I'm going to start this post by saying that I feel like I'm going crazy from being in the condo all day - except for a short walk to the garbage disposal and then down to the lobby so we could check our mail and just get out for a bit.
But I did enjoy my full day of SR - we played and played and played. We snuggled a lot. Things I need to be conscious of when Baby Boy arrives so SR doesn't feel neglected in the slightest.
Okay, so I don't forget, things I want to write about now:
a) my parents' opinions on what should happen after the baby comes
b) SR potty training
c) how I'm feeling (health wise) after wiping countless runny noses this week
I'm listing b/c I realized last night (true it was the middle of the night) that I didn't write about how potty training was going and that was one of my main things to write about...baby brain???
So I'll start with my parents.
They will be looking after SR while I am in the hospital - potentially for 3 days. They decided that they will not be bringing her to see me while I am there - they think it will be too hard to remove a screaming toddler from the hospital. I see their point and they are doing me a huge favour by looking after her...but I don't know how either of us will cope with not seeing each other. If I have the baby the day I am scheduled (a Tuesday) then she will be spending full days at "school" anyway and then back to their place for bed.
But my parents also want me to move into their house after the baby is born - I did this when SR was born. But I also didn't have a toddler to watch. My parents' house is not toddler proofed...we spend many days a week there, but we have to constantly chase after her in case she runs to the front hall (where there are stairs going down), or touches a lamp, or bumps into something. It is exhausting and someone ALWAYS has to be watching her. There are no gates on the stairs either. So to move in there, without any of my stuff, and I won't even be able to stay in my room with the TV, b/c that has become SR's room, and to worry about SR and chasing her around while taking care of healing from my c-section and taking care of a new born doesn't seem practical.
My condo is safe for SR...she has free reign here...I don't need to chase her or watch her like a hawk. My parents simply don't want to be away from their home all day. So don't be away all day. My hope is my dad will come by in the mornings (after he is done at the synagogue) and help to get SR dressed and out the door to "school". Then I'm fine here alone until they are available to visit. There are no stairs and I have all my comforts - including wifi which they don't have for my cell phone to occupy me during round the clock feedings.
SR potty training:
I have started putting SR on the potty first thing in the morning and right after her nap - when we are home or at my parents' house. It seems to be working. Actually, she has her milk first and then we go on the potty. She has been responding very well - peeing and pooing. But when I put her in underwear and pants she has accidents. I don't want to push her. And she's so proud of herself when she pees or poos on the potty. "Mommy, I'm making a pee." She will sit there for an eternity reading all her books and it has to be the books she wants to read at that particular moment. I need to start waking her earlier before school if I'm going to keep up with the potty time or I will be even later than I have been. And I think I need to start using the step stool rather than lifting her b/c I won't be able to lift her onto the potty when I have my c-section. She is already pulling down her own pants.
Her daycare is just waiting for my go ahead to start potty training at school. But it's still winter here and I like her in a onesie to keep her back warm when they go outside for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. They need her to be able to pull her own pants and underwear up and down on her own, so I will hold off until the spring hits. I have already purchased underwear and undershirts and one plastic underwear cover - daycare wants to have 4 and I'll need some so I need to purchase more of them. In the meantime, I'll keep it stress-free and just have her be successful when I know she needs to go. She is only 26 months.
How I'm feeling:
CRUMMY. I have a sore throat and a stuffy nose. Which means that I'm quite likely getting what SR has. And March Break is over tomorrow so I have to be at work on Monday - an unspoken rule that you can't be away the first day back after the holidays. I better set up for supply teachers in case the fevers hit me. Hopefully my parents will watch SR on Monday if she's still sick tomorrow.
Okay, stopping here...I really should try to get into bed early b/c I have a feeling it's going to be another long night. I need to leave a message for the paediatrician so we can have an appointment tomorrow morning too...Oh and I just remembered I need to wash my hair tonight...darn it...it's already so late - Ha, 9:18...if younger me heard me say that!!!
I was really worried about how Fiona would handle my being in the hospital - which ended up being 4 nights due to long labor and C section, and she did GREAT. (She did come visit twice). I've also had two 2-night work trips recently and the girls did great with that too. I think we moms tend to worry more than we need to. It really sounds like staying in your own home after baby is born will be easier and more comfortable. If your parents are willing to come by a couple times a day and help get SR to school and help in the evenings, I think you'll be fine! It will be exhausting no matter what, but there's something to be said for keeping SRs routine as normal as possible. Hope you don't get sick and get some rest this weekend. I recall how utterly wiped out I was my whole 2nd pregnancy, I really feel for you!
ReplyDeleteOh and just have to add that I love your low-key approach to potty training. That was my style too and Fiona gradually and naturally potty trained - pee by 27 months old and poo by 30 months. A newly potty trained kid is actually a bit of a pain because when they have to go they have to go NOW, which makes going out and doing anything in public kindof hard!
ReplyDeleteHope last night was better than previous & that you're both on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the no pressure potty training...I've been using a similar approach but really need to step it up soon...
Could you possibly set up Skype so that you can see SR when you are in the hospital but also remove the concern about leaving the hospital with her upset? There should be enough time to get it all worked out before you are in. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the idea. But I don't have a laptop. Only wifi on my phone. And my phone is a used iPhone 3GS. So the camera is only on the other side. It would all depend on my technology. I was thinking if paying for the hospital wifi though.
DeleteI am behind in my reading--I really hope you are feeling better by now. You've had a rough go of it--I'd definitely have cabin fever if I were in your shoes.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, I was. My barely 2 year old did visit me in the hospital. It wasn't bad and it wasn't great. If I had to do it over again, I might not. It was all a bit confusing for him and he really just wanted to sit in the bed and play with the pillows. He didn't care much about seeing me, LOL.
I would find it very stressful to have my newborn and toddler in someone else's home for any length of time. Even if they were my parents and we were close. I really vote for staying in your condo--FWIW :)