Hangin' Tough

I asked Daxton to take a picture of me and my belly, and after SEVERAL attempts, this was as good as it got.

Some people have bad hair days. Me? Bad ankle days. Today was a doozy. I know that when I wake up, and my foot and ankle are already 3 times their normal size, that it is going to be another kankle day. In fact, I even busted the top band on the only pair of shoes that still fit me. I guess the elastic had been stretched far enough and decided to call it quits. I would sew it back together, but it won't reach around my massive, swollen, elephantitis extremity. Yes, all this is just a singular ankle, my left one. I can still somewhat see the ankle bone on my right, but my left one looks like I was stung by a bee and am severely allergic.

I don't know why this picture uploaded with my feet and ankles looking like they are covered in some kind of rash, but it did. I even said "Oh my...." when I first saw it. It's okay, I'm not ashamed.

Since this baby is my last, and I have 2 weeks to go, I decided to do some documentation. Let me introduce you to some prego-wonders:

The Support belt

I started off with just the singular strip of elastic/velcro back in October. It worked pretty well, until I began to gain weight exponentially. So I upgraded, and this little beauty is what I have been wearing each and every day for 3 months. It's so fantastic! Really, it does wonders. It's amazing to me that I rely on a few strips of elastic and some velcro fasteners to hold in my bladder. Huh. (No, I don't wear the get-up outside of my clothing, though that may work if I were a super-hero. Did you really want to see it otherwise?! That shot would be worse than that feet picture above.)

The Support Hosiery

Are these black socks the epitome of sexy, or what? But they really work! They help with the blood flow, and make me more comfortable. I love 'em!

B is for Belly

No, I didn't need a wide angle lens. Watch it.

I am so very excited for this baby to arrive! My brother and his wife Meghan had their baby boy on Sunday. Christopher ("Topher") Scott Thredgold. He is so beautiful! Just seeing his little hands and tiny toes, and hearing those baby coos has put me over the top with excitement to hold my little girl! Hooray!

Joshua

"Mom! I look like the girl from 'Up'."

Lost another one (top right tooth). This boy is growing too quickly. Last Sunday we noticed that his church pants are already high-water, and he also made me aware that his big toe hits the end of his school shoes. Holy smokes boy! I just can't believe how fast the time flies.

Josh's love for American History continues to grow. He loves National Treasure 1 & 2, and loves hearing about the American Revolution. We've agreed to let him watch parts of the John Adams series, because he's so enthralled by it all. Yes, definitely gets it from his dad. Those "Founding Father" books on our shelves are not mine. Roahld Dahl, that's more my style.

They celebrated Josh's "1/2 Birthday" in school (since his birthday takes place in the summer). Here is the poster he created. In case you can't make out the writing, his favorite animal is the wild cat, favorite color is blue, and favorite food is candy. There is a picture of him, then his family. His favorite place is Belgium, and when he grows up he wants to be a "game seller." (way to shoot for the stars little buddy.) His favorite thing to do is to ski, and if he could wish for anything it would be a DSI and a TV.

Daxton

Self-portrait.

"Mom, when the baby is born, and she's coming out of your throat, I will catch her."

Which led to a very stimulating conversation at the dinner table.

"Umm, that's very nice of you to offer Dax, but she won't come out of my throat."

"Oh, your tummy?"

"Not quite. She comes out between my legs."

"She will come out of your legs?"

"No, out between my legs through special parts that girls have...."

To which Josh replied "That's gross," and Cameron decided it was time to end that conversation.

He took that one of himself.

Ella

Dax and Ella with their cousin, Audrey.

Ella insists on brushing her own hair now, and while she does so, she has to sing a song. It's always a song about getting married to her cousin Jack.

"I love him, and we will be married. To Jack-a-moe." (only kick it up about 5 octaves to envision her super-high girly voice.)

The crib is set up, and we are go for launch. Ella has climbed in it on several occasions, so we'll see how it all pans out. I even went up the other day, after Ella had been quiet in her room for a bit too long. She was sound asleep in the crib, complete with blanket and her doll. Hmmmm.

Cameron

Cam has been out of town this week in Denver, Colorado for a ski expo. Go ZAG. Kick some ZAG. He says it has been a success and he's made quite a few contacts. One store even wants to carry the line. Exciting news! I feel so fortunate to have such a kick-ass husband. Motivated, sexy, smart, ambitious, hard-working, athletic. He has a testimony and he cares about our little family just as much as I do. I love this boy. I'm lucky to have you, Cam, even if you are throwing that snowball at the head of our young child.

