Day 775. Last night I headed to bed at 12:30. The night was pretty typical, leading Tammy back to her bed one time, and both Tammy and Emmy joining us in bed in the early morning hours. We got up at 7 today, so a little earlier than usual, and found out what a mess they had made. They also found the kids carry-on luggage that arrived yesterday and that is shaped like a dog, has lights and sounds and you can sit on it and move it. All three of them loved it, and they sat on it and played with it all day long.
After breakfast I picked out clothes for them and dressed them, while Randy was eating his breakfast. They were ready a long time before we had to leave and stayed upstairs. Thankfully the dog kept them busy. At 9:30 we left the house.
We had to take three subways to get to the university hospital, where we arrived rather early. We went through the container where they checked our temperature and entered the hospital building. There we had to show our negative Corona tests and our appointment. Then we went to the reception, where I tried to get an appointment for their 2-year-old checkup. I was told that now I needed to go to another office for that. When I did, that office was locked and no one was there.
We went downstairs to wait for Sammy's physiotherapist in front of her therapy room. After two years of going there weekly, this was Sammy's last session there. And it had been a very long time since all five of us were there together. We didn't even have to wait, as she called us in early. And we spent a wonderful last hour with her. She asked a few questions and said that she would love to hear from time to time how Sammy was doing, and that we could come to visit. She was working with Sammy, while Tammy and Emmy were having lots of fun. Tammy sometimes came up to Sammy to hug or kiss him, or give him toys. She's pretty attentive to Sammy and plays with him a little, while Emmy mostly keeps his distance and is annoyed, when he's close to Sammy who grabs him wherever he can. Today there was lots of activity - from the trampolin, to the climbing wall, to the motorbike and ball and balancing board. They never sat still, and the hour passed quickly.
We went back upstairs to try again to make that appointment for them, but the office was still locked. I talked to someone there, and in the end I was told we had an appointment at a date, when we'll already be in Mali. I was told to call them, when they're back in the office.
We left the hospital after 11:30. As it was already late, we decided to go eat at the nearby MacDonald's. It was only their second time ever eating there, and the first time sitting in the restaurant. At least they got nice toys with their Happy Meals today (contrary to last time). However, they only ate fries and did not like the chicken nuggets. They didn't care for the raw carrots either, but drank the ice tea and the pureed fruit drink. Tammy and Emmy could not sit still but ran up and down the bench they were on. Sammy was sitting in a high chair, but it was much shorter than the tall table. Their ice tea came with a straw, which they are not used to. Tammy bit into it and raised the cup up, so that the tea leaked out. Emmy did better, holding the cup straight and sucking.
After nearly an hour there we left to get back home and get them to bed. We took the tram and subway and got back home at 1:15. Thankfully nobody had even come close to sleeping in the strollers. We undressed them and put them to bed. But that would have been too easy. All three seemed wike away and not ready to sleep. Tammy and Sammy were having fun and laughing, and so I asked Randy to take Tammy and stay away for a few minutes, allowing Sammy to fall asleep. And that worked. A few minutes later he brought Tammy back. But Emmy wanted me to still hold him, and when Randy put Tammy to bed, she also complained, wanting Randy to hold her. And so I lay down in bed with Emmy and gave Randy to chair to sit down with Tammy. It wasn't long before they were asleep. I got back up and put Emmy to bed, and then picked up Tammy to put her to bed. Both Randy and I were very tired ourselves and ready to sleep. I worked a little bit but then lay down in bed and fell asleep. Randy went downstairs to the living room and fell asleep on the couch there.
I hadn't slept that long, when Sammy woke up. I picked him up and took him downstairs to his Daddy, then returned to get working. After a few minutes Randy came upstairs with a crying Sammy, and the noise was enough to wake both Tammy and Emmy up, which annoyed me. With everyone up we stayed upstairs, and I got their afternoon snacks out. After they had eaten - and played with their dog - I took them downstairs, and then returned back upstairs to get some work done. However, I had only 50 minutes left until 5 pm, which was not much.
At 5 pm I started making their dinner. Just after 5:30 I went downstairs and told them it was time to tidy up, and then we got started. At first no one but me was doing anything, but then I was finally able to motivate Emmy to also help, and Tammy did as well. And so both of them received a coin to put into their piggy banks today, which really excited Emmy. So hopefully he'll do it again tomorrow.
Then we went upstairs to eat. They ate mainly corn, which they love right now, and the rest I took to the bathroom for them to eat in the bathtub. They ate less than usual there today. At least Sammy ate most of his food. They were having great fun playing in the bathtub, while eating. Then we got them out and ready for bed. By 7 pm they were all in bed, but not ready to sleep. All three were really active, and Tammy and Emmy on their feet having fun with each other. They gave me a hard time for quite some time, before I finally succeeded in getting them to sleep. I was able to leave and get myself something to eat, before getting back to work. Now it's late, and I hope to make it to bed soon, as I'm very tired.
