28 months 25 days

Day 877. Last night I headed to bed at 11:40, being rushed, as Emmy was crying and standing by the gate waiting for me. His crying had already woken up his sister who crawled into bed with Daddy. And so there we were, four of us in our small bed. And it was not a good night for me. At 2 am I had enough and carried them both to their beds - against their will. Tammy stayed in her bed, but Emmy kept getting up. It took me an hour before everyone of us fell back asleep. Tammy was the first to return to our bed, and then in the morning Emmy came as well. By 7:40 they were up for good, and a few minutes later I got up as well.

I made breakfast, and we all sat down to eat. After breakfast I cleaned them up and dressed them, and then we went downstairs, where we read a Bible story. Then I started praying, and Emmy immediately wanted me to pray for him. So I held him in my arms and prayed for him, while walking up and down. Then he pointed at his brother and said I should pray for him, and I did. I don't remember what it was that kept me from praying for Tammy.

Instead of going upstairs I turned the computer on and did my Covid test, then Randy did his. Then Randy grabbed the boxes to take them to the drop-off place. In the meantime I stayed downstairs with them, working on the computer. There were a few things I had to do while in the office, and so I even stayed a little after Randy returned. Just after 11 am I went upstairs to put a lasagna into the oven. Then I sat down to work upstairs. Just before noon I got it out and portioned it, and at noon we sat down to eat. Tammy hardly ever touches her lunch any more, Emmy ate more. After some protests Tammy did eat a few bites in the end, and then they had some pudding and cake. Then I cleaned them up and dressed them, and the boys went to bed, while Randy went downstairs with Tammy.

Sammy needed a little time to be ready to sleep, and so did Emmy. I finally asked him if he wanted me to hold him, and on my chest is where he fell asleep. And so did I. I woke up, when Randy and Tammy came upstairs at 1 pm. I put Emmy to bed, and then Tammy, and sat down by her bed until she fell asleep, always on the verge of falling asleep myself.

I returned to my computer and to working, even though I needed a nap as well. I've been trying to catch up on things. Sammy woke up just before 2 pm, which didn't make a napping Randy happy, and at 2:15 Emmy woke up, and I took him downstairs to the boys. Tammy woke up half an hour later, when Emmy was crying for me on the bottom of the stairs. I took her and their snacks downstairs to everyone. I also took my computer downstairs to my office to work there. That way I was able to work and at the same time interact with them. Emmy and Tammy were sitting on the old office chair, and Emmy was calling for me to turn them and to play peek-a-boo, and they were having lots and lots of fun, even though it pulled me away from work. I enjoyed it too. They were also riding their cars, and Tammy was swinging her doll in the baby swing. Randy was working with Sammy, first in his standing machine, then by the table.

At 5:15 Randy got some new toy out, which got their attention, and I took advantage of them being distracted and went upstairs. Emmy got wind of it pretty quickly and sat at the bottom of the stairs crying for me, and crying to be allowed upstairs. I started making their dinner and had intended to go back downstairs once done so we could tidy up together. Instead Randy tidied up with them - that is Tammy, as Emmy was still crying by the stairs - and then they came up early. So we ate early, and I cut up the pineapple they'd been asking for for days. Then they went into the bathtub. Emmy was cranky, especially when I asked him to not take the shower head out of Sammy's hand. He was having so much fun with it. But the other two were not having that much fun, so they didn't stay in there as long as usual. Sammy was the most upset, when I got him out, as he was the one having fun. But everybody was cranky. We got them ready for bed and put them to bed. I was shocked that it was only just after 6:30. I sat with them, and considering how early it was, I was surprised at how tired they seemed. I stayed there for quite a while, then Emmy asked for Daddy, so I let him take my place. I got my leftover salad from last night and started eating. But not for long. Tammy started crying and calling for me, so I left my salad and sat back down by their beds. I stayed there until they were all asleep.

I left them and finished eating my salad, then went downstairs to go back to work. Randy went to bed rather early again, and I'm thankful nobody has woken up yet or called for me. And as soon as I had written that, I heard a baby cry.