Basement and Foundation: CHECK

On this past Monday, we only had one footing poured and pea gravel for a basement floor. Now, all the concrete pouring (save the front entrance, sidewalk, and driveway) is finished. From here, the framing will being (check the progress list at the bottom for a building checklist).

Concrete slab for the garage. At first glance it doesn't appear it will be large enough for two cars, but I have confidence in our builder (or we'll have to buy a Smart Car). You can see the two small basement windows. Also, you'll notice that there are no houses butted close to ours. This is a positive.

Basement from another angle. A better view of the windows (note: they are not large enough for any teenage boys or a keg). The windows are there to let in just enough light so that it won't feel like a dungeon when you first walk down the stairs and won't scare the baby when she gets old enough to play down there (of course, Daddy has to finish the damn basement first). It can't be seen in this picture, but all the rough-ins for a bathroom are installed and the sump hole is cut. I believe the square footage of the basement is approximately 930.

Initially, Abby wanted to observe from the sidelines; however, I talked her into exiting the car and taking a peek. This will be the view from the front of the house.

What a happy homeowner!!

Meet Baby Eliza

On January 3rd, Gary and I went to my 18-20 week ultrasound to measure the baby and to find out whether it was a he or she.  First things first, we learned the baby liked to curl into a little ball and then flip around often.  Then, the tech assured us everything was looking good--no apparent problems.  Finally we got around to the fun part:  our little "it" was a she!  We also quickly discovered she is a bit of a drama queen!  Most of the ultrasound, she had one or both arms up over her head, often it looked like she had her hand on her forehead in a "woe is me" gesture--we were working her too hard!  Silly girl, all she had to do was swim around and look pretty!  :)

Here are a few of the many pictures we were given.

Say what you will, that she looks like an alien or skeletor, but we think she looks perfect.

(note: the 3D shots look strange because they don't pick up everything, the edges blur into nothing; also she was pretty skinny then!)

Live from the Hospital--but home free now!

Updated: 7:57pm---At 1p.m. we received the great news that I would be discharged...yahoo!  About 3 hours later, I signed the papers and we were out the door.  My nurses were all great, and I'm looking forward to when I go back to St V's to deliver in June.

I couldn't have anticipated how bad my week was going to go last Sunday, while watching the Bears game.  It was during the game that I started experiencing an odd back pain (I have had low back pain the past two months of pregnancy, and it wasn't the same).  It reached the "excruciating" point by evening.  I must give props to Gary for trying to rub my back and to our hand-me-down heating pad, but nothing helped.  It was a long night.  Long story short, two doctors appointments, many phone calls, and multiple 102-103 fevers later I was admitted into St. Vincent's Women's Hospital Thursday around noon.  I could have gone in on Tuesday, and if I'd known then what I do now (i.e. that the miserable feeling would only get worse), I probably would have agreed.  Oh well.  Today I am doing better and have been fever-free for 24 hours--the golden time period that might allow me to go home this evening.  I still have more antibiotics to take by IV, and my labs have still not come back with an answer.  For now we are still operating under diagnosis of a bladder infection that moved into my kidneys with a possible kidney stone.  Fun!

Baby Eliza is doing great!  Her heart rate was in the 150s this morning; they always find it in the same spot (which I correctly pointed out when asked!).  Don't ask me how the location never changes, because we can hear Eliza bashing around in there (and feel, most days).

So basically, it's been a rough week for me.  I can't remember a time when I've ever felt so weak and tired, not even when I had mono.  And it happened so fast.  It'll take more time for me to feel completely well, but we've made progress!

I appreciate everyone's support on Facebook and those who have texted or called.  Gary spent the night last night and we're just hanging out, watching tv, and surfing the free internet.  All-in-all, a pretty typical Saturday.

Office Breakdown

The other day, a guy walked by my office and said, "hey, you gotta nice cave in there." I'm unsure whether this was a compliment or an affront to my manhood. Anyways, I thought people might be interested about the place where I spend 37.5 hours a week.

1. Office chair. This is where it all begins. I was provided this chair on my first day (unconfirmed whether a previous owner existed, I say yes. I do work for the government). It is rather comfortable and appeared clean prior to my initial sitting.

