Well, I think it's time to tell everyone

Some of you have caught on by my twitter posts but there is big news in my house that I'm finally going to share ....

I'm knocked up. 12 weeks knocked up, to be exact. We found out at 5:30 a.m. on Oct 4 and it's been hard to keep secret. If you read my twitter posts I've been mostly tired and just a little sick but today Brian and I heard the heartbeat and I cried like a little baby.

I have a baby journal started. If you'd like to see it, leave a comment with your email address.

Oh my god, I'm having a baby!

Mystery of the Meowing Cat

I got my cat Zach when I just turned 22. I had just moved to my first apartment and I was allowed to get a cat so I went to the pet store and picked out the cutest black and white shorthair cat. He was really calm and cuddly – the reason, he’d just been neutered and de-clawed and completely drugged up. The day after I brought him home, he turned into a wild man or how a typical 9 week old kitten would act. This cat was a big source of comfort for me since it had only been a few months since my mom passed away. He has always been cuddly and attentive until we moved into our house this past year.

Last spring, he started annoyingly meowing all the time – day or night. We thought it might have been because he had to jump up to his food and when we moved it to the floor and away from Charlie, he still cried and meowed. He was using the litter box ok, he had water but he still cried all the time. It also seemed like he was going through food like a crazy cat but he wasn’t gaining weight. Finally, when Brian said he wanted to put him in the garage one night, I knew I had to take him to the vet.

So, yesterday we made the trek to the vet. Zach hasn’t been to the vet since 2004 when we lived in Omaha. The vet was stumped as to what was wrong and after examining him for 20 mins decided to run an expensive blood test. The funniest part of the visit was when the vet tried to take Zach’s temperature in a place cats don’t like to be touched and he bit her. $200 later, I hoped we would get an answer and we did. He has thyroid issues which explain the eating and not gaining weight. He’ll go on medication starting today but it will take really two months to take affect. It’s such a relief that it’s something so minor and not something serious.

I do love my job but

After relaxing for four days, I'm not ready to go back. Who is? I'm sure I'm not alone. Four days of relaxing, taking naps when I want, cuddle time with the dog (he's been really clingy the past few days). But alas, it's back to reality tomorrow.

This week will be an awesome week. I just know it.

Who wants to head to the forest and cut down a tree for Christmas?

Go elf yourself

You've gotta check this out! What a great viral marketing campaign.

You gotta try eBates.com

It's that time of year again - braving the stores to find that perfect gift. Each year, my list get longer and longer. Years ago in my family, we stopped buying gifts for each other and just bought for the kids. Then I got married and now there are eight kids, four sets of parents (we don't buy for brothers/sisters unless we do a name drawing or something). Getting lists for the kids has been grueling. But my good ole buddy Joey reminded me of the joys of ebates.com today.

If you shop religiously online like I do for Christmas and birthdays, you need to join ebates basically because you get money back quarterly on what you spend through their stores. Joey showed me her quarterly check and since I've been trying to buy most of my gifts online it looks like so far I'm going to get about $12 back and that was after buying three gifts. You can browse stores, products and coupons. The trick is to remember to start at ebates.com first and to be logged in.

If you want to join, I do get a referral, ya know. So show me some love and start saving.

What do I want for Christmas?

My husband said "if money was no object, what would you want for Christmas?" My answer -- we trade the 97 Honda Civic for one of these or one of these. * Then he asked me to give him a list of little things that I wanted for Christmas. Instead of giving him a list, I'm making it easy and putting it online for the whole world to see so here goes:

* Lavanila lotion
* Urban Decay Shadow Kit
* Cozy PJs from JJill
* Flaming Lips Fearless Freaks
* Gift card or tops from Old Navy

Geez, I'm boring.

* I believe that I will have that new car when I win the $40K raffle Bob Thomas is drawing this Saturday. I have the winning ticket.

My cat gots cheezburger

Check out my lol cat Sage. If you can come up with a better captions, I'll send it in. This is her favorite spot, esp after all the towels are warm and washed.

7 honest things

Kina tagged me for this so here goes:

1. I don't like surprises and I can't keep surprises. I'm horrible at Christmas and usually tell my husband what he's getting before he opens it. I also cringe when people say they're buying me a gift because I'm picky. If you want to buy me something ask, don't guess -- just ask. I know it's the thought that counts but I prefer to live the simple life without clutter. Buy me things I need, not things you think I need. With that I will say that Kina and Joey are good at finding things that are so "me" that I love.

2. I had a sister. My dad had a fourth child who died at 5 months old. I was 9 years old when this happened. It's partly why I can't hold newborns and something I don't like taking about. You'd think 24 years would give me enough time to get over it.

3. I wanted to be a TV anchor when I grew up. I used to practice in the basement reading the news. I was an ace at the current events quiz and this was the only time I was popular (everyone wanted me on their current events quiz team). I also had an autographed photo of Carol Schrader (Omahans will know who this is). I wanted to be like her but she was a horrible dresser. I have a degree in broadcasting but after spending nine months working in news, I chose public relations/marketing instead.

4. I was in band from 10 - 18 years old. I played the flute and my mom really wanted me to be a Marching Husker but after all those years, I was ready to hang up my uniform and walk away.

5. I treat ppl the way I'd like to be treated. Enough said.

6. I believe in the Secret. Along the lines as #5. If you believe in the law of attraction, then good things will come your way. I also believe that if you're a jerk or asshole, you'll get what's coming to you.

7. I'm addicted to the TeamSugar websites