Poop, Poop, and More Poop

Disclaimer: read if you want, but as you can tell from the title of this post, it's all about poop!

I can't even begin to describe how frustrated the month of July has been when it comes to poop.  I've been changing diapers for over three years and I feel like I've dealt with more poop in the last four weeks than I have in the past three years.  Exaggerating a little, maybe.  But it's how I feel.

If I really think about it, the pooping problems with Reagan began right about the time we started potty training Kyleigh.  I don't know if it was jealously over her success at potty training or if he just wanted more attention from me or what else it could be.  Whatever the cause, the month of July, Reagan has just chosen to poop in his underwear rather than the toilet.  The first few times were annoying, then it just got out of control.  He wouldn't poop for 3 days; he would just hold it in.  And when he couldn't hold it in any longer, he would poop just a little tiny bit in his underwear.  He would do this THREE TIMES in a day.  Then the big poop would come and into the underwear it went.  Reagan would go through 6-8 pairs of underwear in two days.  It was ridiculous and incredibly frustrating.  I would get so mad at Reagan and then I would feel bad about getting angry.  But I was so sick of cleaning poop out of his underwear three or four times a day.

I finally asked JS what she did and she thankfully gave me a few pointers.  I really didn't want to head down the negative reinforcement path because I generally don't like to parent that way.  So the positive reinforcement plan to was allow Reagan to watch Fireman Sam (his favorite show and one I rarely let him watch because I don't approve of the main character) if he pooped on the potty.  We told him a week ago and I thought for sure he would poop the first day.  Well, he didn't and he also pooped in his pants again.  I really thought that would do the trick.

Then I headed to the park with Vanessa.  I was planning to put Reagan in a pull up because he pooped in his pants earlier that day and I didn't want to deal with any issues at the park.  Of course in my rush to get out of the house, I forgot.  And you better believe when we got to the park, I looked over at Reagan and he was squatting and bending over in the "I can't hold my poop in any longer" position.  I didn't know what to do, but Vanessa suggested I take him behind the tree.  I quickly got to him and told him he was going to poop behind the tree and sure enough the biggest turd came out of his tiny butt!  So I can't get him to poop in the potty, but he'll poop at the park at Kilmer School....

A few days later, I decided I couldn't take the poop in the pants any longer and decided it was time for nakedness.  On Sunday afternoon after quiet time, I took his underwear off and let him play in the house naked from the waist down.  Within 45 minutes of being naked, he said he had to poop 3 times.  He tried twice to no avail, and then finally, on the third attempt, he pooped IN THE POTTY!!!  You don't even know the excitement I had at that moment.  And when we got home from the birthday party, he got to watch Fireman Sam. 

So we'll see what happens over the next week and if there is any improvement.

Now Kyleigh....oh Kyleigh.  She's been about 50/50 when it comes to pooping on the potty vs pooping in her pants.  She started off really well and has digressed a little.  She's a little quirky when it comes to BM's.  If she poops, she insists on removing her underwear or pull up immediately.  Like she drops her drawers right where she is; it doesn't matter if I'm there to help clean her or not.  As I'm sure you can imagine, this is not a good situation.

By far my most hilarious parenting moment happened last week.  I was nursing Rylan when Reagan ran up to the room and told me Kyleigh had pooped on the carpet downstairs (really, she pooped in her underwear, but took off her underwear and the poop fell onto the floor).  I told Reagan I would be downstairs in a minute to clean it up.  After putting Rylan down in the crib, I walked out of her room to find Reagan walking down the hall carrying Kyleigh's poop cupped in his hands!!!!!!  He picked up her poop from downstairs and brought it up to me.  He was honestly trying to be my little helper because he knew how frustrated I was she had pooped on the carpet.  I can't believe he didn't think it was disgusting to pick up her poop and carry it upstairs, but what a great little guy to help mama out ;)  Ah, this will be a good story someday in the future!

