Shout Out to All Pastors

This month is Pastor Appreciation Month so I'd like to give a "shout out" to all the Pastors who read my blog. OK, so that's only Pastor Josh, so....

SHOUT OUT to ya, Pastor Josh! Our family greatly appreciates you and ALL the pastors at our church (Calvary Assembly of God).

The best way to show your gratitude for your pastor is to pray for them, so after you read this today, say a prayer for your pastor. (But I'm sure they wouldn't turn down a gift.)

It's a Dry Day!

Drew came to me for the first time today and said, "I don't have to pee, Mom." That was actually his way of telling me that he had to potty. This was the first time he told me before I had to ask him. Yahoo, we're making progress! We even went to the store and out for lunch today and Drew "held it" the whole time. Now, we still have to work on "number 2," but I am celebrating a dry day today.

I'm Potty Trained, Not Drew

At this point in the potty training world in which I'm encapsulated, I'm the one who's trained, not Drew -- I'm trained to put him on the toilet every 10 - 15 minutes. He pees on the toilet, but he never tells me when he has to go; it's me grabbing him and making him sit. I'm also making him drink lots of liquid so that he has to go often -- in hopes that this gives him more opportunities to learn. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed and praying.

I will be so relieved when this is over; I've been housebound for two days straight to focus on him. Being stuck at home is the worst part! But interestingly enough, I've enjoyed more quality time with Evan and Drew (Joel's at school all day) since it's just the three of us sitting around the house. We've read lots of books, painted, done puzzles, cooked together and,...I even watched Barney with them! Wow, I'm such a good mom. Plus, sitting around has made me look at my house a little closer -- thus I scrubbed my floors today. So you see, my carpet may be dirtier, but my kids and my hard surface floors are better off.

I feel sort of funny about potty training this kid because:
a.) He's the last kid and once he's done, it's all over for me!
b.) I realize I've put a lot of pressure on myself because I've told everyone. You know if this takes Drew forever to "get," I will feel like an idiot. Haha. Like I'm not used to feeling like that. I mean now, thanks to naked Drew in the front yard, even the whole neighborhood knows!

At least I'm still feeling optimist about this process. I get up every day with this short-term goal on my agenda. Let's hope I can cross it off soon!

Wet Carpet, Pee Cups and the Neighbors

Well, let's just say I will have to have my carpet cleaned pretty soon. Drew has had three "potty parties" today and he LOVES them, but trust me, he's peed more than three times!

Yesterday was a "wash." After naptime, we officially started the training, but it was useless. I tried to get Drew to pee on the toilet, but he didn't go. Then it was time to walk to pick up Joel from school so I packed a "pee cup" in the stroller. As soon as we were three houses away he said he had to pee. So there I am, in front of my neighbor's house, pulling Drew's pants down and holding a cup in front of him. He just wanted to hold the cup and "try," but the cup stayed empty. Of course as soon as we got to school, he started playing on the playground and peed in his pants. Ugh! Then we got home and Joel wanted to practice riding his bike. So I told Evan and Drew to stay inside while I went with Joel. (At this point Drew only had a t-shirt on because it seems easier to do the training naked than with underwear -- note above that I said my carpet needs cleaned.) Well, Joel fell while riding, so I ran clear down the street to help him. As I came back toward my house, I saw a neighbor man in my driveway talking to Drew, who had NO pants on. The neighbor didn't see me down the street and was worried when he saw Drew outside by himself. Of course then I had to explain why my son was naked.

Between pee cups and naked butts, I think we're going to get evicted from Perrysburg.

Since we had such a crazy start to potty training yesterday, I canceled all social engagements today (and tomorrow) -- all two of them -- and just focused on Drew. That is one key element that I don't enjoy -- staying tied to the house (and the toilet!). Today I even put a chair in the bathroom for me to sit with Drew and read to him while he's "perching;" although I can only get through about two pages in a book before he's ready to jump and run -- no toilet ring around the butt for Drew.

