Porter Thomas Mitchell

We would like to introduce our son

Porter Thomas Mitchell

Born June 25, 2015

Via Csection at 10:37pm

5lbs 8oz

18inches long

Porter was born a bit early at 35weeks 4days gestation so is spending some time in the NICU. Already after 24 hours he has conquered a ton and hopefully moving out of the NICU and finally being able to meet his big sister :) 

Baby Lit Book Review

Before Collins' nap time and bed time everyday either Marty or I will read Collins multiple bedtime stories. Lately we have been loving the Baby Lit Book Collection! I came across these when Collins was first born and had started her collection with four of my favorites! If you haven't heard of these amazing little books then you need to check them out. You will not be disappointed I promise! 

The creators of Baby Lit Books have found a great way to allow parents to read classics to your toddlers and at the same time teaching them colors, numbers, and just recently Spanish! Jane Austen, and William Shakespeare are two authors to name a few, including titles like Wizard of Oz, and The Secret Garden which are two favorites in the Mitchell Household. They are full of amazing colors and illustrations with easy to read large words making these books an easy and fun read for all ages. 

I have collaborated with Baby Lit to give one lucky little lady or little man two books of their very own to add to their ever growing book collection! Find me on Instagram @mitchellncompany for your chance to win! You won't be disappointed, and if you have the time check out http://babylit.com and see for yourself all of the amazing titles they have to offer! 

29 week update & Mother's Day

We had an appointment with Dr. Font for a usual checkup. It was the first appointment since being told I have gestational diabetes. It was not a normal day because my appointment was later at 10:45am and I figured I'd be waiting all day however that wasn't the case. I walked it and was the only one in the waiting room and got called back immediately! As soon as he walked in it was all business, what we're you're fasting numbers this morning, what were your numbers last night. Granted he had a copy of the past week in a half of numbers however he apparently wanted to hear it from me. Shoot I thought I was doing good however he was seeing otherwise. I hadn't gained a pound since the last time I had saw him and he is concerned that I am starving myself in order to maintain my blood sugar numbers. Partly true, I'm not starving myself but I could definitely eat more if I wasn't so concerned about my numbers. So now we are in talks of being put on insulin. He's giving me one week to see how I do and then he will make the decision ultimately. So that will include more needles as if I need anymore. Baby is definitely still breech and is measuring 1 week ahead on head, femur, and belly and weighing approximately 3lbs 1oz. At this time exactly Collins was 3lbs 8oz so they seem to be pretty close!

For Mother's Day we took my mom with us to Peek a belly to take a look at the baby in 3d just like we did with Collins at 29 weeks. He was not having it. He is frank breech just like Collins was so his legs are up by his face and he wouldn't put his hands down for nothing. I jumped I jiggled I shaked I ate chocolate I pushed him. Ha. He ended up putting his hands down for a hot minute to give us a few good photos and by the looks of it I'm getting another baby Mitchell :) and I wouldn't change it for the world. He has his daddy's chin and his sisters nose and cheeks. 

Collins on the left, baby boy on the right 

Collins on the left, baby boy on the right 

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Collins surprised me with beautiful flowers and a shopping spree :) she's so sweet. We had breakfast after our appointment with the family and then spent the rest of the day shopping and eating! Lol. It was a great day spent with my little girl. We hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

We meet again gestational diabetes

As if it came as a surprise I failed my 3 hour glucose test once again. I was actually kind of optimistic about this one though. Thought maybe because it's a boy I won't have it. I also thought I would be able to do the 2 hour food test that I had done at 8 weeks. Dr. Khater had other plans. So back to drinking that ridiculous drink and blood draw every hour for 3 hours. It was lovely. The office called me three days later and might I add Collins answered the phone and talked to the nurse for a good minute before I realized she was actually on the phone with someone. The inevitable was answered you failed but not too bad. Oh thanks. So I have to meet once again with the diabetes center and meet with a dietician and a RN to go over my new diet and how to work my machine to test my blood. I've already seen the RN and got my super cool machine to give me my blood sugar numbers :/

I have to test right when I wake up and that number has to be below 90. I then test 1 hour after breakfast, lunch, and dinner and those numbers need to be below 140. I didn't realize that they would make me test in front of them to make sure I knew how to use the machine so on my way I ate a chocolate donut and had a chai tea. Smart. I failed. But only by 1 point so she didn't question it.k To my defense it was an 8am appointment and Collins and I were rushing so breakfast was on the run. I meet with the dietician on Wednesday. Which I've already done this with Collins so I kind of have a pretty good idea of how to keep my numbers at bay. I've been testing for two days now and my numbers are not high whatsoever. If not below they are only higher by a few points. So far so good. Still sucks having to deal with more needles and not to mention I bleed longer because of my blood thinner but I of course will and do whatever for my babies. 

