daltonvancharlson
stories

mommy journal

April 30, 2002 — 33 Weeks
At this point, the amniotic fluid is at the highest level in the pregnancy. The amount will remain constant until delivery. Rapid brain growth has increased Bingo's head size approximately 3/8 of an inch this week. Fat continues to accumulate which turns the his skin color from red to pink. By now, he probably weighs about 4 1/4 pounds and is about 19 inches long -- no wonder it feels so crowded in there!

The diet is not so bad. I can eat some yummy stuff. I lost a pound from one doctor visit to the next. My glucose levels have been great. I complained about being hungry, but the doc was not sympathetic. He just thanked me for doing a great job. He wasn't even concerned that I lost weight. I started eating a little more anyway.

April 9, 2002 — 30 Weeks — I flunked!
Bingo now weighs about 3 pounds and is about 17 inches long from head to toe. And his testicles are moving from their location near the kidneys through the groin on their way to the scrotum.

The nurse called first thing this morning to tell me that I did not pass the glucose tolerance test. I meet with a dietician tomorrow afternoon. BUMMER!

April 2, 2002 — 29 Weeks — And Happy 33rd Birthday to me!!!!
Bingo's head is in proportion to the rest of his body. Fat continues to accumulate under his skin. His brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control, and his eyes can move in the sockets. He is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste and smell. Now, I wonder how experts know a baby can smell in utero?

I had a wonderful birthday. It was a beautiful sunny day. Mom and Katie and I went to the new mall in Durham and shopped all day. We ate lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen. YUMMY! I drooled over all the baby stuff in Pottery Barn Kids. And mom bought Bingo a cute little denim hat at the Baby Store. Dan met me back in Raleigh and we ate dinner at Carrabba's. Then I got to open my presents at home. Thanks everyone!!!

March 29, 2002 — 200th day!
200 days down, only 80 left to go! Woo-hoooo!

March 27, 2002 — 28 weeks and flunking the one hour glucola test
As I suspected I would, I flunked the one hour glucola test. One hour after drinking the orange sugary goo, a blood sugar level under 120 is normal. My level was 157. Dan thought the nurse said anything under 20 is good. So, you can imagine what he was thinking.

I get to take the 3 hour glucose tolerance test on Friday the 5th after fasting for 12 hours. What a way to torture a pregnant woman. No food for 12 hours. Are they kidding?

I lost 2 pounds since my appointment 2 weeks ago. Not eating sugar for 2 weeks helped that out. My total gain so far is 17 pounds.

The ultrasound was great fun. Check out the new images. We were able to see his bones, his head and brain, and the chambers of his heart and of course, his weenie! He is measuring in the 67th percentile for 28 weeks. So, he is not that much bigger than average. My uterus was measuring 32 cm, or 4 weeks ahead.

Bingo is a plump healthy baby!

March 26, 2002 — 28 weeks / Third trimester
Imagine my horror when I read this update on storknet.com

"Welcome to the third trimester ~ the period of leg cramps, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, itchy skin, aches and pains, swelling, heartburn, indigestion and . . . your baby's arrival!"

At least there is one positive thing in that sentence. Bingo will be here soon!

Now that I am in my third trimester, Bingo is really starting to grow and fill in the available space in my uterus. This week he should weigh in at about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds and be between 12 and 15 inches long. In other developments, he can now open and close his eyes, sleeps and wakes at regular intervals, and may suck a finger or thumb. Although still immature, his lungs are capable of functioning in the event of a premature birth, with some help from a ventilator and other assistance. Eyebrows and eyelashes are now present, and the hair on the head is growing.

March 19, 2002 — 27 weeks
During this week, Bingo's brain continues its rapid growth, and the lungs continue to grow. His eyelids begin to open, and the retinas begin to form. He will grow over 1/2 inch this week and will be about 1 1/3 feet long (from crown of head to the toes or 9.6 inches from crown to rump)!

At the end of this week, I will have finished the second trimester already! Yippee!

March 17, 2002 — Another Bingo
The doctor told me there was a Bingo that played basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers. So, I looked him up on the internet.

