30 months 23 days

MORE PICTURES TO COME

Day 937. Last night I was heading to bed just before midnight as Tammy was having a hard time, but half an hour later I was still up, comforting kids. It was mostly Tammy, but Emmy also woke up at one point. All night was pretty restless, with Tammy waking up frequently and sleeping in our bed all night, and Emmy joined us as well. Just before 7 am he was up, then Sammy was up and crying, and then I also got up as we had plenty to do. Tammy did not want to get up, she wanted to stay in bed. You could tell that she was sick. She would get up and come to me/us and then lie back down, whether in our bed or on the couch by the dining room table. She was also pretty cranky.

We sat down to eat breakfast, then I cleaned them up and dressed them and started packing. Both Randy and I went ahead full-speed doing our part in the process, while the kids were playing or taking stuff they shouldn't and making everything more difficult. Randy started loading the car, and just after 9:30 we were able to lock the apartment for good and go get into our car. For the first time the chickens were in the front yard, and the kids immediately went after them. They ran away pretty fast. We got into the car and drove to church one last time.

We got to church in the middle of the first service and went straight to the baby room where there was no one else. A lady who knows us saw us and came into the room for a few minutes and played with Sammy. Emmy found a baby carrier and decided to fill it up and to go travel. And so both Tammy and Emmy started filling it with the stuff in the room. But Emmy also sat down to look at books, while Tammy brought them to me to read to her. Sammy was happily playing.

The speaker went overtime, but when it became clear that he was approaching the end, we all left the room and went to our table that had been moved to the opposite side of the sanctuary. We stayed there during break time to talk to the people coming by. With the kids being cranky, I let them watch Peppa Pig while sitting on the floor, which kept them busy and happy and stationary.

Then the second service started at 11 am. At first we stayed to worship God. I had all three of them, but they were all quiet like they were tired. And so we didn't stay long until we left the sanctuary to take them to the kids' program. They had been in their kids' program before last September, but today there were a lot more kids, as well as helping adults. We all went into the room, but Randy soon left to return to the service and hear the speaker. It was enough for me to be with them. The kids immediately started playing with the many toys and many kids. Sammy happily overturned a box full of stuff and started playing. Tammy built a high tower and went down the slide, while Emmy had found a car to ride. Then they sat down with some young helpers and blew bubbles which was fun. Tammy also found the play kitchen.

At some point I put Sammy into his sitting position with him holding on to a box, and that was working really well. And then someone said it was time to tidy up. One little boy was eager to do so, and Tammy joined in.

Then we sat down in a circle and the teacher did a greeting song for each child. It was new to us. Sammy was sitting on the lap of a young lady who was helping with the kids, while Tammy was on my left and Emmy to my right. They all got to take a Bible and did the same Bible song they already know and love. They also got a mirror, and the teacher asked some questions. Then a young man read the story of Noah. Then the program was over, and it was snack time. Everyone sat down by the table, and the snacks consisted of apples and oranges and something to drink. It was getting late, so our kids ate a little. Then it was play time again. There was also the option of drawing, and Tammy jumped at the opportunity. She put a lot of effort into her coloring.

One of the young was building a tent with the mattresses, and both Tammy and Emmy ended up inside and really enjoying it. The young lady helping who had held Sammy took him by his hands and had him walk a little. I then had him sit by a box of toys again, which he can do without help, though I still have to watch him that he does not fall.

The end of the service was approaching, but Randy had not returned, and so I called him, as he had not seen my text message. He said that the ringing was really loud and embarrassing in the sanctuary. He came and together we all went to the sanctuary, where the speaker was closing the meeting. It was already 12:45, which is when they usually go to bed, and so they were very tired. Giving them my phone to watch Peppa Pig or Paw Patrol was the only reasonable option. That also allowed us to have a few more conversations with people.

