Success!

Joshua used his potty this morning!! He got up on the big toilet, using the step stool and seat that I picked up this week, and sat through 3 stories before he pooed. Joe and I jumped around and sang like crazy people! *L* Then we gave Joshua a piece of chocolate because I haven't had a chance to pick up gummy bears for his potty treat yet. Joshua left the bathroom looking all proud and then immediately asked to go back on. We thought maybe he had to go again but I think he just liked the story time and chocolate treat. :P

He may not use it again for a while but we're going to try every day anyway! :)

To train or not to train ... That is the question

My sister, Cindy, gave Joshua a present on Monday night after my prenatal fitness class ... a potty book for boys.

It got me thinking ...

When is the best time to toilet train a little boy?

Joshua is 16 months old which, to me, is a little young. Yet, I have also read some books that say it's easier to get it done before they turn 2 and no longer want to do anything that Mommy or Daddy say.

Joshua knows when he's going poo and will come up and tell me he went and then walk into his bedroom and wait for me by the change table, but I don't think this is quite 'potty-ready' behaviour. I used to be a firm believer in 'wait until they're ready' but then I might have 2 babies in diapers for quite a while yet. On the other hand, I've heard that children often digress when a new sibling is born so maybe it's not worth it to even try at this point ...

What do you think?

Joshua is Better!

We went to the doctor this morning and Joshua's ear infection and hives are gone! He's better! :)

Should I laugh or should I cry?

Nothing is ever easy, is it? :P

Joshua woke up 6 times last night, screaming and crying. Each time I would jump out of bed and race to the kitchen to heat up his bottle (hoping some food would help him go back to sleep) and each time he would be asleep by the time his bottle was warm. Twice I went into his room to check on him as soon as he stopped screaming and both times he was sound asleep. The last time I even tried to wake him up, in the hopes that if I gave him food he would not wake up again, but I could not get him awake!

This morning he slept until 930 and when I went in to get him, I almost cried. Joshua's face was all swollen (his eyes were almost swollen shut) and he had a disgusting rash/hives all over his body. I immediately called the doctor (our third trip in one week) who saw him and said it's an allergic reaction to the second medication we tried for his ear infection, Biaxin. The first medication (Amoxicillin) didn't work. Now he is on Benadryl for the rash and itching and Tylenol for the pain but nothing for the infection. Joshua has another appointment for next Monday to check the ear and then to check his hearing because the infection has gotten so bad that Dr. Heffner is worried about permanent damage.

This was another day of constant crying and screaming from the boy and I am so overwhelmed I just want to cry ...

Mom and Rick watched Joshua for about an hour this afternoon and Joe should be home soon. I am lucky to have so much help!!

What a Week!

As I've posted on my blog several times already, Joshua is sick. He was diagnosed with an ear infection last week and given antibiotics but he did not make any progress in the following 5 days and, in fact, seemed to be getting worse. Both Sunday and today he woke up with a substantial fever and cried for the majority of each day. Joe and I didn't know what to do with him or how to make him feel better. Thus, I made an appointment with the doctor for later in the week and then called back and begged them to squeeze us in this morning.

Dr. Heffner was great! Apparently the Amoxicillin (Penicillin) has done nothing for Joshua and his infection has gotten considerably worse over the weekend. He is now on a stronger (and much more expensive) medication for the next ten days. Unfortunately, he cannot get his ear wet for another 3 weeks!! Therefore, I had to withdraw Joshua from his swimming lessons. :( He loved those lessons!

Today has been extremely hard on both Joshua and I ... He won't eat anything, can't drink his bottle because of the pain in his ear and refuses to go to sleep, despite the fact that he desperately needs a nap. I can't wait until Joe gets home from work and can take over some of the parenting. (I have my prenatal workout class tonight and I feel both horrible and relieved that I get to go out for a few hours).

That is our life at the moment ... wanna trade?!? :P

Joshua's New Playmate

Amy and Owen Lanteigne stopped over today for a playdate. We were supposed to go swimming but because of Joshua's ear infection we just stayed at our house. Joshua had a great time! Owen is almost 8 months old and is just learning how to stand on his own so he was able to stand beside Joshua while they played. Josh was great with sharing his toys and even seemed to be trying to teach Owen how to say 'ball'. :)

Here is a picture I stole off of Amy's blog (I had my camera and even put new batteries in but then forgot to take any pictures.)

Joshua's visits with Owen and also with Carter Bertness earlier in the week have made me feel a lot better about the new baby on the way. Joshua loves having other kids (older or younger) around. I think he'll make a great big brother!

Finally, An Answer!

As I mentioned in my last post, Joshua has been extremely sick and grumpy over the past week. At first we thought it must be a cold (despite the vomitting), then I found a third molar in his mouth and we assumed he was teething. However, when he didn't get very much better over the course of the past week I decided to take him to the walk-in-clinic this afternoon. The poor little boy has a really bad ear infection. The doctor put him on antibiotics right away (the banana flavoured Amoxicillin that I LOVED as a child, and he seems to like as well), but she also told us we can't get his ear wet for at least a week. For those of you who have had children with ear infections in the past ... how do I keep his ear dry and his hair clean?!? :P

Unfortunately, Joshua started swimming lessons earlier this week and has 2 more lessons in the next seven days. Today he was putting his face under and floating with his ears covered by water which makes me feel like a horrible parent because I should have realized he was tugging on his ear more than normal and should have discovered the infection BEFORE the underwater activities of the day. Also, we are set to go swimming with Amy and Owen Lanteigne tomorrow afternoon and I do not want to cancel (it's taken us a long time to set this up ...)

Maybe I can just keep his head above the water at all times?!? Unfortunately, he's pretty unsteady and off balance right now because of his ear infection so I'm not sure I can actually keep him upright and above the surface of the water. :(

Sick Little Boy

Joshua has been very sick for the past few days. He doesn't want to eat or drink his bottle (which he usually LOVES) and won't go to sleep without a fight each day. He has spent the past 3 days alternating between fits of crying and cuddling. It is definitely exhausting for his Mommy and Daddy!

We had a full weekend planned of visiting and barbecues but we had to stay close to home and he missed them all. :(

This weekend has made me feel more like a Mommy, though. It was the first time I was called home from a party (Friday night at Milestones) because my child was sick. He had a fever and was vomitting and I actually liked taking care of my sick little boy instead of being at dinner with my friends. I do love this Mommy job - especially when he makes me feel like I'm the only one in the world that can make him feel better! :)

Even more new words

Joshua now says more words than I can count or even put on this blog but my favorite new word is 'please'! He started saying it yesterday and I LOVE it! I make him say it for absolutely everything! *L*