"Another key player on the "Miracle in Richfield" squad and many other Cavs teams was forward Bobby Smith. In Cleveland, however, he will always be known as "Bingo" and for good reason.

Bingo Smith was an original Cavalier, joining the team in 1970 as a selection in the expansion draft from the San Diego Rockets. Over the next 10 years, Bingo lit up the old Cleveland Arena and The Coliseum with a long-range shot that would be worth three points today. Bingo connected on perhaps the biggest shot in team history when he made a last-second jumper from the top of the key to beat the Washington Bullets in Game 2 of the 1976 playoffs. The victory evened the series and propelled the Cavs to an eventual series win.

Smith played in more games in a Cavs uniform, 720, than anyone until Danny Ferry surpassed him. His No. 7 was the second jersey number retired by the organization on December 4,1979."

March 12, 2002 — 26 weeks
Bingo could weigh about two pounds now and be around 9 inches long (crown of the head to the rump). As the blood vessels in the lungs began last week, the air sacs in the lungs begin this week. The lungs begin to secrete surfactant which covers the inner lining of the air sacs which then allows the lungs to expand normally during breathing. Besides the active lung growth, the brain kicks in with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems. If I shine a light on my abdomen, he will turn his head, which researchers say shows some functioning of the optic nerve.

At my appointment today, I flunked the dip stick test. (as my sister says) I have glucose in my urine. And my uterus is measuring 3 weeks ahead. The doctor is concerned that I may have gestation diabetes. On the 27th, I will take the one hour glucose tolerance test. Yummy. I will also have another ultrasound done to measure Bingo's size.

March 5, 2002 — 25 weeks
Bingo is growing steadily, gaining 1/4 pound since last week. His skin is thin and fragile, but his body is filling out proportionally and taking up more room in my uterus. He may also be developing a weakness for sweets just like me. The structures of his spine -- 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments -- are beginning to form. The blood vessels of the lungs are developing and the nostrils are beginning to open. We're having a busy week!

I'm still doing great. No big complaints.

February 26, 2002 — 24 Weeks
Bingo now weighs a little over a pound. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. Rapid eye movement has also begun. He will gain about 6 ounces this week as the body begins to fill out. This weight is in muscle, bone mass and the growing organs and tissues. The weight could top 1 1/3 pounds by the end of the week. Between weeks 24 to 28, Bingo will be at his most active. More sensitive to the environment, he can respond to touch now and will jump in reaction to a loud noise, such as Daddy at the range.

My innie belly button is now well on it's way to becoming an outie. I feel so wonderful! Other than my big belly and the kicks and jabs, I hardly even feel pregnant most of the time.

February 20, 2002 — 23 weeks
Bingo weighs about a pound now! His body is becoming better proportioned each day. The bones of the middle ear are beginning to harden. Blood vessels in the lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. If born now, he has a chance for survival. Let's hope, however, that he stays put for several more weeks! He still has room to move around and I am feeling kicks, jabs, flips and flops every day!

I am doing great! I am still nesting and poor Dan is having to do all the work.

February 14, 2002
Although I have felt Bingo moving on the inside for quite some time, I felt him move on the outside last night.

I had just gotten in bed and Dan was on his way. I felt a pretty strong kick or punch, so I placed my hands on my belly. And I felt it on the outside! I was very excited and I yelled, "Honey! Honey!" Dan frantically ran into the room thinking something was wrong. I told him and he didn't really believe me.

When he got into bed, I made him put his hand on my belly. Of course, the movement stopped. So, I poked around the edges tormenting the poor child and finally after a few minutes Bingo started moving again. And Dan was able to feel him. I think we are going to have a kick boxer! OUCH!

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 12, 2002 — 22 weeks
Long wait aside, my doctor's appointment today went very well. All my vitals are normal. My "Buddha Belly" is measuring perfect for 22 weeks. Bingo's heartbeat was around 140 and he was a wiggly little boy. I gained 4 pounds since my last visit for a total of 12.5.

My belly button no longer hurts. But my back still aches some times!

I had a cold last week. It was not fun at all. After finding me crying in bed, Dan made me take 2 Tylenol extra strength pills. I am just a bit paranoid about taking any medication while pregnant. But it really helped with the incredible headache I had. I took 2 more about 6 hours later. So now I have taken a grand total of 4 Tylenols and 1 Pepcid AC during this pregnancy.

