26 Week Update

 

Today, Feb 18th 2021, I am 26 weeks pregnant.

I can't believe how quickly time is flying. I've been feeling pretty okay. Tired but not as much as I have been in the past. I've been feeling Baby R move since last week but it's infrequent. He likes to move at night but anytime his daddy puts his hand near my stomach, he stops. I can't wait until I'm farther along so that everyone in the house can feel him moving. I officially start my 'nesting and maternity' leave on Feb 25th and will be out until Sept 6th. We already have a spot at daycare where L goes for Baby R for when I go back to work. We know baby will be here anywhere between April 29 (36 weeks) and May 20th (39 weeks) My OB is out on leave until April 6th so she has someone covering for her. Our next ultrasound is March 1st. Still unsure what the plan is for the cholestasis. The labs show I have it or had it, but now my numbers are normal. So I sent a message asking about why they fluctuate so much. I'm still dealing with alot of itching but baby seems to be very healthy. It seems crazy to me that in 10-13 weeks we will be meeting our son, and L will be a big brother and G a big sister again. We've gotta put the nursery together sometime soon. We have all the big stuff for Baby R though.

Andrew and I have registered for a few classes through the Hillcrest Childbirth Education Dept... We're going to take Understanding Birth, Hypnobirthing, Baby Basics and he's registered for Bootcamp for New Dads. Alot of this stuff is refresher for me, but he will learn alot and since it's been a few years since I've dealt with a baby, it'll be good to refresh too.

#GrowBabyGrow

And The Babies Gender Is....

 

So.... Today didn't go quite as planned...

Mother nature wasn't on our side...

It was bitter cold... And sometimes things don't go the way we want them to....

We're planning to repeat the reveal photos at a studio and have them for memories...

But alot of people have been waiting and so we wanted to share.

70% of you guessed Girl, 30% of you guessed Boy on our survey...

We are so so excited to be welcoming a baby boy into our family in May 2021.

We're naming him Raegan-Asher Andrew Phillip Hubbard.

Raegan means Little King and is of Irish origin. It's also a unisex name, we chose before we knew baby was a boy.

Asher was the name that G picked out. Asher means happy and blessed.

Andrew Phillip is after Andrew.

Welcome Baby Boy. You Are SO SO LOVED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gender Reveal Photos!!!

 

Its Superbowl Sunday! I'm personally rooting for the Chiefs!

But that aside...

Today's the day! Despite snowy weather, we're heading to Edgewater Beach Park in Cleveland for 3pm to announce to the world what we're having! 24+3... I think yaal have waited patiently enough haha

(and if baby decided to be another gender later on that is 100% okay and we would support that. This is just a fancy way to announce to everyone what gender baby is going to be at birth!)

Take a guess! Boy or girl!

Last chance to cast your votes!

Comment below on what you think baby will be!!!

Viability Day!!!

 

Happy Viability Day Baby!!!

We made it to 24 weeks!!!

We love you so much!!

2/4/2021

 

Also, enjoy the 24 week bump photo ;) Time is just moving along quite quickly.

 

23 Week Baby Update

 

23 week baby update for those who want to read.

Yesterday's Appointment went okay.

Met with the geneticist and she basically just confirmed that we knew what we already knew about Hemophilia B and 22Q. She said that there is a less than a 1% chance of baby inheriting a De novo random mutation that causes 22Q given the family history and different dads and the fact that I do not carry it and the specific mutation that G has which overlaps two other areas on the 22 chromosome. She is going to discuss our case with G and Ls Hematologist, Dr. Talati to make sure that there is a plan in place to test the baby and that Dr. Talati will follow baby once they're born. We know that cord blood testing isn't super accurate and baby will have some of my factor in their blood for up to 6-8 months post birth and so we likely won't be able to test baby until that point. We're not super thrilled about an Amnio being done and so we passed on that as it's added risk in pregnancy.

My MFM appointment went okay. She confirmed that my labs do show I have cholestasis but she wants to rerun them one more time before planning induction at 36-37 weeks vs the 39 that we were planning but that definitely answers the itching I've been having that's worse at night.

Baby weighs 1lb 3oz and is very flexible. Baby had their legs over their head. I wish I could do that apparently babies are very flexible. Heart rate was in the 150s.

