why we camp

so, my sister in law says to me...
you have a TRAILER? AND you have been to MONSTER JAM....
the implication being that we are WHITE TRASH! LOL
But, I can't give words to why we camp, but here is why....






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practice, practice, practice

so, if you all are as bored reading about potty traning as I am about DOING potty training, we are all pretty miserable. After a pretty productive weekend, Monday was a disaster. Not once in the potty. Not even close. sigh.

But Tuesday dawned a new day and he went before school - and then had NO accidents from the time he got home to bed-time. He peed on the potty before going to bed and that was that.
hmmm, maybe he is getting it after all.

Honestly, it is hard to tell. He will go when put on the potty (if he actually has to go) but has yet to TELL us he needs to go. So, we are working him into what is technically called a "toileting schedule." And, when I read that, it makes me realize that I research everything WAY TO MUCH. My sister got a chuckle over me actually ordering and reading a potty training book for my FOURTH child. But I can handle the humor. I find it funny (in an ironic - not ha-ha funny) kind of way.

For those of you just tuning in, I am talking about Andrew and potty training. The rest of our family already go in the toilet.

But, here is the mantra of the day, week, month, and possilby years. I am not sure how long this will take. But I guess it really doesn't matter. It HAS to be done. So we work on it every day. Practice, practice, practice. Repeat, repeat, repeat. You do these 6 steps till we get it right. It is like the Down Syndrome learning creed.

But, come to think of it, couldn't we all use a good dose of this? Failure, well, not an option. And I'm not talking about the potty (though failure is not an option there either). I'm talking about life. So, practice, practice, practice. Repeat, repeat, repeat. To do this, it requires patience, forgiveness, grace, and a liberal amount of humor. No matter what you are facing - problem in your marriage, issue with your kids, problem with your job, the economy, finances, whatever? Practice, practice, practice. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

We can all get it right eventually.

Lord, give us the grace to stick it out and get it right.

Falling in love all over again...

I woke this morning with my game-face on. The M&M's were ready. The doll that wets and poos had batteries. The brand new Thomas the Tank Engine, CARS, and Diego undies were ready to go. I had read the potty training book till I fell asleep last night. I was ready.

But, the big question was, was Andrew ready?

In a small re-cap, we plugged along. I instructed, we talked pee-pee and poop, we had some success. We had some accidents. The amount of pee in the potty exceeded the amount of pee on the floor, so I considered it a potty-training victory.

What I was prepared for was exhaustion (which I am) and frustration (which I wasn't). What I wasn't prepared for was falling in love with Andrew all over again.

I love my husband. I love my children. But, sometimes, in the daily grind of school, work, carpool, blah blah blah, we forget how much we like each other. What was so nice about today was the fact that I had nothing to do other than spend time with Andrew. And, face it, you can only discuss the wee-wee for so long, and, then, well, let's play.

I have read books till my voice hurts. Played cars. Played trains. Danced to Barney. Ridden scooter cars through the house. Laughed till my sides hurt. Andrew is funny. He actually has a really quick wit and loves a joke. He would sit on the potty and innocently hold out an M&M to share - then pull it away from me and eat it - while giving me a "got-cha" look - and then giggle so hard he would almost fall off the potty. We played peek-a-boo between the levels of his cars' parking garage. He was laughing so hard at me that he actually DID fall over. We had very complex conversations with the creepy doll that sits on the potty. The doll would giggle and say, "uh-oh, I made a stinkie." This made Andrew laugh every time! He loved sayin the word stinkie - and would then wave his hand in the air (like he was clearing the air) declaring that the dolly was eeewwwww gross! Hilarious stuff.

And as the day wore on and we collapsed on the sofa to watch some TV, he snuggled into me and the smell of his baby-hair took my breath away. The softness of his cheek never felt better. The tenderness of his voice melted me all over again.

So, like during a great date with my husband, when half-way through dinner you have the,"hey, we really do get along and I really do LIKE you," conversation, I fell in love all over again with Andrew.

Like I really could fall any harder?

So while I don't think we completed our "toilet training in a day" like the book claimed we would, I think we accomplished much more.

We'll try to conquer the potty again tomorrow.

Game ON!

The time for Potty Training Boot Camp has arrived. Jeff is gone camping with the other boys (more on that later). The poop toys are purchased, the skittles are in place, the new big boy pants are waiting to be put on. When we wake up tomorrow, we are tossing the diapers and not looking back.

I have vague recollections of potty training my three other children. You would think I would be a pro. I have actually done research and even ordered a book off of amazon. I have consulted friends and therapists. I have read horror stories of parents trying to potty train their kids with Down Syndrome - disaster stories of confusion and kids being 6 and 7 before they are fully potty trained. And, honestly, that terrifies me.

But then I think, this kid can count to 20, knows alls sorts of stuff and is smart. I feel like if we don't put and end to the diapers NOW, that we are training him that it is OK to go in his pants. And that is certainly not an option.
This potty gig is important. You have to be potty trained to be in a regular education class. Diapers are un-cool. Crapping your pants is uncool and will not make you popular witht he chicks or other kids in your class. We have to get this thing under control! (Can you hear the pep-talk I have been giving myself?)

So, I did not want to make a weak effort at it. I waited till I was mentally and physically ready. The calendar is clear. I have 48 hours of one-on-one intensive, and will do what it takes past that. I had a conference call with Andrew's teacher today to discuss our transition into school plan. Basically, I am keeping him home on Monday and will call her and let her know how things go. I told her I am willing to come to school and help till we are sure he has it.

I am ready to go the distance on this thing.

It is the hill I am willing to die on at the moment.

If I disappear for a while, you know where I am.
In the bathroom with Andrew.

For my sweet prayer supporters, I do ask you to pray for us this weekend. Pray that Andrew gets it. Pray that I have patience. Pray I have success stories to share SOON.