Potty Training

When Brian mentioned his hope of having Brycen potty trained before Mackenzie's arrival...
I sorta laughed at him.  
I mean come on, he wasn't even 2... 
I knew parents with boys that were 3+ and not potty trained. My nephew was well over 3 when he trained.. and it was a struggle!
I decided to keep an open mind and research potty training methods. I then came across the the "3 Day Potty Training" method by Lora Jensen.
I talked with a lot of mom's that swear by it, but I figured it was way too good to be true.  I mean seriously, how could a 3 day method REALLY work - there had to be a catch.
And a catch there was.. kinda.
I was told to read the e-book, read it again, and then read it again so all the concepts sunk in.
I was also that if I wanted it to work, I need to fully commit to the process and everything that went along with it... meaning follow it to a T.
Basic outline of the method: 1) Do not leave your house for the ENTIRE process 2) Undivided attention to your child for the ENTIRE process 3) Constant reminders throughout the day to tell mommy or daddy if they had to go potty 3) Waking up in the middle of the night and before their normal wake up time to go potty 4) Positive reinforcement
Our daycare was conveniently closed the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day, so I quickly decided THAT would be potty training weekend.  The e-book recommends waiting til 22 months to start, and Brycen would be days shy of 22 months.
Friday: We woke up, and I greeted Brycen with 2 garbage bags.  The method says to have the child throw out all their diapers.  At first he was hesitant, but in the week leading up, we discussed numerous times that he was going to be a big boy and NO MORE DIAPERS.  Once I reminded him of NO MORE DIAPERS, he quickly caught on to throwing them all out and switching them out for underwear.  To say he enjoyed the process is an understatement.
The rest of the day was spent cleaning up LOTS of accidents... but by the end of the day, we finally had 2 successful attempts on the potty!
Saturday: We woke up and started the process all over.  After a few accidents, we began having success after success.  I remember thinking to myself "there is no way it's THIS easy".  Although we still had our fair share of accidents and "icky pants", it seemed like he was starting to "get it".  We definitely didn't adhere to the method as much this day... we had plans to host dinner and friends, and our day was spent cleaning and cooking - so most of the accidents were OUR fault since we weren't following the process.
Sunday: After a late night, a very sore and achy pregnant mama and a slightly hungover daddy, we resumed potty training.  Since none of us felt like ourselves, this day was full of accidents and the dedication on our part was gone.  This was the most trying day of the entire process and I convinced myself (at the time) that he just wasn't ready and we'd have to go back to diapers.  Looking back, Brian and I realized that it wasn't that Brycen wasn't ready - we weren't committed.  Additionally, while I had read the e-book multiple times, Brian read MOST of it (and only once).  We all went to bed very frustrated and for the first time my frustrations showed to Brycen - I told him that unless he "got it", we'd be going back to diapers.  The entire weekend, if you asked Brycen what this weekend was, he's get all excited and yell "NO MORE DIAPERS". and me telling him that he'd be going back to diapers got him ALL upset and he yelled "MOMMA NO MORE DIAPERS, NO MORE DIAPERS".
Monday: Brian woke up before the sun and re-read the ENTIRE e-book.  I woke up and we discussed the plan for the day.  It was then that we realized WE didn't commit over the weekend like we should've.  We agreed that for the entire day, we were 150% dedicated to potty training.  Brian, like Brycen, was completely against going back to diapers... so I agreed.  Brycen woke up and we started of with a success.. and then another one... and then another.  Brian and I looked at each other amazed.  This continued the entire day - sure we had the occasional accident, but had way more successes than accidents.  The true test came that evening when we had friends over for dinner, and Brycen was distracted playing with his friend Caleb.  But once again, he surprised us and would let us know he had to potty despite playing outside! Tuesday was the true test since he went back to daycare.  We had a few accidents, but again, way more successes.  This theme continued throughout the week.
So here we are 3 weeks later and I'm so proud to say that we have a 99% potty trained toddler.  We are working on poop, but like everyone says, poop is the hardest thing to train.  Just this week we started to have regular successful attempts, so I'm hopeful that in the coming days/weeks, we will be 100% potty trained.  Although our potty training attempt took 4 days instead of 3, I really believe that had we committed in the beginning, it would've worked in 3!
Friends of ours have asked "how did you do it"... the truth?  We really didn't leave the house for 4 days - I'll be honest, I was going stir crazy by Monday... and although we didn't fully commit to the process in the beginning, we did by the end and it really did/does work.  Also, we used a positive reward system... every time he had a success, he got a sticker and a potato chip.  After the first week, he stopped asking for the reward, and we realized that our little celebrations and telling how proud we were, was motivation enough.
While we completely understand that the next big change in Brycen's world (the birth of Mackenzie) could cause him to regress, we will handle that when/if the time arises.  In the mean time, we are relishing in the fact that our toddler continues to amaze us... we have asked a lot of our child, from transitioning to a big boy bed, to potty training, and he has taken each "challenge" we've given him and run with it.

