Got book from library... Positive Parenting for Preschoolers, obviously what we are doing isn't working. After numerous attempts to get her to pick up her toys yesterday, because I just couldn't do it. I got a garbage bag, and filled it up. She didn't get it. She actually started helping fill the garbage bag instead of filling her toy bins. Jeff took out the trash (it was trash night). She saw the garbage man take the bags this morning. Did she care? I don't think so. So I guess that strategy she's too young for. But we'll see if she misses all the toys. I doubt it, because she has way too much. (Really, the toys are just piled in a box in the garage, maybe one day I'll bring them back). For now, I'm sick of picking up toys. I physically can't right now, and probably won't be for a long long while.

I did try another strategy from the book. This morning, I asked her if she wanted to help me make breakfast, of course she said yes. So I brought down the oatmeal, let her pour it in a measuring cup. I let her pour the milk in the measuring cup. I let her put some sugar on it. I let her put the bread in the toaster, and butter the bread. She thought she was really the shit. So, when it was all ready, she actually ate the whole damn breakfast. I was shocked. Last time I made oatmeal, she said "No Thanks" and wouldn't even try it. Yes, she put too much milk. Yes, she put too much sugar. But she was proud she did it, and she ate breakfast without a fight. Amen to small miracle. Then I had her put the dishes in the sink. And wipe down the table. Holy cow. I did the dishes, and she even wiped down the counter for me. So that went well. I will try again for lunch, and maybe dinner. I can't always take the time to let her do it always, but I guess it's worth a try to stop power struggles and eating.

Luckily I could skip over the chapters on bed time battles, and potty training battles. All that girl puts me through, but those topics she's as good as gold with, thank god. She really is a good kid. I just think with money worries on our heads, the physical pains we are both going through, and the stress of another baby is just wearing us down and yelling all the time is not good. We need to give her extra attention once in a while, because she is jealous of things we do with Jon, and she will be jealous of Steph also. So we'll just make her feel important and hopefully get through this.

And why our kids hate going outside, I have no idea. There is so much to do out there. We try to play with her, but she walks around like a bump on a log, and would rather play with rocks and sticks than all her toys. It's annoying. And Jon moans and groans out there too, but he can't do much beside play in the pack and play, and swing in his swing. I just don't get it.

Jon slept in until 830-9am, then took a nap from 1030am-330pm yesterday. Which was great, since I was so miserable, I wasn't in a chase able mood. I didn't give Jess a nap because I thought he would get up at any time. Finally I opened his door at 330pm to see if he was ok. That woke him up. How strange that he slept so long. It must be a growth spurt. He's sleeping more lately, and eating less though. But of course, he always out eats her, who doesn't?

I took some pics of Jon standing by himself today, how cute. I put away some laundry. Brought in the garbage cans. And now I'm in pain. My hip/back and stomach/groin area hurts, so it's time to sit down. I am out of breathe and miserable. Yesterday was rough. I just can't bend. And the kids were driving me nuts. I just need more patience. This is going to be quite an adjustment for all of us. I think Jess is understanding what is going to go on, and is getting anxious. Especially when more and more of this "Stephanie" stuff is coming out. And MIL is so thinking, the doctor will put me in the hospital tomorrow. I don't think so. I am miserable, but I'm not contracting. So I'm sure she'll just wait until next Wednesday. I'm just trying to take it easy, I feel like I'm going to pop. We are sure a funny sight, Jeff with his painful finger trying to get stuff done, and me in my predicament. We aren't even fretting about projects that never got done, it's just every day stuff.... you know... the thing called LIFE, hahaha.

Oh and I tried wrapping my wrists again last night to see if it would help. 3 hours later, I woke up with throbbing and swollen hands. I must have wrapped them too tight and was cutting off the circulation, ugh. The right one still looks a little swollen. I tried to help one problem, and created another. I just don't get it, you need to wrap them a little tight, to keep them straight so they don't move. They felt fine when I went to bed, ahhh, always something. I'll just suffer along.

Oh well, thought I'd do a quick update now, I never know what the evening holds. I just hope to keep my cool, I sure have been a crab lately.