Picture Day

washing clothes at midnight....check....braiding and twisting hair so it's "curly" in the morning....check...setting alarm clock for an hour early...check.....alarm not going off and waking up at the exact time you are suppose to leave....check....thanking God the children were born cute = Picture Day.

Rese on being president

Rese: "Grammie is so lucky to live in a house the mayor lived in."
Me: "you know when you become a mayor, then you will have lived in a house the mayor lived in, then Daddy will have lived in TWO houses the mayor lived in. Then when you become president, maybe they will turn our house into a museum."
Rese: "And fill it full of books about me?"
Sami: " she's already president. President of stupid town."

Sunday at 9:13pm via Facebook

Child Restraining System

so I'm driving home last night, when I receive a tap on the shoulder and turn to see Megan's head right next to mine. Yes, that kid undid her 5 point harness and got out. UGH! Will anything restrain this child?

At Physical Medicine on Friday, I met with a "Car Seat Specialist"
Who brings in another car seat. I am like "What part of this do you all not understand? She can UNDO the harness. It's not a matter of outgrowing the car seat."
And she does not understand they dynamic connection of seatbelt = safe.
I need something that will hold her in...like Duct Tape. I smell a sponsorship....

Luke on his Halloween Costume

Luke is going to be Tweedle Dum
In discussing costumes, Luke had this to say:

Luke:"I door mouse?
Me: "No, your're tweedle dum"
Luke: "I Dum, I Dum! You Dum?"
Me: "No, you're Dum, I'm the Queen.
Luke: "No! I da Queen!"

Jim just rolled his eyes. If this kids ends up straight I will be surprised.

Momma Duck Goes Out To Play

So for my birthday my Mother In Law got me a gift card for a spa treatment. Super awesome. It only took 6 weeks to have a Saturday where I could actually get to go use it!

Anyway, we have a "Spa School" here in town and she knows the owner...hook up! Yeah! Anyhow, I opted for the Austrian Moor Mud Wrap and Vichy Shower.
http://spas.about.com/od/bodytreatments/a/vichy.htm

Anyhow...You go in and shower up some, get all squeaky clean before they slap mud all over you. I got to put on these little disposable panties. Hot for sure! Then it's a hop up onto a cushion table where the Chicky painted me with mud. Who knew Austria has such great mud?

Now, if you are the least bit modest, this is not the treatment for you! They did use "modesty" towels, but-yeah.

So once he mud was on, I was cocooned in plastic and space-man wrap. I looked liked a Chipotle Burrito! (Now I'm hungry), My gal did a facial for the 20 minutes I was "relaxing". Once that was done, the Vichy shower is put over you. You remain lying on the table for the whole thing. 7 shower jets sprayed me while my hostess scrubbed me like a dirty floor. It was VERY nice. As a matter of fact, I know I had a cheesy little grin on my face the whole time. Now I'm home gloating about how awesome this was, she probably went home going "UGH - I had a body wrap on a fatty today!" :o)
O'well, I didn't care. Once I was all purified, It was topped with a cocoa butter massage. It's been 3 hours and I still feel like I just walked out of that room.

Kids will be home soon. I doubt even THEY can ruin this afternoon for me!
So if you get a chance...Definitely check out a Vichy shower treatment. And even better, check your local college or university and see if they have a spa school! Cheap high quality service!

Rese on her 1st Communion

The day before:

She was practicing with Tostito chips. She asked with we could call Father and go to church and do it "now".

When I asked her if she was nervous, she said yes because tomorrow, "I will have Jesus in me"

(to which Aunt Crissy replied "that's what she said")


The Day after:

while looking at the communion pictures,
Rese: "that's not even me."
Mom: "what do you mean?"
Rese: "That's not me anymore, I'm a different person now."

Potty Training Days

So we have totally given up on Megs for now.

Luke on the other hand is very inconsistent with how he goes. He will not tell us he has to go, but does go if I tell him.

It goes something like this:
"Luke, let go to the potty" Followed by whining and crying. You'd think I was taking him to a death chamber. He's not crying because he doesn't want to stop playing, and I try to do it at a nice transition time, like at a commercial, or in between activities. Nope, he just doesn't want to use the toilet. Now when he gets there, it's all good. He pees every time.

But riddle me this, how is it a little boy can pee a stream right out from underneath the toilet seat. I mean Come on! There only like an eight of an inch there, but yet it comes out without ricochetting off anything! Right out to the wall, his socks. Is there some kind of supernatural force, or does pee and water repel?

Home made laundry detergent.

In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to save a buck, right. Given the average 10 loads of laundry I do every week, - yes 10
2 Whites
1 Colors
2 Darks
1 Lights
1 cold lights
1 cold darks
1 light towels
1 dark towels.
4 kids, 2 potty training, school & Dance uniforms, and a husband who can not wear ANYTHING twice, even if it was only on for 5 minutes.

One of the most expensive household items for me is laundry detergent.
So I read this article on how you don't even really need laundry detergent to clean your clothes. Basically it says that the agitation alone is enough to get them clean. It also stated that a cheaper alternative to store bought laundry detergent (which can run about 20 cents per load) is to make your own (which costs about 2 cent per load).

So I am giving it a whirl. I will put the recipe at the bottom of this post.

First step was to get the ingredients.

For the soap, I just used one I had swiped at a hotel on our last stay. (Why do we do that really?)
The Borax, easy enough I got at Walmart for abut $2.
The washing soda was a little more difficult, as Walmart did not carry it. I did find at our grocery store, Kroger, by Arm and Hammer, Super Washing Soda. So I got that. Be sure not to confuse this with baking soda, which is also sold in the laundry aisle. These are not the same.

Step one: Grate the bar of soap and dissolve in 4 cups of water.
This took much longer than I expected. It's done over a low heat, so it took about 20minutes for the mixture to become a milky consistency.

The recipe calls for a 5 gallon bucket to mix it in. You need this. I did not have one, so I used a standard household bucket which is only 3 gallons. So I had to separate it- so hopefully the mixture still holds up.
You will also need something long enough to stir it with.

The waiting game takes place next, as you have to wait 24 hours. So I will check back on it tomorrow. Not the mix and go I had expected-hoping to get some laundry done today. O twist my arm, I shall wait another day to do laundry.

Also, this makes about 4 gallons, so you will need something to put it in once it is all done. I held onto my last laundry dispenser, although, it won't be large enough!


Here is the recipe I used.:

• 4 cups of water.
• 1/3 bar of cheap soap, grated.
• 1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda).
• 1/2 cup of Borax (20 Mule Team).
• 5-gallon bucket for mixing.
• 3 gallons of water.

First, mix the grated soap in a saucepan with 4 cups of water, and heat on low until the soap is completely dissolved. Add hot water/soap mixture to 3 gallons of water in the 5-gallon bucket, stir in the washing soda and Borax, and continue stirring until thickened. Let the mix sit for 24 hours, and voila! Homemade laundry detergent.

Kids on Pearl Jam

Todays conversation background, Jim is going to see Pearl Jam tonight, who Sami loves because her Dad does. Now she wants to go.
Sami: "Dude, Dad It's Pearl JAM" (major emphasis on Jam)
Rese: " Oh, there's jam, what kind of jam. I like jam"

Luke's favorite Knock Knock joke:

Luke: knock knock
Me : Who's There
Luke: Me!

Sami on the end of the world

" So do you think that before the world ends that they will call everybody's number on Wheel of Fortune?"

Potty Training Days ......I've lost count

Welp, this weekend ended up being a long weekend since the hubs was off work on Monday. So we broke out the camper for our first camping trip of the season.

This also meant, maybe I should have brought the potty seat along.
We tried to ask if he had to go.
Sent him along with everyone who ever went....
But he was just a pissin' and poopin' in his pants.

Looks like he is a few credits short of graduation. Back on the ball today. No TV, and training pants. He is still tinkling on the pot, and I mean like a drop or two. But he is not pooping at all.
So I took away the Elmo Underpants and told him he could have them back when he could poop on the potty again.

He is a very distractable little guy. If the TV is on, he is watching it. Even if he can't see it from his potty station. I need him to focus on knowing he has to go and actually making it in the pot.
Today and yesterday, he'll sit on the potty, but pee all over himself. He'll close his legs with his wee wee on top, so it just pools on his legs.

Brought in reinforcements this morning...Daddy had a little talk about where to point that thing!
So we will see how today goes and attempt to get him back on track before sending him off to school tomorrow.

Potty Training Boot Camp Days 6 and 7

Now for the REAL test.
Time to send our newest Potty Training Senior off to school in BIG BOY Pants.!

I thought, maybe I should somehow let his teachers know he was sans diaper.
So this is what I came up with....



Everyone at school thought it was awesome. His teacher said he sat on the potty 3 times. However, produced nothing. :o(
Same thing for Day 2 at school. Both afternoons were pretty successful. There was pee there was poop, it was like a party in the potty. I think it's time to order the cap and gown...

Now it is off to the weekend....How will things hold up?

Potty Training Boot Camp Day 5

Houston.....we have poop! Holy cow....And it was a turd his Dad could be proud of. By days end we actually had done this twice. No accidents while we went out running errands. I think it is time to close the file on daytime training for this little boy. However he is super full when he wakes up in the morning, so I think we may need to cut back the liquids in the evening. We'll give that a shot and see how that goes.

As for Megs. She still won't even sit. Not sure what to do with her. Think maybe I need to call a behavior specialist.

Potty Training Boot Camp Day 4

Luke is regularly peeing on the pot. Still no poop-but we will get there.
He is using it to his advantage. Now when he has to sit in Time Out on the stairs, he says he has to pee. Oui-

We went out in....(dunt dunt dunt)....public....in big boy pants. I think I asked him every 2 minutes if he had to pee. I was so nervous. But he did great, and even used the big potty when Daddy took him. Phew.

Megan on the other hand. She did go for the lollipop she sat on the pot the whole time she sucked the lollipop. But no pee.

Did I mention we need a urine sample for some genetic testing. Have you ever had to do that on a child that is not potty trained? It consists of a U-bag, which is basically a baggie stuck to her pee pee area with tape. Yeah, she wore that thing all afternoon with no pee. Then I took it off- imagine ripping a band aid off your pee pee area. I think she was traumatized. Of course there wasn't enough pee, and she was not having any part of putting on another bag. So I thought- HEY maybe this will get her to go on the pot. Sike. Didn't work. I did however line the toilet with saran wrap in case she even did the slightest tinkle. I funneled juice and water into her to help. Finally I held her down kicking and screaming until we got something. WOO HOO -success. I emptied the contents into the infamous sterile cup and alas, we got about 1 cc. Hope it's enough! Not planning on doing that again anytime soon. Maybe we will revisit the whole potty thing another time with her. Yet another Mommy failure.
However, I plan to send Luke to school in big boy pants this week.

Potty Training Boot Camp Day 3

So back on track with the timer today.


Which also mean back on track for Megan not cooperating. She wanted nothing to do with it. Luke on the other hand, sat right down every time. Another Dr. Appt interrupted our schedule today. This time I put them in those vinyl covered training pants when we went out. Mind you, Luke is recently adopted, so we only have little girl training paints. Poor little guy- Purple panties, and polka dotted training pants. Think I'll hit target on the way home before he develops a complex!

We made it through the appointment with only 1 accident! Back home we hit the potties immediate. Megan did sit, for about an hour- didn't pee, but she sat. Small success with her. Luke on the other hand peed a total of 6 times! Woot Woot! He did poop in the pants so that is our goal for tomorrow. No more candy for using the potty, now he has to poop in it.

As we manned the potties from about 6-9 pm, trying to keep Megy interested in sitting, since she was doing such a great job, we made up every song, dance whatever to keep her happy. My 2 older ones took turns singing or teaching her their own "potty dance" , the sitting on the potty dance
pee pee in the pa-tay....
They were having a grand ole' time. Luke would stop playing to run over and say "potty" pull his pants down and tinkle. Wish it would have worked for Megy. But Alas, bedtime came up.