Belly Comparison

With everything I've dealt with this pregnancy, I'll be the first to admit that I didn't connect with it as much as I did with Brycen.  I figured with my FINAL pregnancy quickly coming to an end, I'd really regret not documenting my belly progress.  While I won't have nearly as many pics this time around, I'm going to make a better effort to document the end... 

32 weeks - baby #2

In true pregnancy style, this post gets to recap yet ANOTHER "symptom" that I've had the displeasure of developing.
A couple days before hitting 31 weeks, I woke up and my face was swollen... it looked sunburned, but I hadn't been in the sun all weekend.  My neck was all splotchy, as were my arms.  It looked a lot like the rash I developed earlier in pregnancy, so I didn't think too much of it and proceeded to take some allergy meds.
I woke up Tuesday morning however, stumbled into the bathroom half asleep and was shocked to see how swollen my face was.  My eyelids were super puffy and swollen, and the sunburned look was now covering my ENTIRE face.  I walked back into the bedroom and after taking one look at me, hubby said "call a doctor".  Not exactly how I expected to start my day...
After seeing my primary care physician, he quickly called a dermatologist in a connecting building, and made me an appointment.  After seeing the doctor, I was diagnosed with "atopic eruption of pregnancy (AEP)"...  AEP is a convenient catch all diagnosis for any inflammation of the skin during pregnancy.  After discussing possible causes, it was determined that I was experiencing an allergic reaction to... of all things, the sun!
The best part?  I wasn't even IN the sun that weekend.. while outside, I was 100% of the time in the stinking shade!
The freaking sun, are you kidding me?  
Hello, it's summer... 
and I have an outdoor loving, very rambunctious toddler that goes absolutely stir crazy in the house.
I was told that once it "clears up" it could go away, and be a one time thing, or it could last the rest of my pregnancy...  Well, keeping with how this entire pregnancy has gone, it's here to stay until the end :(
I am so sensitive that just being in the car running errands causes me to get all itchy.
This itch isn't anything I'd wish on my own worst enemy...  while creams, allergy meds, etc help a tiny bit, NOTHING helps the overwhelming desire to scrape the skin off my body.  I'm constantly waking up in the middle of the night scratching to death.
Ah just another joy of pregnancy... 7 weeks to go... NOT that I'm counting!
Weekly Stats and Reflection Date: Thursday, June 13, 2013 How far along? 32 weeks 1 day According to countdownmypregnancy.com, baby #2 is the size of spaghetti squash:

 

Size: 16.69 inches (crown to heel) Weight: 3.75 pounds  Food aversions - still sausage Cravings - chocolate Symptoms - Sciatica, back pain, RLS, AEP Movement - lots of movement Gender - GIRL Goal for the coming week - clean out the nursery - It's starting to stress me out! Looking forward to - my (hopefully last) high risk appointment next week - can't wait to see baby girl again! How Brycen is doing - When he sees my belly, he now says "baby sister" or "baby kenzie".  We've been talking a lot about having baby sister around here and how we'll need his help with her because he'll be the big brother.