GI wise - - the new medicines seem to be working. I sleep wonderfully with the b6 and phenegran combo. It's better than benadryl... but really, I'm just glad it's taking the edge off of the nausea and vomiting. I wouldn't say I'm 100% because I'm not. I still throw up and still have chronic nausea but MFM said as long as I maintain my weight and not lose it, she will be happy.

Viability is in TWO days. Can you believe I'm almost 24 weeks? I plan to get a cupcake that says happy viability day on it to celebrate. One milestone closer to meeting our baby!

Baby is healthy. We know what we're having and will be having a gender reveal photo-shoot to announce on Sunday the 7th of February if all works out well.

Andrew and I agreed that we would sign up to bank our babies cord blood with Cord Blood Registry because this was something I also did with G and L. Cord Blood Banking with a private company like CBR allows the cord blood to be harvested for stem cells and stored with potential use in the future when/if conditions that can be treated with Stem Cells occur. There has been such research around these at CBR and I am honestly amazed at how far the technology has come and how advanced medicine has come as well. I've always supported stem cell research and feel there is a lot of potential in my/our children's lifetime. We saved 60% off this time too because they had a sale going until Feb 1. So we signed up and registered for that.

Andrew and I also booked a photographer for a maternity mini because she was bundling with the gender reveal announcement. And we booked our wonderful Bobbi Frohman for our full blown maternity and newborn session (because her work is phenomenal and she's our family photographer and is all around wonderful and I love working with her and her team) 

 

Maternity photos should be sometime in April I think? And newborn photos should be within the babies first 7 days of life. I remember with L, I was so bummed that I didn't get newborn and went with fresh 48, so this time around I'm not missing this chance. Plus.... Covid19 kinda changed everything.

Andrew and I bought a double stroller for the baby and L so that they can both be easier to get around places and when we go walking and do outdoor stuff. We also bought the bigger stuff for baby today as well. Things like carseats for both vehicles (since I am going to actively be working in getting my license hopefully soon!) the convertible crib, a baby carrier (and I was super excited that Andrew wanted to baby carry! There's nothing sexier to me than a man who baby carries. Okay I'm sure there are plenty but I am excited and can't wait to see him with our baby!) and a few other small things.

After we announce what we're having, we will post our registry link though my friend/one of my besties Ellen is supposed to be planning our baby shower for us. We did agree that the nursery would be Owl theme (as in Owl Always Love You) and that were looking at ideally the second week of April for the shower to take place. 

In the coming weeks, We will have a meeting with our lovely doula Vivi to discuss everything we need to discuss and plan with her.

Also in the coming weeks, we will have a repeat fetal echo (or two) at 27-28 weeks and we are scheduled for our Growth Ultrasound at 28 weeks.

I have an appointment on Thursday this week with my Rheumatologist, I see my Endocrinologist on the 8th and Diabetes Education on the 12th as well as my pain management follow up and on the 13th, Andrew and I take the baby basics course at Hillcrest.

Somewhere after 30 weeks we will also get another 4D ultrasound to look at baby.

So, lots to do and get ready for. At some point between work and college, and planning our wedding in July, We're also putting the nursery together.

PS. I feel like I'm already nesting. But baby can stay in there and bake a lot longer. It's way too early to meet baby!

21 Week Bump

 Here is a photo of my ever growing bump. I don't feel pregnant, I honestly feel like I just am showing extra fat. *shrug* Either way, pregnancy is a beautiful thing.

 

 

21 Week 3D 4D Ultrasound

 

Andrew has not been able to go to any appointments except one so far, due to COVID19 policies, and so we decided to do a 4D Ultrasound today, so he could see baby.

These are photos of Andrew and I's sweet baby.

 

This is what a 21 week baby looks like, if you were ever interested. Baby was camera shy, and we basically had to beg for baby to show us their face haha. I cannot wait to go back between 30-32 weeks. 

Technology has come A LONG way since I had G's 3D 4D Ultrasound 12 years ago, and even L's 4 years ago.

 

We have our Anatomy Repeat Scan on Feb 1st, and sometime therafter, we will announce what we're having

Dexcom

I got my Dexcom G6 today. UHC approved this device over the Libre because it's more accurate and reliable in both T1D and T2D. The only thing I don't like thus far about it, is that it takes two hours to 'warm up' the sensor to track blood glucose. Other than that, I love that it's continuous and I don't have to scan it like I did the Libre. It sends BGs automatically to the device and app every five minutes and it has an alarm for lows and highs.

