Doctors Appointments
February 5, 2003 Our first appointment was on February 5.  We were there forever!  Did all of the fun first appointment things - family history, pregnancy test just to make sure, blood work, and weight.  We found out that yes we are going to have a baby and everything looks good so far!
9 Weeks
March 5, 2003
Our second appointment was on March 5.  We had to wait in the waiting room a really long time again!  When we finally got in to see the doctor he measured to make sure the baby is growing at the right rate and then we got to hear the heartbeat!  It was so neat to know that there actually is a baby in there!
13 Weeks
April 2, 2003
Danny couldn't go to our April 2 appointment so Marge went with me.  It was pretty much just like the last appointment.  Marge got to hear the heartbeat (she thought it sounded weird) and then the doctor asked about the ultrasound.  I said I definately wanted one because we wanted to find out if we might be getting a little girl in the family for once.  So he had the nurse call and schedule the ultrasound for April 7!
17 Weeks
April 7, 2003 Our ultrasound was April 7.  Danny had to work again so Marge went with me.  I had to drink lots of water before I went and I had read that I should drink orange juice to make sure the baby was awake so I really had to go to the bathroom.  When we went in for the ultrasound the technician found the baby and said "This is a very active baby!"  I guess I might not have needed the orange juice!  She followed the baby around for awhile and we got to watch him(?) dancing around and wiggling.  It was really neat.  The technician took all of the measurements she needed and took lots of pictures for us.  When she tried to find out the sex though the baby kept moving around to much for her to be able to tell for sure.  She said it looks like a boy.  Hopefully we will either get another ultrasound or be able to go do the 3D ultrasound so we can find out for sure whether to buy pink or blue.  Click here for pictures!
April 30, 2003
Our appointment was pretty uneventful.  Danny went with me and we got to listen to the heartbeat (heartrate was 150) and doctor said everything looks great, measuring right on track.  He also said that at my next appointment I will probably do the glucose test.  I'll drink a very sugary drink and then they will test to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes.  I didn't make my next appointment yet but will in the next week or two.
21 Weeks
May 28, 2003
I was dreading this appointment because I knew I had gained too much weight this month.  It turns out I was right.  The doctor was not too happy about that but didn't have a chance to lecture me because when he measured my belly he said it is measuring 29 centimeters and should be closer to 25 (it should be 1 centimeter for each week and I'm only 25 weeks).  Last month I measured 22 centimeters so in one month I grew 7 centimeters! (4 centimeters a month is the average)  He didn't seem very concerned, just said I grew a lot.  Also, I have to take the glucose test on Monday.
25 Weeks
June 18, 2003
We had good news and bad news at our appointment.  Bad news first.  I have been having problems with swelling for the past week so I asked  the doctor about it.  He told me that since my blood pressure is still normal that we don't have anything to worry about yet but that we need to get the swelling under control.  That means I have to go on a strict diet (limit my sodium intake, no fried foods, and more water)  I also gained more weight this time than I did last time.  He said that some of that could be fluid but I really need to be watching what I eat.  So, I guess that means no more McDonalds for lunch and KFC for dinner!  Ok, now the good news.  The baby is doing fine and besides my swelling and excess weight everything looks good.  I am still measuring big, this time 33 centimeters (I should be closer to 28 centimeters) but the doctor isn't worried about that.  We also signed up for lamaze classes.  They start on July 17 and are every Thursday from 7-9 pm.  My next appointment is in 3 weeks.
28 Weeks
July 9, 2003 This appointment actually turned out a lot better than I was expecting!  I only gained half a pound (which made the doctor VERY happy) and my belly only grew 1 centimeter, which is just fine since I'm still measuring 3 weeks ahead.  The doctor said that we would wait until my next appointment to see if I'm still measuring ahead and then I might get another ultrasound.  I now have appointments every 2 weeks so my next appointment is July 22.
31 Weeks
July 22, 2003
Our appointment was kind of rushed because Dr. Will got paged right in the middle of it.  When I first went in my blood pressure was a little high.  The nurse had me lay on my left side and rechecked it and it was normal so everything is ok there.  Dr. Will did say that I'm still measuring ahead so he wants to send me for another ultrasound.  I'm fine with that!  I'd love to know for sure if the baby is a boy.  Our ultrasound is July 24.
33 Weeks
Ok, here is the big news that everyone has been waiting for:  IT'S A BOY!!  He wasn't at all shy this time.  And of course the real reason we had another ultrasound - measurements.  Ashton already weighs 6 lbs 5 oz according to the ultrasound (they can be off half a pound either way) and the technician said he is measuring 36 weeks!  He should have been measuring 33 weeks.  We won't know exactly what that means until our next appointment but the technician said we should be ready for him anytime now.  Our next appointment is August 5, hopefully Dr. Will will give us an estimate of when Ashton might decide to show up!
July 24, 2003