So my month filled with poop, poop, and more poop has not been fun.  I am hoping we'll get past this hurdle soon and my days of cleaning out poopy underwear are a distant memory...until Rylan is trained, of course ;)

End of a Decade

Okay, I know I'm being just a little dramatic here when I've titled the post "End of a Decade."  But the truth is, I am finishing off the end of my 20s decade.  I can't believe that tomorrow I will be 30.  It sounds so old :(  I mean when I fill out a questionnaire now, I'll have to mark 30-39.....that's too much to think about!

I'm being silly when I over dramatize the fact that I'm turning 30.  It is just a number, after all.  I don't really  think I'm old when I joke about this birthday.  However, there is a little sadness, too.  I sometimes still think I'm the young college graduate who is just getting started.  Don't ask me why I think this way sometimes, but it happens every so often.  Then I come back to reality and think "I'm going to be 30" and I just get a little bummed out, I must admit!

I have one regret from these past ten years.  I wish I would have taken better care of my skin, especially my face.  There is nothing wrong with my skin, but I want it to look nice many years from now.

As I reflect on my 20s, it was a HUGE decade for me.  I graduated college, got married, moved two-thirds across the country, bought a house and bore three children.  That's a lot of life packed into ten years.  It was a great decade and I'm so grateful for everything that happened the last ten years.

I know the next ten years will be just as fulfilling as the last.  No more jokes about how old I am :)  Time to embrace my 30s...

At the Signature Lounge, the last day of being 29

 

Kyleigh's Potty Training - Day 3

Day 3 is (finally) here!  As I said in last nights post, I am encouraged by the progress Kyleigh has made and had very high hopes for the day.  I slept much better last night - didn't wake up in sheer panic of Kyleigh having an accident!  Anyway, here is the rundown of today:

7a diaper removed
9:45a pee (didn't tell us, but went when we told her to sit on the potty)
11:10a accident (we think she was trying to get to the potty, but just didn't make it in time)
12:15p pee (she told me)
12:45p diaper for naptime
3:05p diaper removed
4:40p pee (she told me)
6:15p accident
7:10a pee (she told me)
7:30p diaper for the night

I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the two accidents; although one shouldn't count since she was on her way to the potty and couldn't make it in time.  I was bummed with the second accident because it just happened and she made no attempt to get to the potty.  The positive, though, is that she knew right away what happened and came to tell me.

Other than the accidents, the day went really well.  We still followed her all over the house and tried not to be more than 5 feet away from her.  This is the worst part of this method, following her every move, but it is only 3 days.  That's it; it's emotionally draining, but well worth it. 

After she peed this morning, she went on a 45 minute outing with Ryan to Target to buy some big girl pants ;-)  They went to the store and returned home accident-free!!!  When she was done with her afternoon pee, we took a walk around the block and she was again accident-free! 

All in all, I am very happy to have potty trained Kyleigh this weekend.  It's an exhausting 3 days, but so worth it.  I just hope that she truly knows the urge to go and will let us know.  Tomorrow will be the true test when we head out for church in the morning.

The only complaint I have is that Chicago had the best weather possible for the Fourth of July.  Mid to upper 70s with no humidity, no thunderstorms, partly cloudy skies.  And we spent our time INSIDE.  Major bummer.  BUT, I'll take that bummer any day if the end result is a potty trained child and extra help from Ryan since he was home 2 of the 3 days!

Kyleigh's Potty Training - Day 2

I was completely exhausted after Day 1.  I remember feeling this way during Reagan's potty training as well.  When I went to sleep last night, I was dreading waking up this morning for fear of how the day would go.  I had several dreams about potty training last night and I woke up in a frenzy trying to get Kyleigh to the potty in time!  Ironically, the same thing happened after Day 1 with Reagan as well.