 

 

 

19 Week Appointment

Today I had a MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) appointment. MFM are high risk OB/GYNs. 

The 19 week Baby Appt went well.

Heartbeat was 151.

Baby weighs 10oz.

Tenative Induction Date has been scheduled for Thursday May 20th 2021.

I DO still have a bladder infection. (Seeee I know my body best! I knew I was fighting something with how I had been feeling!) She said taking the Azo is fine. Changed me to a different antibiotic and said to drink tons of water and cranberry juice.

No protein or glucose in my urine which is a good thing because if I was spilling glucose it shows my diabetes is poorly managed. If I was spilling protein it shows a sign of Pre eclampsia or toxemia which we obviously don't want either.

I gotta get labs done for my iron and to check anti SSA and anti SSB which can cause heart block in baby due to my lupus.

 

As far as the scan goes:

Baby wasn't super cooperative so we didn't get super good images. We got a good profile though. But they were trying to measure babies organs and check on babies heart. We did see it was a 4 chamber heart. So that's good. But we didn't really see the specifics of the heart. So we gotta come back for an Anatomy rescan.

Which means YES. Sorry. You all have to wait still to find out what we're having. 

 

Here is a cute photo though ;)

 

 

Fetal echo is scheduled for: TBD (because Cleveland Clinic Cardiology Appts are ridiculously busy and don't know how to answer their phones lol. I was on hold for almost 45mins before hanging up)

This is done as a precaution due to family history of heart issues and CHDs. (Stillborn with HLHS, G's 22Q/ASD, VSD, PFO and Murmur and her underdeveloped left vent repaired in utero, My WPW Syndrome which causes my SVT, and L's Prolonged QT among other family history)

They'll plan to do a pulse Ox and EKG/Echo on baby after birth. 

 

Because they didn't get super good images today, they want to do a follow up Anatomy scan which is scheduled for February 1st and will also meet with genetics that day. 

 

We will meet with Genetics (Dr. Karlotti) to talk about the 22Q and Hemophilia (which we know about already but just as a precaution) and make a plan for delivery on what to do and what not to do. Dr. Perni said it will help her as well to be able to figure out how to manage care. I still don't think we will do a CVS or Amnio as they're very risky and not change anything but it will at least give Andrew some education as well and we can make the best decision for our little.

 

After that, I have my follow up Anatomy scan. Hopefully they'll be able to get better photos.

 

Oh, and after 28 weeks (Feb 1) we will have a growth ultrasound and then after 30 weeks we will have ultrasounds every two weeks. I'm excited to be able to see baby grow best benefit of being high risk.

 

At some point, I'll also get a 4D ultrasound (elective) to see baby. But I'm waiting since baby appears to have our stubbornness.

 

Also, enjoy this super cute photo I had of Me and Bump by our Christmas Tree. ;)

 

Until next time, Ciao ;)
 

We're Expecting!

 

After 2 failed IUI attempts, we decided to try naturally for a month, and surprise! We're expecting.

 

Here are some of our very first ultrasound photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, it turns out that 2020 wasn't that bad afterall ;)

 

We will be welcoming our little love in May 2021 

 

 

 

 

NOT Pregnant

 

You remember how last time I blogged, I wrote about how I was looking forward to staying busy during the two-week wait, but how I also wasn't feeling super optimistic?

Theres a reason for that. Reasons like today. When Aunt Flow decides to come into town by herself, riding on that horse, EARLY and without the need for provera, and when I was least expecting it.

My fiancee and I were being intimate, and well, what do you know. Aunt Flow decided it was a perfect time to visit.

 

THIS SUCKS!

Nothing about this journey DOESNT suck.

But, month after month, treatment after treatment. Hope after hope

And you get crushed again.

Because today is Day 1, I have to call RGI and let them know, so that they can schedule labs, confirm I am not pregnant, and give me another script for Femara to *hopefully* get pregnant.

We shall see.

But until then, I REALLY RELATE to this image.

Mr. Spermies are even like WTF!

 

Surviving the Two Week Wait

 

 

Have you ever wanted something so bad, but you need to keep your mind off of it? 

Yeah, that's pretty much how we feel right now.

Because Ovidrel has HCG in it, we are not allowed to test until 2 weeks after IUI

They call this the dreaded two week wait, and let me just say, IT REALLY IS!

