I am thrilled to announce that our family is growing! Shawn and I are expecting our second baby!! The intention of this page is to keep track of all my happy news and events throughout this pregnancy.

July 4th - I took a home pregnancy test this morning but it was negative. My period is late though so there is still hope. Today was an all around bad day, however, because I broke my ankle! Horsing around in a kiddie pool during a water balloon fight didn't turn out very well for me!

July 6th - I have taken two more pregnancy tests, today and yesterday, however both were negative. My period is still late and I have been a little nauseous. Is this a result of my broken ankle and all the accompanying stress? Or am I really pregnant?

July 10th - Well, my period still isn't here so I decided to take one last pregnancy test. It was POSITIVE!!! I am SO excited!!

July 15th - I was supposed to have surgery on my ankle but can't now because I am pregnant. The hospital gave me a blood test and it was positive (DUH!) so I had to have a closed reduction. It hurt but I survived! I am now in a full leg cast for awhile...

July 17th - Happy 27th birthday mommy!!

July 18th - I went to the doctor today but he had been called out of the office for a delivery. After peeing in a cup and updating my information, we rescheduled for July 28th. I'll get an ultrasound then... I can't wait!!

July 28th - I went back to the doctor today. He had been called out for a delivery again but got back to the office just after I did. He asked me the routine questions but put off any checkups until after I have my cast off (which will hopefully be August 28th!). I had an ultrasound though and we saw the baby's heartbeat!! That is the most amazing experience ever... My official estimated due date is March 20th. I go back to the doctor in early September.

August 19th - We got home tonight after a LOOOONG drive home from Indiana. We left to go out there on August 8th. It wasn't too great of a trip because I am in this horrible cast and it was a loooong drive and I was pretty sick. But I was so happy to see my dad and to be there for my brother's wedding. I will try to get some pictures on here someday to show you his wedding... it was a very nice day for them! I miss them but am so glad to be home... it was a looooong trip!

August 26th - I got a call yesterday from the receptionist at the place I am having my broken ankle treated. I was supposed to go in and get this big, huge cast off on August 28th but they were trying to postpone it a week! I begged them to let me out of it sooner than that, so they fit me in for today. It was sooooo nice to get that cast off but my leg looks AWFUL. I can't wait to take a hot bath and soak my leg/foot, however, that has to wait a few more weeks! The breaks aren't fully healed so I am back in a cast but a smaller one, below my knee, and I can walk on this one. So, it's an improvement, just not the one I was hoping for! I go back on September 18th for XRays and I guess we'll go from there!

September 2nd - I got a phone call from the doctor's office this afternoon... somehow I totally forgot about my appointment today! I rescheduled for September 15th. I have been pretty sick lately though. I think it is a combination of being pregnant and some type of cold/virus/something... I haven't thrown up this much in my entire life!!

January 13th - I have been SO terrible about updating this journal. All is going well but I have been so busy. I spent a very long time throwing up and feeling crummy at the beginning of my pregnancy. It started with a bad virus of some sort but when that left, I was still throwing up. I never really had morning sickness with Clayton but I had it with a vengence this time around. I literally threw up every single day (sometimes more than once) for weeks! I am so glad that part of the pregnancy is over. I am still sensitive to some sights and smells but, for the most part, I am not too sick. My biggest complaint now is how tired I am! But I work part-time and have a toddler full-time, which I'm sure is contributing to how tired I am. Since the last time I updated this journal, I have had four doctor appointments and everything is going well. We had our ultrasound on October 20th and I decided to try sticking it out and not finding out the baby's gender. I wanted to see if I could do it! To help me along, my little one sat with his/her legs all scrunched up so that I wouldn't have been able to find out anyway. Once I made it through the ultrasound, it hasn't really bothered me. But I am getting very excited to meet this little guy/girl to find out who's in there! Other than the ultrasound, I've had the routine appointments and the baby is looking and sounding good. I am now 30 weeks pregnant and have approximately 10 weeks to go. I still have so much to do... I have to get the baby's room cleaned out (it's currently my office/junk room) and I have to bring up Clayton's newborn stuff to get it cleaned and ready for this one... so it feels like I don't have enough time to get everything done but I still want March to get here fast! Anyway, this pregnancy has dragged and flown all at the same time. It has been SO completely different from my pregnancy with Clayton. This baby moves A LOT and I swear my insides are black and blue! I think it's a girl but, like I said, we won't find out until he or she arrives. We can't agree on a name so that's taking a lot of work. We have agreed on Noah if it's a boy but that's it. No middle name and picking a girl's name is not getting anywhere! I'll try to update this page more frequently.

