PT Days 2 and 3...

Don't worry, I will not do a day by day play by play of our adventures in potty training. I just typed and typed yesterday and never got past the first day.

I sent Kyle to daycare in underwear all excited and a bit nervous because, like I mentioned before, Tami's only plan was to test the waters. I came into her house and was all bubbly and bobbin' my head and I was like, "Kyle's in underwear. I decided to start training yesterday." She looked at me like I was a freak.

I picked Kyle up at the end of the day and asked how he had done. Tami just looked at me...she said he peed twice in his underwear, and did the deed another time...in his underwear.. She said he was currently in a diaper. I hoped and prayed he had run out of all his clean underwear. He didn't. Consistency, people. We had a long talk on the way home about peeing in the toilet or trying it outside. Like in the grass. Or on a tree. He was excited to pee in the grass so we were going back and forth when Andrew, so matter of fact yet in an annoyed tone, said, "Like a dog." I don't know why, but it made me laugh so hard.

Later that night, I made a trip to Walgreens for pull-ups and M-n-Ms. Did I mention that Tami puts pull-ups over underwear to protect her house? It really is a good idea for her. I'm cheap, so I don't want to waste them at home. Yes, I will pay for that in other ways. Over. And. Over.

Kyle really likes the M-n-Ms trick, er...treat. He sat on the potty and peed a tiny stream (yippee!) and I gave him an M-n-M. He said, "I get wots MMs be does I peed wots." Nice try, buddy.

Yesterday he did a bit better. He isn't getting that he needs to tell us BEFORE he pees, but he is getting that he needs to tell us. Apparently the first day at Tami's he liked sitting in wet pants. Go figure. Maybe it is getting a bit better. He still peed twice and pooped once yesterday at daycare, but at the baseball game last night, he told Keith he had to pee on two different occasions and they rushed to the woods to pee. Go Kyle.

I was running around last night and Kyle asked me where I was going. I told him I had to go potty. He said to me, "You haffa pee on potty if you wanna MM." There is hope.

Someone is apparently getting accustomed to hangin' on the potty...


This is dead sexy, wouldn't you agree? I like the look of the tee tucked into the undies. More people should try it. He's definitely my risk taker. :)

Potty Training Day 1...

For whatever reason, I brought up potty training, or the lack thereof, to Tami on Monday evening. She asked Kyle if he had Scooby underwear (which he does) and told him to bring them to daycare on Wednesday and they would try them out. Thinking back, it is pretty clear she did say, "Try it out." I guess I forgot about that until now. Anyway, I decided to go full on with this whole training thing. It has been a long time and I never got it right with the big boys.

Most know Caleb's training story...I tried and tried for ALMOST. TWO. YEARS. Yeah, he had to drop out of preschool because he wasn't trained at 3. At 4 (no, I'm not kidding) Pat had taken Caleb to Lowes (at least in the story I tell) and it was then and there that Caleb decided to try the potty for himself...he pulled his pants down right at the display toilet! No, nothing came out. Pat picked him up and whisked him away to the restroom.

I have memories of having enough and putting a gate up in the doorway between the dining room and kitchen to aid in training, but for the life of me I cannot remember if it was the tail end of Caleb's training or if I actually attempted to train Andrew. I know it was in our 2nd built house but beyond that it is fuzzy. I cannot remember what time of the year it was. I just remember eating, playing, and even napping in the kitchen so that one of the boys could run around sans pants in hopes of a breakthrough. (I didn't want to clean up pee from my new carpet) Anyway, if that was Andrew, it is the only attempt I can remember making with him. It was a tough time for all of us. I moved out of our house and I remember Andrew going right into the bathroom and peeing at Kristin's. I was like, "Where am I and what just happened??" In my mind, he trained himself I still cannot remember it any other way. What a doll to take that on himself.

Kristin trained her kids in like a day each. The mere mention of peeing in the potty turns Kyle's stomach. I decided not to care about it for a few reasons...1. He is a boy and boys do most things later than girls. 2. I am just really busy. I know that is selfish, but it's really just a factual statement. I was hoping to count on Tami for that. 3. I have nobody to compete with. I was pregnant with my friends during my first two pregnancies and, truth be told, one cannot help but to compare their babies to others. I feel no need for it this time around. Heck, Kyle can be 14...

So back to the training decision. I really don't know what sparked me. Kyle has not shown readiness. He has not shown willingness. He loves to be read to but when I asked him if he'd like me to read him The Potty Book, his reply was a very sure NO! I cannot interest him with anything...except maybe M-n-Ms!

