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Today Livi came & told me she needed to wash her hands.
She had taken off her own pants & panties. Peed on the potty. Wiped {to the extent that she can wipe, there was TP in the little potty though}. And put her clothes back on. All on her own!
And woke up dry for the 3rd morning this week.
Livi A++: Mommy fail
Took the kiddos to the Dr. to follow-up today.
Dr. Harrison said Livi & Logan sounded great! I knew they were doing better, so it was so good to hear that! Their ears look good too. We are not quite sure what caused Livi to spike a fever last weekend. Ear infection, pneumonia, or we are also questioning the possibility of a UTI from her newly acquired potty skills. Not all that uncommon it seems for little girls to hold it too long as they learn. And she WAS infact holding it long, long periods of time those 2 days right around that fever spike. I was worried she was dehydrated, but instead I think she was just holding it too long. Could be pure coincidence, but whatever the case, antibiotics seem to have fixed whatever issue she had & we'll just keep an eye on it as she goes forward.
She has managed to maintain her weight & clocked in at 27 lbs today.
Logan who I knew was withering away before my eyes infact has lost close to 1.5 lbs & was down to 25lbs 7oz. I was reassured that its common for sick RSV kids to loose 2 lbs & to just keep encouraging them to eat as tolerated & continue to push fluids. He will catch back up quickly once he is feeling 100%.
Hayden weighed 30 lbs 3.5oz, which is a steady weight for him.
He said Hayden sounded pretty congested in his lungs. Suggested we keep up some breathing treatments with him to help him move those secretions out. He looked in his ears & asked "How did he sleep last night?" When I replied "actually, well..." I was met with a "Well he shouldn't have!" He has a whopping ear infection. Poor little man. I had no idea. He hasn't been overly cranky. Had a fever that day after the croup experience. But otherwise fever free. So he too earned a 10 day course of antibiotics. We are to watch his ears closely because apparently ear infections from RSV can linger due to the thickness of the mucous build up & sometimes kids who have never had ear issues, become candidated for tubes in their ears after this. Great. Maybe we can just get his tonsils out yet this year too, we've already met our deductable & then some!
They behaved so awesome at their appointment. Not a single tear. Sat nice & didn't even have to be held to look in their ears or listen to them. Something I would have never imagined possible just a few short months ago at their 2 year appt. Pretty amazing!!
On the way out the door we made a pit stop for Livi to use the potty. This was our first venture out of the house with her in panties & she did absolutely fantastic! So proud! I, on the other hand, failed! The potty I sat her on was very wide & with her pants still around her ankles I couldn't get her legs spred wide enough around the potty & when she peed, it shot forward & got her pants all wet. Should have taken her pants completely off. So we had to change her pants, but it was completely & totally MY fault! She peed, like a pro, on command at the Dr. office & passed her first brief trip out of the house in panties with flying colors!! She has even woke up dry from a nap 50% of the time this week & peed right when she gets up. And today she even woke up dry in the morning & peed in the potty when she got up. She is something else!!
Dr. Harrison said Livi & Logan sounded great! I knew they were doing better, so it was so good to hear that! Their ears look good too. We are not quite sure what caused Livi to spike a fever last weekend. Ear infection, pneumonia, or we are also questioning the possibility of a UTI from her newly acquired potty skills. Not all that uncommon it seems for little girls to hold it too long as they learn. And she WAS infact holding it long, long periods of time those 2 days right around that fever spike. I was worried she was dehydrated, but instead I think she was just holding it too long. Could be pure coincidence, but whatever the case, antibiotics seem to have fixed whatever issue she had & we'll just keep an eye on it as she goes forward.
She has managed to maintain her weight & clocked in at 27 lbs today.
Logan who I knew was withering away before my eyes infact has lost close to 1.5 lbs & was down to 25lbs 7oz. I was reassured that its common for sick RSV kids to loose 2 lbs & to just keep encouraging them to eat as tolerated & continue to push fluids. He will catch back up quickly once he is feeling 100%.
Hayden weighed 30 lbs 3.5oz, which is a steady weight for him.
