Last week, I went back to last year at this time to see what I was blogging about and how often I was blogging. Well, I was posting a lot more, even with a lot of the same responsibilites (a.k.a. Angel Tree). However, last year at this time, the kids were still napping twice a day, meaning I could get a lot more done. Now, my kids nap once and for maybe an hour and a half. So, my big dilemma is what to get done? Cleaning? Laundry? Work on Angel Tree? Do something Christmas related that is not Angel Tree? or...take my own nap? OH...or blog! See, I even forgot to include it in the list of possiblities. You see why I'm having a hard time. But I suppose that being on the computer shouldn't really have a high priority right now.
The kids are out of MDO for Christmas break. So, I don't have my usual 5 hours today to run around like a crazy person trying to be productive. The house is marginal. Not quite chaos, but definitely not clean. I need to make a packing list for our annual cross country tour. Aaron picked up our Christmas cards (prepare to receive the cutest Christmas card yet...well, I don't know...Veronica and Dr. Dan kissing at their wedding Christmas card will definitely be a top competitor for cutest Cmas card in existence this year!) I need to get those in the mail, need to wrap presents, and need to finish buying presents.
So, I guess that's some backgound to the actual topic I was planning to post about, which was our weekend. It was busy. It was crazy. Thus the title.
Friday, I had to go to the dentist to get two fillings repaired...because apparently that's how badly I grind my teeth at night. Two fillings chipped. I've had a night guard for 6 months, so I don't know. But I was dreading getting numbed because the last time I had to get numbed in that same area it took 3 or 4 tries before I could seriously not feel anything. I figured this out from the poking and drilling. I left the office looking slightly like a stroke victim. BUT, I ended up not having to be numbed this time, because the chips were so superficial in the composite. It was not painful, just took a while because one was stubborn and wouldn't adhere. Then Friday night, I went to the MOMC Christmas Party. We had a great time, at a lovely home, with lots of really yummy food. It's always interesting conversation when 20 moms of multiples are in the room.
Saturday we all got up early. I took Emma down to Fort Smith to see the WAB Nutcracker. Aaron took Alec to work for Saturday morning meeting. Steve Carrell was the guest. It was so packed they had to go to three different locations, just to listen to it. So, I had a date with my girl and Daddy had a date with budbud. It was the first time we've done something like that. It was really fun. I was a little worried about how Emma would do at the show. I mean, an hour car ride, and then 2 hours of sitting in a dark theatre, and then another hour long car ride. She was stellar. I couldn't believe how good she was. It helped that she was tired. She didn't have the energy to be her normal spitfirey self...and since brother wasn't around to conspire with, she
clung to me like a koala bear.
I have to say that it felt pretty monumental taking my daughter to see The Nutcracker for the first time. I feel like I watched it with new eyes...child eyes, instead of dancer/teacher/critic eyes. And of course, it was nice seeing so many former students shine.
Alec continues to talk about how he went with "HIS daddy" in Daddy's car to
Daddy's work and to Daddy's Chick-Fil-A on Saturday.
Saturday after Emma and I got home, we all got to rest a bit, and then we were off to our favorite twin friends' Casey and Lundyn's 3rd Birthday party at a gymnastics place. The kids all got to play on the equipment and had a ton of fun. Afterward, we dropped in to say hello to some other friends who were having a Christmas party. We didn't stay long because it was a no-kids night for the rest of the parents there, and we wanted to respect that. We just didn't have time to get a sitter, bring the kids home and drive back up to Bella Vista after the bday party.
When we got home, Alec started to sound wheezy...so I tried to give him his inhaler, but he hates it and gets so worked up when we try to give him the medicine that it's counter productive. They went down at 9 and he woke up coughing and really laboring to breathe at 9:45. He sounded awful, so I took him to the ER. I'll say this, a small child that can't breath well is like a golden ticket at the ER. We got a room and an MD so fast (which was my expectation, but still somewhat surprising after having 5 hour ER waiting experiences in the past) it made my head spin. Alec got vitals taken, a breathing treatment, a steroid shot, throat x-rays and a dost of antibiotic. The verdict: croup and a double ear infection.
