Potty Training.
It's been on my mind for a long time now. I just bought Oia size 6 diapers today for the first time since the 5's are getting a little small. As best as I can tell, 6 is the biggest size stores sell, unless you special order these things. That made me panic a little; I felt the pressure to push the issue and really begin tackling this process. I have mentioned in previous posts that Little Miss has in fact christened her mini throne and not once but three times, by the way. However, these pee-pee's on the potty have turned into once in a blue moon ordeals. She knows where the potty is, what it is used for, and she even knows how to flush one all by herself. She thinks it's great fun. She loves to have her own square of toilet paper and she shows me she knows just how to use it.... problem is she doesn't GO while on the pot. Most days, I set her on the pot after she wakes in the morning and after naps which one would think are likely times to pee but Oia doesn't. Sometimes she may even refuse to sit down at all, arching her back and stiffening her whole body. I don't force it. But what in the world does one do??
I talked to Oia's developmental pediatrician about how to potty-train a kiddo with CP. I questioned whether Oia 'feels' the urge or sensation that signals one to use the bathroom. Afterall, this is a muscle related issue and what does CP affect? The muscles. Doctor said this may be an issue but Oia, as any kid typical or not, has to 'learn' these urges and how to control them, it's just something that will take more time for us.
Diapers these days are so technical and wick away any moisture so quickly that kids don't even feel wet. Oia has yet to be bothered by a wet or soiled diaper (which is a sign that one is ready for toilet-training) so I thought perhaps a pair of wet undies may get her attention and alert her to what she just did. So, that was my experiment this evening. I put Oia in a pair of teeny undies for the first time, no diaper, to see how she'd react once she pee'd in them. Mind you, I kept asking her if she wanted to go sit on the potty and go pee pee and she'd say yeah but then once we'd get to the bathroom door she'd say no and smile. Somehow, she's turned this into a game.
Well, after about an hour of wearing her undies, she pee'd. And then laughed HYSTERICALLY as her pee ran down her legs and splashed into a puddle on the floor below her. Massive amount of pee, all over. And who wanted to proceed and carry on about her evening after she just pee'd all over herself; as if nothing just happened? I'll give you one guess.
I'm not convinced she's ready. But maybe she is. Rob says she is but let me mention he's the one who frantically hollered upstairs for me to come down and take care of our daughter after she just soaked herself and the floor. He hates messes and wanted no part of it. Umph. PT says don't force it until Oia and I are both ready, otherwise we'll both just end up frustrated. I just don't know. Quite frankly, I don't mind having a toddler in diapers. I still find myself focusing on physical gains and Lord knows getting her to wear an eyepatch for a total of two hours a day is enough of a chore; potty training aside. It just hasn't made it's way to the top of my priority list yet. Bad Mommy, I guess. What in the world do I do? How in the heck do we cross this bridge? I'm just not sure.
Pictures of Oia were taken today while she was checkin' herself out in her first pair of undies.