30 weeks (1 day) - Baby #2

Well, I've slacked on this portion of the blog too...  thankfully not much has happened (for once) since my last update.
2 weeks ago I had my 28 week appointments with both high risk and regular OB
Baby girl looks fantastic and is growing as she should.
Now for the good news?
As long as I have no major contractions, no bleeding episodes, and she continues to grow as expected...
I WILL BE RELEASED FROM HIGH RISK after my 33 week check up!
After discussing this possibility with my regular doctor, IF released, we are still moving forward with a scheduled induction at 39 weeks.  While we all understand the risks of an induction, for my own sanity, it's a risk I am willing to take.  This pregnancy has been a roller coaster to say the least and if I can control one thing, I want it to be the safe labor and delivery of our baby girl.
Also, I passed my glucose test!
The past week my sciatica has been down right HORRENDOUS.. I've spent many a times curled up crying like a baby... I finally found a chiropractor and made an appointment.  The relief was instantaneous and we decided that a maintenance program was very much needed for the rest of the pregnancy.  Unfortunately, the relief lasted mere days and by Saturday, I felt like I was dying again.  I am very much looking forward to my appointment on Thursday!
Weekly Stats and Reflection Date: Thursday, May 30, 2013 How far along? 30 weeks 1 day According to countdownmypregnancy.com, baby #2 is the size of cabbage:

  Size: 15.71 inches (crown to heel) Weight: 2.91 pounds  Food aversions - still sausage Cravings - chocolate Symptoms - Sciatica, back pain, RLS Movement - lots of movement Weight Gain - 16 pounds Gender - GIRL (STILL!) Goal for the coming week - get motivated on the nursery Looking forward to - meeting my baby girl! How Brycen is doing - I fear the separation anxiety that he has had recently is a result of baby girl's pending arrival... either way, we're both soaking up as much mommy and son time as possible.  He loves poking my belly, and while laying on my stomach recently, Mackenzie started kicking.  Brycen turned around, pulled up my shirt, and yelled "feet" while poking my belly.
I "finished" another craft project for the nursery (pics to follow when I do a nursery update)... too bad it is still a disaster area and NOTHING is ready for her arrival.  It definitely is a change from the first time around when I had the nursery DONE at 24 weeks... at least her bedding is finally ordered.  I really need to find the motivation and get it done... BEFORE she gets here!

12.10

2 months away from having a 2 year old?!?
This past month we flew home to Buffalo for a much needed visit...  it would also be the last time you could fly for free!

Watching the planes in Chicago

Almost to Buffalo... it kinda looked like we were headed on a tropical getaway :)
That's just Canada!

At lunch in Buffalo... after a LONG day of traveling.
This is the first time in probably a year that you're fallen asleep on me...

Trampoline fun with Nana

Hanging with mom on Grandma's patio

Small boat harbor

You LOVED Grandpa's cane

Killing time in Chicago

Fascinated with the airplanes

The SECOND time (in under a week) falling asleep on me!

We had an amazing visit and loved staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house! While home however, the separation anxiety/fear definitely set in and you had a couple "melt downs" if mommy or daddy were not with you.

I thought it was just mommy and daddy that you were attached to... but at the airport while leaving we quickly learned that you were DEFINITELY attached to Nana!   It was the most heart wrenching goodbye I've ever witnessed. You sure love your Nana!!!
One of the biggest and BEST changes this month, and it started while in Buffalo, was your ability to FINALLY vocalize WHAT you wanted - rather than us playing the guessing game.  It has cut down on the number of temper tantrums for the most part... except now we can tell you no and you do NOT like being told no.
You started getting a cough at the end of April, and we just chalked it up to teething.  Well shortly after returning home from Buffalo, the cough wasn't getting better, and you were starting to show signs that something was wrong.  After a quick to Same Day Peds, you were on the mend after being diagnosed with a sinus infection.
You definitely keep us on our toes with these little (yet constant) illnesses...  hoping that we have a FEW months of good health!
Quick stats recap: Loves to sleep Starting to get pickier about foods size 6 shoe cloth diapers during the day, size 4 disposables overnight 18 month shorts... 24 month pants (otherwise you look like you're preparing for the flood), and 24 month/2t shirts dirty blond hair with a very distinct red tint hazel eyes still 16 teeth, however the bottom 2 year molars are SUPER close Nicknames: Bubba Talking in sentences!
Coming up... our attempt to potty train!

