Wow Mommalove, how exciting, I've booked my seat on here! I too had lots and lots of rib pain, some nights it was just awful and there's nothing that helps is there? For me, it started off as DT2's bottom but as time went on, poor boy, it was his head. He had no space at all. But he was still hale and herty! I remember it well. You need to rest up my love. Really! Take the advice!!! Work needs to stop. (Mars, I'll meet you on the train, you hold her down, I'll tidy and clean then I'll hold her down while you cook.)
I'm serious.
HM, I adopted the very, very laidback (who me!!!???) attidtude of "I don't care when they're ready, its not time yet". My DTs were probably about 2.10 before I even got the potties laid out (2 upstairs, 2 downstairs and an optional fish patterned seat for the big toilet ). Then I did nothing.
After a bit, they wanted to try them and then it turned into a hideous game of needing to wee every 40 seconds. And doing a dribble every 40 seconds. We had about a week of that (and me thinking I would explode) before it began to settle.
They were using potties up until our holiday and then (no potties on holiday and nice low toilets in our villa) they jumped onto toilet seats. The day we returned I barged into the house ahead of them, hid the potties in the garage and laid a step in front of our toilets. Worked a treat, they didn't even look for them. Now the toilets are manky at every hour of the day but no more nappies I still pop them in pullups at bedtime as I don't see that as important. Some nights they are dry, some nights they aren't. My advice is to do nothing except very, very gentle highlighting of the fact that you use the toilet and that if they do too, you will buy them the most gorgeous Spiderman pants. I also enrolled in the "Extremely Acceptable School of Bribery For The Path Of Least Resistance" and gave one Cadburys Chocolate Finger for every poo. (You can unwind that easily once its well established.)
Do whatever is easiest. Life is hard enough. Whatever gets you through. Bribery, corruption, or nothing. There's no rush.
Ooogs, my darling, these are the nights that DP and I talk about. When we are ill or overwhelmed or beside ourselves with despair we say "but its not as bad as......." This will become part of the blur that is early life with the DTs. Its heaven and its hell. Most days are spent just getting through. Stay with us, we know. I remember both my DTs being awake in the night when my DD1 appeared (similar to your night last night). My DP was working away and I ended up phoning my mum at 4am, crying - I just needed a voice. She reminded me that I was doing my best and that if I'd done everything I could do it was fine to leave them to cry and bring DD1 in with me to cuddle up together. Stay strong.
Now. Where's our missing chicklets? Doris is on the list, as is Piximon, Overrun and Throckenholt. It just doesn't feel right in here without the clan.