I'm hoping to have lots 'o potty parties tomorrow and here's to no more wet spots on the carpet.

Potty Training

Today is a BIG day for Drew -- we are going to start potty training this afternoon after his nap. We couldn't start this morning because we didn't have all the essential potty training supplies. So Drew and Mommy went to the party supply store this morning and now we're ready!

Our supplies:
1. Training pants (a little too big so that he can easily pull them up himself)
2. TONS of liquid so that he has to pee a lot!
3. M&M's -- one M&M each time he has a "success" on the toilet
4. Party hats and horn blowers.


Now every time Drew is successful, the whole family gets to have a "potty party." We will march around with our hats on while blowing horns, and Mommy (or Daddy) will throw Drew in the air while we all celebrate. This creates
a.) a wonderful, fun atmosphere for Drew to enjoy because of his success and
b.) a sore back for Mom and Dad.

I heard somewhere that 27 months is the "ideal" age for potty training -- it worked with Joel and Evan so I'm hoping (and praying) it will work with kid #3 too.

Today my outlook is very cheery and positive -- by Wednesday you might have to call Children's Services. :-)

Shout Out to Dave O.

Who needs Batman and Robin when you have a Dave Olin?! I was desperate, lost, a "damsel in distress." My problem? My internet wasn't working! I can hear all of you screaming --Ahhhh! Yes, I was without email for TWO WHOLE DAYS. But one call to Dave and I AM BACK! Thank you so much, Dave!

Dave: You know Ben is an Ob/Gyn, so anytime you need his help, just holler. :-)

Joel is FINALLY Riding a Bike!

My prayers have finally been answered -- Joel has learned to ride a two-wheeler! This has been quite a process because Joel has been scared to death to forgo the training wheels and ride on two wheels. For a while he has been riding with one training wheel (he looked quite funny).

You must understand what a big deal this is for Joel. When he was born 13 weeks early, he had a minor brain "injury" that was sort of like a stroke. This caused him to have difficulty with his left side -- his leg, foot, arm and hand are "tight" which makes it hard for him to use them. He went to several years of physical and occupational therpy and the occupational therapist explained it to me like this: "When he puts weight on his left foot, it's like me putting weight on a leg that is asleep -- Joel doesn't know if he can trust that leg or not." This also makes it hard for him to balance. Does that make sense? I know to see him, unless you look closely, you would never know that he has difficulty. So, the moral of the story is that riding a bike is a HUGE accomplishment and I am very proud of him.

For the last several practice runs, I wasn't allowed to give directions, cheer or say ANYTHING while he was riding because it distracted him. Today, he actually gave me permission to talk to him while he was riding. :-)

Joel went to take off his helmet and couldn't because his hands were shaking so badly. Poor kid! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. After he went all the way around the block he came back in the house and said, "Mom, I'm excited and scared. My heart is beating so fast."

Way to go, Joel!

Pumpkin Farm

On Saturday Drew, Evan and I went to the Pumpkin Farm for some Fall fun (it was supposed to be a family outing, but Joel was rotten so he had to stay home with Dad). We had never been to this farm but some friends from church invited us and now it's our new favorite spot for pumpkins. The boys got to go in a corn maze, feed goats, go on a hayride and enjoy fresh apple cider -- it would have been the perfect Fall day had it not been 90 degrees!!

This is a picture of Drew lifting a gord. His comment: "This pear heavy." haha!

Drew was absolutey enthralled with the corn maze. I'm not a big fan of the things -- I'm a little clausterphobic and was afraid I'd never come out (and I'm not sure my boys would have come looking for me!)

Then when we got home the boys wanted to carve the pumpkin immediately. I'm sure it will be nice and moldy for Halloween. Yuck! Drew and Evan found the "guts" absolutely disgusting and even hated the smell of the pumpkin. The strangest part for mama, was watching Dad "pass the torch" (or should I say, "the carving knife") -- Joel decided this year he was old enough to do some of the carving himself. Oh, he's growing up so fast!