. I’ll let you know how it goes!

July 16 (6 weeks)
Concert was fun, loud. I had to pee really bad, but only had to go once. That was good. I wasn’t feeling too good this morning. I’ve been in kind of a bad mood too. I’m really anxious to go to the dr.

July 17 (6 weeks)
Another day of being in a bad mood and feeling squeamish and too tired to do anything!

July 18 (6 weeks)
Nothing much new today…tired, headache, but really hungry. Looking forward to the Dr.’s appt. Monday!

July 21 (7 weeks) – Orientation

Oh I’m feeling so nervous and anxious about my Dr.’s appt. I’m scared something weird will occur like them tell me I’m not really pregnant or something! Oh that would devastate me! Although I continue to have symptoms so I’m not sure why I’m so worried…

I’ll let you know how it goes!…………….

I’m back. A-man and the dogs drive me crazy!! (Rosie and Shelby-Shelby belongs to Angie, a friend of ours)

Anyway, orientation went well. Took blood, urine, medical history. $2300 for everything excluding ultrasound. Insurance should cover 100% of it. Should have my u/s at 16 weeks and have my Dr.’s appt. with Dr. Harris a wk from tomorrow. Looking forward to that! Got my little enfamil gift pack. Need to discuss triple screen with Rob and see what he thinks before then. I really don’t think i want to do it.

Last night we discussed when the baby comes, how long I’ll take off, etc. That’s still up in the air.

Your baby is about 0.5″ long, doubling in size since last week. The heart is strong and protrudes from the body. The chambers close completely to separate atria and ventricles. A wall of tissue forms a septum between the left and right atria. The foramen ovale forms in this septum. The foramen ovale is an opening between the two atria that allows blood to bypass the lungs until birth. At birth this opening is permanently closed. By the end of this week, a muscular wall forms between the left and right ventricles. Heart valves between atria and ventricles form. The forebrain divides into two hemispheres which will become the two cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Eyes are beginning to move from the sides of the head and into position. Paddle-shaped hand and foot plates have developed at the ends of the limb buds. The head enlarges and the developing eyes, ears and nasal pit are obvious.

July 24 (7 weeks) – Fun with friends

A-man and I went to Surfside today with a coworker of mine, Shannon Gunter and her son, Dalton. We stayed longer than we usually do. We both got some sun.

I also told Krista that I am pregnant and she was surprised and happy for me.

July 29 (8 weeks) – Dr. Harris

I went to the Dr. today for the 1st appt. and I was a nervous wreck. I saw Dr. Harris who scheduled an appt. for an ultrasound tomorrow and then they’ll do another one at 20 wks. Rob told his work today and he called Gramma McMahon and she was excited and happy for us. I’m really anxious about tomorrow. I will feel so reassured after seeing the heartbeat tomorrow. I will feel much more at ease and will be able to tell people.

I’ve been feeling really nauseous up until today, I think it might have to do with the prenatal vitamins so today I decided to take it at night.

Your baby is about 1.75″ long and weighs about 0.2 ounce. The placenta and umbilical cord are forming. Internal reproductive organs are forming. The tail disappears and your baby begins to look more human. Eyelids are completely formed and are now fused closed until week 27. The external genitalia are formed but are not yet distinguishable.

July 30 (8 weeks) – Ultrasound

Seeing the baby was amazing…nubs for arms and legs and little tiny heartbeat!

I called Mom, Granny, Grandmother, Dad, and Katie. They were all excited.

August 6 (8 weeks) – Rob tells his Dad & Step mom

Rob called Randy and Pam and both were really excited. Pam said she just knew I was pregnant! She had something telling her that while she was on their cruise!

August 25 (12 weeks) – Open house at A-Man’s School

A-man had open house tonight. He drew a picture of himself and said “I am special because…my mommy’s having a baby!”

Your baby is about 2.5″ long and weighs about 0.5 ounce. Blood is circulating between your baby and the placenta. The placenta is now fully functional. Hormones are being produced and secreted by the brain. The digestive system is formed and functional. Urine production begins in the kidneys. The pancreas is formed and can excrete hormones as early as 12 weeks gestation. Bones are beginning to ossify. Hair begins to grow, usually starting with the eyebrows. Your baby is fully formed. She will spend the remaining 28 weeks growing and maturing.

