An Unforgetable Evening

I did not feel well last night and was trying to take it easy, but that is easier said than done when you're a mom. Brandon was off to work at 4pm and I was on my own with the boys, Elijah and Daniel. The weather went from cloudy and windy to severe storm warnings, lightning, tornado warnings, flash flood warnings and the like. I was sitting at the computer thinking about how nice it would be to really get to relax, but I needed to keep an eye on the weather and my children.

At one point, I looked out the window and saw some ragged, low, dark clouds with definite rotation going on. It appeared as if a funnel cloud was forming and would try to touch down right smack in the middle of an RV Campground within a quarter mile of our house. As I watched the clouds swirl closer and snake toward the ground, I pointed my finger at them and told them to get back up in the sky in Jesus' name. And they did! This danger passed and I was relieved. (The picture above is of a storm that passed a week ago. I wish I'd taken pictures of the rotating clouds last night.)

Then, as it was starting to get dark, we lost power. Now, I'm faced with getting two little boys ready for bed in the dark. I got the flash lights out and an oil burning lamp (which I actually lit without any trouble!). I soon discovered that since our well is on an electric pump, we also had no running water.

Our electric company has an 800 number to call to report power outages. So, using my cell phone, I called it. No answer. Tried again, no answer. Third time, no answer. Ugg. I gave up on that.

My son, as mentioned in previous blogs, is potty training. He's been going to the bathroom on his own and is now using his step stool and pees into the big toilet (which is better because the bowl is bigger and easier to aim for).

I called my mom on the cell phone to tell her how the power went out and the electric company has a number to call to report power outages that they apparently don't answer! My 11 month old was crying to be fed and my 2 1/2 year old ran to the bathroom to use the toilet. Since it was dark, I followed to help him. As I entered the bathroom, he was going #2 in the big toilet! Wow, I was so proud of him, until I saw the poo in his underwear, too. Well, I got him cleaned up and in a new pair of underwear. All the while, Daniel is still crying to be fed. So, I pick Daniel up and head for the couch, sit down and begin to feed him.

It hasn't been more than 2 minutes when Elijah runs back to the bathroom. He comes out without underwear on, so I set Daniel down and go investigate. His underwear are on the floor soiled with poo. So, I clean him up again, get him a fresh pair of underwear and go back to nursing Daniel. Just a reminder...no running water to wash hands with, so we're making do with hand sanitizer and baby wipes and doing it all in almost total darkness.

Back on the couch, I started to nurse Daniel again. Not more than another two minutes later, Elijah runs to the bathroom again. I'm thinking, okay, he's already gone poop twice. He's probably just peeing, so I'll let him be and I'll finish nursing Danny. A minute or two goes by and it is really quiet back there. I set Daniel down, grab a flash light and go again to investigate.

I found Elijah on my four legged stool, bent over the counter with his hands in my jar of expensive dry skin lotion. I then notice lotion on his butt along with some more poop. Now there is poop in my lotion. He's pooped again in the toilet. I clean him up and go to put his underwear back on and discover that there is poop in this third, new pair of underwear! Okay, the bathroom is really starting to stink now! I told my mom I had to go clean up this mess as best I could.

That was kinda the last straw for me. Elijah got in trouble and sent to his room. I called my husband and vented all my frustration to him. He laughed and said, "You know, if it wasn't so many things gone wrong, you'd probably be laughing." I chuckled a little. Yeah, I know, but it still stunk to be going through it at the moment--literally.

The night did have a good ending, though. Elijah didn't have anymore accidents in his pants, the power came back on, I got the kids to bed, and did get to relax for a few minutes myself.

Sitting at the table, just before the power came back on, I did think it was kinda cool to be using an oil burning lamp to light the kitchen while the kids ate a snack before bed. If I'd felt better, it would have seemed more like a neat adventure. I guess it still can be.

Potty Training Again

Smile. I've re-entered the potty training phase for the 3rd time with my 2 1/2 year old. I started trying to potty train him a year ago, which was too early. When he turned 2, I started again, but having never successfully potty trained a child before, I made a lot of mistakes. I was so afraid of him failing that I never really let him succeed. Whenever we'd go out and about, I'd put him back in a diaper. He wore diapers at night, but underwear during the day. I tried letting him run around naked, but found that he pretty much just peed everywhere. Then, my husband and I added a new puppy to the mix and I was overwhelmed with messes. So, I backed off again.

So far, third time's a charm! He's definitely ready to make the switch from diapers to big-boy pants this time. (Mommy's ready, too.) With the puppy happily relocated to outside the house, I'm not dealing with her messes. Of course, 1o month old baby brother can still make potty training interesting. I usually have to hold the youngest so he's not trying to climb on big brother during potty time.

Mornings seem to be the hardest to get through without a mess. (That morning BM is just not making it to the potty!) Elijah is doing really well during the rest of the day. I decided to let him sleep in underwear at night after I noticed that his diaper was dry when he woke up. He's made it two nights in a row without any messes so far!

I'm so proud of him!