Day 684. Last night I went to bed at 12:15. I could not finish my report because my eyes simply would not stay open. Unfortunately we're now in a new season where they wake up at 6 am, and because of Emmy's new skills, we can't just ignore them until 8 am any more. Last night before going to bed, I moved Emmy's bed out from between the other two, so that it was not touching the other beds and he could therefore not just climb into his siblings' beds. He also had an opening in his bed so he could get out, which was never his purpose though.
At 6 am the noise started, and I was just listening. There was no sound of Emmy climbing. At 6:30 we could hear them attacking the blinds, which is when Randy usually gets up to intervene and save them. Today it was me who went in there, and moved her bed away from the blinds. Emmy was in his bed, but it's as if he had not even noticed the opening. I finally showed it to him, and he immediately started going in and out, being all excited about it, and his sister joined in. She then went to her bed, and it was obvious that she was asking for her bed to have an opening as well. I've captured it on video.
I lay back down, and Tammy ended up joining us in bed, and actually lay down and stayed there for a while. By 7 am it was all over, though, and we got up. Nights have become even shorter now than they already were. I made breakfast, we fed them, then cleaned and dressed them and went downstairs with them. I was pretty tired. I turned the worship music on, started worshipping and praying, and then we got the Bibles out. When Randy came with his breakfast, I went upstairs to clean up and work. Even though I was really tired, I had too much to do to lie down and sleep, so I started working. At 10:15 I did fall asleep, but set my alarm for 10:45, and it was a rude awakening. I got up and started cooking, and we were able to eat at 11:15.
Sammy went to bed first, as always, and I tried to put them all to bed at the same time, as Randy was busy, but that was not working at all. So finally Randy went downstairs with Tammy. However, Emmy was wide awake and he simply would not lie down and sleep. I really didn't know what to do, as putting his bed next to his siblings' meant he would climb into their beds, and moving it away meant he would climb out, and the only other place to move it against and close the opening, he could reach the clothes on the shelves and tear them down, which he did. And then Randy returned with Tammy, while Emmy was still standing in bed and showing no sign of lying down to sleep. I was at the end of my rope. The girl coming did not help. Now I had two wild kids who did not want to sleep. And they finally woke up Sammy, who had already slept an hour by that time. Randy went downstairs with him. After a really long time and trying everything I knew to try, Emmy finally fell asleep, but the girl was so overly tired, she was crying hard, refusing to lie down, wanting me to hold her, so I ended up lying down with her, even though I had stuff to do. We both slept until Emmy woke up about an hour after falling asleep, and that meant the girl woke up as well, as I had to get up and get him. An hour was definitely not enough for Tammy, who usually sleeps at least 2 hours, and she was cranky. It was 2:30, and I called Randy and Sammy upstairs for the afternoon meal.
I opened the balcony door, and we went outside. I had cooled off big time. Tammy still wanted me to hold her, but she ended up eating most of the food, as Emmy did not want to eat. They were running around and were greeting the people walking by, who rarely return the greeting. They were done, and I dressed them again, and then the door bell rang. I had already been telling them that "Mama Opa" was coming today, and they arrived before 3:30 pm.
I had not seen my Dad in exactly a year. They said it was because of Corona. The kids were at the door, when they arrived, and Emmy stretched out his hands as if he wanted Grandpa to pick him up, which he didn't. We then gave them a tour of the apartment, and then went downstairs to sit down for cake and coffee and fellowship. My Dad's girlfriend is really good with kids, even though she doesn't have any, while my Dad is not as comfortable. I was 5, when he left us, and my brother 2, and I have only seen him a handful of times in my life since. In any case, everyone was having a great time. The kids don't care who it is who visits, they play and have fun with everybody. They were reading books, playing ball, playing the xylophone, eating cake, dancing, keeping everyone on their toes, especially us. Towards the end they also went outside, with their cars, and my Dad and his girlfriend left from downstairs. They were waving goodbye, as they were walking away.
It was 5:30 pm, and so I went upstairs to get their food ready. At 6 pm they came upstairs to eat, then finished their food in the bathtub, and then went to bed. And then it got as difficult as nap time had been. Tammy and Emmy were wide awake, even though they had seemed tired before, and I did not know how to position Emmy's bed best so he'd go to sleep. And I did not know what else to do to get him to sleep. He was just having fun, and thought my efforts were fun. It was exhausting and frustrating. It took a long time before they FINALLY lay down to sleep, thank God. It's hard to believe there was a time very recently, when I could just put them to bed and walk away.
I got myself some food, ate, and then went to work going through the many pictures of today and choosing the best. I cleaned the kitchen and dining room, and then started writing my update. It looks like it's gonna be my typical 1:30 am bedtime tonight.