12.9

SHAME ON ME...
Catching up, once again :(
Let's see, what happened up til 21 months?
Well, you moved into your big boy room:

You transitioned SO MUCH EASIER than we EVER imagined... truly proving to us that you were more than ready!
The first night you cried for about 20 minutes.. the 2nd night 10... and the third night barely a whimper   About a week after the transition you tested us by getting out of bed multiple times...  we quickly put an end to that :)
Quick stats recap: Definitely take after mama as far as sleep goes! Love food still (thank goodness!) size 6 shoe cloth diapers during the day, size 4 disposables overnight 24 month/2t shirts, 18 month shorts but 24 month jeans (WITH adjustable waist!) Red is definitely coming out more and more in your hair! hazel eyes Still 16 teeth Nicknames: Bubba Vocabulary is amazing!

27 weeks (2 days) - Baby #2

3rd Trimester!   2/3 of the way down...   We recently traveled back home (to Buffalo) for a last visit before Mackenzie arrives... it was also the last time we'd be able to make it home and have Brycen fly for free!   With Brycen, we scheduled a 3d/4d ultrasound, and keeping with tradition, did the same with Mackenzie.  Since 12 weeks, she has been head down... NOT at this scan (and mind you, I have a scan at every appointment).   I was quickly able to pinpoint WHEN she moved breech, as it was also the start of not being able to eat (since her head was IN my stomach) and the start of the most horrendous sciatica I have EVER felt.  

Since she was breech, we got awesome views of her LEFT side... she was stubborn and refused to show off!   We definitely got a variety of pics, but knowing she was breech, I was determined to do something about it!   My nephew had a birthday party at skyzone the following day, and after talking with the ultrasound tech, she didn't think it would hurt to take a few jumps on the trampoline to try and get her to move.. and wouldn't ya know?   it worked!   I can't confirm that she is head down, however she has definitely moved as I can eat and (for the most part) the sciatica is gone.   Weekly Stats and Reflection Date: Friday, May 10, 2013 How far along? 27 weeks 2 day According to countdownmypregnancy.com, baby #2 is the size of cauliflower:

  Size: 14.41 inches Weight: 1.93 pounds  Food aversions - still sausage Cravings - chocolate Symptoms - NOTHING horrible to report beside the sciatica (which has gotten MUCH better) Movement - lots of movement Gender - GIRL (STILL!) Goal for the coming week - get motivated on the nursery Looking forward to - Glucose test on Wednesday... excited...NOT! How Brycen is doing - Eh, not too much different than every other update.   He knows there a baby, it's his sister, and her name is Kenzie. 

25 weeks (1 day) - Baby #2

Well, like my monthly toddler posts, my weekly baby posts have gone down the drain :(
To catch up since my 20 week post, I had another heavy bleeding episode shortly after my last post.   I had the pleasure of spending 8 hours in Labor and Delivery being monitored.
Unfortunately, as with every other episode there is still no reason WHY or possible explanation. It is incredibly frustrating and taxing to have issue after issue and be told "it's normal".  I don't understand HOW it is normal.  I was also given the heads up that should I have to visit L&D for more bleeding, I'd immediately be admitted and I wouldn't be released until I've had 48 hours of no bleeding... it's a good thing I wasn't kept this last time because I would've been there for over 3 weeks.
Yes, you read that right - my "normal" bleeding lasted 3 weeks.  
So given my history, if I have to head back, I'll be packing my hospital bags because I will be there a while. I guess if it leads to a happy, healthy, it is ALL worth it.
Weekly Stats and Reflection Date: Thursday, April 25, 2013 How far along? 25 weeks 1 day According to countdownmypregnancy.com, baby #2 is the size of a cucumber:

Size: 14.02 inches Weight: 1.68 ounces  Food aversions - nothing new - still can't eat sausage though Weight Gain: 13 lbs Cravings - nothing really Symptoms - back pain still, but manageable.  Unfortunately, the sciatica is TERRIBLE Movement - lots of movement Gender - GIRL (STILL!) Goal for the coming week - be a better blogger Looking forward to - 3d/4d ultrasound How Brycen is doing - He hasn't been overly interested in baby lately, but that's ok!
I've actually be feeling pretty good lately with the exception of the sciatica.

