Sorry for no photos in this post. As you read, you will understand why.
So I kept getting this feeling I should start potty training Jace.
So I kept getting this feeling I should start potty training Jace.
But Jace doesn't understand cause and effect or reasoning. Great possibility he never will.
Also, Jace doesn't really truly have a currency. He has lots of interests and enjoyments, but there really is no specific thing that drives him. Except attention... which just potty training in itself creates.
Aidan definitely has a currency, so using incentives for him is easy.
Jace's body was clearly ready. But when a child's mentality isn't, it would seem a losing battle certainly not worth fighting. During day one, I sure had several moments of feeling that way! His extreme behavior was driving me bonkers. But not once did I have the feeling I should stop.
He was sick with a cold. He's impossible when he's sick. Not helpful.
And then I ended up sick, and Aidan, and Damon... Again, not helpful.
As I continued to process the whole thing in my mind, I realized that maybe my feeling was coming from Jace having a window of opportunity while most wouldn't try it this young. His body is ready + he's young enough ignoring the cues his body is giving might not be fully ingrained yet... I'm hoping his mind might still able to adjust if given enough repetition. That's certainly the reason for early therapy intervention.
Jace's brain damage is interesting, because it can appear that he functions well. But he has huge learning disabilities.
I have plenty of proof Jace learns by repetition and memorization.
He knows the alphabet and numbers, because he's watched the learning dvds over and over instead of useless things like spiderman.
So after several days of him peeing and pooping a microscopic amount a million times a day, it's very clear, he can feel what's happening and has incredible muscle control that I can only dream of having.
But is he understanding enough of it to create the end result I really want?
As far as his currency, it seems to be an insane mixture of:
playtime with the therapy whistles
rolos
high-fives and woohoos
flushing tp down the toilet while waving goodbye
making silly faces
playtime with favorite stuffed dog
treasure box picks (stocked up on trucks and trains, etc.)
sharing my favorite freeze dried pineapple
hugs and kisses
And though I really didn't want to the popular 3 day method because of Damon, I ended up doing an adaptation of it, where Jace spent much of his time in the kitchen with only a shirt on. If he went to any other part of the house besides the bathroom itself, he had underwear on. I've got a carpet shampooer but it now hurts my heart to use, so I'd rather just prevent the need.
Now I totally could have waited until he's older, and maybe my feeling about his actual need for being younger would've been wrong, or it could've been correct and then I'd have missed an opportunity for him to accomplish a big childhood milestone. We won't even get into the economic aspect of it, too upsetting.
So this was way more work than I wanted, and Aidan's potty training seems cake compared to it. But I still think the reward is worth it.
I now have great examples of understanding Jace to be able to communicate to his doctors that I wouldn't without this experience. If I don't understand what's going on, how can I help the doctors understand? One thing about CP, the brain damage and learning disabilities are quite individual and can vary greatly between patients, and being considered a "mild" case, can cause doctors to ignore huge needs, that when not treated with therapy, can create much bigger challenges in adolescence and adulthood.
Then Aidan's condition dramatically worsened, and he ended up needing to go to the ER again.
Jace's progress seemed to have stopped. Again, not helpful.
But then he got me out of bed last night to help him with the potty. Hmmm.
His bed was still soaked this morning. I knew going into this the likelihood of him training for nighttime was extremely remote, because I'm confident he actually is having seizures that are prevalent at night.
I have pocket trainers I can use when I feel it's no longer worth the morning bed stripping routine. :)
As for the daytime, I think I will slowly work up to continuing normally, while doing a ton of laundry... because frankly, I'm doing a ton of it regardless anyway!
*Update: He had a completely accident free day!
He was sick with a cold. He's impossible when he's sick. Not helpful.
And then I ended up sick, and Aidan, and Damon... Again, not helpful.
As I continued to process the whole thing in my mind, I realized that maybe my feeling was coming from Jace having a window of opportunity while most wouldn't try it this young. His body is ready + he's young enough ignoring the cues his body is giving might not be fully ingrained yet... I'm hoping his mind might still able to adjust if given enough repetition. That's certainly the reason for early therapy intervention.
Jace's brain damage is interesting, because it can appear that he functions well. But he has huge learning disabilities.
I have plenty of proof Jace learns by repetition and memorization.
He knows the alphabet and numbers, because he's watched the learning dvds over and over instead of useless things like spiderman.
So after several days of him peeing and pooping a microscopic amount a million times a day, it's very clear, he can feel what's happening and has incredible muscle control that I can only dream of having.
But is he understanding enough of it to create the end result I really want?
As far as his currency, it seems to be an insane mixture of:
playtime with the therapy whistles
rolos
high-fives and woohoos
flushing tp down the toilet while waving goodbye
making silly faces
playtime with favorite stuffed dog
treasure box picks (stocked up on trucks and trains, etc.)
sharing my favorite freeze dried pineapple
hugs and kisses
And though I really didn't want to the popular 3 day method because of Damon, I ended up doing an adaptation of it, where Jace spent much of his time in the kitchen with only a shirt on. If he went to any other part of the house besides the bathroom itself, he had underwear on. I've got a carpet shampooer but it now hurts my heart to use, so I'd rather just prevent the need.
Now I totally could have waited until he's older, and maybe my feeling about his actual need for being younger would've been wrong, or it could've been correct and then I'd have missed an opportunity for him to accomplish a big childhood milestone. We won't even get into the economic aspect of it, too upsetting.
So this was way more work than I wanted, and Aidan's potty training seems cake compared to it. But I still think the reward is worth it.
I now have great examples of understanding Jace to be able to communicate to his doctors that I wouldn't without this experience. If I don't understand what's going on, how can I help the doctors understand? One thing about CP, the brain damage and learning disabilities are quite individual and can vary greatly between patients, and being considered a "mild" case, can cause doctors to ignore huge needs, that when not treated with therapy, can create much bigger challenges in adolescence and adulthood.
Then Aidan's condition dramatically worsened, and he ended up needing to go to the ER again.
Jace's progress seemed to have stopped. Again, not helpful.
But then he got me out of bed last night to help him with the potty. Hmmm.
His bed was still soaked this morning. I knew going into this the likelihood of him training for nighttime was extremely remote, because I'm confident he actually is having seizures that are prevalent at night.
I have pocket trainers I can use when I feel it's no longer worth the morning bed stripping routine. :)
As for the daytime, I think I will slowly work up to continuing normally, while doing a ton of laundry... because frankly, I'm doing a ton of it regardless anyway!
*Update: He had a completely accident free day!
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