Miranda

The day we got back from Los Angeles, we started potty training Miranda again. We had put the whole thing on hold after all the pooping issues at the recommendation of the doctor. This killed me as she was basically potty trained for pee. She said, give it 6 months of no pain during pooping before you start again. So I waited, growing nervous by the day that she would not be potty trained by September and therefore could not go to preschool.

She seemed excited about being "potty trained" like her brother and sister (finally). She only had one pee accident on that Friday (at the park) and since then has not had one accident. She was still having poop accidents though, either in her underwear or in her diaper at naps or at night.

4 days ago, we all went to target for something and she saw a baby doll she wanted desperately. I bought it and told her she could play with it when she pooped in the potty. She completely understood this, but then did not poop for 3 days. We were really worried that the poop that was bound to come would hurt her and set us back another 6 months. But then we remembered that she was not feeling well and didn't eat a ton so perhaps she just didn't need to go.

Then yesterday, while I was running (9 miles again!) she sat on the potty and pooped the, according to Michael, biggest poop you've ever seen. Michael said she was so happy and proud of herself and thrilled to get her doll, which she hasn't put down since.

Elizabeth is having a hard time with all of this. She doesn't understand why she doesn't get anything. Luckily she so enjoys doing things by herself, I don't think the sadness will last. In fact, yesterday, she opened 4 band-aids by herself and put them on her and the new baby. She even helped Miranda do it when Miranda couldn't ge them open. Hopefully I won't squash all of her intrinsic motivation.