The symptoms of Ovidrel are literally identical to pregnancy. 

Andddd that doesn't count your temptation to test either.

We decided, for fourth of July that we would go to Texas to visit my best friend, Bella and her kids. 

After all, it had been a few years (at-least 3 maybe 4) since I've seen her.

And we had the time of our life.

And mannnnn can Bella cook! Her potatoe salad is my favorite.

It was a good time killer, and a distraction from our two-week wait.

 

 

 

 

IUI Cycle 1 - June 2020

 

Corona...Schmorona...

Pretty sure we're all over it, right?

It went and messed everything up.

Kids got out of school, and did remote learning...

Daycares closed. Jobs closed. Business closed.

The entire economy shut down, because of a pandemic caused by a virus.

Good Times. Bad Times. Fun Times. Sad Times.

Kids home 24/7, parents ripping their hair off their head. 

Couples nagging and fighting with one another.

You're over it. I'm over it. Pretty sure everyone is over it.

Well, good news...

RGI Opened back up on May 5th 2020!

I didn't get my period at all during the month of May which is sucky.

I needed to undergo another round of Provera to bring on a period.

Which sucked!

I started Provera also known as Medroxyprogesterone on 5/22/2020

They say it can take anywhere from 3-10 days after you finish the last tablet for your period a.k.a AF or Aunt Flo to come for a visit.

Mine started on June 13th.

 

So, the way that this process works is on Day 1, you call the clinic and tell them you are on your period.

They have up to day 5 to do a baseline ultrasound, which is just to look and check to make sure everything is good for a cycle. 

They generally will also do a quantitative HCG to make sure you're not pregnant. For me, they throw a thyroid test in there, because my thyroid is all wacky.

Then they send you home with Femara, or Letrozole.

You take this medicine from Cycle Day 5 to Cycle Day 9, at the same time every single day.

The job of this medicine is to induce ovulation.

Than, you come back on Day 13 or 14 to have an ultrasound to measure the follicles. They generally like to see them larger than 18mm












 

The Appointment Card for the U/S to
see if Femara worked and I could Trigger

 

What Ovidrel Looks Like

If you have follicles larger than 18mm, you end up being given a "Trigger" or a shot of HCG. For us, it was a shot of Ovidril.

 

The doctors office takes care of the Trigger Shot by sending the order to a specialty pharmacy, who then ships you the shot, after payment is made. You have to bring the trigger with you to the office visit, when you have an ultrasound.

The Specialty Pharmacy Who Got My Order

Honestly, Ovidril hurt way less than I thought it would, but I'm a pro at Lovonox, and other injection meds by now.

 

1 day later, is the big IUI day.

Fiancee had to drop his sperm off bright and early.

The IUI was quick and easy. I was literally in and out by 9am.

My Dr, Dr. Nash, said that the amount of sperm given was the bare minimum for IUI, and he only had 5,000

I'm not super optimistic about it due to that, and the fact that I only released 1 follicle

BUT

Now we have the dreaded 2 week wait ahead of us to see what happens....

It should be easy for us, because we're going to be busy with life, and for the fourth of July, we're going to Texas to visit my best friend, Jessica aka Bella.

Engaged!

 

Guyssssssss....


Guyssssss....


HE FINALLY ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM!!!


The Story Goes...

He: "Hey Babe, we're doing a mothers day photo-shoot this Saturday"

Me: "Oh we are? yay"
(I do mothers day photos every year and he wanted me to think this because of me questioning why our family photographer was there)

Day of May 2 2020:

*goes to headlands beach*
Photographer (Bobbi Frohman in this case): Hey April, walk over there for me.
Me: Ok *turns around and heads up path on beach*
Photographer: Okay now turn around
Me: *turns around*
Really?!?!?!?! REALLY?!?!
*covers face with so many emotions as face persists to get redder*
*Andrew proposes*
'We've had a crazy year...."
... ... .....
"I want to know if you, April Marie Driesse will marry me"
YES! YES I'll marry you

And of course our lovely amazing family photographer captured this very special moment for us. She is also going to capture our special day! Thank you so much Bobbi for capturing these photos and the moment for us!

 

Save the Date....
Saturday July 10th, 2021

That is when we are getting married :)

I'm so happy I get to marry my best friend and go on these journeys with him!