House Hunting

Finally! After one year from leaving our home in Austin, last week we negotiated an offer from a potential buyer and we all accepted. That's right. Our house will be sold by March 8th if everything goes smoothly, which so far, according to our realtor, it is. I can't wait!! In the meantime, I've been looking at houses that are "supposed to be" within our price range. We hadn't been working with a real estate agent up here because I wanted to build a house, but our apartment contract will be up at the end of May and I don't think that will give us enough time.

Anyway, my "mistake" happened when I found an amazing foreclosed home that was a little outside of our price range, but could easily fit into it because it was a new home that was foreclosed by the bank since the builder claimed bankruptcy. I personally thought it was amazing. It was decked out to the nines and had to find someone who was going to show it to me. We are talking, granite counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms, a fireplace in the study, backyard, and living room, a jetted tub in the master, a media room, game room, 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, etc. 

Before this find, Chris and I thought we might go with this new builder called Lionsgate Homes and had planned to meet them the afternoon we saw the foreclosure, but the real estate agent insisted we look at other homes with him. While we traveled with him and another builder, it was by coincidence that the Highland home builder just started talking about Lionsgate homes and how it brought down the value of the Sotherby homes (which is the one that filed bankruptcy and is the builder of our foreclosed house.) We did wonder then, but I think the foreclosure would have still been a good investment despite seeing the potential money we could make off of it, Chris didn't want it. Bah! He's so picky!!

Anyway, he showed us some other places - smaller and just as expensive. I don't mind them being smaller, but gosh, could they just be a little less!! Highland is a great builder, but they charge up the wazoo for any little upgrade! Finally, he took us to a Drees closeout model home that Chris and I have snaked around for a couple of months because we always thought it would be too expensive for us. Right then and there, I should have said, "No, let's leave now."...but couldn't. Damn. We walked into that house and it was like we knew we were home. He said he could knock off 54K for us because he knew this was way out of our range. It would still be too much because we would need to purchase some furniture and some other things to fill it up. He then said that it would be 19k less if we wanted to keep all the furniture (which is absurd because they probably made it for nothing, everything is used by strangers constantly viewing the home, and it's at least 6 years old since the house was built in 2005.) "No, we can't do that at all," I told him. So, he said we could probably negotiate some of the furniture. Okay, okay, now the deal is looking better.

We told him exactly what we wanted but we wanted to start the bid lower so we could negotiate. Well....he told the builder what we wanted which was his mistake. I said, "Look, we're already out of our price range and we can barely handle the offer you just gave him. If we put in an official offer, there will be no negotiating. As much as we LOVE the place we WILL walk away and its not because we are playing the game, it's because we NEED to in order to survive."

He understood and told this to the builder. They aren't sure if they can go this low, but they are going to present our offer to the president (since my real estate agent has connections.) WHOOP!! What we do have going for us is that the model home is over 5 years old, and the end of their fiscal year is March, which is coming up btw, and most likely might want to just get it off their inventory if they feel that it is costing them more to keep it. At the end of the day, the president of Drees is a business man and he will have to figure out what will make him more money - to keep it or to lose what would only be a couple thousand to a company giant like them.

Whoops!!

Where have I been?...I totally forgot about this journal for a minute. XDDD

I was supposed to report about my cardiologist appointment, but silly me... Well, it went like this: I went to the doctor's and he said that most heart palpitations are benign (such as I said) but they hooked me up to monitors, did an ultrasound, and listened carefully to my heart. It was...a little awkward having a big, black guy holding a device on my bare chest for like ...half an hour? Well, it felt longer than that. Plus, I could have sworn he was flirting with me >_> which made it even more awkward! I'll admit it. I'm a prude. Then he had to joke that he heard another heart beat, which made me think 'No, I can't be pregnant!' Yes, I slapped the crap out of his arm after he manifested the fear of me potentially having another child before taming the one I have now of insomnia. I do want another, I just want this one to learn to sleep through the night first. Imagine having to wake up, feed one babe, then comforting another because they can't sleep, then returning to the one that needs to be fed and thus the cycle continues. Hell. Anyway, I'm good. I'm not pregnant and I'm loaded up on magnesium to regulate the electrolytes since the doctor couldn't give me anything else because it would "lower" my blood pressure. He said my blood pressure was already low enough. I told him I black out a lot because of it and he said, "I don't normally tell this to my patients, but, eat more salt." XD