I wish I had a video camera out Tuesday morning when I put Kyle on the potty and started explaining how this whole process was going to work. It was my day off so I thought it was perfect. It took me at least 20 minutes (NO LIE) to put his little feet into two holes of underwear. Hello. We were fighting each other and to be honest he was winning. His face was purple from crying and screaming so hard but he would not let up. Keith came running in with shaving cream all over his face and even through all of it I could see the look of terror in his eyes as he accusingly shouted, "What are you doing to him??" That was when I lost my cool. I snapped, "I am sweating my ass off and I'm just trying to get the damn underwear over his feet!" In retrospect, Kyle was consistently yelling, "No, mommy, NO!" over and over again but seriously, what did he think I was doing to Kyle?

The boys had VBS and we did a bunch of running around and decided to go to Michigan's Adventure. I made a comment to Keith that maybe we jumped the gun because we are in no position to train with the schedules we have. The concerts start tonight and we are getting a sitter many of the nights. She is new to this whole thing anyway so what is she going to do? Probably go home and never come back!!

Kyle peed many times, with many changes of outfits that day. Full outfits. I guess when he pees, he pees. (shoes and socks included) I stayed home with the bog boys so I never had this social calendar to contend with. Every time we told Kyle to tell us when he had to pee, he'd say, "OTAY" or "OTAY, OTAY." Then he'd say, "I tell you when I go pee." ""No, Kyle, you have to tell us before you go pee." Sigh. That night we gave him fruit snacks for dribbling on the potty. We told him we'd give him another pack if he's poop. No luck. We put him in a diaper and went to bed.

I woke Kyle yesterday morning to ask him if he'd like to go potty and have breakfast. He mumbled, "I poop. I get fwoot nax." We'll get it through his head, won't we?

Out Of Steam...

While catching up on Kristin's blog, I realized I didn't share any pics from Father's Day. Sorry, dads.

We spent an uneventful Sunday at home during the day. We met up with my parents, Kyle, and the TenBrinkman children (I love that) at my parent's just before 5p. The little kiddies spent the night at my mom's the night before. Kyle and Isaac got a game of soccer in before anything else. It sure is a good thing most teams don't use goalies the size of their nets...

...for at least a couple of reasons...

Pat and Jen met us at 5p to deliver the others and we headed to Aunt Dee Dee's in Spring Lake for dinner.
She was ready for all the children with bubbles. The kids had fun just holding the wands in the air and watching as the wind did all the work.

The weather was beautiful and we all had a lovely time...all but Ash. She fell asleep on the way to the party, and although several attempts were made to wake her, she slept until it was time to go. She opened her eyes and first said, "When did gramma and poppy get here?" and then she said, "I want cake!"

Here a few random pics of our lovely dads. First is Unna Pat, as Kyle refers to him as...

...and my dad...

...and Keith with his dad and brother, Unna Map ...

...and, of course, my fabulous hubby.

Ashley was full of life on the ride home. She was so full of it! She was screaming, I mean screeching, all the way home. She, of course, got Kyle to do the same! We got home at 9p and I needed to get the whole gang in the tub. Ash and Kyle took a bath together, which they love, and had a blast. Maybe you'll notice that the screeching never, I mean never, stopped...

Once all 6 were clean, everyone started running out of steam. Yippee! (yes, I said it) We snuggled in for a bit of Batman viewing, and one by one, they fell asleep. Aren't they all so cute?

Happy Father's Day, dads.

Wordless Wednesday...

Well, maybe a few words...I can sleep better at night, while Keith is working, knowing I have my very own Power Ranger here to protect me!

What A View...

This isn't a posting about Kyle in the tub, although he is a cutie pie. Instead, well first I want you to notice the clarity of the photos...at least the first one...

These next two are shadowed and I'll tell you why in a moment...

I took these pictures through our UGLY shower doors! (hence the shadows-they have these stripe-y things on them) My mother in law comes to clean for me, on occasion, as a Christmas gift. Without her...I just don't know. I know my doors always look spotty and bad. After she leaves and I come home, my house just smells so fresh and yummy. Maybe yummy isn't a good word to use since it smells of bleach, but it is definitely a soothing smell because I am assured that I can come in and not have to worry about the house. She does a magnificent job! Everything just sparkles! Thanks, Brenda, for the miracle you work on my humble abode. :)

Warm Fuzzies...

