Cyber Monday!

This is the ONLY Monday I will ever love. I hate black Friday. Maybe I won't once my kids ABSOLUTELY NEED the hottest new toy and black Friday gives the best deal. I still don't think I will compromise my sleep to save $10 off a doll or hamster.

However, cyber Monday I will brave.

• Slow internet? check.
  
• Ordering the same thing twice because I found a better deal? check.


• Freaking out because the only stroller available after moving from the computer lab computer to my office computer is bright blue? check.


• Going back to the computer lab computer and creepily searching my internet history to pull up the black one I saw? check. (My new mantra: Internet History- it can get you in trouble but also save your *$$!)


• Saving $70 on two items? CHECK!
  

I first purchased a Flip Video UltraHD camera on Amazon.com for $159.

Then I get a text from my mom that said newegg.com is selling them for $159 as well. No biggie until I keep reading that it comes with these for free:

A tripod and AC power adapter. So what do I do? I order this deal as well! Now I have two coming and will send back the one from Amazon unless there is someone around here who wants to buy it from me.

Of course I continue to look for deal and find that Babies R Us has 20% off strollers and car seats! I know you can get 15% often but 20% is a rareity. So I call my mom and ask if she wants to purchase a shower gift well before the shower for a deal. Of course she heard deal and kindly obliged. so I have a car seat coming from my mom and I ordered this beauty:

Now I know I get a shower. However, my thinking is I will get this for a deal and still register for it. If I receive it, I will take back the more expensive one and get more money to spend at the store! Genius...

Apparently Someone Peed..

in my husband's Cheerios this morning. I guess it was me.

He has be laying on the couch all day watching mindless television. I have been doing laundry, stripping the bed, and working on a grad school project. I left for a few hours to go out to eat with my parents, sister and niece, while he elected to stay home. As I carried sheets upstairs before I left, he said, "Do you need help putting those on the bed?" I retorted, "No, because I won't be putting them on the bed." Like my subtle hint for him to do it while I am gone, without directly asking him? Did it work? Absolutely not.

I get home and watch the end to some college football games with him. He asks again, "Do you need help putting the sheets on the bed?" I retorted, "I was thinking that maybe you would have taken the initiative while I was gone and would have done it yourself but apparently not."

He then gets all pissy and asks well why do I have to put them on myself when you asked for help earlier to take them off to wash them?

Hmm.. he tends to forget that I strip the bed, wash the sheets, and make the bed by myself 90% of the time, along with washing the towels, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming the floors, dusting, etc.

I guess a marriage isn't 50/50 after all. At least not in the Storm household!

What NOT To Do..

at a baby shower, especially when it is your own.

Yes, I witnessed this last night for a good friend. If some of you have followed me long enough, she can be a thorn in my side but I . This was an unplanned pregnancy. Their first. While I was miscarrying and dealing with all the emotional and physical baggage that comes with, she was complaining about getting fat, morning sickness, etc. when I would have welcomed it with open arms.

Anyways, I digress. So she had her baby shower last night. It was an open house with soups, etc. She opened presents basically the entire two hours. However, each time she opened a present and she had already received the same thing, she would announce how many she has received. 11 of us girls went together to get her some big ticket items like the infant swing and larger car seat. As she opened the car seat, she announced, "Well that is the second one of those!" Like she was burdened to have to take it back. Tacky? I think so.

I would see that I get to take back an expensive purchase and finish the rest of the registry without having to pay out of pocket for anything. However, that is me, always trying to see a positive spin on things.

Baby Storm Update

So I promised an updated with belly pics yesterday, and here it is. It includes fun things I have picked out. Let me know your opinion, good or bad. The baby's room will take over our spare bedroom. We only have a two bedroom house so there really isn't an option. Since we also only have one bathroom and you have to see both bedrooms before getting to the bathroom, I figured I need to stay pretty neutral with everything to flow with the rest of the decor of the house.

I really like this crib, especially the two-tone. Definitely could go either way, boy or girl. I especially like the drawer underneath for extra storage. Definitely a plus in our small, quaint home!

For a boy I really like this owl crib bedding. I would definitely go with an orange color for at least one of the walls. Could this work for a girl?? I definitely am not a pink or blue type. Not my style.

