Updated to add -- At 10:00 pm (PST) Old Navy is finally updating their site. It takes somewhere around a half an hour to finish...keep checking! Plus, according to the article below, keep checking throughout the week because they'll continue to update coupons!

Check this out, guys! (Old Navy updates)

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Thanks for the advice. Keep it coming.

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As for the flu junk...half my kids were gone today. The fear has set in. I had to spend the first 15 minutes of class this morning calming the kids down. They all swear they have the flu and that they are going to die. Drama. So, we went over the symptoms, what to do if you feel sick, hygiene, and other such topics. It went much better throughout the day. Oh, and I had to squelch talk of getting the flu on purpose (idiots) so they could close the school down for a week. When I told them they'd just have to make the week up at the end of the school year, it was less appealing. Such is the life of a preteen.

Anyway, the two other schools have been closed for 7 days at this point. Still nothing has shown at my school (which is only about a half a mile away from one closed, and yes we have kids from their area at our school and they had kids from our area at their school so contact is pretty much a given), but I am still expecting it to happen at any time. I have my handy dandy hand sanitizer at my disposal. I use it any time I have contact with a kid or kid's papers/things. Paranoid? Yep. I am not bringing that shit home, though. I can't let my kids get it.

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Please stop by Cathy's blog and give her some support. Her mom's liver transplant was canceled at the very last moment because the donor's liver (Cathy's brother) was too fatty. Her mom's prognosis isn't good without the transplant. Thanks, everyone.

Fuck.

Two schools in my district are closed for a week due to Sw.ine Flu. 2 cases are probable enough to close the schools. Only a matter of time before we'll be next...

Your Thoughts, Please

The RE called. We talked a bit, and ultimately he said he was "not impressed" with the post op notes/reference to my tube. Although he said that a blocked tube does often affect pregnancy rates in IVF, the facts that I had a clear HSG three years ago and got pregnant with the boys makes him lean toward doing nothing at all to my tube. (why does this make me feel that he is backtracking some on what he told us originally?) He doesn't think it is going to be an issue. All he wants to do is a sperm analysis before retrieval. Um, okay.

I am not sure how I feel about that. I trust him and all...but...well, I just don't know.

Much of me is ready to just jump in and trust that things will go the way they are supposed to (that being a baby in about 40 weeks). Then again, I am struggling with blindly trusting the doctor (any doctor) and not pushing more on this tube thing. Could this have been the thing that prevented us from getting pregnant on our own all along? If I pushed to have the tube further investigated, and/or removed, my warped little brain wants to believe that would mean I could get pregnant on my own. Maybe I wouldn't. But it could happen. Theoretically speaking.

Let's face it. The cost of the cycle alone is not something to jump into without thoroughly thinking the options through.

Then there is the deafening tick of my maternal clock. I just feel this indescribable urgency to move, move, move while my body is still "young." Sure, I had a fsh of 11 last month, but what's to keep it from jumping--doubling--tripling--in the months to come. Time keeps marching on. My body continues to age. It scares the shit out of me.

Or maybe I am just over thinking everything. Like usual.

I am on CD25/26-28 today. I have a few days before my cycle will start to think about things.

Any thoughts?

Show and Tell - Score on Savings!

Today, I would like to present my weekend shopping spree for this week's Show and Tell.

Ahem. It started with this little baby, here...

And ended with an armful of loot! Check this out:

4 shirts for me +

6 pairs of pants for the boys +

6 shirts/onesies for the boys =

$105.00 + tax = $114 and some change -

$75 off coupon (whoot!) =

$39 and some change!

( I'm not sure why it is turned this way.)

