Week 23 was pretty mellow, with our return from Lake Fork, a quick dove-hunting trip for Jon, getting together with friends to watch (Chiefs!) football and dashed hopes of a canceled surf-fishing adventure (every year I live in this state I get a fresh- and salt-water fishing license just in case I make it to the ocean for such an event, so I'm still bitter this outting was never rescheduled).
Notice Nestle's startled expression at the exposure of my distended gut for my belly pic from week 23 (hope I didn't traumatize him ... I'm a little disturbed myself):
Toe check for week 23:
Ahhh, now the infamous week 24. This is when word came of a hurricane named Ike who happened to have a hateful determination to show Houston his power and fury. And he succeeded. One of the most massive hurricanes to grace the gulf, he hit Friday evening, wreaking havoc and knocking out power in our area for the following two weeks. If you want more details in the form of writing and photos documenting this madness, please visit my entry titled Y(IKE)S! from October 2008. Here are a few pics to jog your memory, but really, you should check out the past entry for a thorough telling and viewing:
Here are belly pics from week 24:
Week 25 was pretty miserable for me and Jon. Jon had to stark working consecutive night shifts averaging 17 hours each to get the refinery back up and going, so he was exhausted and stressed, though he said the challenges were somewhat rewarding to solve. That left me by myself all night with no power. All those candles and no one to with whom to enjoy the romantic ambience! By the way, I would have made a terrible founding father (founding mother?) ... I have to admit I did accidentally start a small fire while writing by candlelight ... crisis averted, though.
Except for another wiener dog visciously attacking poor Nestle (we passed tons of pit bulls and giant canines mom thought looked threatening, yet it was one of Nestle's own kind who proved the most dangerous!), we had a great time. Here's one of my favorite exhibits, which consisted of inanimate figures that looked crazy real, from the expressions and posture and proportions to moles and arm hair:
Here's my belly pic from week 25 ... despite appearances, my babybelly is, in fact, real:
Week 25 toe check:
Week 26 was a good one. I was feeling restored, and aside from Jon's notable absence, I enjoyed my time back with friends and family ... and television. But mostly friends and family. I was super excited to have the opportunity to meet up with two of my best girlfriends from K-State times, Lori and Jen. Every year we try to get together when our paths once more cross in Kansas, either over holidays or other events. Jen lives in Topeka, and Lori lives in Wisconsin. So, due to a wedding or some such happening, Lori was in town, so met at our favorite cafe in Lawrence for brunch, which naturally spilled over into visiting at another coffee shop so we weren't tying up tables. I love these girls and miss them so! The baby finally performed for them with some high kicks, so they were satisfied with the visit:
Finally, taking advantage of being in town, my mom threw me an intimate family baby shower. It was truly lovely and something I'd normally not get to have due to the distance. What a special time! It was fun to get a little dressed up and have cake and be honored with some games and cake and adorable baby-sized gifts and cake and warm wishes by loved ones and cake.
Toe check week 26:
Here are belly pics from week 24:
Week 25 was pretty miserable for me and Jon. Jon had to stark working consecutive night shifts averaging 17 hours each to get the refinery back up and going, so he was exhausted and stressed, though he said the challenges were somewhat rewarding to solve. That left me by myself all night with no power. All those candles and no one to with whom to enjoy the romantic ambience! By the way, I would have made a terrible founding father (founding mother?) ... I have to admit I did accidentally start a small fire while writing by candlelight ... crisis averted, though.
During the day, for the few hours Jon was home, I had to make the house like a cave, drawing curtains and keeping quiet, because he was trying to sleep. So, we really didn't see each other at all. As a pregnant woman, I was hungry, but I did not have access to fresh milk, meat or produce, because we still had no electricity, and neither did the surrounding grocery stores and restaurants. After a few days of fending for myself by eating pantry findings like raw PopTarts, trail mix and beef jerky, I discovered my wonderful neighbors at the end of the cul-de-sac had a generator and were providing nightly feasts for ill-prepared folks like myself. As a woman heavy with child, I got extra sympathy ... and helpings. Mmmmm. It was all for the baby, of course. Yes. Fortunately, God blessed us with unusually great weather for a while, but by the end of the week, it was warming rapidly, and I was ready for relief.
Amazingly, my mom was already scheduled to fly down and drive back to KC with me for a visit, because Jon had business in Manhattan, Kansas, and we had decided I'd take the dog and drive to score some extra time before Jon came up. Of course, Jon never got to come due to the emergency status of the refinery, but I went ahead with plans to visit KC. Although I missed Jon deeply, it was a sweet escape to the wonders of air conditioning and light bulbs and refrigeration -- oh my!
Once reconnected with civilization, my mom, her husband, Nestle and I went to the Plaza Art Fair in KC. Here's proof I've turned back into a groomed human being:
Except for another wiener dog visciously attacking poor Nestle (we passed tons of pit bulls and giant canines mom thought looked threatening, yet it was one of Nestle's own kind who proved the most dangerous!), we had a great time. Here's one of my favorite exhibits, which consisted of inanimate figures that looked crazy real, from the expressions and posture and proportions to moles and arm hair:
Here's my belly pic from week 25 ... despite appearances, my babybelly is, in fact, real:
Week 25 toe check:Week 26 was a good one. I was feeling restored, and aside from Jon's notable absence, I enjoyed my time back with friends and family ... and television. But mostly friends and family. I was super excited to have the opportunity to meet up with two of my best girlfriends from K-State times, Lori and Jen. Every year we try to get together when our paths once more cross in Kansas, either over holidays or other events. Jen lives in Topeka, and Lori lives in Wisconsin. So, due to a wedding or some such happening, Lori was in town, so met at our favorite cafe in Lawrence for brunch, which naturally spilled over into visiting at another coffee shop so we weren't tying up tables. I love these girls and miss them so! The baby finally performed for them with some high kicks, so they were satisfied with the visit:Finally, taking advantage of being in town, my mom threw me an intimate family baby shower. It was truly lovely and something I'd normally not get to have due to the distance. What a special time! It was fun to get a little dressed up and have cake and be honored with some games and cake and adorable baby-sized gifts and cake and warm wishes by loved ones and cake.Here is my week 26 belly pic ... so cool to think there's a baby in there ... and cake:
Toe check week 26:
