0 List-mania!

This past week was a bit rough.  Since Jonathan was sick the previous week, getting back into the routine was hard for him. But we found he really liked and relied on mini "to-do" lists we started making for him.  Like, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY liked them.

We have a morning routine list:
Potty
Ipad
Potty
Brush Teeth
Get Dressed
Ipad
Eat
Calendar
Put on Shoes and Socks
Blue Car
School

We have a night time routine list too.  (I won't bore you with that one, but it is pretty similar to the morning one).  

We would write them on little scraps of paper.  He really enjoyed crossing off the items he accomplished and recap what he did.  "I all done potty!  Good job!" for example.

School and therapy used lists too.  At school they have a mini dry erase board.
So I picked one up, in anticipation to do away with the scrap paper.  He was giddy when I gave him the dry erase board.  Simply giddy!

So this whole weekend, that board followed us.  On our errands, in the stores, on walks, even tucked in with him in bed.   At first, I tried to have him leave the board in the car when we went to the store.  But he really wanted to bring it, so I said fine.

While at World Market, he decided to settle in, and start writing too.

It got even more complex as the weekend went on.  This morning, I went upstairs, and discovered he had started writing a list on his own.  He asked for some help on a few words, but he mostly wrote it all out himself.

"Pootty."  We got a laugh at that.  I only wrote 2 of the items.  He did the rest.

Dude was spelling!  My 4 year old was totally spelling!  We also did a list to go for a walk to the park.  He didn't ask to go, he just started spouting off the steps to go to the park.
"First potty.  Then put on the shoes and socks.  Then walk in the wagon.  Then we go swings.  Then we go slide.  Then we go walk in wagon.  Then we go home!"

As tedious as these lists can be, I can see his comfort in knowing what is ahead.  We can add things to the lists that he doesn't like (ie, take medicine), but he can see there are more desired items after, and we keep going.

I better go.  "Potty" is coming up soon on his current list.  And you never want to miss that one. 

Detail: List-mania!

0 P-P-P Potty - Day 3

If you're still reading about our weekend, you must be either family, or really like me ;)

So today, I think was really successful!  We laid low and didn't really leave the house.

Looking at my "potty log" for the day, Jonathan successfully went 7 times on the potty, and only had 2 accidents.  We were going about every hour.  He had his 2 accidents back to back in the afternoon, so I moved our potty visits to 45 minutes - success - 50 minutes - success - 55 minutes, etc.  I think that helped him build up his confidence again to go on the potty. 

Funny, when he couldn't "go" he would look at me and say, "help.  help please."  Sorry kid, can't help you there!

And we did a lot of playing.  Putting puzzles together, played blocks, more time on the computer playing the Caillou games, and even threw in a few Handy Manny episodes.

I'm a little nervous for tomorrow.  But I need to let go and put him in the capable hands of his teachers, therapists and his Daddy.  I've just been the main go-to all weekend.  But a bird's gotta fly, right?  ha!!
This is the most potty success we've ever had.  So I'm feeling pretty hopeful.  At least for now.   

Detail: P-P-P Potty - Day 3

0 Potty Post - Day 2

It is 7:15pm on Day 2, and I'm still alive.  Day 1 and Day 2 are in the books!

We kicked off this morning, after sleeping in (bonus!) at 7am.  Kid's pull-up was dry.  He was mad to go on the potty, but he did it.  We read a book...and success!  Later on that hour, an accident of the number 2 variety showed up soon after, but we haven't really been focused on "the deuce." So I wasn't too worried.

I was worried about the long morning ahead.  We were back to 50 minutes on the potty and 10 minutes off. Somehow, Jonathan was REALLY interested in computer games on my laptop.  I thought for sure he would want to watch DVDs on his portable DVD player.  But he wanted nothing to do with that.  He wanted to play a Caillou game I have on my computer.  And then a funny thing happened.  His first 50 minutes was up, without success, but he didn't want to get up.  He wanted to keep playing.  So I let him...and 20 more minutes later...SUCCESS!  (each time he has a success, we knock off 5 minutes on the potty to 5 minutes more of a break).

King Commode - Potty, 'puter, and Popcorn

And that's what we did all day.  Played on the computer, success, break, accident, back on the potty, played on the computer, success, break, accident, back on the potty...you get the picture.   I was pushing the liquids the whole time too.  My brother accused me of water-boarding when I told him.  Ha!

Mike did give me a reprieve.  I was able to sneak in a run and 3 loads of laundry. 

But I have to say, I kinda enjoyed my one-on-one time with Jonathan.  We did a lot of laughing.  I was forced to focus on the playing the games with him, and sitting with him, rather than my usual running around the house doing this and that.  This one game he really enjoyed was a memory game, where he had to match a picture (ie. a cow), with the word (COW).  There are probably a dozen different images and words, and he knew them all!  Totally site reading.  And the best, he understood the memory game aspect of it, which he didn't like to do before.  He caught on and remembered where items where, and I saw him do it.  One of those moments that if I didn't stop, I wouldn't have caught it.  So I guess, I'm grateful for this potty weekend in other ways besides the whole potty training aspect.

Mommy and Jonathan in all our glory!

So the last few potty attempts, we go up, and he goes right away!!!  YAYAYAY!! We are currently on a 45minute break.  I think the kid has peed in the potty like 10 times today (thanks to all that water-boarding). 

I know this is not the "end-all-be-all" to our potty journey.  But feels good that we've made strides in a positive way.

uhhh...gotta go.  He totally just crapped his pants.

Detail: Potty Post - Day 2

0 Did I say Square One?

(Spoiler alert.  I will be discussing poop and poop related events)
aaannnd then there was frustration. 

With all the wonderful victories I mentioned previous, we had an incident today that brought me back to reality.
1 word. 
Poopcasso.
That is what we call it when Jonathan has a BM, and then smears it all over the place.  He has not done that in a long time.  He did it today.  I wasn't home.  Mike as here with him.  When I got home, Mike told me what happened, already had clothes in the wash and had given Jonathan a bath.  I noticed remnants in Jonathan's hair.  He promptly had another bath.

Mike and I are both tired of this.  Tired of the pull-ups.  Tired of clean-up.  Just spent.   

Detail: Did I say Square One?