I got 16 things at Old Navy for under $40 bucks. Not too shabby! That's an average of $2.45 per item. I am simply giddy! (contented sigh)

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So, a few of you have wondered what I am talking about lately. Old Navy has started a coupon promotion. Once a week, on Thursdays, the site is redesigned, and new coupons are "hidden" throughout the page. Usually, there are different frames depicting the different Old Navy mannequins doing various activities. The coupons can be found in these different scenes. For example, this week there were coupons at these places:

• The mannequin in the pink striped shirt was hiding a $5 off coupon (when you buy swimwear) which was revealed when you dragged the blue striped shirt over to dress her in.
• Another coupon was on the African American mannequin. She has a white shirt with something all over it. Clicking on her shirt until the mess was gone gave a $15 off of $75 coupon.
• In the video if you clicked the pad for loose powder the second time it appeared on the screen it was a coupon for $10 off $50.
• The mannequin in the white tank top hid a 30% off coupon, revealed when you clicked on her hair style twice.
• The big prize was in the frame with the woman, the girl, and the slide. To get the $75 off $100, I clicked between the woman's legs, right where the slide ends. I kept clicking there and when the red ball came bouncing, I got the coupon. It took me three tries. The first time, I didn't get there in time. The second time, I spazzed. The third time was the charm.

At the top of the screen, there is a scrolling marquis which tells the number of coupons available and the different values of each. Obviously, the greater the value, the harder the coupon is to find. I just tend to run my mouse over the screen a few times and look for my pointer to turn into a little hand with a pointed index finger. I don't really have any tricks, per say, to finding what's available.

The fun for me is that I get to try all over again the next Thursday. Plus, I am a sucker for a bargain. And, well, a challenge--no matter how slight--keeps me coming back for more, too. :-) The only downside is that you have no idea when the new week's coupons are set. You just have to keep checking throughout the day until you see the new scene. Last week, I happened to get lucky.

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I have a few coupons that I didn't use. If you are interested, email me and I'll send them to you on a first come, first served basis. They have to be used in store, and they expire on 4/30. Sadly, each coupon has its own individual bar code, so I can't share with everyone. :-(

• 30% off your purchase (it says to comb your hair like Kelly's, but I don't think you actually have to)
• $5 off a purchase of $25 or more (2)
• $5 off your purchase when you buy a piece of swimwear (2)
• $15 off a purchase of $75 or more.

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Here are a few other links to blogs who will help you on your bargain search:

It's Hip to Save! (savings on loads of stuff! updated several times a day)

Freebies 4 Mom (family savings)

Baby Cheapskate: Saving Big Bucks on Baby Stuff (baby/child savings)

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Go check out what the rest of the class is sharing for Show and Tell!

I scored! I totally scored on the OldNavy site and found the flipping $75 off of $100 coupon. I happened to get lucky and clicked on the site just after it had switched over to the new week. I am way proud of myself. Sometimes, it is just the little things that make my heart go aflutter. :-) Ahhhh...now I am thinking of using the coupon and my heart is flip flopping again...give me a moment to enjoy...ahem. I think I know what is on my agenda this weekend!

In other news, Is.aac has finally managed to redeem himself. Of course it wasn't through 55 minutes of taking care of a crying baby, but I suppose that wasn't something I was supposed to wish for (sort of) anyway. Instead, he took the babies last night, fed them, bathed them, and put them to bed. All I had to do was play with them. Heaven. According to him this evening, last night was supposed to have wiped his slate clean and I can't use it against him anymore. (like I'd do something like that. much.) Personally, I think he lucked out from my coupon induced blissed. However it happened, I am happy again, which means he's happy again.

Oh, and I got my income tax money! Now bring on Af. 6-8 days until CD1. I am ready for this show to get on the road. But, I suppose I need to call the RE and see about that pesky tube first. Bleh. (Why is it when you know about something, it starts to bug you? I swear my left side has been painful ever since I got those post op notes.)

Lists

Okay. I am a woman of lists. Grocery lists, things to do lists...lists, lists, lists. You name it, I probably have listed it. And now my husband has managed to land on a list. Not the good list, either.

He has royally pissed me off. I am upset, but somehow, he walks around the house acting totally clueless. (he is of the "if we don't say it, it doesn't exist" mentality--another sticking point for yours truly)

Sigh.

Maybe I need to make a list about what he SHOULD SAY TO HIS WIFE AT 3:17 AM when she asks him to attend to their SCREAMING child (at that point it had been 55 minutes and he created the mess in the first place by bringing said child to bed with us three freaking nights in a row, even when I told him it wasn't a good idea to do so) because she is going to lose her mind. I definitely know that "I'm not having anything to do with this." won't be on it.