Oh, and I did stop at Target, he picked out the Elmo Big Boy Pants.

Potty Training Boot Camp Day 2

OK, So Day 2 was way more chaotic.I upped the time on the timer for 20 minute intervals. Which was working great until we had to leave for a Dr. Appt. So I again opted to put diapers over the underpants. I don't think that is really having any effect on them however. When we returned home we returned to the timer. Megs wanted nothing to do with it today. She refused to sit, Although she didn't have any accidents in her big girl panties, she also did not go in the pot.

Luke on the other hand, I decided since he was doing so well with sitting, I stopped offering Jelly Beans for just sitting on the potty and just offer the cookie for actually peeing. He was OK with that. I also decided, at one point, since Megy was off doing her "I'm not potty training" thing, that I would briefly stray from my plan and keep Luke sitting until he went. He willing sat on the potty, so I continued feeding him water until he went. Unst he did! (another line I sing as I say-do you know the movie?) So Hooray!!!! We have pee.......He was excited, we were excited-he got a cookie, life was good!

Another period of running errands and such-so diapers again. But when we got home, I coerced them - both - into sitting, with the hopes that if they peed this time they would get some Hershey kisses. I watered them both up good and again, Luke peed. Hooray again! He picked out his candy and he was happy!

I wonder if Megan will ever use a potty?
Today's success...2 pees for Luke, Making they current score
Luke 3....Megan 0
Megs is going to have to really step up her game!
FYI- The Movie....Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Potty Training Boot Camp

OK, so Day 1 of Potty Training Boot Camp has concluded. Here is what I did.

I purchased a Timer, a visual and auditory one. It is called the Time Tracker by Learning Resources: http://www.learningresources.com/

I also set up a Potty Station which includes potties for both kiddos, a basket of books in between, a stack of underwear, and somewhere for me to sit. A plastic jar of jelly beans and a container of cookies.

The timer worked very smoothly and was so easy to use. I set the manual timer to go off at 12 minute intervals, meaning every 12 minutes we trucked it over to the potty. (The light stayed green for 5 minutes, yellow for 5 minutes, and red for 2 minutes).

If they sat on the potty they got to pick a jelly bean out of the jar. (this was a hit, My "typical" little guy sat every time). I set the auto timer for 5 minutes, after which they got up and checked the potty. If there was pee pee or poopy they got a cookie.

First thing in the morning we sat, and them put on "big kid undies" Then went to the table for cereal while we waited for the timer to go off. Megy peed all over the floor and pooped in the training pants. UGH. Timer went off and it was off to the potties we went. Luke sat for his jelly beans, but Megs was not having any of it. The second time the timer went off, they both sat for jelly beans. Yeah. One hurdle. we repeated this until we had to head out for a Dr. appt. For which I put diapers over their underwear. When we came back we immediately sat on the potties. Then back to the table for some lunch. Now it was looks turn to pee and poop in the training pants. Double UGH.

Finally at about 5 pm (having done this 20 minute potty cycle since 9 am)We had our first success. Luke peed in the pot. Woot Woot! He got a cookie, Megy got mad. What did Megs do while she was screaming? Pee. Crap! Why couldn't she do that 30 seconds ago! She would have gotten a cookie then!

As the night closed out, no more successes. Tomorrow is another day.

Potty Training 101

So I have 4 kids. My Two oldest girls were pretty standard really (did you hear that in the Dr. Evil voice?)