2. White Sox day calendar. In the running for “Most Exciting Thing I Do Everyday at Work.”

3. Miniature bonsai tree. In the running for “Best Office Plant.” Also in the running: the administrative assistants’ wandering Jew; some weird lady’s ficus; and the mold growing on the three-month old lasagna in the fridge.

4. “The Honest Lawyer” pub towel and sign. These were given to me by my brother, Bill. Inscribed on the towel is “Subject to Discovery,” which, if you’re a lawyer, is a very funny pun. If you are not a lawyer, you think it is a waste of time (The honest lawyer is subject to discovery…get it…ok, moving on). FYI: all lawyers are honest except those who charge fees for service and defense counsel.

5. Valpo Law diploma. Frame cost $170. Diploma cost $100,000+ with 6.8% interest.

6. Coffee station. Since my financial state disbars me from employing a barista (not even a part-timer, how do I get things accomplished in this squalid work environment?), each day I make my own brew. Not nearly as exciting as it sounds.

7. Framed photo of Mike Ditka flippin’ the bird. Expresses my feelings towards Bears backup QB, Todd Collins (seriously, his football pants look like he is wearing girls' skinny jeans). I am confident that I am the only attorney employed by the State who has a framed photo of Mike Ditka telling you that you’re number one. I hope this is mentioned in my performance review.

8. DePauw diploma. The diploma itself has a penchant for sliding down in between the two glass panes. Apparently Wabash College’s diplomas are printed on vellum. I heard a rumor they were getting a Gutenberg printing press by 2014.

9. Box of tissues (Puffs). A necessity for one married to Abigail Troutman Rom. Also a necessity for opposing counsel who go against me….zing!

10. Brief case. I find it really cool that I actually carry briefs in my brief case.

11. 2009 Indiana Code booklet. Yep, they haven’t printed the 2010 Indiana Code booklet yet (another indicator that the State of Indiana signs my paychecks).

12. Completed briefs/files. If you notice, one file is red, while another is orange. Each year has a different color file. Apparently some people get excited for the “reveal” of the upcoming year’s color. I find it better if I just stay in my office.

13. Filing cabinet. That’s where all files I am working on or will be working on are stored. The filing cabinet is a good listener, but not very chatty.

14. Swiss Army Knife money-clip with “G.R.R.” engraving (hard to see but it’s there). I received this for standing in Adam Frounfelter’s wedding (very good gift, I should add). Every case I am assigned comes with a case file that is delivered to the AG’s office from the Clerk of the Court. Around these files are two oversized rubber bands. A string with a paper medallion marked with the case file number is tied one of the rubber bands with white string. As it turns out, these are a devil to remove, so I use the knife to cut the string. I am willing to bet that the inscribed Swiss Army knife money-clip never thought it would have such a scintillating career.

15. Office phone. My most frequent caller is my father. Most exciting moment involving the phone thus far: my accidental 9-1-1 dial.

16. Oath of Attorneys. Recited at bar admission. Only pinned to the wall for the off chance that the Attorney General drops by my office and actually lingers long enough to notice. He said he wants all Deputy Attorney Generals (DAG) to have this on their wall. I wasn’t born yesterday.

17. An actual brief. Appellant’s briefs are blue; Appellee’s are red. Hey, I think I just thought of Eliza’s first nursery rhyme!

18. Posters. I had these as a kid and needed something interesting on the walls. One of my coworkers (a huge Colts fan) enjoys turning around the Bears poster. Perhaps I should use the Ditka photo as a warning.

19. The Criminal Appeals Indian. The greenest DAG has the great honor of harboring this little fellow until a new DAG joins criminal appeals. Would be much cooler if it was a life-sized wooden Indian.

20. Computer. Notice the mismatched speaker; yet, another reminder of my employer. To describe my computer I will do so ala Jon Gruden (channeling my inner Gruden via Bill Simmons): "This is a great computer. It really is. You should see it's word processing speed, just one of the best out there. Phenomenal. I tell you what, when I started that thing up, I was really impressed. It just took off. Everyone would benefit by having a computer like that. I would love to have one myself. Spectacular." So, yeah, in other words, a run-of-the-mill office computer.