Nope. I'm pretty sure that line wouldn't be there.

Rolling over and SNORING would not be on the list, either.

Nor would the patronizing pat on the back when said child FINALLY fell asleep.

Men.

Although I am ticked, I do have to say that he is generally a good guy. Generally. He better hope that the child got it all out of his system last night because I have to tell you that my ear plugs and my patented X sleeping position are ready :-) He won't know what hit 'em.

Welcome ICLWers!

Yeah. My favorite time of the month is back. It ICLW time! Woot. So, to start things off, I am borrowing an idea from Kym's post, from I'm a Smart One, as a way of introducing myself.


The A, B, C's of Heeeeere Storkey, Storkey! (I seriously had typed Dorkey, instead of Storkey. Hm. Maybe I am trying to tell myself something? Ahem.)


A - Artichokes and Asparagus are two of my favorite foods. I just wish that asparagus liked me a little more, though. It makes me so gassy. What? It does!

B - Birthday - I just turned 37 years young on Saturday.

C - Chocolate is my favorite food group. Yum.

D - Dork is a pretty accurate description of me. I try to be trendy but fail miserably. (although I am in LOVE with my new Coach glasses)

E - Energy. Something of which I need more. Now. Always.

F - Friendly is how I'd like to be know.

G - Giraffes are special animals that have come to be the symbol for my kids. It goes back to my days with them in the NICU. All 14 and 15.5 weeks there.

H - Hair. I hate my hair. It is frizzy and can't decide whether it should be straight or curly. Let's not even mention the added gray...

I - Is.aac is my husband's name. We started dating when we were juniors in high school, and got married 13 years later. Better late than never, right? This year will mark our seventh anniversary.

J - Ja.son is my son. He is the "younger" twin, but was originally twin A in the womb. So, he has had the chance to be both the older and younger brother. Who gets that opportunity when he is a twin?

K - Kelly green is one of my favorite colors.

L - Las Vegas is where I won $1000 on a "Wheel of Fortune" slot machine. I wanted to get one of those big checks they take your picture with to put up on the wall of fame. They sucked and wouldn't give me one. Humph.

M - Mama is something I so desperately wanted to be. I thank God every day that I was given the chance to be one.

N - No is a common word around my house nowadays. Sadly, it is becoming more and more ineffectively lately!

O - OMG, You Rock Day is something I am participating in next month. I am pretty excited, especially now that I know who I am partnered with for it!

P - Pepsi is right up there with chocolate! I am totally addicted.

Q - Quiet is how I like my house in the evenings. I rarely get it until about 9:30 PM. Then I tend to stay up way too late to soak all the quiet in.

R - Religious, I am not. But, I do have a very strong sense of right and wrong, and I do believe in a higher power. I am just not exactly sure what that power is yet.

S - Sh.awn is also my son. He is my "older" twin. Sh.awn has had a rough road to health, but he has finally achieved it. Now I just like to marvel at his strength and determination.

T - Teacher is my profession. I love what I do--on most days, at least.

U - Used to be someone who hated to cause scenes. I have no problem causing them when I need to now. Far too much experience with hospitals and doctors will do that to a person.

V - Very happy most of the time.

W - Wii Fit has become my new favorite game. We did find out that it can be pretty cruel, though. It measures your BMI and made my husband's Mii a little plump because his BMI was out of the normal range. Plus, it says "Oh!" when he steps on the fitness board. Isn't that awful? (he really isn't that big, either!)

X - X is the position I like to sleep in at night. Right smack dab in the middle of the bed. I can't sleep like that very often because, well, Is.aac is there. He gets all uptight about it when I do!

Y - Years I've been with my husband? In June it will be 20. Years. Holy shit. He's old! Ahem.

Z - Zoos are fast becoming my favorite places to visit with my boys.

Perfect Moment Monday

I Capture
Perfect Moments.

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes! :-)

My birthday was a wonderful day--so much better than last year's day spent in the hospital. We went to the zoo and had a great time. The boys refused to sleep the entire day (Sh.awn took a 10 minute cat nap), but you wouldn't have known it by how they acted. They were so GOOD! (Why does this always surprise the hell out of me?)