He said Hayden sounded pretty congested in his lungs. Suggested we keep up some breathing treatments with him to help him move those secretions out. He looked in his ears & asked "How did he sleep last night?" When I replied "actually, well..." I was met with a "Well he shouldn't have!" He has a whopping ear infection. Poor little man. I had no idea. He hasn't been overly cranky. Had a fever that day after the croup experience. But otherwise fever free. So he too earned a 10 day course of antibiotics. We are to watch his ears closely because apparently ear infections from RSV can linger due to the thickness of the mucous build up & sometimes kids who have never had ear issues, become candidated for tubes in their ears after this. Great. Maybe we can just get his tonsils out yet this year too, we've already met our deductable & then some!
They behaved so awesome at their appointment. Not a single tear. Sat nice & didn't even have to be held to look in their ears or listen to them. Something I would have never imagined possible just a few short months ago at their 2 year appt. Pretty amazing!!
On the way out the door we made a pit stop for Livi to use the potty. This was our first venture out of the house with her in panties & she did absolutely fantastic! So proud! I, on the other hand, failed! The potty I sat her on was very wide & with her pants still around her ankles I couldn't get her legs spred wide enough around the potty & when she peed, it shot forward & got her pants all wet. Should have taken her pants completely off. So we had to change her pants, but it was completely & totally MY fault! She peed, like a pro, on command at the Dr. office & passed her first brief trip out of the house in panties with flying colors!! She has even woke up dry from a nap 50% of the time this week & peed right when she gets up. And today she even woke up dry in the morning & peed in the potty when she got up. She is something else!!
Can this be the last of it?
I really thought we were on the up & up. Logan & Olivia seem much better. Still snotty noses. And still a random coughing fit here or there. But as Jeff put it "its hard to think of them as sick right now when you compare to where they started." So they have come a very long way. Still iffy on eating. We eat a lot of snacks, yogurt, applesauce...and not a lot of meals. But with time all will fall back in place. If I didn't mention it, Livi ended up on antibiotics too over the weekend for a fever she spiked. Since we were mid-blizzard, they just called us in an antibiotic {assuming ear infection} & we were to follow up Tuesday when we brought Logan in. {An appointment that got moved to Thursday for reasons you are about to discover!}
However, this "journey" just keeps on giving.
Monday night Hayden got croupy again. Started around 11pm. We did a steamy shower. We stood outside in the cold air half a dozen times. We did a handful of saline neb treatments. He wouldn't sleep. He coughed literally non-stop for an hour before he finally fell asleep. The problem, he had an inspiratory stridor with every breath. Sounded like he was gasping for breath in his sleep. I called the late night nurse like, who heard him over the phone before I said anything beyond "little boy with croup...." & she said "honey you need to take him in right now!" And so at 3am we made that all too familiar journey to the ER yet again. {note to parents- if you think to yourself at 11pm 'I bet we end up in the ER before the night is over'.... just go to the ER at midnight instead of waiting until 3am!}
However, little did I know that this visit to the ER was about to be the most horrible experience of my entire life. Hayden was somewhat better by the time we arrived, {note to all croupy parents- in my experience with ER croup visits, that car ride over always makes them sound better... but go anyway!} but he got a breathing treatment & some steroids. And we got to hang out for an hour to make sure he improved before we headed home. The ER was not busy at all & we got immediate service. Hayden was extremely well behaved & learned like his brother & sister have how awesome breathing medicine is. How do I know this? When I asked him if he was ready to go home, he replied, "No more doctor. More all better." Makes me feel horrible we tried to home remidy it for so long. And tonight for the first time in his life, he sat still for an entire nebulizer treatment without so much as a tear.
Sounds like a pretty "good" trip to the ER, right? So what was so horrible?
Believe it or not, I came down with the stomach flu while we were in the ER. I could not have made this horror story up if I had tried. The timing could not have been more horrific. It will haunt my memory for a while. {*Warning!! Stop reading now if you don't want to hear about my GI issues*}
About 10 minutes after arriving in the ER, waiting for a breathing treatment, my stomache felt off. About 30 seconds later... I unplugged Hayden's monitor, picked him up, ran into the hall, asked which way to the bathroom.... and the 2 of us ran for the toilet. Diarrhea. Poor Hayden standing on the cold ER bathroom floor, with one sock off, pulse ox wrapped around his toe & dragging behind him, watching his poor sick mama. Poor Hayden! Back to the ER room we went.
