All in All, A Good Day

About two months ago, I received an bulk email from the North Central Oracle Applications User Group (NCOAUG for you geeky people; "a bunch of local smart geeks" for you non-geeky people) saying that the deadline for submitting presentations for their annual training day was approaching. The training day was scheduled for Friday, August 15th in Chicago. I figured... "what have I got to lose?" I mean, what's the worst thing that can happen? Sure, I dislike rejection just as much as the next fellow, but it doesn't hurt so much when it comes from someone you don't know. So I submitted a presentation that I gave in June 2007 at another conference, and wouldn't you know it... they accepted it. How exciting!

I'd go into the topic of my presentation, but I know that would bore you all. If you truly want to know more about it, email me and I'll give you more details.

After a short while and some email communication between myself and the officials of the training day, my presentation was scheduled for 8.30am and for 40 minutes. My original presentation was about an hour, so I had to either cut some stuff out or talk really fast. I decided to do a bit of both. Since the presentation was scheduled so early so far away, I decided it would be best to rent a car for the day and stay in Chicago the night before and then I'd have plenty of time in the morning to get ready.

I arrived at the car rental place just after work to pick up the vehicle. I had a coupon for a free rental so I thought peruse the vehicles before going in. That's when I saw it. It sat there, so angelic. I swear there was a beam of sunlight shining down from heaven above on it so I knew it must be a sign that I must have that car for my trip. I walked in and asked which car I was entitled to with a coupon for a free day. He told me he only had a couple of cars that qualified and then I looked at him with that same look my children give me when they really want something and are scared to ask.

I asked, "You think I might be able to take that beautiful red Ford Mustang out there?" He thought for a second and said, "Sure, why not." You should have seen my face. I was about to drive to Chicago in the newest and likely fastest car I've ever ridden in. I was so stoked. We got all the paperwork together and walked out to the beast that I was about to tame. I knew the pain that I was causing our Santa Fe. I could hear him wimpering from across the parking lot. I reassured him that I would in fact return -- that I would not leave him there forever. I think our little pep talk helped, but there were some shed tears -- or perhaps it was just a little rain.

I got home with it and it just purred into our driveway -- like it belonged there. Luckily for our Fe, I put a picture of it on the dashboard of the Mustang so I would remember to pick it up the next day. I went inside and started packing.

I thought to myself... "self? what should I wear to give my presentation tomorrow? casual or dressed up? khakis or shorts? tie or no tie?" Then, as if the largest Christmas tree in Times Square had just turned on, it came to me. I knew exactly what to wear. So, I packed up a little suitcase ('cause I'm a guy) and headed out with Dave, a co-worker, to Chicago. It rode well -- even if it didn't. Did I mention it was a beautiful car?

The next morning, we got up and got ready for the day. I was so excited to wear my brand new, only worn once before, Milwaukee Brewers jersey to an Oracle training day in the heart of Chicago Cubs land -- and the fact that I was going to be presenting was just a bonus! Just think.... I was wearing the jersey of the enemy and they were forced to look at me! :)

Well, this blog is already a bit long... I like to be verbose and story-telling-ish, as you can tell. I'll wrap up with the fact that I gave the forty-minute presentation without a hitch or any problems. I had about thirty people attend my presentation and 1/3 of them came up afterwards requesting a copy of my presentation, so that was a great sign.

At the end of the day, there were several drawings for door prizes and I won a set of Bose speakers -- so sweet! So... when all was said and done, at the end of the day, I drove home away from Chicago in a new Ford Mustang wearing my (somewhat) new Milwaukee Brewers jersey and new set of Bose speakers. All in all, a good day.

Has it been a month since the last post?

Oh my... has it been a month since the last post? Oh, there is shame over the Bentz household. Great misery will befall us, our children, and our children's children, and so on and so forth.

It's only the end of July and we have already been busy enough for the entire summer. Allison and Isaac both have been in summer school classes, not because they are behind, but to get ahead. The Oregon school system offers early childhood summer classes to keep kids' minds growing and thinking about how the world around them works and does it in very fun and enjoyable ways.

Allison's two week summer class has come and gone and was all about letters and numbers. If nothing else, she doesn't skip the number sixteen anymore when she counts to twenty. I was starting to feel sorry for it for being left out for so long. No more worries!

Isaac was in a couple of fun classes, a math class and an Earth science class. They both were very entertaining and helped him learn different things about those disciplines. He also got to bring home a number of games and gadgets to continue learning math and science stuff.

Allison was in a swim class for a week and thoroughly enjoyed it. She loves the water (unless soap is involved). Isaac is now in a swim class for two weeks, both this week and next, and is loving every minute of it.

