POWERFUL!

We finally got our power back yesterday afternoon!  It was a LONG seven days going without electricity!  I didn't realize how much sleep I lost until I slept in my comfy room with the air conditioner on and my fan full blast last night.  Ahhh... just wonderful.

The silver lining of it all is that Chris was able to work from Louisville last week because of everything happening.  It was wonderful having him home.  Plus, we spent a LOT of time talking and planning all things baby since we couldn't entertain ourselves with the TV or internet.  We spent some good quality family time, just the four of us (Guinness included).  

Lights Out

Many of you all felt it too... the "Windstorm of 2008." At least, that's what my station has dubbed it. We certainly felt the winds of Hurricane Ike hit here this Sunday. We had 81 mph winds - a category 1 hurricane!
Who would have thought we would leave Charleston and then have a hurricane hit Kentucky?
So, Chris and I are still without power for a 3rd day along with about 150,000 Louisville residents (as of today). The trees knocked down powerlines and electricity to 75% of the city. Our neighborhood still looks like a disaster area.
We (so far) narrowly missed real disaster when the wind split one of the large trees in our backyard in two sending half of it bending over our roof. Luckily another large tree caught it, but now both trees are bending right over our roof. Chris was so worried that they could come crashing through the roof in the middle of the night that we spent the first few nights in our basement on the futon bed. Now, THAT was comfy for my aching pregnant body...as you may imagine!
We are now gambling that the tree is stable and sleeping in our bed upstairs.
Chris is working from the Deloitte office in Louisville this week in order to stay home with me and Guinness. It has been a real treat having him home in the evenings after work... it's like we're a normal family!
We're waiting for the tree people to get around to our house to remove the trees (who knows when!) We're also waiting for power to be restored (also who knows when!) We've been told it could be the middle or end of NEXT WEEK before we have electricity again.
Luckily the weather has been beautiful since the storm, so as long as our doors and windows are open it's fairly nice. I was off work Monday and Tuesday and it truly is amazing how much I can get done around the house with no television, phone or Internet!
I'm back to work today (hence the being back online). I know power is still out in parts of Owensboro as well... my mom included. I hope everyone gets back up and running soon. The novelty of it all wore off after the first night for us...

Barefoot and Pregnant

Well, I finally know where the phrase "barefoot and pregnant" came from.  It doesn't only apply to us Kentuckians, or even those from West Virginia... although I know that's the stereotype.  

I am officially barefoot and pregnant -- and that's the only way I'm comfortable.

My feet have swollen to the size of small melons.  Nothing is comfortable on my feet... even my most comfortable shoes leave marks where any straps touch my skin.  

Yesterday, I walked to grab lunch in (what used to be very comfortable) flats.  They started to hurt about halfway through the walk.  By the time I got back to my desk, I had to kick them off and prop my feet up under my workstation.  Unfortunately, the time came for me to walk to the printer.  I went to slip my feet back in the flats... and whoa! they wouldn't fit.  I debated walking over in my bare feet, but I knew it would be entirely too cliche to do so.  So I squeezed my club feet into my shrinking shoes and waddled over to the printer.  You should have seen me walk to my car.  I can't imagine labor can be much more painful than that (okay, just kidding...)

So, yes, I'm officially barefoot and pregnant.  I am a classic Kentuckian.  And proud of it.  Because here at home, writing on my computer, I can spread my fat toes.  But tomorrow, I'm going to have to buy some bigger shoes.

"Labor" Day weekend

I’m a little behind writing … but we had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.  First of all, congrats to Ashley (Warren) Howard – she gave birth to a baby boy on “Labor” Day!  How appropriate.  She’s one of many friends who will be having babies this fall and winter.  All playmates for baby Riess!

Friday, we went to dinner with Kristi and her boyfriend, Jake.  He was in Louisville to do the Ironman triathalon!  Talk about a congratulations in order.  He did GREAT!  We loved meeting him at dinner and are very proud that we actually know a tri-athlete.  Go Jake!

Saturday, Ashley and Lacey were in town for the big Tankdog draft party. It's the party Chris and his friends hold every year for their Fantasy Football draft.