I tossed & turned in the chair, as my stomach tossed & turned, while Hayden got his breathing treatment. The longest 10-15 minutes ever. I didn't think I would make it through. I was in a cold sweat. Taking deep breaths. "You can do it! You have to be the mom!" When it was done. I plopped Hayden down on the rocking chair, ran out the door, "yelled" at the nurses "Somebody has to watch him, I'm going to be sick..." as I again ran for the bathroom door. More diarrhea. I could hear poor Hayden screaming for me down the hall. I felt so helpless. I could hardly handle myself, let alone take care of him the way he deserved.
I got back to the ER room, picked Hayden up & got him calmed down. I was in a cold sweat. I had the shakes. He was scared & coughing so hard since he was so upset. And with every cough, my head pounded & my stomach shook. I had no more than got him calmed down, just in time to plop him down on the ER bed, grab the trashcan in the room & toss my cookies. Poor sick Hayden sat & watched in horror.
Grandma GG was on her way to come bail me out, as this time folks, she & I both knew I was in over my head. They got us out of the ER pretty quickly.... and I managed to make it the drive home. I thought maybe this was all just fatigue, sleeplessness & stress at 3am. But as the hours went on, it was pretty clear I had a bug of some sort.
Grandma GG took the kids home for the day Tuesday, so I could deal with my flu in peace. It was pretty fast moving at least. And Grandma Maas came up Wednesday so I could rest. Even I didn't realize how tired I was, but I literally slept 75% of the day. Thank you God for giving us fantastic Grandmas!!
I am feeling pretty much better flu-wise. Just post-flu slow moving. And praying with all my might, the kiddos don't catch this!! Where the heck did I even get this??!! I honestly in 2 weeks have been to Target once. For a few groceries & Livi's doll highchair. Beyond that I haven't left this sick house! I still have a crappy cough, keeps me up at night. I've had it since mid-Livi hospital stay. I'm sure I have RSV too, only I didn't think it was supposed to cause adults more than a mild-cold? I feel like I have COPD!
Hayden is still coughing quite a bit. Gets in some serious coughing fits where he can't stand. Coughs 'til he gags & cries. Needs his blanket & his mama & has to catch his breath for a while after. But its no longer croupy & no more stridor. So I'm not sure what this all means for him related to the RSV? Especially since he kinda started this all with his croup 2 weeks ago. The ER doctor confirmed that any virus can cause croup, so its likely he too has RSV & the RSV virus is responsible for this. But he didn't culture him & it doesn't really matter because we just treat the symptoms anyways. I just wish I knew if he has had RSV this whole time & just now got re-sick? As in RSV can last a solid 3 weeks {plus recovery time after} & he's still just carrying it & just got croup from it again? Or if this is the first of his real RSV? Or if somehow he is getting it again? Millions of questions for Dr. Harrison tomorrow. He has had a bit of a fever today too & if we weren't already going to the pediatrician tomorrow I'd of called. But well go tomorrow, get them all checked out & hopefully not pick up anything additional while we are there!
This is all just becoming so unreal its all I can do but laugh. I couldn't of made up a sickness tall tale this tall had I tried. Its just too much. I just laugh & wonder whats next?
Hopefully a healthy remainder of 2012. I think we've earned it!!
However, this "journey" just keeps on giving.
Monday night Hayden got croupy again. Started around 11pm. We did a steamy shower. We stood outside in the cold air half a dozen times. We did a handful of saline neb treatments. He wouldn't sleep. He coughed literally non-stop for an hour before he finally fell asleep. The problem, he had an inspiratory stridor with every breath. Sounded like he was gasping for breath in his sleep. I called the late night nurse like, who heard him over the phone before I said anything beyond "little boy with croup...." & she said "honey you need to take him in right now!" And so at 3am we made that all too familiar journey to the ER yet again. {note to parents- if you think to yourself at 11pm 'I bet we end up in the ER before the night is over'.... just go to the ER at midnight instead of waiting until 3am!}
However, little did I know that this visit to the ER was about to be the most horrible experience of my entire life. Hayden was somewhat better by the time we arrived, {note to all croupy parents- in my experience with ER croup visits, that car ride over always makes them sound better... but go anyway!} but he got a breathing treatment & some steroids. And we got to hang out for an hour to make sure he improved before we headed home. The ER was not busy at all & we got immediate service. Hayden was extremely well behaved & learned like his brother & sister have how awesome breathing medicine is. How do I know this? When I asked him if he was ready to go home, he replied, "No more doctor. More all better." Makes me feel horrible we tried to home remidy it for so long. And tonight for the first time in his life, he sat still for an entire nebulizer treatment without so much as a tear.
