Day 991. Last night I headed to bed at 12:15 am, after having moved Emmy back to his bed. Tammy joined us in the early morning hours, and at 7:15 Emmy came, but he never fell asleep. It wasn't long before he had woken up his siblings. At 7:45 we got up as well.
We had breakfast, cleaned them up and dressed them and went downstairs, where I read a Bible story to all three of them. Then I went upstairs to work, and a few minutes later Randy went downstairs to spend the morning with them. I was able to make good progress working, and was able to work until just before noon, as we were having yesterday's leftovers. Everyone ate well, had pudding, then we cleaned them up, dressed them and put the boys to bed. It was 12:35. Sammy fell asleep quickly, but Emmy simply would not fall asleep. I told him he was gonna sleep while Grandma was here if he wasn't gonna fall asleep soon. It took him until 1:15, just as Tammy was coming upstairs to go to bed. By 1:30 she was also asleep, but Sammy was already stirring. I returned to my computer, but Sammy was up for good, and it was only 1:35. Randy went downstairs with him.
I was working, when my Mom walked into our apartment at 2 pm. Within moments Emmy was on his feet and walked up to us. We then went downstairs together to join the other boys. I left them there to make coffee and cut up two of the pieces of cake my Mom had brought to take downstairs for everybody to eat. One was chocolate and one strawberry, and Emmy didn't like either one. Sammy didn't care much about it either. Grandma was reading a book to Emmy, while Sammy was in his walker playing. Then Grandma and Emmy played with the puppets for a while. Emmy showed what a comedian he is, having lots of fun with Grandma. He was dancing and doing all kinds of funny stuff.
At 3:15 I went upstairs to wake Tammy up. As soon as I turned the ocean waves off she was awake, and so we went downstairs together. Just before 3:30 pm Sonja arrived. She has now found a job and is gonna start working in June. The news was like a punch in the stomach. What are we gonna do without the one person helping us? Emmy wanted to go into the swing, and Sonja pushed him. Just before 4 pm my Mom left, and I went upstairs to work. Randy had already left to go to the grocery store.
I had about an hour to work, while the kids were having fun with Sonja downstairs. At 5:15 I went to the kitchen to make their dinner. Randy had finally been able to buy a cantaloupe at the store that they've had to go without for over a week. And I made an omelet for them as they have not been very interested in bread. Plus, I told them last night that there was going to be no more eating in the bathtub. I was not up to tidying up with them, so they simply came upstairs to eat at 6 pm.
We sat down at the table, and as usual it was Emmy who was the most excited about the omelet. I kept reminding them that they had to eat at the table as there was not going to be any eating later. They maybe ate just a little bit more than usual at the table. Even Sammy had stopped eating and then ate some more after I had said it. They also had their cake, then they went potty before going into the bathtub. Sonja had stayed during dinner and then said her goodbyes.
They were having fun in the bathtub, as usual, and by now they have no problem tilting their heads back to dip their hair in the water, and then to have me rinse the shampoo out of their hair with the hose. They used to cry, when I'd do all that. They're getting older! They were singing Happy Birthday for me, twice, which was just the cutest thing, and they sang it really well. Then they gave me imaginary gifts - toys, teddybears, and curtains! It was a lot easier with them not eating - no bowls falling into the water, for example - and they spent less time in the water. They came out in the usual order, we got them ready for bed, and by 7:10 they were all in bed. None of them had asked for food even once! They had understood what I had said. They just had their usual milk before sleeping.
Tammy lay on me for a few minutes, then Emmy, then Sammy. They were all pretty active, and I was tired and wanted to leave, but I had to stay until 8:15 before I was able to walk away. I got myself something to eat, ate, and then went back to work.