I took a break while writing this to check my blood and hello 215! Guess a hashbrown, coffee, and chocolate milk for breakfast are no Bueno...


No baby pictures but how about my 2 year old Collins at her doctors appointment which she clocked in at 25 pounds and 36 inches of perfectness :)

20-25 weeks

By now it will finally be out to friends and family that we are pregnant!! And if you are reading this coming from my instagram or have followed me for a while via blog world you now know too! It has been the best secret we have ever kept, and frankly I can't believe my loud mouth didn't slip. Hibernating is over and I can wear this belly proud!

Weeks 20-24 were very scary for me mentally. I had to get passed when Knox passed for peace of mind as well as when Sloane passed. 

I have been having every other week visits with Dr. Font getting to see the little guy and to be honest he isn't camera shy. Takes after his sister. Always looking at us, so we get these creepy big eyed photos that aren't fun ultrasound photos. I'm still waiting for a good profile view :)

We see Dr. Khater once a month and things have been going well. I finally was able to feel him kick and move around and now that I have he is non stop. Definitely more than any of his sisters or brother was that's for sure. Collins thinks everyone has a baby in their belly including herself and loves using our doppler to find his heartbeat. It is super cute. 

At a little over 22 weeks baby measured 1lb 3oz which is right around what every other baby was at this time. So he's in good company! 

At 23 weeks we went for a fetal Eco to make sure that his little heart was perfect. (After loosing 2 babies I am no stranger to depression and I am not "shy" about sharing my feelings so I have been on Zoloft). With that said I did stop taking my anti-depressant soon after finding out we were pregnant however they still wanted to check his heart to make sure nothing had come out of that. Great news his heart is perfect :)

Amazing that I have four babies and its even crazier to compare each at 20 weeks :) Ahh to have a nice young body again hahaha after your fourth pregnancy the boobs get a little lower, and the body gets a bit bigger :)

Antithrombin III Deficiency

At around 15 weeks I had a routine appointment with Dr. Font. He had ordered some extensive blood work just to take a look at a few things to rule out a couple of blood disorders. As all doctors do he wanted to make sure a blood clot or disorder wasn't one of the reasons as to why we kept having so many issues with our pregnancies. 

That's where the big Antithrombin III Deficiency comes in. Medically speaking Antithrombin III (ATIII) is a nonvitamin K-dependent protease that inhibits coagulation by lysing thrombin and factor Xa. My numbers were low and Dr. Font as a precaution wanted me on blood thinner immediately even before meeting with a hematologist. So as if enough wasn't enough I would begin twice a day injections of Lovenox in my belly that my sweet gentle husband would administer because to be honest I was freaked out. 

We had no idea I ever had this disorder before, and it is hereditary so my family is in the process of being checked out themselves. We can't know for sure if this is a reason for anything that has happened in the past but as far as we are concerned taking these injections can't hurt for this pregnancy, so why not. 

After meeting with my hematologist she wanted to re run the tests one more time just to make sure that I in fact had this. My number was on the low side the last test however a year ago when I was pregnant with Knox my number was normal. After taking the second round of testing my number did go up but still remained a bit low. After speaking with Dr. Font, my hematologist made the decision to lower my dose of lovenox to once a day instead of the twice a day, which was music to my ears. I am not a baby but not a fan of any type of injection. 

I will say Marty has done well so far, every morning waking me up to injection me with the goods. I am bruising a bit on either side but that is to be expected. 

I am also on the progesterone injections once a week that my private nurse, Mrs. Mazzoni :) is ever so kindly giving me on every Sunday. Marty doesn't trust himself with that big of a needle and honestly neither do I :)

Gender Reveal

As usual like we did with Sloane, Collins, and Knox we went to Peek a Belly in Lockport to find out the gender as early as we could at 15 weeks :) But before we tell you what baby Mitchell 4.0 is here are the wives tales and what we thought all along...

