Potty Diaries

Today is day four of potty training boot camp. I am so over it and tempted to throw on the Pull Up. However, I know that I can not turn back. Things are going relatively well, I'm frankly just tired of being on constant watch because that's what I'm basically doing is watching and anticipating Gabriel's need to void. What made me to choose this week of all weeks to get serious about potty training? I can't tell you. I just know that I woke up Monday morning and decided that he was going to wear underwear and well he did. I've posted how over poop I am and the whole Pull Up thing. I also knew he could not start general ed first grade in Pull Up's . Since the potty training fairy was no where to be seen, I decided to jump in feet first and so began Potty Training Boot Camp.

I've now began week 2 of our endeavor- Potty Training Gabriel. Last week was grueling, frustrating but mostly hopeful. If I were more of a researcher I would have taken the time to visit potty training kids with Down syndrome websites a few weeks ago, developed a plan, made sure that my loving hubby and I were on the same page and then embarked on this journey. Unfortunately I jumped in feet first, blindly and got beat up along the way. Had I read that it was a good idea to track his wet Pull Ups throughout the day and then take him to the potty according to the times he pee'd, Gabes and I would've had a better week. I kinda did things according to recommendations made by Down syndrome "experts". I set a timer, made sure he was drinking, put his favorite books and bubbles in the bathroom. Mostly he responded positively and his pee pee did make it in the toilet most of the time. By the end of the week, he knew that in order for him to watch TV or play on the computer he had to go potty in the potty. He also knew that he had to wash hands and how to pull up and down his chones and shorts. Progress, I know. He still wasn't really indicating the need to pee and what I realized is that the boy has a bladder the size of North, Central and South America and therefore can hold his pee forever and ever.

I stayed close to home all last week. The times that I had to run out the anxiety that I felt over getting Gabes close to a toilet was awful. My older boys mostly left me alone. By Wednesday, I was feeling pretty confident that we were getting close to a schedule and was semi confident that we'd be fine at Chuck E Cheese to help celebrate our cousins b-day. Gabes wanted to go into the tubes so I told him that he had to go potty first and then he could go up. He happily went with me to the potty. After about 10 minutes, nothing happened so I walked him back to the tubes, told him to come down if he had to pee and sent him off. Not 20 minutes later I see him come down and my worst nightmare happened....he pee'd in the tubes. All the wind was knocked out of my sails. Yet I did not let that deter me and he continued to wear his chones. By Friday I was going stir crazy and had a short reprieve. I was able to go to lunch, run errands and get a pedicure all by myself. I was so happy that it was the weekend and that my husband would be home to tag team.

My hubby for the most part is the patient one in our relationship. I'm the yeller. The more kids we have I've noticed that his patience meter has also dropped. All week I never lost my temper with Gabes and have remained fairly positive. While I was getting ready for a party we had, Gabes had pooped in his chones. Steve got frustrated and put him in a Pull Up. He then told me that Gabes doesn't care whether or not he's in a Pull Up or chones so why does it matter if he's in a Pull Up. He may as well have kicked me in the stomach. All the sacrifice I made during the week didn't matter, nor the progress that Gabes had made. Gabes went to the party in a Pull Up and my heart broke. The next day Gabes had a stomach bug and Steve's frustration level rose yet again and I conceded to place him in a Pull Up. When we were discussing the Pull Up vs. Underwear our oldest looked at us and said "are you two seriously arguing about potty training?"

Yes, Patrick we were arguing about potty training. I don't know how to make our kids understand how draining the whole toileting Gabriel issue is for us. Logically we understand that he's 7 years old and that it's time for him to use the potty. Unfortunately while we understand that, Gabriel really doesn't care where he pee's or poops. In speaking to my fellow comrades in ds their children don't seem to care either. The ones that are using the toilet don't use it spontaneously. The parents have to instigate the trip and therefore need to watch the clock to make sure that their child has no accidents. I do not want to have the 10, 15, 20 year old in a diaper. I never imagined that I'd have a 7 year old in a diaper. This weekend I was asked if I was training Maria too. It would break my heart if she "got it" before he did and therefore she'll have to wait a few more months. So, basically we have a long road ahead of us but I refuse to stop trying.

Today, Monday week two Gabriel wore a Pull Up because his stomach is still not right and this is a marathon not a sprint. He still woke up dry, went to the bathroom by himself twice and pee'd and poop'd both times. He also did the same in his Pull Up twice. The second time I had left to run an errand and Patrick dealt with him and cleaned up the mess. I was so grateful to my son for doing the unpleasant. Maybe this unpleasant experience will give him some insight as to why this frustrates the you know what out of mom and dad.