Day 842. Last night I headed to bed at 11:30. I had to move both Emmy and Tammy to their bed first. Emmy went first and he continued sleeping. But Tammy woke up and immediately headed back to our bed. Because I didn't climb into bed with her immediately, she started crying and crying, and finally woke up Emmy. Now he was heading back to our bed as well. Sigh. Having one kid in our small bed, we can make work, but with two, it's difficult, especially as we have a few holes on the side where water is leaking out. In fact we need to add more water to our waterbed, as it's getting a little low.
Just before 1 am Tammy woke up and started crying. She wanted milk, but shoved the milk bottle away that I tried to give her. She started throwing a fit, and I could make out that she wanted me to give her milk in a cup. But that was not gonna happen. She kept screaming and kicking. I tried to hold her to calm her down, and so did Randy, but to no avail. After a long time she finally quieted down and lay back down in my arms. She was also the one who was awake first in the morning, around 6 am. Emmy woke up around 6:30, and then they both started laughing hard, when they heard the cat scratching at the door to get in. So I got up and opened the door for her.
And then the doorbell already went off. It's always Paul getting money for the errands of the day. The kids were happy to see him. Then I started making their food, after we had fed the cats. Tammy was pretty impatient to eat, but it just takes a while. And then it was hot. She ended up eating very little of the omelet, eating mainly watermelon and yoghurt. Emmy was the one who ate the most of the omelet, and also some fruit and yoghurt.
I then took them to the bathroom to clean them up, brush their teeth, and dress them. Then we went to the living room to first read the Bible, and then open the advent calendars. Then I cleaned up the kitchen and dining table and went to the back to work on the computer.
I had my door closed first, but that never lasts for long. Randy has to come to the back to change their diapers, and from then the door was open. Also, sometimes I cannot resist them, when they are on the other side of the door crying for me.
At 10 am Amadou came, after I had called him, because Emmy was so cranky and wanted to see him so bad. I put his and Tammy's shoes on, and they were overjoyed, when they got to leave the house with Amadou to go look at the sheep and chickens. They did not stay outside for long, and Amadou still stayed for a while to play after they returned. They were having lots of fun. In fact, when Emmy is upset, he's calling for Amadou now.
At 11:15 I went to the kitchen to start cooking. Sammy was cranky, and so I took him to the kitchen with me. We still had a baby seat there that I put him into, and he was perfectly happy to sit there, while I was cooking. As noon was approaching, we put them into the chairs and everyone left. The food was hot but cooled down quickly thanks to the ceiling fan. They were hungry, but they've never been crazy about pasta with meat and tomato sauce. And I always thought kids love eating that. Even with candy as a reward, they hardly touched their food. I had to bring out the yoghurt and watermelon.
Tammy does not like having dirty hands and wanted them washed right away. But I was not ready yet. I made sure the major stuff was put away first, before taking them to the bathroom to get them all clean again and then dress them. Then it was nap time. Today it was only 12:45, when we put them to bed. And once again it was a challenge. Tammy and Sammy fell asleep first, after quite some time. Emmy was about to fall asleep, with me lying next to him, but I had to get up to help Sammy, and that got him all woken up again. Had I know how long it would take me after that to get him to sleep, I would probably have stayed longer and let Sammy cry.
After Emmy had finally fallen asleep around 1:30, I got up to work. Around 2:30 I got so tired I decided to lie down for half an hour. Tammy was lying in their bed today, so only Emmy was in our bed. I lay down next to him, my phone with the timer next to me, so I would not sleep too long. I had barely fallen asleep, when the girl climbed into our bed and sat down next to me. I thought she might continue sleeping, but she didn't. And so my nap was not meant to be. She played around for a while, and it was surprising that the boys were not waking up. Randy finally came to get her, and returned a few minutes later to change her diaper. Again, the boys were not waking up. But it was 3:15 and Sammy needed to get up so he won't be awake for hours tonight, and so Randy took him with him.
I returned to the computer to work, and then it wasn't long before Emmy woke up. Margit was already here and started playing with them. My old guitar had its head broken off a few years ago, and Randy taped it back on today for Emmy to use it as a play guitar, as he likes guitars so much. One day he'll be showing that picture around of the day when he first had a full-size guitar in his arms to play. He nearly disappeared under it!
I enjoyed watching Tammy play with Esther today, as they were both laughing out loud quite a bit. Amaga stayed on his mother's back for most of the time today.
The cats sat down on/by our changing mat today, and Emmy came and tried to get close to her, but she felt threatened. I warned him, and he was spared. However, the brown cat trusts me and came to me to be petted. Sammy was sitting in my lap and got to pet it as well.
Paul bought a new water hose today so they can water our plants, but we borrowed it first. Our waterbed mattress has a few little holes from the cat and has been leaking, and the water level had gone down quite a bit. It was time to add more water. Randy found a way for the 5-m hose to stay attached to where the shower usually is, and I put the other end into the waterbed. It worked out perfectly. I just had to keep telling the kids to be cautious and not touch it. When it was time to take it out, I went to the living room , so Randy could do it. And so out waterbed is a lot higher tonight. Unfortunately the leaks are still there.
The kids were getting cranky, and so I let them watch animal videos for a while. At 5:30 I turned the water on in the bathtub and then went to the kitchen to start making their dinner. It was only about 5:50, when we sat down to eat. Fanta was finishing up her household work. As always Tammy ate primarily watermelon, while Emmy had a little of everything. They all had yoghurt, and then it was time for the bathtub.
They were all greatly enjoying it and having fun. Except that Tammy does not like it, when I pour water over her head. We got them all out and ready for bed. Randy read a Bible story they were not interested in tonight, and then I was wondering how we'd get them to sleep, as they were so hyperactive. It was 7 pm, when we put them down, and it took 90 minutes before everyone was asleep. It was quite a challenge. Tammy fell asleep first, and one time Emmy was about to fall asleep in my arm, as I was lying next to him, when I had to get up because Sammy was crying so hard. If I had known how long it would take Emmy to sleep after that, I would have stayed with him.
After they were finally all asleep, I got myself something to eat, and then went back to work. It's been taking me a long time to write these past few paragraphs, as I keep falling asleep while writing. It's time to go to bed.
