Sometimes Life Is Just Crappy

Life can be an interesting thing.  I have two things I wanted to mention in this post.  

First off is about our little Isabella.  I feel like sharing this experience more for the fact that I don't want to forget this time, and if I don't write it down I am sure to forget.  This little girl is one of the most vibrant, happy, easygoing kids I have ever met.  She is also one of the most determined, at times stubborn, and persistent little girls ever.  We have been working on potty training with this little firecracker for over a year now.  That's right, over a YEAR.  When Bella decides she doesn't want to do something no one can tell her differently.  

Here are just a few of the methods we have tried to use with her:

* Sticker Chart

* Rewards (candy or small rewards as well as larger, like getting to pick out a new toy)

* Praise

* Father's Blessings

* We as parents have prayed and fasted

* Had her run around with no underwear on

* Telling her we will take her on a pony ride

* Setting a timer for her to go every 5 to 10 minutes

* Showing her how her dolly goes pee pee

* Read books about going potty

At times this process has seriously driven me nuts.  We are definitely further along than when we started, but I still feel like we have a ways to go.  Last month things got so bad for her that we ended up having to take her into the urgent care.  After three hours, several x-rays, an enema, and a prescription for some medication, things seem like they are starting to improve.  

Like I said she still has a long way to go, but I'm hoping that we are headed in the right direction.  I think with her personality she will one day wake up and just decide that today is the day.  

The second thing I wanted to blog about is just life in general.  Recently I have felt much more sensitive to issues that normally I can just talk myself through.  It's hard to know if the problem is pregnancy hormones or the issues themselves (probably a mixture between the two).  I was talking to Jeff today about some of the concerns I have.  In all reality they are very small and petty.  For example not feeling like I belong here, feeling like I have no one to talk to, going to church and not feeling that 'love' or 'unity' that people say they feel (This one Jeff said he also feels, so it helped knowing I'm not alone in my feelings), hating the fact that we are so far away from family and the people that love us and care about us, still feeling like our future is so much up in the air.  I remember when we first moved here I loved the area so much.  I think that had a lot to do with the fact that I made some friends fairly quickly.  It is amazing what you can get through in life when you have a strong support system.  Now that that support system is not as readily available, I think it weighs on my mind more frequently.

So for now I will just keep reminding myself that there is a sweet little baby girl that will be here next month, and I have a wonderful family that loves me.  Besides, once the baby comes I won't even have time to think about all the crazy insignificant things, at least that is what I'm hoping. : )