Day 681. Last night it was once again 1:30, and the tiredness is really getting to me. This morning I heard Emmy once again and was concerned he was trying to climb out of his bed again, so I got up early, at 7:15, and went into their room. Emmy was already in Tammy's bed and about to climb out to the ground. I stopped him, sat down, and then ended up filming him climb from bed to bed to bed. Last night I had wanted to move his bed away from Sammy's so he sees the opening in the morning, only to find out the only opening we have is in Sammy's bed. So today the boys switched beds, and it's tomorrow Emmy will find the opening, when he wakes up. Somehow I have my doubts it will keep him from the fun of climbing into his siblings' beds.
So we got up early, I made their breakfast, we fed them, cleaned and dressed them, and I took them downstairs, where we were worshipping God and reading the Bible. When Randy came with his breakfast, I went upstairs to clean up and then do office work. I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, which made working really hard. I finally just closed my eyes and rested, without falling asleep. As we had gotten up early and needed to leave early after their nap, I decided we'd have lunch early to give them more time to sleep, and so I started cooking at 10:30. At 11 am Sonja arrived, and lunch was ready by then too, so everyone came upstairs to eat. It was their favorite meal, chicken with rice and vegetables.
After lunch, I cleaned them up, dressed them, and Tammy and Emmy went downstairs with Sonja to play, while Sammy went to bed first - for the first time in his brother's bed, which made no difference to him, nor his brother. It was not even 12 yet. Then I went to get Emmy and put him to bed. He needed a little help, and so I stayed for a while, and he fell asleep fast that way. That was great news. Then I went to get Tammy and put her to bed. She was doing her typical running up and down and playing. Usually I leave her be, but there was only an hour left until we needed to leave. So I kept encouraging her to lie down and sleep, and once I came and stroked her head for a while, it did the trick. I was glad she got to sleep early as well, though she now only had 50 minutes to sleep.
I continued working, cleaning up and getting everything ready for our outing. At 1:20 our noise woke the boys up, and we dressed them both, just adding pants and shoes to what they had on. Then I had to wake up the girl. I expected her typical behavior of throwing a fit, but was shocked to find her all calm, no fit. I was able to dress her, put her shoes on, and put her into the stroller, and she did not mind at all.
And so we left on time at 1:30, walked to the tram stop, which is a little bit of a walk, and then had a long ride in the hot tram. Once we got off, we had to walk some more. It was a really hot day today. We got to the swimming pool 3 minutes early and sat down at the entrance, where we had to wait for the teacher to come and check everyone's Covid test. He came late, checked everyone, and together we went inside. We had never been to that pool, and I think it's not a pool for anyone, but just for swim classes. We went to the locker room, where we put their swim trunks on, and then went to the pool. I think we were about the last ones to be ready. Emmy was terrified right away. 9 months is a long time at that age, and it had been 9 months since their swim class was canceled because of Covid. It's only now they can go swimming again. Emmy is rather fearful anyway, and he was clinging to Sonja for dear life.
The class itself was a little chaotic. There was no clear ending to the previous class, or beginning of the next. The teacher said we'd take it easy today, to get them used to the water again. Sonja had Emmy at first, and I had Tammy. We all went into the pool, with Emmy screaming, but I encouraged Sonja to just get into the water with him. He just needed time. After a while I suggested she'd jump up and down with him, and then a smile crossed his lips. He loves jumping! At the end, when I had him, he even walked timidly over the platform to jump into the water - or into my arms, with me in the water.
As for Tammy, she enjoyed it from the start, timidly at first, and by the end she was back in her element. After the teacher put the platform up for them to jump into the water from, she wanted to go back up there again and again, and did.
I also had Sammy for a while. Now Sammy had the most fun, laughing and smiling and giving it his all. He was doing great! I think overall it was a successful first session out of five.
I had thought we could stay there and that they had an outside area, but that was not so, and so we had to get dressed and leave. Emmy was his old self again, running around and checking everything out. They came into the changing room with me, and Emmy lay down on the floor to look outside, and his sister did the same. Then they left and returned a few times, while I was changing.
I think we were the last ones leaving as well. They absolutely did not want to go into the strollers, especially Tammy, and so I held their hands, walking with them. We had not walked far, when we got to a little area where water was coming out of the ground, and two toddlers were already there having fun with it. Of course our two immediately joined in, having lots of fun putting their hands into the water. It kept changing, the height and which hole it came out of, making it even more fun. I finally got out Sammy to join in the fun, and then the water stopped. Sammy had missed out, and we continued to the train station.
Randy wanted to take an alternative route home, and so we got on a train there. Both Emmy and Tammy wanted out of the strollers again, but had to go back in before we left the train. Then we had to make our way to the subway, which took a while, but then took us straight home.
By 4:30 we were back home. We took their shoes and pants off, and everyone went downstairs. Then I cut the cake Randy had bought and put a candle on top and took the plates downstairs. I lit the candle, and we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Sonja. Then she blew it out and opened a gift. When she saw the gift, tears came into her eyes. We gave her a mug with pictures of her with the kids. She was very touched and expressed again how much she loved and appreciated us all, and how much the gift meant to her.
I left them all and went upstairs. But not to work but to rest. I was so very exhausted, could barely function. I lay down and closed my eyes. Before I knew it I was asleep. At 5:45 I suddenly woke up, realizing I should already be making their dinner. I had slept just over 20 minutes, but was not feeling any more refreshed than before. I went to work right away, and managed to still call them up at 6 pm to eat. The kids had also had some cake, and considering that, they actually ate really well. And they surprised me, when all three were having so much fun in the bathtub, playing with the faucet. Emmy hadn't played with it in a long time. Tonight they were all turning the water on and off and putting their hands under the water, splashing water everywhere. At least they were eating the food we were putting into their mouths, including Sammy. I was getting pretty wet, still being really exhausted and barely able to keep up. We finally got them out one after another, put their pj's on, and I put them to bed. Emmy would not let me leave, but then it was Sammy who had the hardest time. I sat there a long time, and tried to calm down Sammy for a long time, without success. Emmy tried again to climb into his sister's bed, and she was already sleeping. Finally Randy came and sat down with Sammy, and he calmed down, and then it wasn't long before they were both asleep.
I was working, and then got something to eat. I was working some more on the computer, then cleaned the kitchen and dining room, and started writing my update. And so it will once again be 1:30 before I make it to bed, at the earliest, and it's another early morning tomorrow.