Last week, I was trapped in my house for the entire week because we had an ice/snow storm. It was colder here than it was in Alaska!!! It got down to 12 degrees. I think that was the coldest. Anyway... Yeah.... freakin A, my buns!! I think my tolerance for the cold has gotten better because, when it shot up to 37 degrees on Sunday, I went outside with a hoodie instead of a thick winter coat and I was good. :D Evie got a cold. She is receiving her first dose of antibiotics today. Awww, her first prescription of many. Adorable. I shall remember this day, February 8th as the first day for Evie to receive drugs. >_> She better not do drugs. I'll bust her ass. *tosses prescription in trash* jk XD

As for drawing, I've not done much of that lately because I've been ...back into the rapture of Dragon Age. GOD, I LOVE THAT GAME!!! I can't wait for the second one to come out. I'm such a bum!!! Wasting my time on some frivolous video game. But it draws me in because it's just soo....MWAH!!! *kisses da dvd box* Stupid addictions. XD But I have roughed out a betty boop dressed up as wonder woman for a friend because she wants it to be a tattoo. It's pretty cute, I think. I just need to clean it up.

Mom's club: It's been a couple of weeks since I've done anything with them. Evie's been sick, we were frozen in.... So yeah. Hopefully, Evie will get better soon. We were supposed to go to a meeting that was to welcome all new moms tomorrow, but I think it's going to be another snow day.

I'll try to do better on posting. At least once a week. But for right now, it's time for a sandy-wich. Pass the salt, please! :)

Evie and Mommy time

To get out of my house and to actually do something fun, I found a stay-at-home mom's club for Evie and me to join. I only signed up about a week ago and already we've had so much fun. We went to the monthly meeting, met some moms and kids to be her friends, had story time at the library, and lunch at Mooyahs. Not a bad burger, I'd say. Today we're going to Swirl Bakery for a fundraiser and next week is Chuck E. Cheese and Paradise Pond. So, lots of things to do! The little boys seem to take a liking to her because they all blush when they see her or pat her on the head if they are a little older. LOL! Like a puppy. I guess daddy best be dusting his shotgun early!!

Anyway, my cardiologist appointment is this Friday. I hope all turns out well. Maybe he'll just give me some medication to help regulate it and nothing more. It just seems like anything triggers the palpitations: excitement, anger, caffeine, chasing Evie, sometimes before or after I eat.  AM I DOOMED OR WHAT?! What an f'in case I've turned out to be! Never thought of me as weak, now look... I cry at everything and if my heart raises just a beat, it flips out! When that happens, I feel the need to sit down and literally not do anything. Chris had to watch John Q Saturday night, and I was like NOOOOO!!! And he said he was studying different films and how they incorporate when turning points should occurs. As soon as he left the room and it was over, I died crying. I thought, I don't want Chris to hold up a hospital because they can't get my name on a donor's list! LOL! I know. I'm overreacting. My heart isn't that bad.  It's just when you can relate to the characters, you think the worst. XD

Well, I got to get ready because we are going to Swirl Bakery! That place is so rich, I really can only eat a bite of their cakes. It's yum and love.

Heart Palpitations

So, I have an irregular heartbeat, but I've never really thought anything of it. I've had it for a couple of years, but it was occasional and nothing that didn't eventually go away. Well, as of late, and I mean that as in the past year or so, it's been a daily occurrence. I googled "heart palpitations" and all over the Internet it says that it's probably nothing serious. Just more annoying than anything. Which it is. It feels like my heart is going to pound right out of my chest, or there is a tightness like my heart is being choked. Sometimes it lasts all day. Today it's been on and off, but at one point it was so bad, I had to sit down. No one really knows of this problem I have except for Chris, my mom and dad - and now whoever reads this. My father gave me magnesium over the Thanksgiving holiday in hopes that it's just an electrolyte problem and that this will correct it. Alas, it has done nothing to help my condition. After having to make myself "sit" today, I finally said, "Okay, I'll call a doctor." But it was after hours.  So, I left a message asking my family practitioner if I need to see them or just go straight to a cardiologist with this one. Hopefully, they'll call back tomorrow.

If it is something serious, I would like to take care of myself mainly for Evie. She needs her mommy.