I also felt lightheaded while sick and again a few times since then. So the doc checked my hemoglobin to make sure I was not anemic. My level was 13.5 and anything over 11 is good — I do not need any extra iron. Yippee!

He told me to drink Gatorade to keep my fluid intake up. If the dizziness continues, he will send me to a cardiologist. I don't think that will be necessary. I just did not get enough rest this past weekend.

My next appointment is March 12th. I will be 26 weeks pregnant and beginning the third trimester.

January 29, 2002
20 weeks! Or 4 1/2 months. Or half way there! The first half of the pregnancy seems like it just flew by me. I think it was because I slept through most of it.

Bingo is a wiggling boy. I feel his movements often. And his Daddy is reading to him at night since we've learned that he can hear sounds now.

Overall we are having a great pregnancy. I feel great. My biggest complaint recently was my belly button, but the pain is less than last week. Now my biggest complaint is that I cannot get comfortable in most seats. My back aches. The only semi-comfy chairs are the desk chairs with the lumbar support. Our couch and rocking chairs are the worst.

January 18, 2002
We're having a BOY! Our appointment went really well. The ultrasound technician took us back to the room and while she was getting everything ready she told us that she had seen all boys so far. We were thinking that since we wanted a boy so badly, that we would be the first girl of the day.

She began at the top of his head and we saw the brain. (He's going to be really smart.) Then she worked her way down his body making measurements along the way. We saw his heart, arms, hands, legs, belly, bladder, and feet. Then she asks, "Are you ready to find out?" We were ready 4 months ago. So, she showed us his bottom and then his weenie! We were so happy! Dan has a permanent grin on his face. She gave us 8 pictures to take home. She also told us that he is measuring a couple of days ahead making him due on June 16th. Since it is within a week, they will not change the due date.

Then I had all the vitals sign taken. I have gained 8.5 pounds so far. It sure feels and looks like more. And we met with Dr. Henderson again. He is very funny. He assured me that even though my belly button fells like it is being ripped out from the inside, it was fine. I go back on February 12th.

We went shopping and bought the Bomber outfit that Dan wanted to get while we were Christmas shopping and many more outfits. He will be well dressed until he is 2. I went through all the clothes that I bought so far so I could give my sister the girly clothes for baby Sarah. Unfortunately, I only have a little pair of shorts and a hat from BabyGap that are yellow and have pineapples on them. And Dan thinks the boy will wear these. We'll see about that. Maybe he will in Key West on our 5th anniversary just to have that tropical theme going, but that's it!

The only other news is that I haven't thrown up since Christmas Day and I have actually been able to stay up until 11 or 12 a couple of nights. I wouldn't say I am a ball of energy, but I am much less tired than the first trimester. It was like the cartoon below. I guess we are in the honeymoon trimester. But I want my belly button back.

December 25, 2001
"Hiii-dee-ho!" Mr. Chunkie, the Christmas Puke decided to visit me this morning. I was trying so hard not to toss my breakfast while opening my presents! I think I held it off until they were open, but not much longer.

It was our first (and last) Christmas Day all by ourselves. Besides the visit from Mr. Chunkie, it was a nice, lazy day.

We had a yummy breakfast after Chunkie's visit and spent the rest of the day watching our new DVD's. Dan watched the festive movie, "Full Metal Jacket" while I had a nice nap. Then we both watched "Pearl Harbor," and I promptly fell asleep again during "The Mummy Returns."

Merry Christmas!!

December 21, 2001
Dan's 35th birthday! Also, the First Day of Winter, the Shortest Day of the Year and 4 days before Christmas. In addition to sharing his birthday with Santa and Jesus, he now has to share his special day with "Little Baby Girl" Smith. Her real name will be inserted at a later date when her mom and dad decide on one other than Cletus, (her name for most of the past 9 months) Dan offered up the name "Mary Chris Smith," but they aren't biting on that one. (if you don't get it, read it again real fast! If you still don't get it, never mind!)