Cindy

My good friend Brenda made me this hat, is it not the cutest?!

It amazes me that something so small can cause tortuous amounts of pain.

Though I am ginormous, I am feeling really good! Those kidney stones gave me a completely new outlook on life. Sure my leg is not my own, and it goes numb all the time, and my sciatic nerve is going nuts, and the acid reflux isn't helping.....but at least it's not kidney stones! I am just happy to soon be delivering my little bundle. I'm actually looking forward to the pain because I know what awaits at the end of it all! I just had my doc apt. today and I will be induced on the 16th (2 more weeks.) My next post will feature our little one. Hooray!

This is me last night, around 9 pm.

Okay, perhaps I am being a bit overzealous with the cleavage, but imagine me jumping for joy nonetheless.

The stones have passed! I caught two beauties in my "magic cone strainer" last night. The pain in my back is gone, and I feel like cartwheeling around the neighborhood!

Unfortunately, I spoke a little too soon, and have since discovered that one is still lingering in my bladder. But the back pain is gone and life is good!

If you see some prego blonde woman singing "rain drops on roses" and dancing in the center of town, just smile at me in support.

An Unexpected and Unwelcome Visitor

We've all seen the movies where the character says, "Things can't possibly get any worse..." then the lightning strikes, thunder booms, and she's soon covered in a torrential downpour. With a bruised butt, a falling bladder and cervix, and a crazed sciatic nerve, I didn't think it could possibly get any worse, however, my downpour happened yesterday morning around 9:30.

It started with some back pain, which is nothing uncommon with pregnancy. I was picking up the house, but soon needed to sit because the pain wasn't getting any better. I popped a couple tylenol and sent out a few emails. The pain was quickly escalating, so I called Shera for some sympathy. While on the phone, the pain began to spread from the left-lower portion of my back, around to the front of my belly/groin area. I was starting to tear up, so she recommended I call my doctor. I told her "Naw, I'll just grab the lap top and a heating pad and lay in bed with Dax and Ella and watch a show." I had barely made it up the stairs when the pain hit a point that left me crawling on the floor, cell phone in hand, dialing my moms number.

"Mom, I think I'm in labor."

She was over in a jiffy, and we headed to the hospital, dropping off the kiddos at Shera's house.

The pain was intense! And the crazy thing was, it never went away. I was having some contractions, but the pain in my back was constant. Oooh, it was bad. I thought maybe it was back labor or something, because with each contraction, the throbbing in my back grew worse.

We made it into the hospital, got the I.V. going and waited to hear what my doc suggested as they monitored my contractions. Though they weren't too serious, and I was barely dilated, they gave me the shot to calm them down nonetheless. They thought my back pain may be connected to the contractions, so they had to wait for an hour before they gave me any kind of pain medicine.

Meanwhile, I am dying!!! I mean seriously, a contraction I can handle. I had Dax without any pain med, so I have experienced labor pains. But this was no comparison. With Dax, I knew the pain would end and I only had to make it through the next contraction, or push away the pain. But this pain was different, never ending, and I was writhing in it. I kept trying to readjust myself, lay on my back, my side, but nothing helped and I think I may have left indents on the hand bars of the gurney.

Finally they decided that the back pain wasn't connected to pre-term labor, and figured that I had some visitors in my kidneys.

That's right, kidney stones.

After a quick shot of morphine, my body was able to relax, though the pain was still there. Since testing options are limited while you are pregnant, they performed an ultrasound which showed diddly squat. I was in the hospital for 5 hours, then told to go home and strain my pee until the stone passes.

I was thinking "Seriously?!" I'm supposed to just go home and deal with this?!! Don't you know that I'm pregnant and I fell down my stairs last week!?" Needless to say I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.

I get home, and feel rather dejected. And just when you think things can't get any worse, the thunder booms and rain falls, and I quickly jump out of bed, hobble to the bathroom, and puke until there's nothing left inside of me. (unfortunately, no stone in my vomit.)

So, here I am, in bed, while my amazing husband takes care of the kids. I pity everyone who has ever gone through this. We should be part of a "stone club" or something, and wear a badge that has a picture and size of the stone you passed.