Mackenzie at 24 weeks

I had a 24 week appointment with both my high risk dr and regular OB.  We discussed the on going complications and I was informed that I'm officially being monitored for pre-term labor.  While I haven't been given too many restrictions, I've been told overall to just take it easy.  My official diagnosis is an abruption -although it doesn't mean that's what I have, for medical reasons that's what it's classified as because there is no other explanation.  My OB and I have discussed delivery and after taking everything into consideration (current complications and history from Brycen), the goal right now is 37 weeks with the intention of inducing sometime after that.  Obviously our plan is dependent on Miss Mackenzie not having other ideas!  I'm glad to be past the 24 week mark (viability), but I know she has a LOT of growing left to do and hope she stays put for a while longer.
Here's a belly pic @24 weeks:

12.8

I'm a terrible blogger.
Somehow I've managed to step away completely for a month.
I feel guilty because after all, this is my journal and most importantly, my children's baby book! I vow to get back into the swing of things. The month of March was spent getting his big boy room complete. I'll have a reveal in an upcoming post! We were also busy with Easter.   He got to color eggs for the first time... although I'm not sure if he enjoyed dying the eggs or breaking them more! We ran out of newspaper, so I decided to bring down the paint tarp from his bedroom - he had WAY more fun playing on/in the tarp!

Quick stats recap: Loves to sleep Love food - peas, fruit and yogurt size 5 shoe cloth diapers during the day, size 4 disposables overnight 18 month clothes - getting so close to 24 month/2T dirty blond hair hazel eyes 16 teeth - waiting on 2 year molars Nicknames: Bubba Talking up a storm

20 weeks (3 days) - Baby #2

Half way there!
I had a dr's appointment Wednesday, at exactly 20 weeks.   It was supposed to be the BIG ultrasound. Ya know, the one that most moms count down the days til.  The office staff, nurse, and Ultrasound tech kept asking if we were excited, and ready to find out whether it was boy or girl.  Each time, we politely said sure, but we already knew it WAS a girl.  Being "high risk" my MFM dr had already done the anatomy scan at 18 weeks and confirmed what I already knew from day 1 - we were having a healthy baby girl.
The tech was obviously disappointed that she wasn't going to be able to deliver the exciting news.. after all, I laid on that same bed 2 years ago and she was able to deliver the news of our healthy baby boy.  Our tech obviously loves her job, because she quickly said "well, even though you've already had all the measurements done, how about we just take a peak and see what she's up to".
We then spent the next 30 minutes watching our sweetheart flip, punch and kick.  The tech was amazed at how active she was and it was so incredibly amazing to have an ultrasound that was FUN - after all, every other ultrasound until now has been to confirm that everything is "normal".  We've gone into so many appointments worried to receive bad news... and even though we've received only good news, with everything that has happened over the past 9 weeks, it has been impossible to relax and trust that everything was indeed OK.
I'm finally feeling Miss M on a regular basis - gone are the days that I'd whip out my doppler JUST to check and make sure she was still with us.  Now, I'm gently reminded all day that she is indeed still there.
Hubby has finally started talking to Miss M and rubbing my belly.  It is so painfully obvious (NOW) that he was just as nervous and scared as I.. and while he never really said before that he was nervous, his reaction to the pregnancy now reveals that he very much was.
We're both getting excited for our 3d/4d ultrasound in May - it'll be here before we know it.
On an exciting note, while in our 20 week ultrasound, the Tech was able to capture an almost identical picture that I have of Brycen at the same time frame:

Top: Brycen @20 weeks
Bottom: Mackenzie @20 weeks

I absolutely love how you can count the digits on their right hands!
And since we were taking a peak, I made the tech confirm that it was indeed still a girl:

Weekly Stats and Reflection Date: Saturday, March 24, 2013 How far along? 20 weeks 3 days According to countdownmypregnancy.com, baby #2 is the size of a carrot:

Size: 10.51 inches Weight: 12.70 ounces  Food aversions - BBQ Weight Gain: 9 lbs Cravings - Cadbury chocolate eggs Symptoms - horrible BACK pain, lots of stretching belly pains Movement - lots of movement Gender - GIRL Goal for the coming week - Not consume the entire bag of Cadbury eggs I have :) Looking forward to - 3d/4d ultrasound How Brycen is doing - Overall, I think he's doing well.  He's been very cuddly lately and while snuggling with me almost ALWAYS pulls up my shirt and says baby a million times.