Life With a Constipated Toddler

So, the car rides to and from Chattanooga today were interesting. As was lunch.

As you know, Sam has been potty training and been doing GREAT! Except for #2. The poor kid hasn't had a bowel movement since last Wednesday. Needless to say, he's been a bit cranky.

On the way, to the Aquarium, he wanted to watch Finding Nemo to "get in the mood." Most of the way up he was fine. Until we got about 20 minutes away, then he wanted to watch Baby Einsteins. With our DVD player, I can't change the DVD while driving. It's impossible to do. So, I told him he'd just have to suffer. This was sort of okay for him, but he wasn't happy.

He did wonderfully at the Aquarium and 80% of lunch. Then it began.

"I have to go pee pee." So we went. And I'm by myself with the boys so this means abandoning our table, grabbing my purse, but leaving sippy cups and toys so the wait staff does not think we've done a runner, going to the restrooms, and doing our business.

The first time, all was good.

The second time, no luck for Sam. Just sat and nothing. We got back to the table and immediately, "I have to go pee pee."

"Tough kid." We ordered dessert.

I asked for the check and some water for Josh (he's obsessed about drinking water after he eats so as not to get a cavity... that's another story....).

Sam is quickly approaching melt down mode because he has to go potty. The waiter is no where to be seen with our check! I gather up our stuff, trudge off to the potty, thankfully he goes, we trudge back and the waiter is complaining to the hostess that we're not there anymore. He thinks we've done a runner! I hand him my credit card and apologize and explain our "emergency."

But really, he was taking an awful long time -- I mean, we ate our dessert, waited before getting us all packed up, got to the loo, did our business (which is NOT quick) and the waiter was just getting to our table with the check as we were returning! Apparently, he has no kids and is not used to waiting on families with them!

We get to the car, Sam says he wants Thomas, but sees Nemo as I'm pulling it out and insists on Nemo. "Are you sure Sam?" "Yes, Nemo."

10 minutes down the road, "I want Thomas! I don't want Nemo!" "Sorry Sam, I can't change it now. I'll change when we stop." "I want Baby Einsteins!" "Sorry Sam" This continued off and on for I don't know how long.

Finally we stop because Mommy needs a break and a coke to keep me going. Sam asks for Thomas, I put Tomas in, that lasts for 15 minutes before he wants Baby Einsteins! There is no helping a tired, constipated 2 year old!

We finally get home and he continues his, "I have to pee pee" routine every 5 minutes. But, I know he really has to go, he just can't. This has been our bed time routine for the last 5 days as well.

"Okay, boys, dinner is on the table."

Sam, "I have to go pee pee."

Me, frustrated and tired, "Okay Sam, just go."

Sam, "Okay!" Goes over to the royal potty and I hear "Ta-da-da-da" twice! Finally, he has gotten the rocks that were clogging his bum!

HALLELUJAH!

***I am sorry if this post is a bit boring and if you are all bored to tears with me talking about Sam's potty training. I swear, I am most probably done! Thank you for putting up with me!

Potty Training Update

Everyone is asking for an update on the potty training, so I'm going to Jinx it and post an update!

Sam is doing really well! He "got it" yesterday and today did not want a nappy or pull up on to go to school. He had no accidents on Monday and only one today (and that was a #2)!

But, since he still hasn't told me he has to go, I was a bit reluctant to send him to school in just big boy pants, but I did anyway... along with extra pull ups, nappies, several changes of underwear and clothes... seriously, I sent along about 4 outfits for a 3 hour school day. I'm sure his teachers think I'm nuts.

I just knew he was going to have an accident while at school. But nope! He peed 3 times at school and tried to go several other times. Luckily, being the age, the other 4 kids (all girls) are potty training too so it wasn't too bad for the teachers!

After Josh got home, we went to the playground in big boy pants! And had no accidents there either!

My friend Sherry met us at the playground with her 2 boys and brought a little "Throne" potty that makes a "ta da" noise when the child pees into the potty. She gave it to us and when we got home from the playground Sam went pee pee on it and thought the music was the greatest thing ever! I was making dinner and in 45 minutes, Sam had his pants off and was "trying" to go potty about 5 times!

The funny part was watching him try to put the pants back on! He would sort of get it right about half the time!

So, hopefully tomorrow this royal potty thing will have done the trick (that and the jelly bean bribe reward)!

Okay, now I've jinxed it. But we had 2 really good days! Fingers crossed for #2 in the potty tomorrow!

Potty Training Boot Camp!

Okay, so Friday I decided to start trying to potty train Sam. I decided the best course of action would be a Boot Camp course of action. The following is our experience. Some parts may be graphic. Not for the faint hearted!

My tactic was simple. Put Sam in big boy pants, fill him up with liquid and then either put him on the potty, let him pee on himself a few times or move him to the potty when he started to pee.

I figured after a day or so he would then "get it." HA!

I could tell quite early Friday, things were not going to be easy. Sam would cry every time I put him on the potty. And I'm not just talking about little sobs. He was truly upset. He would be on there for half an hour with pee pee trickling out in drips and drops. Then I'd say, "good boy" when there was enough that I thought he'd let it all out... he'd stand up and pee everywhere! A few times I managed to get the potty to him and sit him down at the end, but we still had pee pee all over the place ... yes, I will need to clean the carpets when this is all over.

We spent the weekend in the garden, planting flowers, sorting out the rest of the leaves, planting grass seed. It was great to be outside so if Sam peed, at least he could multi-task and water the plants at the same time!

By Saturday and Sunday, he had stopped crying when he was on the potty, but the story was the same otherwise. And, he'd added crying when he peed on himself. I kept telling myself this was progress, but inside I was crying too. Josh had been so easy!

Sam could not get the hang of "letting go" and just peeing on command. Only when he was beyond full and could not hold it any longer could he actually pee.

I was not really looking forward to another day of tears, struggles and stubborn behavior... from either of us! But, he has made some sort of breakthrough this morning. He has actually not peed on the carpet once today, he peed on the potty on his own will, and not cried at all! He's still not told me when he has to pee, but when I see him doing the pee pee dance, I put him on the potty and he goes!

I know we have a long way to go, but I'm so excited to reach this little milestone. He has school tomorrow morning, so we'll have to see how he goes at school, but I'm hopeful!