Crook Family: Potty Training

So quite a few things going on... Justin getting adjusted to school and work-load, fun with Levi and potty time, and the joys of cell phone companies.

First off, Justin is settling in to school and realizing more and more how much is expected of him. Although it is a little more than what his first thoughts were, it isn't any more than I had anticipated. He is trying to find his balance with school and work, but that will come with time and it will probably be a week to week thing. Luckily, and unluckily, his schedule is so weird this term that he can find random days off here and there. Mostly he is trying to pick up extra shifts, but come midterms and finals he won't be able to do that. I suppose we should get used to this though, it will be this way all year long.

Levi and I were able to enjoy some fun times on the bus again this week, and on Tuesday as we boarded the bus we noticed it was "free" day. We then realized it was "Transit Week" in Corvallis and the bus was free all week long. So we hitched a ride to bagels Thursday morning as well. Levi is becoming more accustomed to the bus and more prone to misbehaving, so I may have to keep it a special once in a while treat.

Justin decided to give taking the bus for school a try this week as well. He leaves about forty minutes earlier and heads out on his bike. He parks at the downtown station and takes a bus to Linn-Benton. The bus is free with his student ID, so it is saving us good money for him to do this. He would normally drive the car five days out of the week, to and from Albany (24 miles round trip), which adds up quickly. If he did this we would be filling up the car about every 8 - 9 days. However, if he rides his bike like this four of the five days (one day the bus doesn't work with his schedule), we would only be filling up once every two weeks (and we wouldn't be on complete empty when filling up). So I figure it is saving us roughly $50-60 a month in gas. Justin also discovered he is biking a lot more than he originally thought. It is 2.5 miles one way to work, and a little more than that to downtown. With him biking to work five days this week, and downtown three days, he went about 35 miles total! Next week I'm sure the total will be closer to 45 miles, which is great to do every week!

Well on Wednesday since we had the car in the morning, I decided to head out and get gas at the same time Justin would be getting in to the downtown station. I gave us a little too much time, so I had over half an hour to waste. I decided to take Levi to the Corvallis airport and let him watch the planes. He has taken to Jeremy the Jet plane on Thomas, so he was loving every minute! He saw helicopters of all sorts, and a few types of jet and prop planes. He also saw many take off, but no landings. As I said, he loved every minute of it, and sooner than he wanted we had to go pick up daddy. As we were leaving one of the jets was prepping for take off, and we had to hurry to the car because Levi thought it was too loud.

Thursday was my adventure with my cell phone company. I am with Verizon, and I qualified for my new phone discount (new every two thing). So I looked online but couldn't decide. I finally decided to go to the Verizon store in Albany and have them help me as well as transfer all my data. I shouldn't have gone without Justin, but for whatever reason I did. Poor choice on my part. I actually got an old co-worker of Justin's to assist me, but even that did not help my situation. I told him I wanted a free phone. First he showed me a phone that I loved and even went and got it and assured me it was free... well it wasn't... so then I picked a lesser model that I only so-so liked compared to the first. Again he assured me my phone was free. So he transferred all my data to the new phone, and had me sign my two year contract. Then he asked how I would be paying. I was stumped. Then he let me know that there was a $50 mail-in rebate that would make the phone free, but that I had to pay the $50 up front. Well, me not knowing I had a choice, and feeling somewhat trapped since I signed my contract and all my data was on the new phone... I gave him my debit card (knowing that once all my bills were paid I would not have the $50 in that account... leaving me in the red). I had a horrible feeling in my stomach the whole time and left feeling like I was cheated. I immediately called Justin who was horrified by how I was treated, especially by this old friend. He was upset and angry, yet he also knew that all of the above was more likely to happen than not. He knows the business very well and knows that most places expect this sort of behavior to make the sale. He gave me some advice and we had a few different game plans in mind of what to do next. So, following his advice, I called the manager of that branch I was at and told her what happened. I also explained that I wouldn't have the money in my account for a $50 phone. She was apologetic for how I was treated and the lack of communication on her employee's part. She then explained that all phones in their store have mail-in rebates and none are free up front. So I went back and returned my phone and had all my data restored to my old one. Then as soon as I got home I went back online and ordered the same exact phone they wanted to charge me the $50, for free and free shipping. So much less hassle... and actually free! Justin agrees I should have done that to begin with, and we both agree we will never again go to that or any Verizon store!

Now on to Levi's potty time! I have decided to take a very laid back and casual approach to the matter. I had Levi sit on his potty for an hour or so for the first few days, but now he seems to be catching on by himself and I usually wait for him to ask. He isn't using it every time he needs to pee, but it is about twice a day he asks. For now, I am satisfied with that. I want him to learn at his pace, not mine. I'm hoping that this way he will have less accidents. We have had no luck training him to go #2 yet, and I know that is a daunting task ahead. But on the pee front he is really doing great! Yesterday he really showed he knew what to do because he kept asking to use the potty chair, he'd go a very little bit and then ask for his reward (a sucker)... and then repeat the process about every five minutes. I let him do this about four times before the fifth when I told him he couldn't have the sucker until he was all done peeing. I told him to keep going and try to push out all he could. So, he did, and he received his final sucker for the day. Then today he asked his daddy after church to use the potty, and he went a whole lot. So, as I said he is catching on okay for now. I figured in a couple weeks I would try to pick up the training a little more, and within a month or so move him into the bathroom and have him use the real toilet. Like I said, relaxed and casual. I just don't want to push the issue, make him do things he's not ready for, and have him relapse back to not using the potty chair at all. My ideal is to have him completely potty trained (except #2, since that IS going to take some time and energy) before Hazel is born. I know that will help me a great deal.

Justin and I also received new callings this week, we have been called to be Ward Missionaries. Justin is very excited about this as he loved his mission immensely. I on the other hand I am worried with all that we already have going on, if we will have the adequate time to offer to the call. Justin is busy almost non-stop with school and work, and I will soon have a newborn baby and a 3-year-old to handle while he is away. The Lord called us for a reason, so I know it'll all work out, but I am just worried right now.

(As for this picture... we got this hat at a garage sale on Saturday. Levi loved it and thought he was a dinosaur wearing it, he even roared for us!)