I have all sorts of deep thought blog posts, but I’m too tired to tackle those right now. How about a wee update instead? Ok? Good.
- I installed pendant lights in the previous can/recessed light fixtures in the kitchen today. (a) I’m awesome and (b) I cannot believe how different the light coming from those makes the kitchen feel!! 8 yrs later and I feel like our kitchen is finally coming together!! (sadly I have to fix one of the lights though, because no matter how hard I try not to see it, I can totally tell one is slightly higher than the other. BAH)
- I’m having parts of the house painted next week. I’ve been wanting to paint over that builder flat crappy paint job for 8 years, and while some rooms have been done more than once, the foyer with it’s super-tall ceiling and the stairwells and upstairs hallway (same reason) have been daunting. On a whim, my brother’s friend, who is a painter by trade, was available and I spur of the moment had him come out and hired him. YAY!
- My bedroom is next. I’ve been living in a non-decorated, same furniture location, boring ass bedroom forever and I want a sanctuary, dammit!!
- Kids Week was this past week at work. I think it went really well! Definitely learned some things to do differently next year, but it seems better each year, so we might be on to something.
- And in the most important news break of the week:
PENNIES FOR POOP!
I am so so so so so tired of Preston having accidents in his pants all the time. For awhile he’ll do really well, running to the bathroom when he had to go – leaving skid marks, but otherwise not too bad. But then he would get lazy again, and it would be more than a little. Then in the last week (yes, since his surgery, yes, I know the meds can screw them up and that pushing might actually hurt), he’s not only been leaving a little, but full out going in his underwear. GROSS. The worst part to me is that it doesn’t bother him. That is disgusting.
We’ve tried taking things away (his favorite Toy Story 3 game mostly), threatening, cajoling, pleading, begging, being angry, being indifferent, being sad, ignoring and anything else. Finally I called his surgical nurse to make sure it wasn’t something related to the surgery and while I was talking to her it was like a light bulb went off over my head.
Bribery.
The only thing we haven’t tried yet. Well, that’s not true, I did offer to give him a new car (uh, matchbox/hot wheels size) every time he went in the toilet. It worked once or twice, but wasn’t enough motivation.
And then!! Then I realized that he was starting to show an interest in money, specifically coins. So I devised a plan, talked to him about it and then TAH-freaking-DAH!!
We labeled an old juice bottle (he wanted something big to fill), and I made the following offer:
1 penny for each 1/2 hour without an accident
1 dime for each hour without an accident
2 quarters for each poop on the potty
1 gold dollar for wiping his own butt
Now, that may sound like a lot of money, especially in the course of a long day, but let me tell you, so far so good! The boy even told me he had to poop at Target! And then? HE WENT. Thank you baby jeebus! He stayed accident free ALL day, pooped twice, wiped once and I couldn’t be more proud.
I may have to take out a loan to pay him off, but at this point, it’s worth every. single. penny.
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