Busy, Busy

So I haven't even thought about my blog spot for quite awhile...obviously! For one, I joined face book and that is so much easier! Anyway, things have been pretty crazy, just getting ready for the holidays and I haven't been feeling very well lately. I am finally going to see the rheumatologist on the 5th so that will be good. At lest we can get an idea of what we can start for treatment. I will update more with some holiday pictures asap!!

BLAH!

So anyone that has been around me in the past year or two know that I haven't been feeling my best...Stress, lack of sleep, who knows? Usually that stuff goes away right?
I got to see Dr. Rauh (the best Dr. ever!) about 3 weeks ago and he decided we should probably figure out what in the world is going on. Why do I feel like I am 90 years old?! Not that there is anything wrong with being 90. I just don't want to feel like it when I'm 30! So, I kindly donated 8 viles of my precious blood to the lab guy (the one I don't like!) Now I really don't like him! After waiting 3 weeks to get my results (seems to be the normal time it takes to get test results around here!) I found out that I have Lupus (for information go to lupus.org) Considering the things he tested me for, I feel fairly lucky. It still sucks and it's not going to be a picnic but if I can get it under control now, then we might be able to have another baby someday. Lupus makes pregnancy and delivery very difficult (explains why Avery came out 5 weeks early weighing 4lbs 12 Oz's!) The other thing I'm really sad about is that it can be dangerous to receive massage which you all know I LOVE! Brooke kindly offered to receive my massages for me.... thanks...alot...So I am asking for lots of prayer and I just want you all to know I love you very much and thank you for helping me through the past 2 years which have been the hardest years of my life. Hey, now we have an answer right?! It could always be worse!! I'm very thankful right now. I am also scared...... but hopeful too! Lot's of emotions going on! Also please pray that Avery doesn't get this, it can be hereditary.
Love you all,
Mandi

Night Dresses

So like most kids, Avery is in a little "phase". After hearing some other parents stories about their children's phases, I feel pretty lucky! At least she isn't wearing a football helmet to school or refusing to take her "cup" off! Avery is really in to dresses right now. She has to wear at least 2 everyday and now needs to wear a dress to bed! I HATE laundry! So she has finally decided that she would settle for "night dresses", which are night gowns. They have some pretty fancy night gowns, so she feels like a princess. She loves her new "night dresses" so much that she had to wear one out of J.C. Penny's the other day. Yes, she had jeans and a pink "night dress" on. Fine, except that we were headed to dairy queen. The other thing she likes to pick out are her own shoes, which sometimes happen to be one red sparkly shoe and one white sandal. Oh well, at least she is learning to make decisions on her own! She looks pretty cute too!

Up in smoke!

We recently celebrated my dad's 50th birthday! Now the Shipman girls like to make everyone feel very special on their birthday. I think I got covered in silly string every year until I moved out...the first time. Brooke was so kind as to get me black balloons for my 30th (just wait!) We threw mom a big surprise party for her 40th, grim reaper and all! So what do you think we congered up for my dad's 50th? We spent many hours trying to decide what to do. This must be good right? Well it was a big surprise, we decided to.....just be nice. I know you're shocked! We made T-bones, dad's favorite potato salad, fresh vegetables from mom's garden and last but not least, I decided to make dad's favorite cake, red velvet. Has anyone ever made one of these wonderful cakes? If so, you will know this is not the easiest cake to make. Lot's of time and lots of food coloring! Anyway, after a very stressful preparation I finished the cakes and set them on the stove to cool. I covered them with paper towels and then decided to boil the eggs for the potato salad. I noticed I had turned on the wrong burner about the time the paper towel caught on fire! It was too late to save one of my precious red velvet cakes! I'm so glad Kevin was there and able to put the fire out without much damage (the counter top got a little burned, I hate them anyway!) There were some tears! Not the first of the cooking disasters accompanying dad's birthday, anyone remember the meatloaf? The remaining cake was delicious and we had a great time at dad's party. He was pleasantly surprised he only ended up with some black balloons and an "over the hill" candle on his cake. Watch out dad, there's always next year!

potty training

So if anyone has any advice on potty training please share! Avery's teeth are going to fall out of her head she has chewed so much gum! That's what I'm rewarding her with for going on the big girl potty. We started with tattoos but there is only so much skin on a 2 year old's body (and I was afraid we were going to be turned in to child services!) Anyway I think it's more me then her because I don't stick to it like I should... I hate laundry!

Perez Life So I'm finally going to update this thing! We have had a busy summer although I have no idea what we've been doing... Kevin has played in a few softball tournaments, we went to Vegas for Mike and Amber's wedding (congrat's guys!) we had a blast and got to spend some time with Mike's family! They are great! The wedding was beautiful and all of us decided the Vegas thing was the way to go! (a little late) sorry dad, should have listened! Thanks for the limo ride dad it was awesome! So I can't tell all of the Vegas stories but they have to do with big gulp sized Malibu and diet cokes (coke if your Brooke) and people coming home with new piercings....It was so fun to see Dave and Nicki and Brooke and Shauni came down too! We learned what it's like to go out post 30, not sure we liked it....the drinks were much more expensive than when we were 22 (we actually had to pay for them!) hmmmmm... oh well! Avery got to go to her Nana and papa's house in Missoula. It sounds like she had a great time and I'm sure she didn't get spoiled at all...ya right! It was so hard to leave her and I don't think we will be doing that again for awhile (too hard on mommy!) We have been able to spend lots of time with Jayden, Huntor and Tailor this summer which has been so fun! We've also done a little shopping for Cailin (baby Kester) and Avery was willing to share a few of her baby things (except her shoes) which she hid in various places so I couldn't send them to Utah. She is so funny! She loves to play on her swing set and ride in Huntor's rhino and jump on the trampoline, and play in ammie and papa's garden, anything outdoors! This summer is so different from last, she is growing up so fast!We spent the past week helping auntie B move and it was so sad! Avery misses her "dunta" and "sissy" so bad! We are excited to have Jayden and Leisha here for awhile longer though! They all love each other so much! Hopefully I will be better about this and keep everyone updated! Love you all!!!
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2:26:00 PM
by mandi perez
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