    . 

Their fantasy league is sort of like a fraternity for these guys who really wish they were still in college...   

  We had a great time.  I even stayed out until 1am!  I was very proud of myself.  Hey, even us mommas know how to party!  

And we did some more "partying" the next day at the UK/UofL game.  

We tailgated at the stadium with all our friends. 

  Mr. and Mrs. Bruce threw a great tailgate for everyone!   

It was HOT HOT HOT, though, so we opted to actually watch the game at a friend's house rather than sit in the heat in the stadium.  

It was a good call for me and Baby Riess.

 

Sicky Sicky

It's been a rough couple of days for us here.  Turns out, we did come down with something awful.  Doctor says it may be strep throat, we are waiting for the test results to come back.  I was nervous about the antibiotics she gave me to take, but all my doctors say it's fine.  Today, I'm finally feeling well enough to get out of bed for the first time in a few days.

Good thing, since I had an appointment at the baby doctor today.  All is well with baby Riess.  She's about 3 pounds now - right on track.  I, on the other hand, have already gained 25!  I got to hear her healthy heartbeat again.  The doctor reiterated that the antibiotics are fine for me to take.  She's still kicking a chorus line.

I'm still pretty tired and the throat is still very sore.  Definitely starting to get better now.

We had to skip our birthing class last night (Chris was SO disappointed, as you can imagine.... *wink, wink*).  I didn't feel well enough to go and I didn't want to pass this along to any of the other pregnant ladies there.

So, I'm starting to feel better -- I just hope I'm all better in time for the UK-UofL game this weekend!  Lacey and Kristi are both visiting for the weekend.  Lacey and Greg are staying with us for a fun weekend!  My throat better be 100% by Sunday...

GO CATS!

Summer Daze

A rough night for Riess and me last night... we got a little sicky, but I think it was something bad I ate. I'm feeling better today, but still suffering from a bad headache. I'm working nights this week so I got to sleep in today (and work until midnight instead).
Today Chris and I went to the pool with Chris and Jennifer Mayer. I love the pool, but Chris LOVES the pool. He is a 10-year-old boy when he's there. He's doing flips off the diving boards and exchanging tips with all the kids in line about the best dives. It's truly hilarious. Jennifer and I are just glad the boys have each other to jump off the boards, conduct sprint races and underwater hold-your-breath contests. It means Jennifer and I can chat and read our magazines like normal adults. Chris, nearing his 30th birthday mind you, will definitely be sore tomorrow.
We also ran into a friend of a friend who had a little girl last November, so we got a little sneak peak at what our baby Riess will be like this time NEXT summer! Can't wait to take HER to the pool. Now THAT will be fun for both of us. I can play in the pool with that little one!
On another note, my mom's little one, Rizzo, is back at home and doing much better now. The doctors think a new heart medication she was on was causing her sickness. Now she's off that medicine and apparently feeling much better. Aunt Rizzo just must make it long enough to meet baby Riess. I'm sure she will. For those of you who know Rizzo, she's a fighter! For my mom's sake, let's hope she's around a long long time...
No new pics this time -sorry! I'll take some this weekend as the belly is progressing (whoa)... and the nursery is actually getting underway.

Visiting

Jamie Wellman came to Louisville and brought Riess a sweet gift!  She will have the cutest little tootsies in town with these precious socks/shoes.  Incase you can't see them well, they are baby socks that look like little Mary Janes.  They have pink beads and bows on the back.  What else for my little twinkle toes?

Later that week (and forgive me, I'm far behind on blogging...), I went back to Owensboro to visit the fam.  Mom took new pics of me with the ever-growing belly.  This was me at six months:

And Mom and I couldn't leave out our OTHER babies when we were going on and on about Baby Riess...

Unfortunately, Rizzo is in the hospital this week.  She's not doing too well.  She is 13 years old, believe it or not!  She's still fairly frisky for a woman of her age.  She's getting some fluids in the animal hospital this week and mom hopes she will be back at home by Friday.  We'll keep you posted.