Now, here's the thing. My child was symptom free until 8pm Saturday night! I was like, really?? The croup came on so suddenly and the ear infection??? He gave no indication that he felt badly at all. I was like, "wow." Little man did well in the ER, except that they poked at him and the bp cuff hurt him and he screamed and bucked like a wild banshee when they administered the breathing treatment. That was not fun, trying to hold him down, while kicking and screaming. Then seeing him shaking and wringing his hands with anxiety when we went into the x-ray room because he had no idea what was going on and what the big machine was...but he stood there like a champ, holding back tears. (He kept asking to go home and he was soooo tired.) At one point the dr said we may need to admit him overnight, but after checking him post breathing treatment and reading his x-rays, they said we could go, but that he needed a steroid for the croup and an antibiotic for the ear infections.
For anyone who doesn't know what croup is...it's a virus that causes inflammation and constriction of the voice box/trachea. His lungs were fine, but the upper part of his throat was swollen so that it was making it like breathing through a straw at times.
He is doing much better. We got home around 12:30am Sunday, and kept him in bed with us to monitor him. He slept well the rest of the night. Emma was a little congested and restless, so she and Daddy slept on the couch together.
Sunday, Aaron stayed home with the kids. I had to go to church for a while to tally Angel Tree gifts that came in and to work on some party plans. I also had to go with a friend from MOMC to deliver a sympathy gift to a fellow member who lost triplets at 20 weeks in November. It is beyond my comprehension how painful and devastating that must have been.
The rest of the evening was spent at home, and was low-key, thank the Lord. Angel Tree party is Wednesday night. And then, good grief, one and a half weeks to Christmas! I'm so looking forward to being with family, and hopefully, catching up on some rest.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thanksgiving
This year was the second time for us to have Thanksgiving here at our house. I tried to make it less stressful the day of, by making all of the side dishes the 3 days prior. All I really succeeded in doing was making 3 days stressful instead of one. Ha! But seriously, it did help. I made southern cornbread stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and squash casserole beforehand. My mom did the turkey and gravy and brought the pecan and pumpkin pies. I did the creamed corn the day of...and my sister helped man the kitchen and do whatever else needed to be done with service items and place settings.
My family (all except my dad, because he ended up having to work) arrived Wednesday afternoon. Mom put the turkey in overnight, and we had a fantastic Thanksgiving lunch the next day. We enjoyed a lot of fun times together. The kids got to play with their cousin, Kylie, whom they are crazy about. We went down to the Fayetteville square to see the Lights of the Ozarks. My sister and I had our annual screening of "Christmas Vacation." They babysat for us while Aaron and I went out to brave a little of Black Friday. And they had to leave Friday afternoon, because my sissy had to work Saturday. It was a short, but great visit.
For Christmas, we'll make our usual cross-country tour. We're gonna head to Victoria to spend Christmas Day with Aaron's family and then make a stop in Purcell to see the Lee's before spending New Year's with my family. So excited to see EVERYONE at Christmas!
My family (all except my dad, because he ended up having to work) arrived Wednesday afternoon. Mom put the turkey in overnight, and we had a fantastic Thanksgiving lunch the next day. We enjoyed a lot of fun times together. The kids got to play with their cousin, Kylie, whom they are crazy about. We went down to the Fayetteville square to see the Lights of the Ozarks. My sister and I had our annual screening of "Christmas Vacation." They babysat for us while Aaron and I went out to brave a little of Black Friday. And they had to leave Friday afternoon, because my sissy had to work Saturday. It was a short, but great visit.
For Christmas, we'll make our usual cross-country tour. We're gonna head to Victoria to spend Christmas Day with Aaron's family and then make a stop in Purcell to see the Lee's before spending New Year's with my family. So excited to see EVERYONE at Christmas!
Gratitude
Last year I did started doing something on facebook called "30 Days of Gratitude." I did it because I figured that for the month of November, instead of just throwing up any old status update, I should publicly recognize some of the many blessings that the Lord has allowed into my life. I decided to do it again this year, and I'm pretty sure that it will be repeated next November as well.
I think that gratitude is so important. I think that we live in a world and a culture where entitlement is king, and we spend much too much time thinking about the things that we should have or deserve or "need" to keep up with all of the people around us that we are trying to compete with or impress.