On the bright side, the baby is healthy and fine and still moving around. I feel very grateful that I didn't deliver her yesterday, 5 weeks early. And, being in bed this much, my ankles have never looked better!

Well, enough of my sob story. I'm sure your thinking, "Cindy just wants my pity." And your right, that's exactly what I want! However, if you pee 16 times one day, then 5 the next, then have bad back pain the following day, get yourself to a hospital and pray you are not pregnant so they can laser that bastard to pieces.

An Egg-head family Christmas

Matching pajamas and the Nativity at Nana Trish's house.

Below, Ogden's Christmas village and a visit with Santa.

Oh there's no place like home for the Holidays.....


Everytime I look at this picture, it's like drinking a cup full of steaming cocoa. It fills me with goodness.

The completed version. Josh added a rock climbing wall to the back, complete with a gummy bear ascending the wall.

Christmas morning.

The kankles have checked in and my belly is exponentially growing. For those of you who may not see me everyday, you may be thinking "yeah right Cindy, I'm sure it's just a cute little basketball belly," to you I say this: "11 pound weight gain in a mere 3 weeks."

As my gut gets bigger, I tend to get the "belly line." For example while washing dishes, it's a line of water across my belly. Rolling out dough, a line of flour. Most days it's just a line of dirt across my shirt from bumping up against all kinds of household furniture or appliances.

I have been pregnant 4 times, and of those 4, have owned a gas stove just once, with this last one. Flour on your belly is thing, but I'm a little fearful that I may soon accidentally light myself on fire. Stop, drop and roll, right?

Joshua

Josh woke up at 5:30 am on Christmas morning. Cam made him wait until 6:30 to go downstairs (with me) then we twisted his arm even more by making him wait until 7:00 to wake up his siblings to start the great gift unwrap.

It was such a great holiday! Nothing beats Christmas time. Having Cameron home more made such a difference (wow, I really like this guy!), and it was so nice to relax and enjoy our little family by playing with their games and toys, and watching a show or two together.

Festival of Trees, Josh's favorite was, of course, the "milk" tree.

Daxton

Is my little boy really turning 5 this year?! Where does the time go? I think I have mentioned more than once how cuddly Daxton is. When he talks to you, he needs to touch your arm, or your hand. He loves to wrap his arms around yours when you read him a story, or place his little feet across your lap. I completely eat it up.
Festival of trees, Dax inside a bubble.
Ella

"This is my baby sister down here," (as she pats my belly),"The baby is not up here. Those are your boobies. I don't have boobies right now. I will have boobies one day when I get bigger."

I am SO excited to see how Ella responds to her baby sister. She is so bedazzled by babies, and adores her little baby dolls. Where does a girl learn to "shush" her baby while bouncing it up and down and rocking back and forth? I swear it's inherent. It will be interesting to see how she responds to her own flesh and blood. I really think it's going to be wonderful.

Ella also turned 3 this month! That means she is just old enough to start sunbeams for the new year. Basically, I conduct up front and Ella holds onto my leg. My little shadow.

We had a princess party for Ella, complete with polly pockets (tiny accessories everywhere!) and a little dollhouse for them to play in (thank you kid-to-kid $2.99).

Cameron

This boy is a fox!
Cam enjoyed a little "European Excursion" this past month. He traveled to France and skied fresh powder in the Alps. Although it was a "business trip" (can I make those quotations any bigger?!), he had the time of his life. The chalet he stayed in was enough to make the trip worthwhile (complete with indoor pool and sauna). Heck, I'd settle for a night alone in the hotel 8. He went to test the new line of ZAG skis for 2011. How is the ski selling going, you ask? Pretty good. He sold another 3 pair today!

Cindy

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and as I'm leaving the office, he reminds me to be careful on the ice. "Your body is getting bigger and it changes your sense of balance quite a bit."
So, being careful not to slip on the ice, I made it home safe and sound........and fell down my stairs. My hands were full of items to take to the basement, and with to traction on my stockings, I slipped and fell, and landed on my left buttock (no worries. remember the 11 pound weight gain? Plenty of cushioning.) The baby is fine, just some hurt pride and a giant bruise on my behind. It was actually a rewarding experience, because as I fell, all 3 kids ran to my side to help me up. Josh kept asking if I was okay, then added "I hope the baby is all right. It probably made her kinda dizzy."
Wow, dem is some good lookin Thredgolds. Happy new year, 2010!!