Sounds like a pretty "good" trip to the ER, right? So what was so horrible?
Believe it or not, I came down with the stomach flu while we were in the ER. I could not have made this horror story up if I had tried. The timing could not have been more horrific. It will haunt my memory for a while. {*Warning!! Stop reading now if you don't want to hear about my GI issues*}
About 10 minutes after arriving in the ER, waiting for a breathing treatment, my stomache felt off. About 30 seconds later... I unplugged Hayden's monitor, picked him up, ran into the hall, asked which way to the bathroom.... and the 2 of us ran for the toilet. Diarrhea. Poor Hayden standing on the cold ER bathroom floor, with one sock off, pulse ox wrapped around his toe & dragging behind him, watching his poor sick mama. Poor Hayden! Back to the ER room we went.
I tossed & turned in the chair, as my stomach tossed & turned, while Hayden got his breathing treatment. The longest 10-15 minutes ever. I didn't think I would make it through. I was in a cold sweat. Taking deep breaths. "You can do it! You have to be the mom!" When it was done. I plopped Hayden down on the rocking chair, ran out the door, "yelled" at the nurses "Somebody has to watch him, I'm going to be sick..." as I again ran for the bathroom door. More diarrhea. I could hear poor Hayden screaming for me down the hall. I felt so helpless. I could hardly handle myself, let alone take care of him the way he deserved.
I got back to the ER room, picked Hayden up & got him calmed down. I was in a cold sweat. I had the shakes. He was scared & coughing so hard since he was so upset. And with every cough, my head pounded & my stomach shook. I had no more than got him calmed down, just in time to plop him down on the ER bed, grab the trashcan in the room & toss my cookies. Poor sick Hayden sat & watched in horror.
Grandma GG was on her way to come bail me out, as this time folks, she & I both knew I was in over my head. They got us out of the ER pretty quickly.... and I managed to make it the drive home. I thought maybe this was all just fatigue, sleeplessness & stress at 3am. But as the hours went on, it was pretty clear I had a bug of some sort.
Grandma GG took the kids home for the day Tuesday, so I could deal with my flu in peace. It was pretty fast moving at least. And Grandma Maas came up Wednesday so I could rest. Even I didn't realize how tired I was, but I literally slept 75% of the day. Thank you God for giving us fantastic Grandmas!!
I am feeling pretty much better flu-wise. Just post-flu slow moving. And praying with all my might, the kiddos don't catch this!! Where the heck did I even get this??!! I honestly in 2 weeks have been to Target once. For a few groceries & Livi's doll highchair. Beyond that I haven't left this sick house! I still have a crappy cough, keeps me up at night. I've had it since mid-Livi hospital stay. I'm sure I have RSV too, only I didn't think it was supposed to cause adults more than a mild-cold? I feel like I have COPD!
Hayden is still coughing quite a bit. Gets in some serious coughing fits where he can't stand. Coughs 'til he gags & cries. Needs his blanket & his mama & has to catch his breath for a while after. But its no longer croupy & no more stridor. So I'm not sure what this all means for him related to the RSV? Especially since he kinda started this all with his croup 2 weeks ago. The ER doctor confirmed that any virus can cause croup, so its likely he too has RSV & the RSV virus is responsible for this. But he didn't culture him & it doesn't really matter because we just treat the symptoms anyways. I just wish I knew if he has had RSV this whole time & just now got re-sick? As in RSV can last a solid 3 weeks {plus recovery time after} & he's still just carrying it & just got croup from it again? Or if this is the first of his real RSV? Or if somehow he is getting it again? Millions of questions for Dr. Harrison tomorrow. He has had a bit of a fever today too & if we weren't already going to the pediatrician tomorrow I'd of called. But well go tomorrow, get them all checked out & hopefully not pick up anything additional while we are there!
This is all just becoming so unreal its all I can do but laugh. I couldn't of made up a sickness tall tale this tall had I tried. Its just too much. I just laugh & wonder whats next?
Hopefully a healthy remainder of 2012. I think we've earned it!!