I have said before that I'm learning a lot about God from being a mommy. Nothing burns me up more than seeing a spirit of ingratitude when I give my children something or do something for them. It is so distasteful to have a child respond with an attitude of "this isn't what I wanted" or "this could be better" or "you could have done more." Now, obviously my kids are 2 1/2. They aren't exactly mature enough to really comprehend what they are doing or why they are doing it. It's just the nature that is inate in them. Our job is to help guide their heart attitude to something higher and more Christlike.
But honestly, how many times have I responded to the situations, circumstances, people and deeds in my life with the same distasteful attitude? A LOT. And I'm sure that it grieves the Father's heart when we do this.
So, a lot of my goal for the month was to really attune myself to the obvious and not-so-obvious things that I need to recognize as gifts on a daily basis. A lot of days were easy, happy days. Some days, like today...were more difficult.
Today I felt ready to be committed by 1pm. :-) The kids were being really ornery with eachother, and getting on eachothers (and my) nerves. There was a lot of screaming. As we were getting ready for naptime, Emma came in to tell me that she pooped her panties. While I was trying to deal with her, Alec managed to catapult himself off of the couch, smashing his face into the coffee table. So, one poo-poo kid and one hematoma kid. What to do? My first thought wasn't gratitude.
But later, after things had calmed down, and Emma's bottom was clean and Alec was holding an icepack on his face...it occured to me that I could still be trying to have children. I could still be hoping and praying to be a mom, and getting rather incensed with women who are moms, but feel the need to complain about it a lot.
But the fact is, the same little girl who pooped her panties, is also the Emma who comes running from a mile away when she hears me in the bathroom to hug me and tell me she's proud of me for going peepee in the potty. And the little boy, who thought he was Evel Knievel, is the same Alec who was raising his hands during worship in church on Sunday loving Jesus.
I think that in most difficult situations, there is probably a flipside possibility for gratitude. We just have to find it, or have the faith to choose to believe it regardless. For the ridiculous number of good things in my life, and for the tough things that cultivate character, I am thankful to God.
I think that gratitude is so important. I think that we live in a world and a culture where entitlement is king, and we spend much too much time thinking about the things that we should have or deserve or "need" to keep up with all of the people around us that we are trying to compete with or impress.
I have said before that I'm learning a lot about God from being a mommy. Nothing burns me up more than seeing a spirit of ingratitude when I give my children something or do something for them. It is so distasteful to have a child respond with an attitude of "this isn't what I wanted" or "this could be better" or "you could have done more." Now, obviously my kids are 2 1/2. They aren't exactly mature enough to really comprehend what they are doing or why they are doing it. It's just the nature that is inate in them. Our job is to help guide their heart attitude to something higher and more Christlike.
But honestly, how many times have I responded to the situations, circumstances, people and deeds in my life with the same distasteful attitude? A LOT. And I'm sure that it grieves the Father's heart when we do this.
So, a lot of my goal for the month was to really attune myself to the obvious and not-so-obvious things that I need to recognize as gifts on a daily basis. A lot of days were easy, happy days. Some days, like today...were more difficult.
Today I felt ready to be committed by 1pm. :-) The kids were being really ornery with eachother, and getting on eachothers (and my) nerves. There was a lot of screaming. As we were getting ready for naptime, Emma came in to tell me that she pooped her panties. While I was trying to deal with her, Alec managed to catapult himself off of the couch, smashing his face into the coffee table. So, one poo-poo kid and one hematoma kid. What to do? My first thought wasn't gratitude.
But later, after things had calmed down, and Emma's bottom was clean and Alec was holding an icepack on his face...it occured to me that I could still be trying to have children. I could still be hoping and praying to be a mom, and getting rather incensed with women who are moms, but feel the need to complain about it a lot.
But the fact is, the same little girl who pooped her panties, is also the Emma who comes running from a mile away when she hears me in the bathroom to hug me and tell me she's proud of me for going peepee in the potty. And the little boy, who thought he was Evel Knievel, is the same Alec who was raising his hands during worship in church on Sunday loving Jesus.