I am in love again today. Last night I received a package from the UPS man. Before I go on, there is a quick story I have to share. I cannot talk about the UPS man without thinking about this. Kristin and I both ordered from Victoria's Secret last winter. On the same day. A week or whatever later, Kristin finds a package on her front steps. Make that two packages. From Vicki's Secret. One was hers. One was mine. A note was attached to hers asking her to "deliver this to your sister since her driveway isn't plowed." Hellooo??? Why does the UPS man know that Kristin's sister lives next door or that Jodi's sister lives first on the route? Anyone a little freaked out? To clear nothing up, I don't know who the UPS man was who delivered my package yesterday, so...

One other thing before I get to my newest love interest. The package I received contained photos, but not the photos I should've received Monday or Tuesday...I am still waiting for my church directory pictures. Both Kristin and Jen had their family pics taken the same day we did. We even followed Jen. Both of them have shared portions of their photos with the blogosphere while I keep checking my mailbox. Or front porch. Maybe I should check my yard since that is where Keith found my debit card and Wesco Rewards card. Thanks, Kyle, for doing a complete overhaul on my van interior before locking it up tight with my keys inside. What a guy!

Okay, so the story is this. I took some pics last fall at the beach. You may remember them. I started my blog with them, individuals of the boys are still on the main page, and one of them was used for our Christmas cards. I love them. I've been meaning, since then, to do something with my ultimate fave and another fave. (I've seen that spelled fav, but this is the way I roll :) That and I did a spell check and I was right!) I finally did it last Friday since, of course, I am hosting a baby shower for a dear friend next weekend and I want to change a few things. I want to replace the wedding photo over my mantle because I am no Erica Cane so I don't need a portrait of me hanging over my fireplace. I ordered 2 16x20 prints. One for the mantle. One for the family room or somewhere. I am getting them mounted at Hob Lob. I will, of course, take pics when I get them done. Here are the ones I chose.

The first one, as much as I love it, will be the "other" picture. I have decided to hang the second one over the mantle. There is something so " " about this picture that gives me the warm fuzzies. It captures the innocence, 'you know? LOVE IT! I paid extra to have the numbers erased from Caleb's tee. The end results are FAB!!! I cannot wait to share!

Holiday...

I added a slide show of our wonderful weekend, but the slide show, itself, isn't so much so. I think I did too much editing, (cropping and correcting) along with re-downloading, to keep the pictures crystal clear. Blah. Blah. Blah.

We had a wonderful, albeit cold, holiday weekend. The wind was crazy, but it didn't keep us down. We camped with 8 other families, plus Buchberger's (Chris-I'm talking like Stark) brother and his family happened to fill the spot that Kristin had originally reserved. Susan's sister and her family also visited, as well as Pat, Jen and Abbi when they dropped the boys off.

Friday was the beginning of the pig fest for us. It was so bloody cold! Funny, the Margarator was in full swing all weekend, despite the weather. The kids must not have noticed the 50 mile an hour winds, because they swam and swam like it was the 13th of August! Silly kids.

We made it through without any major disasters...until Monday morning. This is what I found when I walked into the camper to wake up the boys.


Holy Crap! The only reason I wasn't super panicked is because I woke up to a little worse than this 6 years ago. I remember clearly the panic I felt back then. I rushed him to the doctor (then) and was told he had sun poisoning. He was outside in April at about 9:30 in the morning when it originally happened. The doc said it was just the first good sun of the year and to keep him under a brimmed hat. Fast forward...I couldn't remember if the doctor had prescribed an antibiotic or not, so we packed up QUICK and headed for the ER.

We sat forever and ended up with a doctor who was better to look at than talk to. He said this was caused by the sun and he had the same advice...keep Andrew under a brimmed hat. He sent us on our way with instructions to use Motrin and Benadryl. What? We missed breakfast for that?? Pat thinks this was caused by the pool because someone else was swollen in the face. I explained to him that Cameron (the boy) took Motrin for shin splints and ended up with a swollen jaw and that the bottle states you can have a reaction to the meds in the form of swelling. He certainly didn't look like Andrew. Caleb and Andrew both ended up with a tiny red rash on their arms, kind of like prickly heat. I would have to assume that if the pool caused this condition (identical to one he had in the past) then about 30 other kids would've had at least some trace of the rash or something.

Happily, today I found this bright smiling face looking back at me. Welcome back, baby!