Today was a very long day.  Every hour seemed to pass so slowly and we were not having much progress.  Below is an account of the days events:

7:15a diaper removed
11:20a pee (Ryan put her on the potty)
11:50a accident
12:45p diaper for naptime
1:50p diaper removed
3:25p pee
4:45p pee (she went to the potty on her own)
5:15p pee (she told me she needed to go)
6:10p accident (during dinner)
7:10p pee (she told me she needed to go)
7:45p diaper for night

You'll notice that we took her diaper off at 7:15a and the first time she peed was 11:20a.  Those were FOUR excruciating hours.  The first hour or so wasn't too bad, but then I was expecting her to need to go and she just didn't.  We were watching her like a hawk and just wanted her to go, but she just kept holding it.  Ryan finally put her on the potty and she went.  It was such a relief because at least we figured she wouldn't have an accident.  Unfortunately, even after she peed, she had an accident only 30 minutes later. I was feeling really discouraged and wondered how the remainder of the day would play out.

Shortly after 3p, I questioned whether this was a good decision to train her.  I thought if she's holding her pee for so long and basically waiting for us to put her in a diaper, maybe she isn't ready.  THEN, the breakthrough moment!  She felt the urge to go and went in the potty.  I can't even convey the excitement I felt at this moment!  It was just the right amount of encouragement that I needed to keep pushing forward.  The next two times she indicated she needed to go and got to the potty in time.  I was a little disappointed she had a accident during dinner, but progress is being made. 

I am so glad today is over because it was seriously one of the longest days ever.  I am very encouraged with Kyleigh's progress and hope tomorrow goes well.  Maybe now that she understands the urge to go, she won't hold it for four hours tomorrow morning!  I think we're all looking forward to getting out of the house tomorrow.

Kyleigh's Potty Training - Day 1

A mere 7 months later and I'm at potty training again!  Wow!  Reagan was about 32 months when I started potty training and Kyleigh is 25 months.  It seems a little early to me (although the 3 day method I use recommends doing it before 28 months, so I'm not that early), but Kyleigh has been asking to use the potty multiple times a day for the past week. 

About a week ago I decided to have my 3 day weekend be over the Fourth of July because Ryan would be home for 3 straight days.  With Rylan around and me still nursing her, I knew the extra day was crucial.  I went ahead and started today even though Ryan worked today because I still want to go to church on Sunday.  So my 3 days are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

Here is the run down from today's training:
7a diaper removed
8:50a pee (half on carpet, finished in potty)
10:15a accident (in highchair during snack time)
10:55a accident
11:05a accident
11:10a accident
11:15a accident (while I was nursing Rylan) and she peed right on my leg!!
11:35a pee (small amount on carpet, finished in potty)
12:35p diaper for naptime
2:45p diaper removed (peed and pooped during nap)
3:20p accident (in highchair, which I was nursing)
4p accident
4:30p accident
4:50p accident
5:05p pee
7:10p accident
7:15p diaper for the night

A lot of accidents today, but I have to say I am really happy about the 3 times she peed in the potty!  I never cried today, which is better than when I trained Reagan.  However, I am absolutely exhausted from the day.  Having Rylan here and needing me a lot today (she was off her normal nap schedule, so that made the day so much harder) made the whole process more challenging than the first time around.  However, I'm glad I'm doing this and Kyleigh gets really into the potty dance after she's peed successfully!

Thankfully, Ryan will be home the next 3 days and even if I do all the training with Kyleigh, at least I'll have some help with Reagan and Rylan!

Onto Day 2...

Reagan and Kyleigh - June 2014

Notes...

Reagan:

• Likes to play rough with Kyleigh
• Claims everything he does is an accident
• Can be a very great big brother (telling K something is dangerous) or really mean (hitting K on the head with sticks)
• Acts so much like the first born big brother
• Definitely my son - afraid of bugs!!!
• Has a major foot fettish - loves to touch people's feet

Kyleigh:

• Loves corn
• Learned "why" from Reagan, oh boy!
• Favorite phrases: "What's that noise?" or "Hello down there"
• Improving on taking off her shoes on her own
• Talking ALL THE TIME
• Loves Thomas books and Disney books
• Interested in Minnie Mouse
• Learning her ABCs
• Likes to say "No way" after I state something obvious
• Very interested in potty training
• Obsessed with toe nail polish and will touch strangers' toes if she sees nail polish
• Sniffing and blowing on people