I think that in most difficult situations, there is probably a flipside possibility for gratitude. We just have to find it, or have the faith to choose to believe it regardless. For the ridiculous number of good things in my life, and for the tough things that cultivate character, I am thankful to God.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Let's Play Catch-Up
Oh gosh! I know I need to post to update our avid readers on what's been going on since Halloween. Well, here it is in a nutshell: we've been busy and tired! Aaron is always busy with work. I have been busy with, obviously, entertaining two 2 1/2 year-olds daily, trying to keep them excited about peeing in the potty and hopefully pooping there too one day, arranging meals for new moms in the multiples club (there have been so many births lately!), cooking a massive amount of enchilada casseroles for a meal exchange I do with the MOMC club, planning, grant writing and kicking off our Angel Tree ministry at church, trying to get Christmas shopping done, planning Thanksgiving (which is at our house with my family this year), and trying to really get back into a running routine, which has been repeatedly interrupted by my getting sick.
Exactly a month ago, I went in for a sinus infection. I was put on antibiotics. Now I have another one, and I feel like poo. There is so much pressure in my sinus cavities that my teeth hurt. I've been coughing so much that every area of my abdominal muscles has received the workout of a lifetime. I've been trying to do this sinus rinse thingy (kindof like a Neti pot...but not), but apparently I still need to go to the doctor because I feel awful. Aaron is so anti-doctor, but last time and this time he's been telling me to go to the clinic. So, he's going to take off a little early today so I can to to the Walmart clinic this evening. I know that antibiotics will help, I just don't understand why I came down with two so close together. I guess the weather fluctuations have really done me in this year.
In other news, the kids have been pretty funny lately. Emma has been spanking and reprimanding her Oucan (stuffed Toucan that is her favorite lovey). She'll give him a few whacks and then say something like "You have to listen. I said no. You have to look at me. I said no." Hey, at least she's been listening! And they've also really gotten into playing "doctor" lately. They keep taking an emery board of mine and using it as a tongue depressor on "baby" and Blue. They're also getting really excited about Christmas things this year. One of our neighbors was working on lights and had them on the other night, and the kids went nuts! They've also been really excited about Santa and Chritmas trees and snowmen that they see in the stores. I got them a Twas the Night Before Christmas book, and we've been reading it a lot already. I'm excited because I think this will be the first really FUN Christmas with them! My plan is to get some decorations up this weekend...because hopefully, I'll be feeling a lot better by then.
Finally, we made the transition to toddler beds. It kinda happened on a whim this last weekend. The kids think it's pretty cool, especially Alec, because he's never been able to fully get out of his crib. Let's face it...Emma could do whatever she wanted anyway because she's a monkey child. I kind of dreaded the transition because I read so many horror stories of parents whose kids just refused to stay in bed anymore or nap anymore...but they've done amazingly at night. No issues there! Nap time takes some gentle coaxing, ha ha, from the Nap Nazis (Aaron and I tag team this role), but they are beginning to understand that daytime rest is still not an option. Today they went down pretty easily, and I was really thrilled.
Speaking of nap, they will be waking up soon. So, I'd better jet. Until next time...
Exactly a month ago, I went in for a sinus infection. I was put on antibiotics. Now I have another one, and I feel like poo. There is so much pressure in my sinus cavities that my teeth hurt. I've been coughing so much that every area of my abdominal muscles has received the workout of a lifetime. I've been trying to do this sinus rinse thingy (kindof like a Neti pot...but not), but apparently I still need to go to the doctor because I feel awful. Aaron is so anti-doctor, but last time and this time he's been telling me to go to the clinic. So, he's going to take off a little early today so I can to to the Walmart clinic this evening. I know that antibiotics will help, I just don't understand why I came down with two so close together. I guess the weather fluctuations have really done me in this year.
In other news, the kids have been pretty funny lately. Emma has been spanking and reprimanding her Oucan (stuffed Toucan that is her favorite lovey). She'll give him a few whacks and then say something like "You have to listen. I said no. You have to look at me. I said no." Hey, at least she's been listening! And they've also really gotten into playing "doctor" lately. They keep taking an emery board of mine and using it as a tongue depressor on "baby" and Blue. They're also getting really excited about Christmas things this year. One of our neighbors was working on lights and had them on the other night, and the kids went nuts! They've also been really excited about Santa and Chritmas trees and snowmen that they see in the stores. I got them a Twas the Night Before Christmas book, and we've been reading it a lot already. I'm excited because I think this will be the first really FUN Christmas with them! My plan is to get some decorations up this weekend...because hopefully, I'll be feeling a lot better by then.