August 24 (12 weeks) – End of 1st trimester!

August 27 (12 weeks) – Dr. Golden – heartbeat = 155 bpm

September 24 (16 weeks) – Dr. Golden – heartbeat = 148 bpm

Your baby is about 4.5″ long and weighs about 3 ounces. Organs are continually maturing. Fingernails and toenails are formed. The sex of your baby should be distinguishable on ultrasound. Schedule an ultrasound for this week to find out if you are having a boy or a girl.

October 13 (19 weeks) – Dr. Alverson – heartbeat = 144 bpm
Had blood in my urine – turned out to be an infection so they’re treating it with antibiotics.

Your baby is about 6″ long and weighs about 8 ounces. The nervous system is continuing to mature.

October 15 (19 weeks) – Dr. Harris
Ultrasound – Everything looks healthy and normal! We found out it’s a boy!

October 16 (19 weeks) – Had kidney pains, etc. and I went to the dr. twice. Ended up at the ER and was admitted to the hospital. White blood count 16,000 (should be 3,000-10,000). Was given Demoral and antibiotics.

October 17 (19 weeks) – released around 7 pm after going nearly all day without pain medicine. Dr’s never really figured out what exactly was wrong.

October 23 (20 weeks) – went back to dr. having pain again. referred me to a urologist (even though I already saw one in the hospital) BTW, baby is doing fine through all this, even though Momma isn’t!

Your baby is about 6.5″ long and weighs about 9 ounces. Your can hear your baby’s heartbeat using a stethoscope by week 20. Lanugo (fine hair that covers the body) and vernix (waxy substance that protects your baby’s skin) will develop this week.

November 12 (23 weeks) – Dr. Alverson – heartbeat = 138 bpm

Your baby is about 8″ long and weighs about one pound.

December 7 (27 weeks) – End of 2nd trimester!

Your baby is now about 11″ long and weighs about 2.1 pounds. Eyelids re-open and are fully functional.

December 16 (28 weeks) – Dr. Harris & Glucose Test – heartbeat = 144 bpm

Your baby is anywhere from 12-15″ this week and weighs up to 2.5 pounds.The brain develops its characteristic outfoldings (cerebral gyri) and grooves (cerebral sulci). These outfoldings and grooves serve to increase the surface area of the brain. Hair is growing rapidly, especially on top of the head. Eyebrows and eyelashes are apparent.

December 31 (30 weeks) – Dr. Alverson

Your baby is about 17″ long now and weighs over 3 pounds. Most of her growth will be in weight from this point on.

January 11 (32 weeks) – decided on a name FINALLY!

Your baby is almost 19″ long and weighs about 4 pounds.

January 14 (32 weeks) – Dr. Golden – heartbeat = 134 bpm

January 28 (34 weeks) – Dr. Golden

Your baby is about 19.8″ long and weighs about 5 pounds.

February 11 (36 weeks) – Dr. Harris – Not dilated any, but head is low. Dr. Harris predicts we’ll go up to our due date! heartbeat = 131 bpm

Your baby is about 20.5″ long and weighs about 6 pounds.

February 18 (37 weeks) – Baby Shower Pictures

Your baby is about 21″ long and weighs about 6.5 pounds.

February 19 (37 weeks) – Dr. Harris – Not dilated any once again! heartbeat = 164 bpm

February 24 (38 weeks) – Dr. Alverson – Not dilated any, but head is down & low. heartbeat = 137 bpm – Dr. A says “talk to the cervix!” LOL

Your baby is about 21″ long and weighs about 6.8 pounds.

March 2 (39 weeks) – Dr. Golden – Not dilated any. He doesn’t think baby is as big as his brother when he was born: 8 lb 14 oz, so that’s good!

Your baby is about 21.5″ long and weighs about 7 pounds

NEXT APPOINTMENT…
March 8 (40 weeks) – Dr. Smith & Ultrasound to determine baby’s weight and possibly discuss induction

We’re registered at Babies R Us and Target.