Snow take 2!
The kids are feeling well enough that they are getting antsy to get out of the house. But with coughs & snot I think they are still contageous & I don't want to spread RSV around. AND I think they are fragile enough yet that a little cold or GI bug might buy us a bed back at Childrens. So since we really have nowhere to go, we tried this snow thing again this afternoon. And I must say, this is my type of winter. Snow on the ground to play in, but reasonable temperatures!
Went over MUCH better this go-round. Infact I'd call it success. Still minimal ability for them to manuever through the tall snow. Still 98% of the time Hayden remained gloveless. A sled tip over here.... and a dog eating our snowman's head there... but overall a nice little break from our stuffy quarters. And we stayed out long enough to be worth all the work it is to get 3 toddlers dressed in appropriate snow gear by yourself!
Went over MUCH better this go-round. Infact I'd call it success. Still minimal ability for them to manuever through the tall snow. Still 98% of the time Hayden remained gloveless. A sled tip over here.... and a dog eating our snowman's head there... but overall a nice little break from our stuffy quarters. And we stayed out long enough to be worth all the work it is to get 3 toddlers dressed in appropriate snow gear by yourself!
We brought out little shovels & trucks
Logan was ornery about throwing snow balls!!
We built a mini-snowman!! Complete with raisins for eyes & a carrot nose!
Livi thought it was pretty cool. Found some sticks & tried to build her own.
This is as close as Logan would get to it.
This little girl got pretty darn brave about it!! She had a great time! {And came in, took her own pants & panties off, went pee in the potty all by herself & came out after putting her own panties & pants back on & exclaimed her pride "Ya-ya pee a potty!!" So she missed the wipe & wash hands stips, oh well. Yay for independence!!}
She said she was "Wimming. Like a wa-wer." {Swimming, like in the water}
Hayden
Olivia
Logan
WINTER WONDERLAND
This winter has been incredibly odd. It snowed after Thanksgiving & we did not get out to play in it since Livi was just home from the hospital. And since then I don't think it has snowed here all winter! We have had oddly warm temperatures. And though I'm not complaining, especially considering Jeff's commute this year, we actually bought snowpants & got snowboots & a sled for our birthday & I've been dying to actually use them.
Well... this weekend SNOW happend. I think around here they are saying 9 inches of it happened. And though not all of that accumulated considering how warm it has been, there is still a pretty deep blanket of it out there.
The kiddos are getting healthier & healthier. And though they are still coughy & snotty, thus still contagious & I will not be taking them places until I have the ok {& until I know their lungs are 100% better because I don't want the next little cold setting us way, way back!}... we are getting some cabin fever big time. And so since the temperature today was actually pretty "warm," we got all dressed in our "snow clothes" & headed out for our first snow play of the season.
I was stoked. The kids were excited. But it was kind of a flop. They weren't super impressed. The snow is very soft & deep enough that when they tried to walk, they sunk in & got worried because they were "stuck!!" I think they were confused as to how we were outside & all of their toys were burried in snow. And the biggest trouble was keeping gloves on. And trying to get fingers actually into the finger spaces of the gloves. Anyone know of a great toddler glove?? They did have a few giggling moments of throwing "snowman balls!" Somehow all snow is now "snowman" to them. And Livi sat & made the leg portion of a snow angel with me. Laughed when we threw snow balls & watched Tessa attempt to fetch them. And laughed when she came up with snow all over her face. They started to enjoy sled rides by the end. And each took a few runs sledding down our front hill. This evening they wanted to go out & play in the snow again, so maybe we'll try it again tomorrow. Practice makes perfect, right?
So despite the fact that it took us longer to get dressed than we probably actually spent outside. And despite the fact that there were a few tears from getting "stuck a snowman" {stuck in the snow} And the fact that we had to carry them all over the yard. I had a good time & the few minutes I did get of peaceful fresh air were good for my soul & absolutely worth it!
Well... this weekend SNOW happend. I think around here they are saying 9 inches of it happened. And though not all of that accumulated considering how warm it has been, there is still a pretty deep blanket of it out there.
The kiddos are getting healthier & healthier. And though they are still coughy & snotty, thus still contagious & I will not be taking them places until I have the ok {& until I know their lungs are 100% better because I don't want the next little cold setting us way, way back!}... we are getting some cabin fever big time. And so since the temperature today was actually pretty "warm," we got all dressed in our "snow clothes" & headed out for our first snow play of the season.