To put their new swim talents to the test, we are going to a hotel water park in Waukesha, Wisconsin on Monday. We went to the only indoor hotel water park in Madison last weekend and it was a disappointment, to say the least. So we're going to this one to make up for it. :)

Nothing too exciting has been happening with us adults lately. Cindy still goes to the local health club once a week to watch kids once a week for a free membership. She's enjoyed the time there with kids and working out. The only exciting thing that Shane has done is gone to see Batman. What a movie! It is certainly the best Batman movie yet and becoming one of his favorite movies of all time. So good that he's going to see it a second time Saturday night, again in the IMAX theater. Woo-hoo!!

We are having a great summer with Sarah, an InterVarsity intern staying with us through August. She and Allison have really gotten to be great friends and enjoy playing together a lot. Allison has really latched onto Sarah as a big sister and loves to spend time with her. It will be hard for all of us when it's time for Sarah to go.

Well, that's it for now. This post is long. We will post more later, we promise.

More Success for Allie!!

I'm so proud of Allie. She's been dry for over 24 hours. I was a little nervous last night when we went to a friend's house for supper where Allie wore underwear with no plastic pants over it. (They were all in the laundry - yikes!) I brought along a pad for her to sit on but there was no need. She really seems to be getting the hang of it. Last night she stayed dry and went pee on the potty first thing in the morning -- that's a huge turning point in potty training. I'm excited to see if she can do it again tonight. If not, tomorrow's a new day and we're not going to give up.

My main concern right now is helping her to feel comfortable with going #2 in the toilet. I'm not sure how. But once we pass that hurdle, the rubber pants will come off and she'll be one step closer to earning the ballerina Barbie that's sitting on top of the fridge still in the box.

I'm proud of Isaac, also. He's been very encouraging to Allie during her time of learning to stay dry and being in the spotlight. He had a hard time with it at first, though. A couple of weeks ago he said, "What about me? I use the potty all the time! Why don't you tell me 'good job' when I go?" I told him I was proud of him, too and that we're learning new things all the time and we all need encouragement. Now he just beams at her and gives her a big hug.

Allison's Rite of Passage (Honestly, no pun intended!)

I have a confession to make to you all: I am a terrible potty trainer. As much as I have grown weary of Pull-Ups, which are glorified diapers, I hate potty training even more. As a result, I have a 4 3/4 year old child who has no interest in using the potty.

Big deal, you might say. But it's embarrassing to have a child so big who runs up to you within earshot of other parents and says, "Mommy, I just pooped in my diaper."

At Allie's last pediatrician appointment several months ago, we talked about the situation. I explained how I tried everything: stickers, charts, incentive toys, and so on, but that she just completely lost interest. Her doctor said, "It's a power struggle. Just ask her, 'Is it time to go potty?'" That got me nowhere. Every time I asked her, the answer was always no.

Last month when the kids were sick we went back to the doctor's office and happened to see a different pediatrician -- one of those who fill in from time to time. I ashamedly told her that Allison was still in diapers at 4 1/2 years of age. She gave me the best advice: "Put her in underwear. That's it. It worked for my son. After two weeks he stayed dry all the time."
It wasn't the first time I had heard that advice. I had even tried it before. I had been loath to do it again because of how disgusting it is to rinse poop out of underwear (I actually gag) and to remove the lingering pee smell from the couch. No wonder I didn't stick with it for longer than a weekend.

Now, however, I have made a commitment to stick with this for as long as it takes. The time seems right for both of us. As of yesterday, Allison is in underwear all day long. No more using Pull-ups as a crutch for either of us. It's time to move on.

I've been doing some soul searching, trying to figure out what went wrong with potty training. Not to look for excuses or to find fault with myself, but to take an honest inside look and ask myself what the heck am I doing and why am I not doing what I feel I should be doing. I discovered that for some strange reason, change is hard for me. I can't help but blame myself for my children's delays. Just when I get my children figured out and I learn how to meet their needs, I find they've grown and their needs have changed and I have to catch up. While I may not win any awards for mother-of-the-year anytime soon, I love them earnestly and I'm convinced that they know it and that they can be secure in that knowledge. (Sniff) They're very affectionate kiddos.

So how have the first two days of underwear gone? Yesterday, which was day one, started out discouraging. After swim lessons, I put her in underwear and we went to the library. She sat down on the carpet and I asked if she had to go and she said no. A minute later, she peed right there. That was a frustrating beginning, naturally, but I am proud to say that she improved today. Today I got out some rubber pants for her to wear over her underwear to help contain any messes. They leak, but it's better than nothing and it's certainly better than diapers. She told me 6 or 7 times that she had to go potty today and actually went three or four of those times. I give her lots of hugs and when Isaac's around, we all hug each other and I say something like, "Hey, Isaac! Allie's going in the potty just like you and me! Isn't that so cool?? I'm so glad you guys use the potty." I also had to clean poop out of her underwear but it wasn't so bad now that I have faith that this will all be over in a couple of weeks of consistency.

Maybe change isn't so bad after all. It's turning out that this rite of passage for my daughter is turning out to be a rite of passage for me, too.