How in this world...

***UPDATE****

Okay so no I didn't get him potty trained over night or anything like that. But I do want to explain a little something. I have heard that children can potty train at 18 months is the reason I am going at it at all. And I have seen him go in the potty several times... he just can't tell me yet, which to me is a sign of holding off until he can.

MY main concern is my back. It feels like it is going out. I have been to the chiropractor several times but it is more a muscle thing it feels like; maybe, I am not sure. I am going to make a dr. appt soon to figure it out. I thought it would go away in time but it is getting worse.

There are two little boys,both of which are NOT SMALL, in diapers! Bear just weighed in at 28 lbs and Moe is at least 27. It is getting way strenuous to lift them anymore and potty training at least the oldest one would help tremendously! I think for now I am going to move diaper changes to the floor. Maybe that will work. In the meantime if you think of it please say a healing prayer for my tortured back.

Thanks for all your information and tips. You have been most helpful. We will definitely be working on technique as soon as he figures out he has to go! haha...oh I love my boy!


***ORIGINAL POST****

...can this 18 month old little boy NEVER have to pee? I have tried the lemonade trick-glasses full! I have left his diaper off for him to run free and go every 15 minutes. Nothing (I am glad that there have been no puddles... but COME ON MAN!) He will just hold it forever!

This morning from 7:45 to 10A I gave him a sippy of sugar free chocolate milk and a sippy of lemonade (barely diluted). I took him potty at least 6 times and then in the second to last 15 minute stretch he was looking out the window and I heard a splat hit the wall and the floor. Just a little gush and then he noticed and stopped, looking down at his accident, then he looks at me. I said "YAY...okay let's go pee, pee in the potty. Come on honey let's go to the potty. Run, run, run; hurry, hurry, hurry." And he did. He got all excited about it and ran to the potty. He gets on it and NOTHING! He sits there cheering, "yay. poopoo"

"No honey... you didn't go yet" "go pee pee".

I put his hand in a cup of warm water, I run water, I go pee pee so he can hear and understand it. NOTHING!

Finally in the end; the last 15 minute try before his nap. I put him on it and we sit there for a bit and then the flood gates open up...

"YAY BEAR, YOU ARE GOING PEE PEE..... SUCH A BIG BOY!!!!!"

in his little voice "aaayyyyy, poo poo"

well okay it's a start!

We have recently taken away his potty seat too due to his "free hands, are troubled hands" theory! He does great sitting on the big potty all by himself. He is even learning to get up on his stool and get onto the potty, and in turn get down.






















Now if he would just have to go it would be a lot easier to train him.

Any suggestions from you seasoned potty trainers? I am taking them all at this point!

Moe's reunification plan

I was in a Family Group Conference for 3 hours on Tuesday discussing the plans for Moe's case. I was invited in by Moe's parents and family. I felt privileged.

We sat around with CPS and basically talked about what the future holds for our little Moe. It was interesting to say the least. I am still in strong belief that he belongs with his father. I don't know if that will ever change but for now I am in favor of that path. And that is still the path that CPS is following also.

We did get visits moved up to two hours a week for the father, which I am so thankful for. I hated seeing them only getting one hour a week to bond! NOT HAPPENING! I also got permission granted to invite Moe's father on family outings "unsupervised" (other than by us) so that he can see how we interact with him and how to take care of his son. Who better to role model for him than the parents that have raised his son for the past year. He was beaming! So happy that he is getting to spend extra quality time with his son. Makes my heart happy.

I have seen his father grow so much in the past year it's unbelievable. I didn't think it really could happen in the beginning... but over time that thought changed. I then KNEW he could do it and started giving him that "go get 'em" attitude and you could see the cloud lift and he started succeeding and completing all of his plans. I really feel that he just needed someone to believe in him and to know that we were not against him and that we would not fight him for his son. We were simply a stand-in until they got it together.

He and the mother ended up going separate ways (when Moe was 3 months old), which I have to say I think that was the best decision on both their parts. I think they can be wholly committed to Moe better if they are not distracted with the conflict between the two of them. I usually am in favor of couples staying if it is strong and healthy. This was NOT! They wanted to play house because they had a baby... that lasted about a month at tops. Not my idea of strong NOR healthy.

So I am seeing progress and we are in the process of pre-transitioning. In the next three months they want to start the real transition. We will see how it all plays out. I will be babysitting for the father I believe. YAY! I will still get to see my Moe baby regardless. I think I have a better chance of keeping in contact with him if he stays here near us. The mother lives about 4 hours away from here. Not highly likely to keep communication either. It has happened once that they took him and never let me know a thing. That is the hardest part of saying goodbye; is only when it is forever!

We have our first long visit with dad at a park today... with cps supervisor. I am excited!

wOrDlEsS wEdNeSdAy...

*** After repetitive "Bear, DON'T hit the baby tree" speeches! *** Auntie Tia caught him when he thought no one was looking! Good Job Tia! Such the vengeful face too; EEK!