January 23rd - I went to the doctor today and all's well. I am measuring at 35 weeks (will be 32 weeks in 2 days) and asked if that was okay. It turns out that I was measuring 37 weeks with Clayton at this point so 35 is okay! As long as the baby and I are growing consistently, there is no need for alarm. We heard the heartbeat and it's great... I go back on February 9th and then again on February 23rd or 24th... at that time, I start going in weekly to check for progress... how time has flown!!

January 28th - Since it has been awhile... here are a few pictures to tide you over... click here.

February 5th - I went to the doctor again today. I am having the most unbelievable pain in my ribcage and can barely breath. I think that I just pulled a muscle during a coughing fit but it hurts so bad that I figured I'd rather be safe than sorry. The doctor checked everything out, the baby is just fine and I am getting enough air in my lungs, even if it doesn't feel that way to me... he said I could have possible cracked a rib but it definitely sounds like a pulled muscle. I can take Tylenol at regular intervals, try BenGay and/or a heating pad but other than that, I just have to wait it out and try not to re-injure it. It hurts SO badly! But, if I feel better, I don't have to go back on the 9th... just my next appointment on the 23rd. But that's all for now... the baby sounded great and my due date is fast approaching!!

February 12th - I am now 34 weeks along... click here to see how huge I am!

February 23rd - Went to the doctor today and all is well. My blood pressure is fine and we heard the baby's heart beat, which I just love. I had my first "check" today and am 1 1/2 centimeters dialated... not effaced yet but, hey, I'll take what I can get! The one bad thing is that my doctor is going to a conference in South Carolina from March 13th through March 18th. That stinks because, if I have the baby during that time, I'll obviously have a doctor that I don't know. It's not the end of the world but still stinks... anyway... that's all for now... I made my next two appointments... for March 1st and March 11th. I can't believe how close I am to meeting my new little sweetie pie!!

March 1st - Went to the doctor today and all is well again. Good blood pressure, lost a pound (that's two in the last two weeks), and the baby sounds good. The "bad" news is that there is no change to my cervix since last week... c'mon baby! I'm waiting!! *G*

March 11th - Had another doctor's appointment today. I believe I gained a couple of pounds but am not sure... things are still looking good... my BP was fine, the baby's heartbeat was wonderful and everything looks just fine. Checked my cervix again and there still has been NO CHANGE! I think the baby is mighty comfortable in there... But I do still have 10 days before my due date so I shouldn't complain... my doctor leaves for a conference in South Carolina on the 13th and is gone until suppertime or so on the 18th... so I made my next appointment for March 22nd... one day AFTER my due date... let's see if I make it!

March 22nd - Well, I made it to this appointment! My cervix was still posterior, enough so that he couldn't even reach to tell me how much I was dialated without hurting me so he didn't try... I feel like this baby is never coming out!! I go in for another appointment next Monday, March 29th and that will include an ultrasound to check on the baby and make sure all is well. He is tentatively scheduling an induction for next Tuesday "just in case". If the baby is doing fine and I don't want to be induced, he'll cancel the appointment. He just said he'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Other than that, all is fine. I lost one pound again so my weight has been very consistent (up one pound, down one pound each week) for the last month or so... my blood pressure is fine and I heard the baby's heartbeat again... so, that's my big update...

March 24th - Cassandra Marie arrived this morning at 6:21 a.m. weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 19 inches long! Click here to read her birth story.

to Cassie's page.