6 years 5 months 16 days

Day 2360. Yesterday it was back to school for the kids which meant the first alarm going off at 6:15 am again. At 7 am Randy left with Tammy and Emmy to take them to school. After he got back, he took Sammy to school which is just two subway stops from our house. I went back to bed until 10:15, then got up to get ready for my 10:45 am student. I taught until noon, then we ate leftovers. I still had diarrhea but it was a little better so I dared to eat. However, I was feeling rather weak and not so great.

At 1 pm Randy left to pick up Tammy and Emmy while I picked up Sammy just after 1:30 pm. By 2 pm we were back home. For once I did not have a 2:30 pm student. When Tammy and Emmy got home at that time, I went downstairs with them to do piano practice and we also did reading practice. Then I made their sandwiches. I knew I could not leave the house in my condition and asked Randy to take the kids to programming class for a change. The class is 90 minutes long, and it takes half an hour to get there, so I asked Randy to come home for the half our in the middle as I had a student and couldn't have Sammy occupy himself for 50 minutes. Their class started at 4:30, and Randy got home at 4:45 pm as he had dropped them off early which was exactly the time I started teaching. He then left again at 5:30 pm, just before I was done teaching. It was perfect. I then gave Sammy his bread and started cutting up fruit for all the kids. They got home at 6:30 pm and started eating. Then they got into the bathtub, followed by doing their chores and trying to say their Bible verse. There was no time to read a Bible story so I just prayed for them, then they left to brush their teeth and go to bed while I sat down to teach my 8 pm lesson. After I was done at 9 pm, I got myself something to eat and relax for a while before going back to work and then going to bed late.

Today it was Randy's 70th birthday. Once again the alarm went off at 6:15 am, and the kids had a hard time getting up, especially Tammy. I myself got up at 6:45 am to fill their snack boxes and help Tammy with her hair, then I went back to bed. Randy left with the kids at 7 am, then Sammy had just over an hour until Randy's return. I was thankful that he let me sleep. Once Randy was back, he dressed Sammy and took him to his school that is only two stops away. 

Today I started teaching at 9:15 am so I already had to get up at 8:45 am which is very early for me. I then taught until 10:30 am, wrapped it up and started preparing for my 11 am student. At noon I was done teaching and went to the kitchen to make lunch. I was already very tired.

After we had eaten, Randy left at 1 pm to pick up Tammy and Emmy while I picked up Sammy just after 1:30 pm. We got home just before 2 pm, and just minutes later Grandma arrived. I was just getting two candles to make the number 70 out. Grandma had brought a birthday cake from one of the best pastry shops in town. It looked great. I put the numbers on, got plates and forks and matches, and three of us went downstairs to wait for Randy's return. The cake was ready for him. I just had to light the candles.

The three of us were sitting next to each other on the couch. Then Sammy was standing next to Grandma, not next to me, when he lost his balance, and his hand fell on the beautiful cake. We were startled as it was potentionally disastrous but nothing had happened. There was just a little identation. Still, after a shock moment Sammy started crying hard. I tried to comfort him, telling him it was okay, that nothing had happened, that the cake was fine, but he would not stop crying.

Just moments later Randy and the kids returned home. Tammy and Emmy came straight downstairs and greeted Grandma. They also had their gifts with them. Sammy had also made a gift at school that he was going to give Daddy. I lit the candles, and as Randy was coming down the stairs, we were singin HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him. All the while Sammy was still crying hard in my left arm, while I was filming with my right arm. After the song, Randy blew out the candles - with Sammy still crying. I have it all captured on video. 

Then Randy took Sammy, asking what had happened. He was finally able to get him to stop crying. I was cutting up and distributing the cake to everyone. It was really delicious. The kids gave Daddy the gifts they had made for him. My gifts were supposed to arrive by 4 pm, and it was only 2:30 pm. We then had a good time together. Thankfully I didn't have any students. Emmy was playing ball with Grandma for much of the time. Tammy and Emmy also both played their 8 pieces they have memorized for the piano competition for her. Then it was time for Tammy to get ready to leave and go to her dance classes.  At 3:45 pm Randy left with her to take her. She had dance sport at 4:30 and ballet at 5:30 pm. 

Just after they had left, the doorbell rang. Randy's birthday presents had arrived. A few minutes later Grandma also had to say her good-byes, so we all went upstairs. It was time for me to get back to work. I still had some time until teaching at 5 pm. However, Emmy had one of his fits, and this one lasted until 6 pm. He was upset that he had to do two maths papers for school before getting to use his tablet. I also wanted him to do his reading practice. I started teaching at 5 pm, and the whole time I was teaching he was screaming and/or crying. Thankfully Sammy was fine, eating his dinner I had made and given them and watching his tablet. 

When I was done teaching just before 6 pm, Emmy came to me with the maths exercises he needed help with, and I helped him. Then he was done and fine again. After having done his reading practice, he got his tablet and sat down to watch while eating. Thankfully my second student was really late so I had plenty of time for Emmy and for finishing cutting up fruit.

Just before 7 pm I was done teaching, and then Randy and Tammy returned. She sat down at the table to eat her food, while I started preparing for my 8 pm student. After she was done, we went downstairs so she could finish her piano practice, then she did her reading practice upstairs.

I still had to give Randy his birthday gifts, and the kids all wanted to throw the "70" confetti on Randy which we all did together. Then Randy received a roll of birthday toilet paper and a cap that said "legendary since 1956".
The kids were still eager to do all their chores as it was their third day of having chores again. They were both trying hard to memorize a short Bible verse. Emmy was able to say it while Tammy could not so she started crying, and I comforted her. After the bathtub, there was no time for a story. I prayed for them, and they went to brush their teeth while I sat down to teach. 

By that time I was so very tired that I could barely keep my eyes open during my lesson but I made it to the end at 9 pm. Then I got myself something to eat and took some time to relax. After that, I went back to work. Now it's 1 am, and I still have to load the dishwasher. Tomorrow it's another early morning for me.