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!