21. Bridge Climb photo and Certificate. Fairly certain that I am the only DAG or one of the few DAGs to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This should also be considered at my performance review.

22. DePauw coffee mug resting on a Valpo Law coaster. Yeah, sounds about right.

23. Australian sand and law review nameplate. I have dubbed myself “Executive Bar Passer Person” and I sign my briefs “Gary R. Rom, EBPP” (I was the executive managing editor of the law review). The sand comes from the Outback, Ayers Rock to be exact. You know the drill by now: TO THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW!

24. Old chair. Splinters are complimentary!

25. BlueBook. Underneath the BlueBook in the manila folder is where I proudly display my bar admission certificate.

Floor Plans

We didn't have a picture of the basement floor plan. The basement is the entire first floor minus the garage. We will be building a large deck attached to the sliding doors. Below is the first floor:

Here is the second floor. The door from the master bedroom to the master bath (as indicated by the half circle) will open into the master bedroom.

The elevation of our home, minus the spindles on the porch.

Here is our plot of land:

Us with our Hole

Rome (or Rom) wasn't built in a day

Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in 1835 about Americans, “Consider any individual at any period of his life, and you will always find him preoccupied with fresh plans to increase his comfort.” True dat, Alexis.

Ah, yes, one of the many pleasures of living in America (including, among other things, SUVs, Taco Bell, and Taylor Lautner) is the maxim, “A man’s home is his castle.” It may only be a hole in the ground, but its our hole in the ground and you can't have it.

It appeared as though one cement wall was poured. Excuse me: that is our hole in the ground with a cement wall.

In advance, I apologize for the nonsensical prattle of my posts. Undoubtedly Abby's posts will be informative and interesting. Mine will be erratic, likely disturbing, and most certainly a waste of internet space. But, I will soldier on because my thoughts should be preserved for posterity's sake for no better reason than when Eliza googles her name she will find this and be instantly embarrassed.

Nursery Inspiration

Since we found out Baby Rom is a girl (well, to be honest, before we found out), I have been scouring websites for nursery inspiration and decor.  I began my search with a very specific color palette in mind, starting with two pillows that I absolutely adored. The colors were pink and purple with accents of blue and green.  I was struggling to work this out.  It was impossible to find a bedding set that fit, but I did find some pieces I liked.  I ordered fabric swatches for the sheets I liked and the crib skirt I hoped would coordinate.  When I received both this past week, I was disappointed that I didn't fall in love with my idea!  Here is what I was going for:

Since I didn't fall in love with the fabrics, I decided to do some more looking without being constrained by the pillows.  I'm glad I did, because I found a bedding set that I absolutely love and fits more with my "secret garden"-like vision.  So this is what I'm leaning toward now:

This, I love, but haven't made the final decision.  I'm not sure what wall color we'd go for, but the yellowish-green does contrast nicely with all of the pink and browns.  There is a deeper pink/red color in the bedding that would be fun to play with a bit more in accessories.

I'll just figure out something else for the pillows :)

An Empty, Snowy Lot

This is the lot on which our new house is currently being built! This picture was taken in late December, but as of January 18 we have a hole in the ground with foundation walls being poured any day. We are building with Ryland at Eagles Nest in Zionsville. It will have 4 bedrooms, 2 and a half baths, plus a basement. We hope to be in the house by May; just in time for baby's arrival! We'll be posting photo updates weekly (most likely). We're visiting the house this weekend to see the progress and get new pictures.

Our First Post

Well, we have decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon, given the exciting happenings in our lives!  2010 was a huge year for us:  graduation from law school, taking the bar exam, vacation to Australia, starting new jobs, finding out we're having a baby (!!), PASSING the bar exam, building a house.  Needless to say, 2010 was a jam-packed year in which we tied up loose ends and began our new "adult" life.

2011 will be big in a different way.  We've already adjusted to full-time jobs and the realities shielded from us by our status as "students."  But 2011 will bring us the biggest upheaval known to all:  parenthood.  We can't wait!

This blog is intended to update our family and friends on the pregnancy, house-building process, and when the time comes, our journey as parents.  We hope you enjoy the ride as much as we intend to!