29 months 6 days

Day 889. I have no idea what time Tammy and Emmy climbed into bed with us. I just know that they were there this morning. At 7:20 they were up, and so we all got up at 7:30.

After breakfast we took them downstairs, where we read a Bible story, then they started playing. When Randy came downstairs, he did a Covid test; his last one was 3 days ago and was still positive. At first I thought to stay with the kids, while he takes the test to the store, but then I decided to go myself, since we're out of strawberries, and the grocery delivery company doesn't have strawberries. As much as the kids like strawberries right now, I wanted to buy some. So I told them I was gonna go to the store, and of course they immediately wanted to come along. So I gave in and let them follow me upstairs.

I dressed them, and we left the house at 9 am. I had a big package to drop off at the post office, and it was a challenge to transport it. Emmy was standing in the strolller behind his sister and that way I was able to put the box sideways on the stroller, with Emmy keeping it from sliding off. It was still a challenge, but we made it to the post office. However, there was a long line there, and so we waited patiently until it was our turn. We were glad to be rid of the package.

We continued walking until we got to the shop, where they had deposited a package for us to pick up. There were steps to get inside, and so I had to get the kids out of the stroller for them to be able to come inside with me. Thankfully the package was not big. I put it under the stroller, put the kids in the stroller, and we walked on to the grocery store. I had a few items on my list that we picked up and put them into their hands and under the stroller. When we got to the check-out, I started putting everything on the conveyor belt. Tammy started crying, when I took the milk away from her. I tried to explain to her that we had to pay it and then she'd get it back, but it made no difference, so I let her keep the milk. She stopped crying, but then she started crying, when I put all the strawberries on the conveyor belt. I guess she thought we were not keeping them. She cried until the lady had processed them and I could put a pack into her hands. She held the milk and strawberries all the way home. Everything else went under the stroller.

Leaving the grocery store, where we handed in the test, we started walking back home. Half-way home Emmy came out of the stroller to walk, and then Tammy did too. I held Emmy's hand and asked them to hold hands, and that's how we continued walking until we got to the new building just before ours, where they have tiny playground. They went on the moving animals for a bit, and then walked across the hanging bridge with my help. Then they went into the stroller again for us to go the rest of the way home. It was after 10 am, when we got back home. They were eager to eata the strawberries we had bought, so I quickly undressed them and then washed and cut strawberries and put them into small bowls. Then we walked downstairs together. I took my computer and went back upstairs to work.

I was tired, but I was working. At 11:30 I stopped and went downstairs, while Randy went upstairs to make omelets. Emmy started bringing me books to read to them, and so I read books to the three of them. It's unusual for Emmy to be the one to bring books to read, as it's usually his sister who does. Sammy also wanted to be close to me.

Just before noon we went upstairs together. I took their clothes off, and Emmy and Tammy both needed a new diaper. They wanted to go potty, so I first put Emmy on the potty, and then Tammy. When Emmy got up, he had pooped a little. He was so proud, and I was so proud and praised him and gave him a gummi bear as a reward. Tammy's potty stayed empty.

I warmed up their food and put it on their plates, and then we sat down at the table together, while Randy was finishing up the omelets and then he joined us. Of course the kids wanted to eat our bacon and our eggs more than their rice with chicken. Then they had some pudding. I cleaned them up and dressed them, and Randy went downstairs with Tammy, while the boys went to bed. By 12:50 they were asleep. Rrandy came back with Tammy after 1 pm, as she had not wanted to stop reading books. She was crying, and I walked her to her bed, where she went straight into sleeping position, and she soon fell asleep. I went back to work, even though I was so tired I really wanted to sleep.

At 2:25 Emmy walked into the room, and Sammy was awake too. We took them downstairs, together with snacks, and I returned upstairs. Tammy woke up just before 3 pm, when a song Randy requested from Alexa downstairs was played on the upstairs device in their room. Emmy was already calling for me at that point. Tammy lay on me for a few minutes, and then we went downstairs. I also took my computer to the office. And then the fun started.

I was so very tired that I lay down on the floor, and they all came to me and we played and had fun on the floor. Later they were in the swing, we did some drawing, I read them books, I threw Sammy around, when he was cranky, and Sammy went into a device Randy is using like a walker for him, and Sammy loves it. He kept holding on and walking with it. I think it's time he gets an actual walker. We also talked to one friend on a video call.

They had been wanting more balloons, especially after the wind carried off Tammy's last night, but I did not know where Randy had put them. And then we found them, and so I blew up several balloons, and they were having so much fun with them.

I was so extremely tired that I was not up to tidy up the room. At 5:40 we simply all walked upstairs. They pulled up the chairs to the kitchen counter, I put their plates in front of them and then the food I had cut, so they could eat it right away. Once I was done, we all moved to the table, and I added the soup to their plates. They were eating some more, while Sammy was rather cranky and not eating that much. Before going into the bathtub, they wanted to go potty again, and lo and behold, Emmy was able to poop a little into the potty! That's the second time in two days! Emmy 2, Tammy 1, as she didn't put anything into the potty. Emmy got a gummi bear as a reward. Then they all went into the bathtub where they were having fun. They wanted peanuts, and so they had some peanuts in little cups.

Sammy came out of the bathtub first, being upset about it, and then the other two. We got them ready for bed, and by 6:50 they were all in bed. I sat down by them, and as usual, they were talking about the subjects that were occupying their mind, including the service yesterday, and the different people in their lives that are sick and that we prayed for. Tammy once again lay on my chest from the beginning, until agreeing to go lie down in her bed. By 7:25 they were close to all sleeping, and I walked away to get my food.

I walked downstairs to eat and then go back to work. Tonight I really need to go to bed earlier, as I cannot go on being so tired all the time. We sure miss our friend Sonja who is sick, as a person but also as a helper.