Heart Rate High 160's- GIRL

Chinese gender Calender- GIRL

Craving sweets sweets sweets-GIRL

Stealing mom's beauty (my face has been a hot mess)-GIRL

Headaches-BOY

Gender Dreams-GIRL

Emotional Wreck (always ha)-GIRL

Carrying high (however that has to do with cerclage)-GIRL

Mayan Calendar-BOY

Marty and I said from the beginning that this little one was a girl and by all these wives tales it seemed as if we were correct! 

Well truth be told its a...BOY!! God has granted us with another little boy :) We are thrilled to be adding another little boy to the family and cannot wait until July when he arrives. Its only perfect that Collins has Sloane as her guardian angel and this little guy will have Knox as his :)

Collins was a little less than thrilled...I think she wanted a sister :)

Flexing and showing off

10 weeks

Christmas came and went, knowing our little secret is hard especially around family because its great news and you want to share exciting news but I know its for the best. Although I have a very nosey family who will ask anybody anything, so while I'm elbow deep in salad practically slurping the dressing my Uncle in front of everyone asks me if I am pregnant. I froze, turned red and almost started crying. I guess through this whole process I didn't actually think anyone would have the balls to ask me if I was actually pregnant. Knowing I had just lost Knox 11 months before and to anyone other than our parents all you guys know is that Surrogacy is the route we were planning to take. I was wrong. So I kindly just stated I was a little chubby and just really hungry. Ouch.

December 30th finally came and Dr. Khater came into my room hugging me as usual and saying there is my Ashley a very pregnant Ashley. I loved hearing those words. I have been embracing this pregnancy each and every step of the way. Through feeling nauseous 24/7 just waiting to puke, to bloody noses, ligament pains, being way too tired for my own good and not to mention welcome back rosacea. I am kind of rambling here but I noticed that I haven't touched on my cravings or feelings for that matter. Lets talk buffalo sauce for the first month or so. Buffalo wings were  staple in our home at least once a week. I couldn't get enough. That is what I craved with Sloane :). Something new chocolate. I am OBSESSED with it. Marty can contest. Chocolate milk, chocolate doughnuts and chocolate covered pretzels are always stocked in this house. I eat a box of doughnuts in a week and two bags of chocolate covered pretzels in two weeks. Both along side a nice glass of chocolate milk. Love it, and I'm the type of person who doesn't really enjoy desserts. However pregnant with this little nugget I am all about it. I don't share either. Well kind of, with Collins, sometimes :) I am also very very tired. From weeks 6 to like 10 I could barely get out of bed. It was rough. I don't remember being this tired with any of the other babies but Marty said I was like that with Sloane. When Collins would nap I would nap. With Marty being off for two weeks during the holiday I took full advantage of that and slept as much as I could. I am just now getting back my energy. Ill be 11 weeks on Sunday.

Now back to Khater's office. There wasn't much to be done just went over my labs from when I was in the ER, and found out I passed my glucose test! Awesome. We couldn't find the heartbeat on the Doppler and I am smart and always make my appointments on Tuesdays when I know the ultrasound tech is in, so he said lets get you in real fast and just take a peek, lucky me :) Its weird though because Marty and I just a few days before were able to find the heartbeat on our Doppler, at first it was 190 woah, then went to average between 157-165.

Look at our sweet nugget all comfy

  Of course we had a heartbeat and of course the baby was doing great. All is well! What was so weird is that I'm pretty sure I am housing Collins twin because their ultrasounds at 10 weeks look almost identical. I know at this point they aren't fully "human" looking but take a look for yourself

Collins on top baby on bottom

I'd say twinkies for sure :) Next Appointment is Dr. Font on the 8th, Marty's birthday :) We also get to find out the gender of this little babe on February 1st and we can't wait!

8 week scare

December 13th Happy Birthday Mom! Marty, Collins, and I had invited my mom over for a special salmon dinner to celebrate the big 5-4 :) I had an appointment to get my hair done beforehand and had just gotten home right when she walked into the door. Marty was preparing the fish and sides and Collins was excited that Nonna had arrived.

I on the other hand had just finished using the restroom. Crap I'm spotting. It is what I look for each and every time I use the bathroom. Having had a miscarriage before all my children I knew what it was like. This was different in color but still I was concerned and didn't want to just wait it out and see, my nerves are shot as you can imagine and unfortunately I wasn't taking any chances.

Sorry mom, can you watch Collins while we go to the hospital instead of eating this delicious salmon. Thanks and oh Happy Birthday :)

Marty and I just went across the street to the Edward ER since it was so close. All I needed was an ultrasound. All I needed to see was a heart beat and my nerves would be calmed. Well it isn't that easy. They don't know me, and they certainly don't know my story. I needed to have blood drawn, get an IV. Be checked by the on call OB vaginally, drink tons of water to be "full" for the ultrasound finally. 

