20 months 6 days

What a day! This one was way on the top when it comes to the most difficult church service with them.

Last night I went to bed just before midnight. In the morning we always hear them before it's time to get up, but only get up once it's 8 am. This morning I heard them at 7:45, and suddenly it was an hour later, so we got up way later than usual. And still, I was so extremely tired tonight.

After breakfast, I took them downstairs and played with them until Randy took my place. I cleaned up and then sat down to work. It was already 10 am, so I only had one hour to work, before I had to go make lunch. Really not enough time.

I cooked lunch for the five of us, and at 11:30 everyone came upstairs to eat, and they ate pretty much everything, plus watermelon and yoghurt. Then I cleaned them up and dressed them, and Randy took Tammy downstairs, while I put the boys to bed. Emmy seemed tired, but the two of them started partying instead of sleeping. I went to them a few times, trying to get them to sleep, but to no avail. The last time I went, Emmy finally stayed down and closed his eyes. I checked on him again and thought I could now put Tammy to bed.

Randy came upstairs with her, and just after I put Tammy to bed, I could hear her and Emmy having fun. Obviously he hadn't been asleep all the way yet. Sammy was finally sleeping, but the other two started partying now. I thought they'd never sleep! Sammy woke up before they slept, after only about 45 minutes. I was glad when his siblings finally fell asleep. Unfortunately Emmy already woke up after half an hour and wouldn't get back to sleep, and his crying also woke his sister up, so both of them only slept half an hour. And that's why church was so tough tonight, because all three of them did not get enough sleep.

We fed them their afternoon meal, and then started dressing them and getting everything ready for church, and left on time. We took the train and subway and got to church before the service started, sitting in the back, as always. Emmy was already pretty tired, and it didn't take long before Sammy got cranky and stayed cranky pretty much the whole time. They were running around near us, wanting to be picked up, and keeping us busy. When Sammy got too cranky, we left for the baby room, before the first half hour and worship was up.

We were the only ones in the room tonight. We got their food out and started feeding them. Tammy and Emmy ate everything, but Sammy had a day where he didn't eat much at any meal. They were having fun, running around, with toys, but also stuff they shouldn't do. Randy and I were so very tired we could barely keep our eyes open, which made it all even harder. Already at home, they had wreaked havoc while upstairs and exasperated me somewhat, while I was trying to get everything ready. Tonight food bowls were turned over twice, the trash can rolled around by Emmy, and Tammy pulled trash bags out of the drawer. Emmy wanted to sit in the high chair, where he ate some of his food, but then he wanted to stand and climb, and so did she, so they were fighting over who could stand in the chair. Tammy enjoyed being in the baby bed, and Emmy was in there for a short while too.

Randy was feeding Sammy, but I was holding him too, trying to make him happy. Randy put him into the activity chair, where he was happy for a while. When we returned to the sanctuary just before the end, I had Sammy and was swinging him around constantly to make him laugh instead of fussing. Tammy and Emmy were also very active, keeping us busy. I finally put Sammy into the stroller, where he was calm for a while, and then the other two, where they also finally calmed down. When the service ended right then, we were ready to go. I was so tired, I closed my eyes in the subway and train, and I was glad, when we were back home.

We got them ready for bed, which takes a while, and then I put them to bed. The boys went to sleep quickly, while Tammy was still fussing. When she started crying harder, I checked on her. She had thrown her rabbit out but needs it to sleep, so I gave it back to her, and a little while later she was asleep.

The whole I was so extremely tired, I was also hungry and wondering what to eat tonight. I always make my salad for two days, which is time-intensive, and tonight was the night I had to make it. I could not imagine doing all this work to eat, but I'm on a diet and did not have an alternative. So I made my soup, and after eating it, I felt less tired and just powered on, making my salad, and so it was already really late before I was done eating and could start working. I should still make it to be by midnight tonight.