Finally, we made the transition to toddler beds. It kinda happened on a whim this last weekend. The kids think it's pretty cool, especially Alec, because he's never been able to fully get out of his crib. Let's face it...Emma could do whatever she wanted anyway because she's a monkey child. I kind of dreaded the transition because I read so many horror stories of parents whose kids just refused to stay in bed anymore or nap anymore...but they've done amazingly at night. No issues there! Nap time takes some gentle coaxing, ha ha, from the Nap Nazis (Aaron and I tag team this role), but they are beginning to understand that daytime rest is still not an option. Today they went down pretty easily, and I was really thrilled.
Speaking of nap, they will be waking up soon. So, I'd better jet. Until next time...
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Halloween Weekend
Me and my pumpkins!
With their painted pumpkins
Helping Mommy pass out candy
Playing with pumpkins at the party
Looking a little pooped!
"Look, it's a baby pumpkin!"
Being a little silly
Spidey and TinkWe had a really busy and fun Halloween weekend. We actually bought the kids' costumes like two months ago at the Asst. Store for super cheap. I felt ultra-prepared with a Spiderman costume for Alec and a Tinkerbell costume for Emma. However, it would have been a good idea to at least take the costumes out of the bags and look them over before the big weekend, ya know? What actually happened was that I opened the costumes on Friday...a few hours before Aaron came home. The plan was to take the kids to Trick-or-Treat at Walmart ISD (Daddy's work) around 3:30. Well, Emma's costume was fine. Alec's, however, ended up being a size 4/5 that had been placed in the wrong bag (it was supposed to be a 2T). So, while the kids were napping, I spent a good while using my barely adequate sewing skills to take about 4 inches out of the sleeves and pants of his Spidey outfit. By the time Aaron got home, I'd barely finished, the kids were waking up, and I needed a shower. We got to ISD around 4:30. The kids were able to get an ample amount of candy (I didn't care for us to get too much. For one, they don't really eat much candy. They like a little chocolate, and they're crazy for DumDum's...but I just haven't really introduced much candy to them.) We got to show them off to a few people, and luckily, the building was not a sauna like the last time we took them through for Halloween (two years ago).
Saturday was a big day. My NWAMOMC (Mothers of Multiples) Club had our annual Fall Party that day. I had to be there at 9am to setup, and Aaron brought the kids at 10:45. Hooray for dads of twins who can get their kids fed and dressed in their costumes and to the party on time...namely, my husband! Anyways, the kids all had a costume parade, feasted on tacos and Halloween goodies, got to take part in a cupcake walk and lots of little crafts and games. It was lots of fun!
After the party, we came home and had family nap time. Then, around 4:30 we headed out to a park in Rogers because a few of our friends from church were doing a magic show out there. Alec and Emma mostly wanted to just play on the playground...and eat the snacks that were provided.
By Sunday, we were so Halloweened-out, that we decided not to Trick-or-Treat the neighborhood, and just chill at home. The kids helped me hand out candy, and they really enjoyed that. We also painted pumpkins, which they loved.
It was a busy, but fun weekend. Enjoy the pictures!!!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Titi V Comes to Arkansas
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V trying on shoes to match the dress she just bought.
Both of us trying on shoes. :-) Thanks, Nine West saleslady for taking the picture and humoring us.
So, a few weeks ago, one of my best friends from dance class/ballet company in Victoria (we've known eachother since we were 6), Veronica (Titi V to the kids) called to ask if she could come visit us since she found a great flight deal and could redeem a bunch of miles. I said SURE! (We don't get a lot of visitors up here! Although we have had both of our families here over the summer, and that was a treat!)
