Stress, Schmess!

I know it's been since Feb. since I've written. I've been busy and I've also been lazy (as far as writing is concerned).  But it is now fall, and I will actually be sitting in front of my computer a lot more.

So, Ava is 2 and a half.

We're potty training.

Hot & heavy.

I've never had to potty train a child before. Yes, I know I have a 5 and half year old, but I was working 40-50 hours a week and paying the big bucks for those sweet ladies at daycare to train her!  That was a breeze!!

This... not so much.

I will say, that Ava gets it. She knows what she needs to do. She just needs to pee after she sits on the toilet.

And, we've had a rough 6-8 months with her being able to go #2. She just can't. Even in a diaper.

So, today is day 3 of potty training. I'm not bribing, reading books, singing, babysitting (unless to clean her up), stickering, charting, toy-ing, NOTHING. I've tried all of that. I set the expectation very clearly.

And she heard it. Loud and clear.

The first day was awesome.

The second day was pretty good too. Only 1 accident on her way to the potty, she just didn't get her pants down in time.

Today... not so good.

She peed on the dining room chair while she was eating her breakfast.

She peed on another dining room chair while she was eating her lunch.

She peed on the (tile, thank God) bathroom floor 3 times on her way to the potty.

She peed on the stairs from playing in the basement on her way to the potty.

And... the Hershey's squirts.

She still can't go #2, and it's the squirts that kill me (and her, I suppose). She squeezes with all of her might to hold that in, surely it's gonna hurt!

And all I get is a squirt! (Hey, that rhymes).

I feel so bad for her, and she is doing SO well. I can't take this frustration out on her! So, I do another load of laundry (9 in the last 2 days - we only have 4 people in our house), clean the floor, or the chair, and Ava, and move on again.

I remind her about every 10 minutes to see if she has to go. The mere mention of a chance to sit on the potty makes her have to go! So, about every 10 minutes, I'm up, I'm down, I'm up, I'm down.

I tried cleaning the house today. Handwashing the tile floors, bleaching and sanitizing the bathrooms, vacuuming, you know, the normal stuff...  It took me 5 and a half hours to vacuum and shake the rugs, vacuum the hard floors (pre-wash) and clean one bathroom.

Every. Ten. Minutes.

All. Day. Long.

Now, I'm not one to hold back on admitting my weaknesses. If you've read my first ever blog post, "Flashbacks to Losing it", you'll know - I'm not ashamed of weaknesses.  I will tell you this...

Potty training has pushed me to the end of sanity.  I don't know why. Granted, it would push "normal" moms to the brink too, but they seem to just brush it off and move on.  Me?  I almost had a panic attack today.  I just wanted to cry.

So, tomorrow is a new day. Ava is so proud that she gets on the potty by herself, announcing to the household that she's going potty, while unravelling the entire roll of toilet paper to wipe (whether she goes or not). I am proud of her too.

It is such hard work. Some things are easier for others, but this... this has really tested me.

I love my girls, and I'm so proud of them. I keep my frustrations to myself, never exploding or showing them that I am stressed. But, being a single married woman (I'll explain that someday), it's TOUGH.

The blessing in this is that at the end of the day, my girls go to bed. They are obedient, sweet, loving, kind and they love their Mommy. They would do anything to please me.  When they go to bed, I miss them. I miss their sweet faces, their sweet voices.

And I get to have a glass (or two) of wine... FINALLY!!

"Mommy! There's POOP in the bathtub!"

Yes, I said it... POOP.

My 221/2 month old has been constipated.  She's cutting molars.  She doesn't get the runny teething poo - she gets all blocked up.

I've tried apples, fiber bars (borderline mean-mommy), citrus, you name it.  So, I started using Epsom Salt baths.

SUCCESS!

While Ava is on the "Epsom Treatment", she can't have baths with her big sister. 

Tonight, I wasn't paying attention.  Hannah decided that baby sister was having a bath, so she should too!

When I realized Hannah was in the bath with Ava, I told Hannah about the "Epson Treatment".  She didn't care - I don't think she quite realized what could happen...

20 minutes later, Hannah comes running out of the bathroom screaming, "Mommy!  There's Poop in the bathtub!!"

After I stopped laughing, it hit me.  What about the bath toys?  Ava's still in that water! Eeeewwwww!

Hannah told me she saw her sissy "grunting" a little so she got out.  "And sure enough, Mommy, she pooped!"

So, after I got the toys out (there were only 2) and put aside to clean (NOT a fun job), I pulled Ava out and bleached the tub.  Then I put her back in and washed her up good.  She was flying high as a kite!  Her belly must have felt like brand new!!

I got Hannah back in the tub and washed her up and finished our bedtime routine.

My week wasn't complete without POOP in the bathtub!