1 year 10 days

Last night I actually succeeded at going to bed earlier - at 1 am instead of 4 am. That was a first in a LONG time! It does take me a while to fall asleep, and then two babies needed milk before 3 am, so I had not slept that long, and then Emmy went frantic again, forcing me to take him out of bed as that was the only way he'd calm down. He refused milk too. I had to hold him for a while, and then I was able to put him down and he drank the milk (even though his last milk had not been that long ago). Tonight he did this at midnight. I had to take him out, let him calm down, and then he would drink his milk and agree to go back to bed.

Even with all this, I still felt better during the day today. It was easier to get up, and I got up at a decent time, without being so rushed, to make their food. Randy had already left the house at 9:30 to go to physiotherapy with Sammy, and so I was really glad our house guest Barbara was here to take care of the other two until I got up. We were just about to feed them, when Randy walked in with Sammy, and so he joined us. Emmy has been refusing to get into the high chair during meal times, so I've been feeding him in my arms. Barbara has been feeding Tammy, as she herself has only sons. Again, we let them both go down to the floor to roam around free, which they LOVE doing, before taking them back downstairs.

At 2 pm another friend showed up, while Barbara had to say her good-byes after having been with us all week. Time had gone by so very fast! I was glad for my other friends to be here, and was actually able to get a little work done.

Tammy and Emmy had slept late in the morning, and Sammy in the stroller, but none of them slept in the afternoon. At 3 pm Emmy ate very little, and as the afternoon progressed, they got more and more cranky. Only letting them out of their play area made them happy. But then you have to keep your eyes on them at all times, as they're crawling very fast.

They were so cranky, I suggested our friends take them outside for a little bit, so they walked outside our downstairs door into the common area and to the patch of grass. Emmy still doesn't like grass, but it distracted them for a little. In the meantime I had Sammy in the swing right next to me at the desk, and I kept trying to keep him happy while watching the clock, waiting for 5 pm and dinner time to arrive. I finally got their food ready, and we went upstairs to feed them. All three were tired and did not want to eat. Right then Randy came back from the store, and he was able to get food into Sammy, who he usually feeds. No such luck with the other two. I changed them, put their pj's on, prayed for them, and put them to bed, and probably set the record for the fastest all three have ever gone to sleep. Emmy and Tammy have been needing milk to fall asleep, and having eaten so little, I thought they would need some, but the tiredness was greater. I actually asked Randy to make some for Tammy who was the last to fall asleep, but by the time he brought it, she was asleep.

Our friends were still here and helped sort some clothes that we had just received, plus some that were STILL in a suitcase, which was really helpful. I have been so thankful for the helpers we've had recently, and I know that some of you have prayed them in.

As always, it was late before I was done cooking and eating my soup and salad, and then I went back to work, household and office stuff, and now I'm trying to get everything done so I can go to bed at 1 am again. I need to discipline myself to do so, so I can function better in the morning and during the day.

Emmy had a tough time last night. He was crying at 4 am - our shift change - and would not stop unless I held him. At first he would not drink milk either but was frantic. After he calmed down he drank, and then he fell asleep. And that's how it was 4:30 am before I went to bed. So much for going to bed earlier this week.

I was glad Randy mixed their food up at lunch time today, and him and our house guest Barbara fed the babies. In the meantime I got up and got dressed, as Barbara offered to watch the babies while we go to the restaurant. The city of Vienna gave every household a coupon to go eat at a restaurant, and it was gonna expire at the end of this month. It was a lot easier doing this without the little ones!

Both of us had eyed a typicall Viennese restaurant really close to our new home, and that's where we went. We sat in their pretty garden, and the food came, and the portions were huge. I've got another meal tomorrow! And I actually interrupted my diet when I had a dessert, but we needed to spend some more money to use the full amount of the coupon. It was nice going to the restaurant again - for the first time since the babies came home, and probably for the last for a long time.

We were gonne about an hour, and the little ones were happy to see us again. We both sat down with them for a little while. And then it was already time for their second meal, so we went upstairs and each fed a baby.

Emmy hadn't slept and was really tired, so I lay down with him. At first he was so excited and just wanted to explore. As Tammy had done, he kept touching the little lamp; every time you touch it the intensity increases, then it turns off, and then it starts over. So much fun! But was not sleeping! I ended up getting back up and feeding him the rest of his food as he had not eaten much earlier, and then he fell asleep on me and slept for just over an hour.

We then rejoined everyone else downstairs. It was already after 4 pm and at 5 pm it's dinner time. Sammy let us know quite a bit before that that he was hungry and tired; he hadn't slept in a while, but we were able to keep him semi-happy until 5. In the meantime Emmy and Tammy got to come out of the play area, which they love. Freedom! Tammy crawled under the tables to join Barbara. Then we all went upstairs for their last meal.

Tonight Tammy surprisingly ate all her food, but Emmy wouldn't, even when I held him in my arm. I finally gave up and set him on the floor, which again really excited him. He started crawling around everywhere. I then put tired Sammy to bed first, then Tammy, and Emmy last.

Sammy fell asleep right away, but the other two needed a little more time - and milk. Tammy fell asleep next, but Emmy had quite hard time. I guess his nap was relatively late. I had to walk away for him to lie down and get quiet, and he finally fell asleep. It's been 10 pm recently when I feed them next, 5 hours after their last meal, but tonight it was already 9:30 pm when Sammy started screaming, waking up his sister. I needed Randy to help me, and so he fed Sammy, while I helped Tammy. I was wondering whether her teeth were hurting. I fed her, but she was still crying, and I gave her some dental cream, and after a while she finally fell back asleep.

Once again I have the intention of going to bed early tonight. Let's see if I succeed this time! It's the last night and morning coming up when we have Barbara here to help.