Here are a few pictures of our day:

Here we are at the zoooooooooo!

Me and my little men

Is.aac and the boys.

My mom and me with the boys.

Feeding the giraffes...

Giraffe tongues are super long and are really coarse. I didn't know that. Probably because I haven't spent much time sticking my hand in giraffe mouths before Saturday.

I had to take a picture of this gibbon. He was too funny hanging around like this pretty much every time we passed him.

Sh.awn was all smiles all day long.

Ja.son and daddy. Doesn't Ja.son look so innocent here?

Sh.awn's limited down time just before we left. (my favorite moment of the day)

But he woke up just as we were actually leaving the zoo. (and stayed awake for another 3 hours!!!)

Ja.son as we were leaving the zoo. (a new favorite picture)

Ja.son could hold out no longer on the way home...

I just love days like this. (contented sigh)

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I have to go back to work today. Boo. I heart spring break!

Thay Say It's Your Birthday...

Well, it's my birthday, too!

Today I turn 37 years old. Yikes!

40 is the new 20, right? So, really, I'm only 17. Right? Sigh. At least the RE thinks I'm still young! That's got to be something. :-)

All Good Things Must Come to an End :-(

The last activity of the night was our celebration dinner. First, we ordered up some pizza. The boys played with the new combs while they waited for the food. After dinner, we had our Hats Off Day cookies. They were a huge hit with the dynamic duo. :-)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

But, all good things must come to an end, so I am sorry to say that Hats Off Day is finally winding down. The boys are in their pjs, ready for bed. They have a big day tomorrow, too. We're going to the zoo to celebrate my birthday. (yeah me!)

Thanks to all of you who helped us celebrate this special day. We hope you had as good a time as us!

And Then...

You know, it has been really fun celebrating Hats Off Day today. We've already done so much, but the festivities are still far from over!

We thought long and hard about what to do next on this momentous day. And then it hit us. Of course! The thing we did next was so obvious. Can you guess what it was?

Now that there is nothing to block that gorgeous head from sight, we had to get ourselves to the salon for haircuts! Ja.son and Sh.awn had their first haircuts today! Once again, the boys outdid themselves and worked their charm on the poor unsuspecting stylist. If you can believe it, there was only a minimal amount of tears (which came only because I had to hold Jason's head so the stylist could use the clippers around his ear). Way to go big guys!

Here are my men after their cuts.

Ja.son's turn was first.

Sh.awn was next.

Here are the rest of the pictures...enjoy! (Finally they get a haircut. I was starting to worry they'd be bald!)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tah-Daaaaah....

Here we are, the morning of Jason's Hats Off Day appointment. Can you feel the excitement in the air?

Even Shawn is feeling the excitement because he knows that, no hat means that he and Jason will be on equal head butting ground. No more helmet advantage for Jason. YAY!!!

Jason is checking out his Hats Off Day presents. All the things that a young helmetless boy needs to look good.

Shampoo, sunscreen, and OH BOY!!!.... Jason's first hair gel!!!

We think that he is reading the ingredients in his hair gel. "hmmm...alcohol free, yes that's good, kiwi scented, uh huh, nice, paba free and dolphin safe, yep, this is good stuff."

Ah Ha! a comb to style that gel. Jason was already practicing by combing over his helmet.

Here we are at the Hats Off Day Dr. appointment. Jason doesn't like this place and the look on his face shows it.

Helmet Place, yucky! Helmets stink! Boo Helmets!

Off we go! Inside the helmet doctor's office for the LAST TIME!

Right before they go in, mommy takes one look back. The next time you see Jason, he will be helmet FREE!
One last look at the helmet...

...here he comes!

Who's that guy..... where did he come from......

Who's that guy..... where can I get one.....

Let's set Jason down for a minute so that he could do a Toyota jump, "Oh What A Feeling!" YOU DID IT JASON! You can finally say good-bye to that nasty old helmet. Happy Hats Off Day has officially begun!
Time out for a little siesta. All this partying really makes a guy tired. We shall be back with more fun in a bit!