But there weren't that many people around, and it was getting late, and so Randy packed the banner and I stopped the video so we could go have lunch. They always serve lunch at church on Sundays. The room was really full but I found some space, where we would fit. I left them there and went to get food for everybody. We've been doing three meals, with the kids sharing the third one, which works well. We had three soups and three lasagnas and two salads, as they don't like salad. I also needed an extra plate and soup bowls for the kids. Then I put food on the plates for them to eat. The whole lunch experience was very stressful. Sammy wanted me to feed him, and so he was on my lap at first, getting everything dirty, then we found a high chair we put him into, where he continued getting everything dirty. Tammy ate very little, as always, while Emmy liked the soup as well as the lasagna. Randy even got some cake, even though I just wanted to leave. Tammy and Emmy were just running around at that point. Finally we were done and ready to leave. It was already really late, the kids needed to sleep, and we needed to get back to Vienna.

We went back to the table, where I put Sammy on the floor, then I turned Peppa Pig on for Tammy and Emmy and started packing up our table. Thankfully Sammy was happily playing by himself. Randy left to bring the car closer so he could put the stuff into the car. By the time he returned everything was ready to go. I turned the video off, reaping protest as a result, and we left the church building and walked to the car. Everybody got in, while Randy left again to get coffee for the road. After he had returned, we pulled out of the parking lot and sat at the first light, when I realized we had forgotten the flowers we had promised someone we would take with us, as they had forgotten them there. And so we pulled back into the parking lot, and Randy went to get them. Once again we pulled out of the parking lot to start our 2-hour journey home. It was already after 2:30 pm, so really late, especially for their naps.

I turned the video, Paw Patrol, on right away for them to watch, expecting them to fall asleep quickly doing so. Tammy pretty much immediately closed her eyes and fell asleep, but not Emmy. And so I finally had to turn the video off, which he did not appreciate, and then he soon fell asleep while holding my hand. Sammy only slept 15-20 minutes, which is typical for him. He did some crying after that, but we were able to entertain him and that way keep him happy and keep him from crying. I was very tired, but only got to close for a few minutes, and I'm not sure I actually slept. Thankfully Tammy and Emmy slept for most of the trip and woke up about 15 minutes before arriving, without any drama.

With Sonja not in the picture, and given what a nightmare it was to pick up the rental car before the trip, I had been considering all options regarding returning the car. I did not want to take the kids with us again. I asked around and found someone from church who was willing and able to come to our house to be with the kids, while we were returning the car.

The five of us pulled up by our building at 4:40 pm. The kids were eager to get out of the car, and the five of us went to the apartment, where I stayed with them, while Randy unloaded the car. I was expecting our friend and her daughter to arrive any minute, and just before 5 pm they did. It was their first time at our house. We all went downstairs, I showed them around, then told the kids we'd go return the car and be back soon. They were absolutely fine, even Tammy who had been so cranky and wanting me hold her, even after we had arrived home.

Just before 5:30 we left to drive the car back to the train station where we had picked it up. We picked up the last few items in there, while Randy gave it a quick clean, then we went up to the train level. We still had 20 minutes until our train was leaving, and so we decided to go to McDonald's to get some food and the Happy Meal toys for the kids. Then we went to the platform our train was leaving from, where we started eating. We sat down on the train and finished eating. It was surreal for it to be just the two of us and not five of us. And really relaxing! I said to Randy that we should do this more often, have someone with the kids while the two of us go somewhere.

Just before 6:45 we were back at the apartment. I went downstairs and found Tammy and Emmy watching a music video on her phone, while Sammy was so very happy to see me come. I found out that he had cried for us for a while, asking for Mommy and Daddy. I tried to go upstairs to make dinner, but they came running after me, and so we all went upstairs. That's also where we said good-bye to our friends who had helped us big time.

Tammy and Emmy pulled up chairs to the kitchen counter. I was just gonna do something quick, as it was about an hour later than usual. We had the fries from McDonald's that they started eating, while I also cut up some fruit. I put bread into the toaster, but then forgot to get it out and give it to them. We sat down at the table, where they ate a little, then we all went to the bathroom. They continued eating in the bathtub, while having fun, but I did not want them to stay in there for long. Still, it was nearly 8 pm before they were all in bed. And Tammy still wanted to lie on my chest and did for a while. Sammy was asleep before Tammy even went to bed, as he had slept so little in the car. I had to stay a while before I could leave them at 8:30 pm.

The apartment is a mess, with our stuff from the trip just sitting in the entry, and we have a busy morning tomorrow. After I left them I got my computer out and started working, wanting to get stuff done, tired or not. Randy went to bed at 11:45, and I'm planning to soon follow suit.