Anyways, she flew in on Friday night and stayed until Monday afternoon. It was awesome having her here. I'm not sure if she came more to hang out with me or with the kids, but that doesn't really matter. :-) Saturday, the whole family went to the gym. V and I took Zumba, Aaron worked out, and the kids played in the YAC (youth activities center). We had a blast in Zumba (that we paid for in soreness later) and then we came home to relax. We had family photos scheduled for that afternoon at 4, but the weather was storming/raining off and on, and we ended up postponing them till Sunday. So, instead of taking pictures that afternoon, we went and got pizza and did a little Duggar stalking. She is a HUGE fan of "19 Kids and Counting" and just the Duggars in general...and since they live just a town away, we told her we could drive down 71B in Springdale and show her Josh and Anna's car lot. We don't know where the house is, so we didn't officially stalk them, just pseudo stalked. ;-)
Sunday, we went to church, and came home to relax a while before trying "take two" of fall family photos. The weather ended up cooperating beautifully. We went down to the Fayetteville square, and our friends George and Terae (Terae has done all of our family photo shoots since the kids were born. She's super flexible and we've been so happy with all of the pictures.) came out to meet us around 4. We got some great family and candid shots in, and Alec and Emma had a blast playing with the leaves, all of the foliage, and a little waterfall pond thingy. Emma actually ended up slipping a leg into the water (oops), but other than that I think we got some great shots. I can't wait to see them. After that we picked up Sonic and came home to relax the rest of the night. V introduced me to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (don't know that I'll ever be able to watch it again, they are so obnoxious.)
Monday, Aaron went to work as usual, and V and I took the kids to MDO. We went and ran some errands, got breakfast, and went shopping at the Promenade. She was able to find a super fabulous dress and shoes for a photo shoot that she and Dr. Dan are doing in New Orleans (belated engagement pics). And she bought Dan a dress shirt from Banana Republic as his "gift from Arkansas." Maybe when he's done with his residency and things simmer down, he can come visit us too...and give us free checkups...JUST KIDDING!
V and Dr. Dan are both blessing Houston with their careers daily. He uses his skills to heal people, and she uses hers to educate high school kids who would most likely be "lost in the system" otherwise. She teaches Spanish at Cristo Rey, a Jesuit charter school that is focused on giving students practical real world work experience while they get their high school education and prep for college. These are low-income kids who are able to go to school there because they are actually motivated. They go to school four days, and work one day. It sounds like an amazing opportunity for the kids who are attending there.
And this brings me to the fact that I have been pondering going back to school and getting certified to teach. I've been considering doing this for a while, but it's just deciding on when to start. For now, I am perfectly happy being with my munchkins, but at some point they will start school, and I will probably want to be doing some kind of work. I will never go back to teaching dance full time in the evenings, because that cuts out all of our family time. Who knows? It's definitely something I am praying about regarding the what and the when. Well, that about sums up our weekend. We had a great time with Titi, and are all really glad that she paid us a visit!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Potty Party
I can't really even believe that I am able to write this post. Just as a refresher, on Sept. 17th, Aaron "announced" that it was time to put the kids in some underwear and really get going with this potty training thing. By the 22nd, Alec was basically good to "go!" He was telling us everytime he had to peepee, and was doing great!
Emma on the other hand, really had no interest in peeing on the potty (though every great once in a while, she'd humor us). She didn't want to make it her new default setting. She was comfortable with diapers, and it wasn't HER idea to use this potty thing. Anyways, I let off of her, and just focused on praising brother and helping him along.
The last few weekends, Aaron has put her in underwear again and tried to get her to comply (by freaking her out everytime she'd wet herself- she'd have a total cow...but not really want to change it by going to the potty). Last weekend, she was especially stubborn, throwing some major fits when we'd even ask her to sit down on it. We decided to dig our heels in and try to push through. After MDO on Monday, I put her back in panties, and did the same Tuesday and Wednesday. I decided I would not put a diaper on her, even if it killed me. She...and brother, went through every single pair of underwear that we have (7 for Emma, and 10 for Alec). All I did was clean up messes, and try to encourage, and deal with the knock-down-drag-out fights that Emma put up a few times. Alec wasn't having big accidents, just little whittles here and there...so I'd change them out.