Dan's birthday didn't go so well. He had to drive me to my doctor's appointment rather than sleeping late. I was having a puke fest and he didn't want me to wreck his precious little Miata! Before we left the house, Kip called to tell us they were at the hospital ready to have the baby.

My appointment went well. I have gained 2 pounds since the last visit in Nov. My blood pressure and urine were fine. As the doctor went to find the heartbeat, she told me not to freak if she could not find it. I explained to her that I have the BabyBeat and have no problems finding it at home as I pointed to the area to check. He is still a wiggle worm. She had to keep moving it around before she could get the pulse of 162 to read out on the display.

At 3:30, We went to see the best movie of the year, Lord of the Rings. We will go see it again while it is on the big screen. The picked a gorgeous location for the Shire and the special effects were awesome.

After the movie, we had dinner at Bahama Breeze. We thought we would have to wait around an hour for a table, but Dan had his birthday Karma with him and we were seated right away. We had the Cuban Bread and Coconut Shrimp for appetizers. YUMMY!! For a main course, I had the Pan Seared Pork Tenderloins with Island Mashed Potatoes. And Dan had the Shrimp St. Bart's. Dan also had Key Lime Pie for desert. I, however, went without desert. Bingo doesn't seem to like sweets very much. It's a bummer too! They have a couple I will have to go back and have after he is born.

We decided that it wasn't too late to go see Mary Chris. On the way to the truck, I got that puking feeling. I made it to the truck, but no further. We normally have tons of cups in the car for my puking mornings. But we didn't think I would puke my dinner, since that has not happened before and since I am in the second trimester and should not be puking any more! So, Dan grabbed a cup, but I filled it up quickly and then some. Thankfully, we also have some small trash bags that came in handy for the cup o' puke. I cleaned off my shoes and we were off to see the baby. I hope no one else has to clean their shoes.

Little Mary Chris is adorable. The hospital provided a little Santa hat rather than the usual knit hat. She was born at 1:11 pm and weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and looks a lot like my sister.

When we got back home, tired birthday boy went right to bed. I hope Bingo isn't puking on him for his next birthday!

Happy Birthday, Dear!!!!

Dec 19th
Wow! I have made it to the 100 day mark. Time flies when you are having fun. Only 180 days to go! YAY!

Dec 18th
We have completed one full trimester. 6 more months to go. Too bad I am still puking!

Nov 26th
Second ultrasound. We have a very squirmy little baby. We laughed, I cried. The picture does not do it justice. We're going to find out if they will allow a video for the next one.

Nov15-24th
We traveled to Mountain, WI to visit with Dan's Uncle Glenn and Aunt Ev. Jeff, Chris, Elizabeth and Marissa came also. We shared the good news. We then went to New London, WI and had a nice visit and lunch with Dan's grandmother. We also gave her the good news and she was all smiles. After that, we went over to Minneapolis to visit with Dan's sister, Karen. She was going to take us to a great place for dinner. We drove to St. Paul and the place was closed because it was Monday. This is the 2nd time that has happened with K. I told her that we weren't visiting her ever again on a Monday. We spent an entire day at the Mall of America the following day. (I puked in Karen's car on the way... sorry Sissy!) We bought some Christmas gifts and lots of maternity clothes and we spent $20.00 for a ton of baby clothes from the BabyGap clearance racks. They have the best sales. I would buy more if I knew the sex of our child. We also ate at the Rain Forest Cafe for lunch and dinner was from Luann Chin, a Chinese place near K's house. We went to Sams and Target the next day and bought some more gifts before driving to Montgomery to visit the Ma and Pa C for Thanksgiving.

Nov 14th
My first appointment with the new OBGYN. It is a very nice, clean place with terrific employees. They took 6 vials of blood to run every test they could. Then I met with a nurse to get all of my history information. After that, I met with the insurance people. They will take our old insurance and our new insurance. Thanks to "MegaBank," our insurance is changing Jan 1st. We didn't think they took the old insurance, so we were going to pay out of pocket. Dan thinks the old insurance isn't going to pay for the new OB and we are going to get a gigantic bill in the mail any day.

October 25th
Our first ultrasound. We were able to see the heartbeat. See pix.