My Oldest was about 20 months when I started potty training. I tried everything. Offering candy, stickers, anything I could think of to get her to sit on the potty. I bought a potty video of Bear in the Big Blue House (which she loved, Pa-Tay, yeah yeah yah Pa-Tay). Over and over I heard, "Don't force them to sit on the potty-it will come" But this kid, if left naked all day, would hold it in! Finally during one of my days letting her hold it in, I knew she had to go, I said screw it, you are sitting on that pot. I held her on that potty, she peed and it was like an Hallelujah moment. She glowed with a smile from ear to ear! From that moment on, she literally never had a daytime accident! It was awesome. Nighttime however was a different story. She was such a heavy sleeper that she would wet herself and not even wake up. It took about 6 months, before she was trained at night as well. What finally worked was cutting back her liquid intake at night. We wouldn't giver her anything to drink after 7 pm (she wouldn't go to bed until around 10). After a while we gradually added the liquid back in.

My Second daughter was just the opposite. I used the same reward method as my oldest. She would wake up dry every morning. For the life of me, I could not get her to take the time out to use the potty during the day. We started with her when she was about 20 months old also. By about 26 months, she was doing well having minimal accidents. One of the things she loved was going to Target where they had a "Kids Potty" It is a toilet that is small and low to the ground. With her, we did not use a potty chair. There was no transition issues with the two types of potties or with pee vs.......BM.....

Isn't that funny- it's the dreaded, what do we call it dilemma.....For writing purposes I refer to it as BM, however, around our house we use poop or poopy, For that matter we also use pee pee, panties and other potty terms of endearment. I'm not known for being PC.

So here is where the real test of motherhood comes in. My goal, a golden potty. Yeah- I'll settle for not having to buy another box of diapers. After all I have been changing diapers continuously, for over 10 years now. As you may recall, I said I have 4 kids. Meaning there are 2 left. Oui. My next daughter is 6. She has Cerebral Palsy and Dubowitz Syndrome, to name a few. I am still not sure she fully understands the concept of using the potty. She is not very consistent in anything she does or learns. What has been consistent is that her developmental level is very delayed, however, she does still does things along a normal progression. For example, She met milestones in the same order as a "normal" child, just at a much later age. Rolled over at 15 months, Walked at 20 months, etc. So like a normal kids, she is currently telling me "potty" AFTER she pees in her diaper. Pretty typical really, of an 18 - 24 month old. Did I fail to mention she is completely Nonverbal. So basically she signs "potty". She can hear me just fine, so at least we have that working for us.

We have tried Potty Training in the past. It has never worked. I try to sit her on the potty and she screams like it's burning her. I put her in big girl panties and she pees all over the house. I have often said, if it was kosher to train her to use a piddle pad, we would have success.
So that is where we stand with kiddo #3.

Kiddo #4 is currently 2yrs, 8 months. He only recently came to live with us, we are adopting him. He has lived in 3 foster homes, with Mom, Grandma...making us home #6. So life has been rough for this little guy. But he has been with us a few months now- so I figured what the hay, it's about time.

Since all my attempts have been unsuccessful with #3, I took advantage of a "Potty Training the Special Needs Child" seminar that our local Downs Syndrome Association was hosting. Many of the topics we pretty common sense, but it did sort of shed new light on how to use some of the resources I already knew about.
Some of the topics covered in the seminar included:
Rewarding, timer training, and when to start.
Leaving the seminar, I had a plan for the upcoming Spring Break. I was going to attempt to Potty Train both kids, at the same time.
Step 1: but a timer
Step 2: set up potty area, with potty chairs, books, etc.
Step 3: offer rewards for sitting on potty as well as using the potty.
Step 4: set of potty time schedule.

Lets see how that goes........

Cock-tail Rabbit.

Rese is doing a prairie animal report on the "cocktail rabbit"
Known to most if us as the cottontail rabbit.

Do you think her teacher would be mad if her poster was of a rabbit with a martini?

Rese on Lent

So Rese says: "I'm going to give up talking for Lent"
Mara: "Didn't you try that once"
Mom "Yeah it didn't even last 5 minutes"
Rese: "Well then I'm gonna give up eating fat food, because I have too much belly fat"

Rese on Teachers

Rese puts on a skirt that is too tight and too short....

She says, "it makes me feel like a teacher."
I said why a teacher
"because teachers wear their skirts all tight and short like this...."

Side Note- apparently I am not dressing slutty enough to be a teacher......