Anyways, I was thinking that I just didn't have it in me to fight her much more, and I was starting to feel puny. My throat was killing me and I felt like I was coming down with something. Thursday morning, I felt so bad, that I was like "forget it, let her wear diapers...because I can't do this today." Well, I don't know what happened. I've always maintained that Emma will do what Emma wants to do when Emma is good and ready to do it...and apparently God really had mercy on me, because all of a sudden on Thursday morning when I took Alec to use the bathroom after he got up, Emma trotted in like it was no big thing, and plopped down on the potty to pee. ???? Holy smokes! After days of freaking out everytime I'd ask her if she wanted to use the potty, she voluntarily did it. I was so darn happy, and she was really proud of herself too. Ever since yesterday morning, she has either gone when brother has gone, or told us she needed to go. No accidents. No griping. No drama. I don't know what happened, but something clicked. They are really cute because they congratulate eachother when they go and they help give eachother a candy corn as a potty treat.
Now, let me just mention that they are not poopy trained. Alec will go in the toilet every once in a while, but they both have a hard time doing that on the potty. We are trying to transition them to doing that too, but I'd rather that they go and not get constipated, then try to force it and have them hold it all in. Sorry if that grosses anyone out, but its just the way it is. Kinda hard to get grossed out once you've had kids. You deal with every bodily fluid imaginable on a regular basis...sooooooo.
This has been a process that has really tested our parental ability and patience. I don't think we've had it too rough. There were a few days of insanity, but I've heard stories of kids that have taken years to potty train. I'm not saying it's done, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. When they really are completely trained, I feel like I should have an honorary degree conferred upon me by the American Academy of Pediatrics or something. I think anyone who has potty trained a child should.
Emma on the other hand, really had no interest in peeing on the potty (though every great once in a while, she'd humor us). She didn't want to make it her new default setting. She was comfortable with diapers, and it wasn't HER idea to use this potty thing. Anyways, I let off of her, and just focused on praising brother and helping him along.
The last few weekends, Aaron has put her in underwear again and tried to get her to comply (by freaking her out everytime she'd wet herself- she'd have a total cow...but not really want to change it by going to the potty). Last weekend, she was especially stubborn, throwing some major fits when we'd even ask her to sit down on it. We decided to dig our heels in and try to push through. After MDO on Monday, I put her back in panties, and did the same Tuesday and Wednesday. I decided I would not put a diaper on her, even if it killed me. She...and brother, went through every single pair of underwear that we have (7 for Emma, and 10 for Alec). All I did was clean up messes, and try to encourage, and deal with the knock-down-drag-out fights that Emma put up a few times. Alec wasn't having big accidents, just little whittles here and there...so I'd change them out.
Anyways, I was thinking that I just didn't have it in me to fight her much more, and I was starting to feel puny. My throat was killing me and I felt like I was coming down with something. Thursday morning, I felt so bad, that I was like "forget it, let her wear diapers...because I can't do this today." Well, I don't know what happened. I've always maintained that Emma will do what Emma wants to do when Emma is good and ready to do it...and apparently God really had mercy on me, because all of a sudden on Thursday morning when I took Alec to use the bathroom after he got up, Emma trotted in like it was no big thing, and plopped down on the potty to pee. ???? Holy smokes! After days of freaking out everytime I'd ask her if she wanted to use the potty, she voluntarily did it. I was so darn happy, and she was really proud of herself too. Ever since yesterday morning, she has either gone when brother has gone, or told us she needed to go. No accidents. No griping. No drama. I don't know what happened, but something clicked. They are really cute because they congratulate eachother when they go and they help give eachother a candy corn as a potty treat.
Now, let me just mention that they are not poopy trained. Alec will go in the toilet every once in a while, but they both have a hard time doing that on the potty. We are trying to transition them to doing that too, but I'd rather that they go and not get constipated, then try to force it and have them hold it all in. Sorry if that grosses anyone out, but its just the way it is. Kinda hard to get grossed out once you've had kids. You deal with every bodily fluid imaginable on a regular basis...sooooooo.
This has been a process that has really tested our parental ability and patience. I don't think we've had it too rough. There were a few days of insanity, but I've heard stories of kids that have taken years to potty train. I'm not saying it's done, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. When they really are completely trained, I feel like I should have an honorary degree conferred upon me by the American Academy of Pediatrics or something. I think anyone who has potty trained a child should.
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