I'll let you know what the doctor says.

Fortuitous

Perhaps it is fortuitous. This coming year seems like it will be a good year. Though, as much as I can plan for it to be a good year, there is so much that is unplanned that will be just as good. To recap on the past week: I cannot explain how amazing the holidays were. We traveled to see our families in Houston and spent most of our time there up until yesterday. The only complaint I have is that it wasn't cold enough for the season, which makes me wonder if Christmas should partake on a different day. I'm still dreaming of my white Christmas. Anywhoo! The day we arrive is the day before Christmas Eve. We spent it and the next with Chris' family.  Chris got a couple of shirts and Epic Mickey for Wii, and I got a notepad and a small purse that is kind of...unique and looks like it can barely hold anything that weighs over 2 ounces because it's so thin.  *shrugs* I really wasn't  expecting anything at all because I knew Chris was paying for my trip to France to be with him and some other people that will be working there. I can't wait! It'll be fun. For me anyway. >_> I'm bringing my baby girl ... those people better get over it because I just can't see me going anywhere without her. She's my life!! Moving on. XD Of course it was Evie that lucked out on the amount of gifts between toys, clothes, a small stroller for her to push, and a cat that acts real - scared the shit out of her Uncle! >:3

I got my husband a Nook Color and I know he really wanted an iPad but those things are so f*ing expensive! (But they are awesome...) May as well get him a new laptop, eh? XD But he loved it nonetheless. <3 That was sweet of him to say he did.  Earlier that day, Chris let me pick out a new phone because the other one I had sucked pigeon toes. Since my contract was expired, I got the new HTC HD7 Windows 7 phone.  O.......my....god... I'm in love with it. It's the best phone I've ever had. Chris thinks that it's even better than his iPhone. XDDD (I think so too and I'm a Mac person) Wow. It's just so easy to work and the screen is huge!! I can watch Netflix from anywhere and it's...just ...that ...amazing. ^___^

Then for Christmas day, we went over to my family's house and spent our time there for almost the remainder of the week. The presents I got were a huge surprise. I got the spatulas I asked for plus a whole new set of kitchen utensils, some headbands to keep my ears warm, a photo printer to print out Evie's gorgeous pictures, a necklace and earrings with Evie's birthstone, and get this...a nook color of my very own. LOL! Yeah. I love it. I'm so freakin spoiled, it's unbelievable! ^_^ My brother got a iPad and Sarah his wife got the same type of jewelry with her baby boy's birthstone.

I had thought my mother was going to buy my dad a player that could stream netflix, but turns out he was hoping my brother and I would pitch in together to get it and wouldn't let my mom tell me. (I hate tests...Just tell me damn it! Don't play games) So, I'm going to do that for my dad's b'day. I got my dad some golf gear, my mom a decorative tea pot, and my brother and his wife this beautiful glass tray that matched the painting I did for them a couple of years ago.

My birthday seemed to span over a few days. I had sushi twice because my mother wanted it. Let me repeat that. MY MOTHER WANTED SUSHI!! lmao!!!! Where did this come from because she used to hate raw fish, now I catch her saying that she wants it almost everyday!! This is the woman that used to take a bite of a roll, gag, and urp it up on the table. Now, she can't get enough! O: On my actual birthday, my parents couldn't be there because they had prior engagements to be with their friends in New Orleans for New Years. They sounded like they had a good time. So, Chris' family treated me to pizza and cake and then I saw the movie "The King's Speech." I LOVED IT! I hope it wins best picture. ^_^ Not that Black Swan crap. F*** that movie! People are praising it because it's soooo "avant garde" but to be honest it wasn't as good as I had hoped. For me, I just get uncomfortable with so much unnecessary masturbation. Believe me there were times where it was COMPLETELY unnecessary.  I think it could have been better. Mila Kunis ftw.  She was the main reason why I liked the movie. I didn't like how rough the camera shots were and sometimes they would make me sick. I think I'm getting old...times are changing and masturbation and sex in movies is like sneezing nowadays. I'm like, "Hurry and get this guy a tissue! He's about to..."

Come this year, I should be moving into a house for the summer! I'm so thrilled!!! I'm already tired of being in an apartment. Let the hunt begin. I have started my search, though it's probably too early. I'm just so excited.