I was stoked. The kids were excited. But it was kind of a flop. They weren't super impressed. The snow is very soft & deep enough that when they tried to walk, they sunk in & got worried because they were "stuck!!" I think they were confused as to how we were outside & all of their toys were burried in snow. And the biggest trouble was keeping gloves on. And trying to get fingers actually into the finger spaces of the gloves. Anyone know of a great toddler glove?? They did have a few giggling moments of throwing "snowman balls!" Somehow all snow is now "snowman" to them. And Livi sat & made the leg portion of a snow angel with me. Laughed when we threw snow balls & watched Tessa attempt to fetch them. And laughed when she came up with snow all over her face. They started to enjoy sled rides by the end. And each took a few runs sledding down our front hill. This evening they wanted to go out & play in the snow again, so maybe we'll try it again tomorrow. Practice makes perfect, right?
So despite the fact that it took us longer to get dressed than we probably actually spent outside. And despite the fact that there were a few tears from getting "stuck a snowman" {stuck in the snow} And the fact that we had to carry them all over the yard. I had a good time & the few minutes I did get of peaceful fresh air were good for my soul & absolutely worth it!
Hayden HATED having gloves on.
Daddy giving us a ride around the yard
Tessa running with us too
Daddy showing us how to sled down the hill.
Love her in all this pink!!!
This is where Hayden prefered to be. I was surprised because he loved the snow last year!
Wee!! Livi & Logan's 1st time sledding!
We finally got Hayden to go down too, on our laps.
Despite the looks on their faces here, I think we had a fun morning!
On, Off, On, Off....Up, Down, Up, Down....
There was a recent discussion on a mommy chat group I occasionally visit about potty training. Part of it was whether a child needs to be able to take their own clothes on & off in order to potty train. Some said, yes. Others said no, stating they did not mind helping their child to the bathroom.
I agreed with answer #2, but worried that Livi not possessing the skills to use the bathroom without help might be a setback for her. If my hands were tied up with her brothers, would that mean accidents? Yesterday there was one occasion where I just pulled her clothes off in the kitchen & sent her to the bathroom alone as I was mid-Hayden Thomas melt-down that he did not infact need that ump-teenth pack of fruit snacks. Luckily she came to tell me she had to pee, or my full hands would have caused her to have an accident.
A couple of people in this debate said, just potty train. And that the skill of taking clothes off & putting them on would very quickly follow.
Well folks, they were right. Today Livi has taken her pants off & on probably 300 times. Up, Down, On, Off. She is trying hard to master the art of self-dressing. Her main glitch, getting both feet in one leg hole. And sometimes she can't quite get those pants up over her tushy & a cheek or 2 is left hanging out. {Too cute I must say!} When I try to help her take them off to go potty, she pulls them back up & shouts "NO! Ya-ya do it." If she even feels me touch her to try to help & speed up the process, we have to start over. So I have spent 90% of my day in the bathroom supervising {mostly supervising the boys who follow her in} & watching "Ya-ya do it" over & over & over & over...
Because of this, she has been using the little potty some too. But really prefers the big one. We don't have a potty ring, so I hold her hands so she doesn't fall in. Which works just fine. But I'm wondering when she really gets this mastered to do herself if we'd benefit from a potty ring? So she can do it all herself? Or if she gets used to that if it will make it harder when we brave taking her out of the house in panties? Thoughts?
AND its got me thinking about the boys. {Who I will be potty training when they are 100% ready so it hopefully goes at least 1/2 this easy!} The little potty has a "pee-pee guard" so they can sit & not pee out all over the place. Big potties do not have that. Pointers? Tips? What did you do with your boys PT on a big potty so they didn't "shoot" it out all over the floor?
PS... I accidentally put her down for her nap with panties on! Oops! What do you think the odds are I will be lucky & this will be one of those times she wakes up dry?
I agreed with answer #2, but worried that Livi not possessing the skills to use the bathroom without help might be a setback for her. If my hands were tied up with her brothers, would that mean accidents? Yesterday there was one occasion where I just pulled her clothes off in the kitchen & sent her to the bathroom alone as I was mid-Hayden Thomas melt-down that he did not infact need that ump-teenth pack of fruit snacks. Luckily she came to tell me she had to pee, or my full hands would have caused her to have an accident.
