I was scrolling through my entries here and noticed that, somehow, someway, I have neglected to post about my son's poop issues. I am not sure how this could possibly have been overlooked, seeing as how it is the highlight of most days around here lately.

To say he is constipated is a misnomer. To say that he is "withholding" and driving us all crazy with his neurotic "I don't want to poop...EVER" mentality, is probably more close to being accurate.

I read that this is common; that many toddlers do it. But why mine?!? Why does the mom who has been consumed with her son's intakes and outtakes since birth, have to be burdened with this...now...right when potty training was supposed to enter the picture?? Because Murphy is a...well, you know...and to think, Cameron still isn't a believer! Was it because I mentioned to someone, most likely in passing and AFTER knocking on wood, that Hayden has finally nixed his sleep issues. That he is sleeping through the night now, earning bridery treats left and right for putting himself back to sleep and letting us get a continuous night of shut eye? Is that why? Did some other "issue" have to replace that? Probably so.

So, now we deal with this. Really there isn't anything to deal with...no diapers to change, except the obligatory wet ones that come at scheduled times during the day (morning/nap/after nap/night)...but no fun ones. He can make it about 2 days and still be happy. But when the afternoon of Day 2 of the withholding cycle hits...he changes. He runs around, literally, not quite knowing what to do. He says, "MOM! Change ME!" when nothing is in there, simply because he has the sensation that he has to "go". He says his tummy hurts and that he doesn't like tummy aches...and still, NO POOP!

I have tried reasoning with him. Telling him that if he doesn't like tummy aches, then just go and life will be good again. I have tried bribing him (hey, it worked for the sleep thing didn't it!?!?)...nothing. I have tried ignoring it, which is hard to do when your child changes personality and can hardly resume normal activity because every few minutes they are grabbing their tummy in pain or asking to leave their favorite place in the world because they just can't manage to bounce in the inflatables ANYMORE because of their bowels. We have tried prescription laxatives, poop producing foods, suppositories, etc, etc, etc...nothing seems to make him go before he is good and ready. Would you just take a crap already!?!?

I hope this is just a phase...a short poop-less stint...not like the sleep "phase" that consumed over 6 months of our lives and drove us into a sleep-deprived oblivion. Here's to thinking positively.... -- mam