My top pick and what I will most certainly get will be a BOB Revolution stroller. My sister has one for my niece and it is so easy to push and maneuver. I found that it now comes with an infant seat adapter so no need to get a heavy travel system. Hopefully this baby will come around its due date, which will be in the summer. Being a teacher, we will go on many walks to get out of the house.

I believe I have picked out this car seat, however, Babies R Us is online only so I can't test it out. Anyone have this or know of comments about it? It is Britax.
And last but not least, the belly pics. I am currently 11 weeks. Apparently there is a baby in there that I have seen twice. Can you tell I have LOST 7 pounds since my initial appointment? You can't really tell, but if you see my face, my cheeks are starting to be sunken. Eww..

As far as all of my issues, they are still around. I go today to my general practitioner to follow-up from my ER visit. I will hopefully receive a Thrombophilia Panel to check for clotting issues that may have caused the 3 mini strokes. Tomorrow I go to St. Louis for an complete Echocardiogram with my cardiologist (yes, I am 26 years old, and I have a cardiologist). I contacted my doctor yesterday to "check-in" and I now get to go to a neurological specialist to rule out Multiple Sclerosis or other issues. So I guess I am not 26 years old and now have a neurologist as well!

I broke down yesterday. Big time. This is supposed to be a happy time in our lives and this black cloud of uncertainty is hanging over my head. What if it is multiple sclerosis? What if I have a full-on stroke next time? What if problems persist and this will be the only child I will be able to have? The stress is getting to me! Keep me in your thoughts and our doctors' bills continue to rise and hopefully more questions get answered than more arise.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Awards Day Monday

The Happy 101 Award is to thank the wonderful bloggers that make you smile!

Here are the rules:

List 10 things that make you happy.

(try to do one of those things TODAY!)

Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.

Make sure to link back to the person that tagged you!

Thanks to Short Southern Mamma for this award. Check out her blog, she needs some blog lovin' this week. Her week is extra busy!!

It has been really hard to be happy lately but that will be for another post. My Top Ten Happy Things:

1. When my husband says something so inappropriate to make me laugh.

2. How Wrigley greets me at the door and when I leave, he runs to the door, sits in front of it, and barks really loud as to say, "Hey, I want to come with!"

3. A clean house. Which I will be creating tonight.

4. When kids I baby-sit for give me hugs in the hallway at school or wave really big at me in my office when they are outside at recess.

5. My dad allowing me to log in to his online Sirius account and being able to rock out all day in my office.

6. When new bloggies find me so I have a new blog to follow!

7. A weekend away in Chicago. December 4th, you cannot come any faster!

8. Christmas decorations, including lights on the outside, even though we live on a dead end street with four other houses. At least it is festive for them!

9. Getting to play with my adorable niece for the entire week! Belly laughs here we come!

10. Finally being pregnant, even though it hasn't been the nicest to me. I am still happy and thankful!

Extra additions: Home Alone and Elf. Definitely breaking these movies out this week to kick off Christmas season.

"Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?"

I know saying this is lame, but all of you made me happy so consider yourself tagged. I appreciate each and every one of you. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving week and look for a baby related post tomorrow with a belly pic.

Someone to Wrap Christmas Presents for Me?

Sign me up!

Our school is doing an online auction where local businesses and crafty people donate items and then you can bid on them. It is very ebay-ish.

My fellow technology colleague set the auction up and so I signed up today for an account to "drive up the donations". I bid on a blizzard a month for a year for my dad, a New Year's Eve meal at a local hotel restaurant for my sister and BIL. Then the big one I.WILL.WIN.

Two people donated their time, bows, and wrapping paper to wrap up to 25 gifts for the winner. Jackpot! I am going to win because I hate wrapping gifts.

Great idea, huh?

Doctor Update

After my BP rising due to 40 minutes of unexpected traffic, I arrived 30 minutes late to my appointment. Ha! And I thought that would be the worst of my worries.

I obviously was the talk of the office when a nurse sees me through the reception window and goes, "Are you the one from ____(insert small town name here)____? How are you feeling?" I must have been some phenomenon Friday!

I get weighed and find out I have lost 6 pounds. {Grin} Maybe I should continue to eat more Sonic tots and bacon cheeseburgers? Should I now write a dieting book?

Doc P comes into the room and basically becomes a straight shooter..

I will now be watched "very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very closely." I am not exaggerating with the very's either. Basically he said if it happens a third time I will be admitted to the hospital and get to meet his neurological colleagues. Imagine the surprise on his face when I told him Friday was my third episode!