A couple of people in this debate said, just potty train. And that the skill of taking clothes off & putting them on would very quickly follow.
Well folks, they were right. Today Livi has taken her pants off & on probably 300 times. Up, Down, On, Off. She is trying hard to master the art of self-dressing. Her main glitch, getting both feet in one leg hole. And sometimes she can't quite get those pants up over her tushy & a cheek or 2 is left hanging out. {Too cute I must say!} When I try to help her take them off to go potty, she pulls them back up & shouts "NO! Ya-ya do it." If she even feels me touch her to try to help & speed up the process, we have to start over. So I have spent 90% of my day in the bathroom supervising {mostly supervising the boys who follow her in} & watching "Ya-ya do it" over & over & over & over...
Because of this, she has been using the little potty some too. But really prefers the big one. We don't have a potty ring, so I hold her hands so she doesn't fall in. Which works just fine. But I'm wondering when she really gets this mastered to do herself if we'd benefit from a potty ring? So she can do it all herself? Or if she gets used to that if it will make it harder when we brave taking her out of the house in panties? Thoughts?
AND its got me thinking about the boys. {Who I will be potty training when they are 100% ready so it hopefully goes at least 1/2 this easy!} The little potty has a "pee-pee guard" so they can sit & not pee out all over the place. Big potties do not have that. Pointers? Tips? What did you do with your boys PT on a big potty so they didn't "shoot" it out all over the floor?
PS... I accidentally put her down for her nap with panties on! Oops! What do you think the odds are I will be lucky & this will be one of those times she wakes up dry?
Home day 1.
We managed to stay home for a whole day! {Sad that has to seem like a big accomplishment!} The kiddos are doing pretty well. Not eating much at all. But drinking, peeing, breathing & sleeping. and thats all I ask at this point.
I did have to hold Logan like a baby once today & threaten him & force him to drink, as we had not made much progress by noon. But he had 4 wet diapers today & got down almost 3 sippy cups of fluid by day's end. So he's hanging in there. I waited to give Logan his first antibiotic dose until this morning. Just worrying about him being allergic, I couldn't rationally give him a dose & stick him in bed. So far, so good. 9 more days to go.
Livi had a nightmare around midnight, apparently about them taking her temperature at the hospital. Was crying "ear beep, beep" over & over in her sleep. So I got her up & we cuddled on the couch for a few minutes before she told me "I want breathing medicine." She is just so grown up. So she had some Albuterol overnight. Hayden, our "healthy" child got some half way through his nap when he was coughing so hard & couldn't stop coughing to sleep. He isn't really healthy either. He coughs & coughs & coughs too. His lungs have just always been stronger & he is doing better than his siblings with this crud. And Logan got a treatment after nap when he was inconsolably irritable. He was content after the treatment, so I'm learning that irritability in him means his chest feels too tight.
I had been sick the weekend before the kids got sick. Tired, runny nose, body aches. So I've been thinking maybe I actually had RSV then & that I gave them the RSV. However, today my lungs feel like someone is standing on my chest. I have a hard time coughing enough to clear my lungs. So I'm not sure what I had last weekend, but I think my lungs officially have RSV too. Just knowing how my chest feels right now, I can't imagine how horrible they feel!
They played so well today, almost no fighting. I think they missed eachother so much! {That & they just really don't have the energy to fight!} They spent a good hour playing with Livi's doctor kit. Taking turns lifting up eachothers shirts & listening to eachother with the stethoscope.
"Beep, beep"ing eachothers ears {taking their temperature} Livi even pretended to look in Logan's ear,
then took Logan's head with her hands, turned it to the other side & said "Look other side"
& then wanted to "see Go-gun mouth" "Go-gun Ahhhh" {She wanted him to say "Ahhh" & open so she could look in his mouth like the doctors did to her.} She managed to get Hayden to comply.
Then they found a little tool & wanted to use it to "suck boogers, nose." They used suction tools to suck Livi & Logans' boogers out at the hospital. But I had to put a stop to that play as I saw a pending trip to the ER for having something lodged in someone's nose!