After you see your baby's heartbeat you send a selfie :)

Marty and I sat in that ER room and just tried thinking happy thoughts. I remember being in a similar room right before I delivered Knox thinking he's fine, we just can't find his heartbeat. I looked at Marty and I said we need to pray together. I have prayed before to myself and Marty and I had together said something like "Please god let our baby be ok" each and every time something went arise with Sloane, Collins and Knox. However we've never really both prayed together. So we did. And it worked :) Four hours later the ultrasound tech took us back. I said to her please just show me a heartbeat and then do whatever else you need to do, I just need to see that flicker. Sure enough 154 beats there was our little gummy bear measuring one day ahead...

Our ultrasound tech was AMAZING! She showed up everything. Where the brain was forming, where my placenta was starting to form, the little legs and arms etc. How I have a cyst on my right ovary that is producing progesterone for the baby too! She was great. I couldn't believe it, everything was fine. They ended up not being able to tell me where my bleeding was coming from and it was more brown than anything so more than likely old blood, possibly from surgery or from an old period.

My HCG was a whopping 124,021. Between 7-9 weeks it should be between 7,000 and 229,000 (quite a difference) however I was more than enough so we were happy! I was told to be on pelvic rest (which duh we are) and to take it easy. I called Dr. Khater that Monday and he didn't seem too worried. I understand regardless at 8 weeks there isn't much that could have been done but to know that my baby was doing great was all I needed to keep me a little calm :)

I also did a little side by side of all the babies right around 8 weeks, except for Knox he was 10 weeks :)

From top left: Sloane, Collins, Knox, baby 4.0



My little heartbeat

At six weeks pregnant I finally went in to see Dr. Khater and get a dating ultrasound to make sure everything looked good. For some reason I was really scared this time, every other time I was exactly as far along as I had thought and everything was perfect. This time I thought what if I am wrong or what if I am not pregnant. I'm still crazy.

Well I measured exactly six weeks :) strong heartbeat of 118. Right where that arrow is is where the little bean of a baby is. Due date of July 26th.

All my babies at 6 weeks except Sloane (8weeks) Top left to bottom right Sloane, Collins, Knox, Baby

The reason why I kept this all a secret was because as a family we decided to go through it together and when we got to a point to where we were comfortable and felt safe then it would be the time to let everyone know. At this point its just a lot of questions and worry from others that I didn't want to put on everyone. After meeting with Dr. Khater he said he wanted to see me in four weeks and that I should call Dr. Font and let him know as well and get an appointment set up with him as well. It being close to Christmas I wouldnt see Dr. Font until after the holiday on January 8th, and I'd see Khater on December 30th. He also wanted me to take my glucose test (yuck) to make sure I didnt have this early on. For both Collins and Knox I didn't have it until later on so I figured my chances were pretty good. I had also decided that I didn't want to take that glucose drink. It's gross first of all and second not the best thing for the baby and I had taken more glucose tests than I could count on one hand so Dr. Khater agreed with me and said that if I could find a lab that would allow an alternative to the drink then I could take it there, but his lab didn't so happy searching.

I called a few places around town asking if I could eat jelly beans or a jelly sandwich instead (I had read this article that stated those were two different options). I finally landed on the phone with Edward Hospital right down the street from me. They allow you to eat a list of foods that are on a sheet of paper they provide and after two hours from finishing it go back and they draw your blood. I was sold! Little did I know I'd have to eat enough breakfast for both Collins and I. I usually don't eat a lot in the morning so it was a little rough but instead of drinking that nasty drink I didn't care :)

That morning I picked up my sheet of paper with instructions picked up Collins and Marty and we headed to Plainfield Delight for an interesting breakfast.

I had to eat the following: 1 glass of milk, 1 glass of OJ, 1 cup of decaffeinated tea, two plain pieces of toast with 1 tablespoon of jelly, 1 tablespoon of sugar/1 cup of cornflakes (I put them together and asked for Frosted Flakes which worked perfectly) and 1 egg. I think drinking most of the drinks was what screwed me up because I got full from that but I kept on chugging. With no help from Marty and Collins who both had wonderfully looking pancakes and bacon. ugh

Two hours later I went back to the hospital where they took my blood draw. Results when I see Dr. Khater on the 30th...fingers crossed.