Poopiest entry ever

So if you're not interested in reading about managing my daughter's bodily outputs, just skip the first part of this entry.  I figured a warning upfront is only fair!

We took Audrey to the doctor last Wednesday because she had started another round of slimy horrendous blowouts.  I just couldn't take any more!!  The doctor poked around her tummy, agreed that things were pretty squishy in there, and sent us home with a kit to collect a stool sample.  After naptime, we had the good we needed for the sample, so I took the dirty diaper to the kitchen counter to put what was needed into the specified containers.  I know that in the past I have expressed frustration with Emily's constant questioning, but this time it was pretty funny: "Mom, what are you doing????"  Well, "scooping poop into little containers" seemed like an obvious enough answer, but I just told her the doctor wanted to look at it to see if she could figure out why her tummy was giving her troubles, so then it made sense to Emily that we had to drive it back to the doctor's office.  As of Friday, the only test results were that everything was normal, and the full results should be in on Monday.  Thursday, Audrey's teacher at daycare called me and said she was concerned about the output, which was super nice of her but I have a feeling it was probably based in the same exasperation I had: Ugh, yuck! AGAIN??   This weekend, things have been marginally okay, which makes me fear that we've got a food sensitivity to look for.  I was so hoping it could just be a parasite or something that we could fix with a round of medicine.  A food sensitivity seems like such a life sentence, you know?

Yesterday, I went to an informational gathering about the diaper service here in Des Moines.  I have heard other mothers talk about how they never have blowouts with cloth diapers, and while I still think they haven't put up with the quantity of poo that I have, it's gotta be better.  The only part of cloth diapering that I truly object to is dealing with the dirty ones later, so a diaper service is perfect, actually!  And really, I've washed so much nasty clothing that I can't imagine this could be any worse.  Cloth diapering, even with a service, is the kind of thing that should save money over the long haul, but since Audrey is so old (hee hee, she's so old!) we may end up actually spending more.  I've absolved the cost issue in my mind by considering it an investment in potty training.  When I was banging my head against the wall trying to potty train Emily, I wished desperately for a solution where I could just pay money to make it go away, and I really believe the cloth diapering will help.  Monday, Milo spent the day with us and it was really easy changing and managing his cloth diapers, so I'm feeling pretty good about this.  I've bought some diaper covers, and I think I'll start service either this week or next.  Cool, huh? :)

Okay, enough poopy talk!!  Time for funny stories about my girls!

Emily was SO excited for the opening of Ashby Park on Monday, which happened to be hot and sunny, perfect for going to a wading pool.  We counted down the days all weekend, and that morning we got swimsuits and sunblock and the stroller and a snack, and set off for the park.  The unfortunate thing about it being a perfect day for the pool was that everyone else thought so, too.  There were a ton of people there, and you know, much like her mother and her aunt, Emily does not like people!!  She spent about 5 minutes thinking about going in the water, and then told me she was all done.  Audrey generally doesn't like changing clothes, so she didn't even get her suit on.  The park opened at 10, and we were home at 10:20.  I guess it's just as well that I forgot towels, because neither kid got a drop on them!!  Wednesday we went back, where I met a friend and her three kids.  Her two boys got drenched immediately, tearing around the park like they owned the place, and her baby girl sat in the grass and pleasantly ate her snack.  My girls ended the time in the park by howling Mom Mom Mama Mama incessantly until we left.  At least Emily got in the water that time, but 5 minutes later I turned around and she was back at the stroller, competely naked, putting her clothes back in.  Audrey waded gingerly until she happened to fall down, and she got soaked and was totally done.  In addition to all the people, I think they don't like the noise of the water splashing from the fountains, and the constant noise them edgy. So, apparently our relationship with Ashby Park this year is love-hate!

We had a great time over at a friend's house last night, but we didn't get the girls in bed until 9:30.  Audrey was up at 6!!  She's having a morning nap today, which is great for her but doesn't help Travis, who is pretty zombied from getting up with her.  And Emily could use a nap too, but I think we'll just try to make the most of a cranky day with her.  I love summer days, but I wouldn't mind if summer mornings were not quite so sunshiney and bright at 5:30 AM.  Maybe we'll try out our "new" (craigslist) Burley today and see how the girls like biking!