Lessons in fruit smooshies, potty training and blocks

Today has been a marathon day for parenting. We are in the midst of potty training with Patrick and he is doing really well so far. He is actually pooping in the potty which was a concern of ours since the site of his own poo caused him to gag. This morning started out well. Patrick used the potty, had a good breakfast and was getting ready to start his day playing. Then he asked for a "rolly smooshie" which is kind of like a fruit roll up but very long and thin. A small piece had torn off before he even unrolled it. It was the perfect nostril size so Patrick wadded it up and shoved it in. In an attempt to get it out he must have shoved it even further in. He came to me with a nervous look and one eye tearing up. I took a looksy and didn't see anything right off but he said it was up there. So- I armed myself with a flashlight and some tweezers and we both headed for the bathroom. The flashlight confirmed that, yes, there was something way, way up there. It was well beyond the reach of the tweezers and no amount of blowing on Patricks' part was going to make it come flying out. I called Heather, our personal nurse and savior in emergency nose stuffing situations, for some advice. After a little giggling on her part she offered some suggestions and we both were hoping that the smooshie would start to dissolve and come sliding out on its own. So I agreed to report back after we tried a few things. By this time Patrick's nose was beginning to run with a brown mucous which was the smooshie starting to dissolve. I got the nasal aspirator and started sucking away in there. Lots and lots of brown mucous, some more fussing, more brown mucous and finally a little flap of smooshie. I told Patrick "I think it's all out!" He sniffed a little and said "I think there is still some in there." More suction and more brown mucous and finally Patrick gave me the all clear. Lesson 1: Don't stick things in your nose. Whew- glad that was over with. All the excitement of the nasal suction must have distracted Patrick from our original goal of potty training and he had an accident...on the carpet. Oopsy! Lesson 2: Please tell mommy you have to use the potty(haven't we had this lesson already?). The last lesson of the day was a little harder for Patrick to deal with and not one that we could really fix for him. Jason was home and using the facilities when Patrick busted in and wanted to watch the toilet being flushed. With two blocks in hand, Patrick watched as Jason flushed and in all the flushing excitement a block hit the water just as the final wash was being pushed down the hole. The block disappeared into the hole never to be seen again. Great disappointment ensued and a little explanation on how we couldn't get the block back. We have more blocks but that block was special! Lesson 3: Don't put things in the toilet that you hope to see again. What can we expect for tomorrow after all this?