At points during the day when they were playing so cheerfully & nicely I start to think, we're pulling through this so fast. But with that said, any amount of actual physical activity sends them into coughing fits to the extent that they gag, puke or fall to the floor to catch their breath. Between those events, I feel like we are doing pretty well though. Then it happens & reminds me we still have a long way to go! They may be starting to feel better, but their lungs have a lot of work to do yet.
I need to do a little toy research this week during one of their long, sick 3 hour naps. I need to find where to buy a highchair for a baby doll. Because I would say Livi is completely daytime potty trained. And thats what she wanted for learning to "pee a potty" & we promised her. Today she wore one pair of panties all day & used the potty 4 or 5 times. Not even a dribble accident. Amazing! Just a diaper for her nap. {Which she did pee in, but she napped for a good 3 hours.} I just ask her about every hour if she needs to go to remind her. And she either tells me yes or no. We don't do the go sit on the potty every so often thing. And she sometimes tells me too. Though she doesn't necessarily say she has to pee in the potty. Sometimes its things like "butt owie" or "cake clothes off" {her panties today had cupcakes on them & she called them her cake clothes all day}. So you have to be ready to take her whenever something she says might indicate she has to pee. She prefers the big potty to the little ones, but will go in either. I am anxiously awaiting her next poop hoping she is able to go on the potty like she did at that hospital. She did pee in her diaper Monday for Jeff, but he said he thinks its his fault, because he just didn't realize what she was telling him all day. But Tuesday with Grandma GG & today with me she was right back on track. This whole PT thing is just so surreal. I can't believe she PT herself in the hospital, while on oxygen, suffering from RSV. Its just insane really! Who does that?!!
I did have to hold Logan like a baby once today & threaten him & force him to drink, as we had not made much progress by noon. But he had 4 wet diapers today & got down almost 3 sippy cups of fluid by day's end. So he's hanging in there. I waited to give Logan his first antibiotic dose until this morning. Just worrying about him being allergic, I couldn't rationally give him a dose & stick him in bed. So far, so good. 9 more days to go.
Livi had a nightmare around midnight, apparently about them taking her temperature at the hospital. Was crying "ear beep, beep" over & over in her sleep. So I got her up & we cuddled on the couch for a few minutes before she told me "I want breathing medicine." She is just so grown up. So she had some Albuterol overnight. Hayden, our "healthy" child got some half way through his nap when he was coughing so hard & couldn't stop coughing to sleep. He isn't really healthy either. He coughs & coughs & coughs too. His lungs have just always been stronger & he is doing better than his siblings with this crud. And Logan got a treatment after nap when he was inconsolably irritable. He was content after the treatment, so I'm learning that irritability in him means his chest feels too tight.
Livi can put the mask on herself!
And likes to pretend to give Hayden nebulizer treatments too. Here she is turning it on for him.
I had been sick the weekend before the kids got sick. Tired, runny nose, body aches. So I've been thinking maybe I actually had RSV then & that I gave them the RSV. However, today my lungs feel like someone is standing on my chest. I have a hard time coughing enough to clear my lungs. So I'm not sure what I had last weekend, but I think my lungs officially have RSV too. Just knowing how my chest feels right now, I can't imagine how horrible they feel!
They played so well today, almost no fighting. I think they missed eachother so much! {That & they just really don't have the energy to fight!} They spent a good hour playing with Livi's doctor kit. Taking turns lifting up eachothers shirts & listening to eachother with the stethoscope.
What kills me about the above picture, is looking at Livi's ribs. Pulling in to breathe hard enough that we can see all those ribs. I can't believe I literally caught her respiratory distress so well in a picture.
I think I have a future medical professional on my hands!!
Then they found a little tool & wanted to use it to "suck boogers, nose." They used suction tools to suck Livi & Logans' boogers out at the hospital. But I had to put a stop to that play as I saw a pending trip to the ER for having something lodged in someone's nose!
At points during the day when they were playing so cheerfully & nicely I start to think, we're pulling through this so fast. But with that said, any amount of actual physical activity sends them into coughing fits to the extent that they gag, puke or fall to the floor to catch their breath. Between those events, I feel like we are doing pretty well though. Then it happens & reminds me we still have a long way to go! They may be starting to feel better, but their lungs have a lot of work to do yet.
Wanting the boys to come listen to her with the stethoscope IN PANTIES!!!
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