So the plan is for me to make an appointment with my cardiologist (is it weird that I have a cardiologist at the age of 26 and have had one for two years?) to get an echo of my heart and to see my general doctor for more tests. If the episode happens again, I need to call Doc P and head to St. Louis to be admitted. If it continues to be of concern then I get to have an MRI at the end of my second trimester. As weird as it sounds, he even threw out the words Multiple Sclerosis.

I get to wean off the progesterone (crazy pill!) by this weekend but on baby aspirin indefinitely.

The bright side of today was that I got an impromptu ultrasound. At the end of the appointment he said that he wanted to listen to the baby. Then he decided on second thought that he would like to take a look since I have been on so many drugs. (His words, not mine. And no, I am not shooting anything up, but I do down 7 pills a day!) The baby had a strong heartbeat and we could see cute little toes. The tiny dancer was moving quite a bit and Doc P was even commenting on the movement!

So more tests loom but I am hoping the baby aspirin and getting off the progesterone will help. If you believe in prayer, I would love to continue to have positive thoughts sent this way.

Much Love,

DeDe and Tiny Dancer

Huh?!?

Update: The blogging gods must have listened to my complaints because I can now access my reader. Phew. All is right with the world again.

I log in to blogspot.com and I do not have any blogs I follow? Anyone else having this issue or know how to resolve this without having to add them all again? I really want to know what is going on in all of your lives, ladies!

Busy Beaver..

That is me over here! I am sure the doctor said something to the tune of, "Take it easy this weekend!" However, I have been taking it easy to my level. Yesterday I did some retail therapy with a friend. We made a quick trip to an outlet mall and went to about three stores. I needed some jeans that didn't cut off my air supply and found some at Old Navy for.. wait for it.. $7! So of course with the money I saved I bought myself a great garden salad and pizza stix from an Italian restaurant I used to work at during last school year. I cleaned the house and washed the sheets so I could have a heavenly night's sleep.

This morning I woke up and decided to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I then made two loaves of banana bread using husband's grandma's recipe. I am sure he is appreciative as I don't like banana bread. Laundry is being done.

I guess I am doing all of this to keep my mind off of my doctor's appointment tomorrow. I have no clue what my OB is going to say to me, what extra tests he might order to help figure out what caused the TIA attacks recently.

All that I know is that I learned to not assume something is a side effect of either medicine I am taking or from the pregnancy. Call no matter what. There is nothing worse than hearing the nurse talking with my doctor in the room as she says, "We need you to go to the ER right away."

Luckily my husband works at the hospital and met me at the ER entrance. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look him in the eye. For some reason I just had an intuition that this wouldn't be easy. I have a lengthy list I need to discuss with my doctor tomorrow. Luckily I have one of the last appointments of the day so we will have plenty of time to chit chat.

In the meantime, prayers would be appreciated. Thanks for all of your support and kind words. You have no idea how much it means to me.

Much Love,

DeDe and Tiny Dancer

Friday the 13th

So let me preface this day with a comment made earlier today.

I share a classroom with another teacher, who also happens to be a good friend. 8:15 AM I hear an ambulance driving past the school and I say, "Friday the 13th. Sirens are starting early!"

Fast forward to 11:15. Blurred vision in my right eye, right hand numb, right side of face is numb and I am calling my OB in St. Louis. I mention this happened a couple of weeks ago without the numb face and that the numb face now freaked me out. She puts me on hold for a little bit and gets back on the line.. "DeDe, Dr. P wants you to go to the ER right away. Can someone take you?"

Awesome. I was just bragging yesterday how great our health insurance is and I am glad I have it. Now I get to test it out in emergency situations.

A chest x-ray, CT scan, EKG, and blood draw later and I am diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Basically I had a mini-stroke. Awesome, huh?

Now I get to add to the arsenal of pills I take daily- prenatal, DHA, vitamin D, three progesterone pills daily, and now a baby aspirin to prevent a future acute stroke and blood clots.

The husband is now trying to talk me out of having any more children. He says I am going to give him gray hair before this pregnancy is over!

So now I am home and watching the boob tube.

To lighten the mood, I want to add to some of the random thoughts I posted on Tuesday. Enjoy!

There is a great need for sarcasm font.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f*** was going on when I first saw it.

I think everyone has a movie that they love so much; it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

Have a safe and happy weekend everyone!