10 months 20 days

Well, now all five of us have a cold; runny nose, sore throat, some cough. I'm tired, and have three kids that have a hard time breathing and therefore sleeping, while I don't feel so great myself. Please pray for us.

The plan today was to go deposit the papers for Randy's permit to stay in Austria to be renewed (he was given one year last year, and it's nearly up), and then go on to the new apartment together. However, it was rather late before we left the house.

We only had a tram ride to get there. Emmy enjoys being up to sit up now as well and see everything going on around him. He now stares with as much interest as his sister at every person around him, and together they get smiles and reactions out of people, even though they can't see their mouths because of the required masks.

I had called in advance and found out that because of Corona, they were not seeing anybody, and so all you had to do is fill out a form and put it into an envelope with the required documents and put it in a box. Sure makes it easier! We found the place, with lots of forms and envelopes, but no pens, and we didn't have one either! Thankfully a nice cleaning lady lent us one. In fact, we walked away with it and she came running after us to retrieve it! I felt bad about that. In any case, I'm glad the papers are deposited, and it should only be a formality. It's still over a month until his permit expires.

Leaving there, we decided there is no reason for all of us to go to the apartment. So we all went home, and Randy left on his own. It wasn't long before it was time for their last meal. The situation was pretty similar to yesterday. I fed Sammy first, while the other two were fussing/crying. Tammy was very tired, Emmy had had a nap. I put Sammy to bed and fed Emmy. In the meantime Tammy had fallen asleep. I had hoped to feed her and put her pj's on first, but I let her sleep. Emmy fell asleep too.

And it was Emmy again who was first to wake up and cry and need comforting, which I did. When Tammy woke up, I tried to feed her, but she would cry every time I put food into her mouth. She cried while I changed her, and then I put her to bed. She was tired, and hurting from the cold. She would start crying in regular intervals, and then Sammy started crying hard as well, which he never does. I noticed he's also starting to have a runny nose. When Emmy joined the other two and all three were screaming, I was at a loss. I called Randy and asked him to come home, knowing that by the time he'd get here it would probably all be over. Miracously Emmy fell back asleep. I picked up Sammy and put him in the day bed with his sister. That way Emmy was in the next room with a closed door in between, and I had the two crying babies together. I stroked their heads and sat down in a chair right next to them when they had calmed down. And suddenly I had two happy babies playing with each other! At least for a short time. After a while I fed Sammy some milk and put him back to bed, and he was fine. Not long thereafter Randy returned. I had made milk for Tammy as well, as I knew she was hungry, but she would only take a few sips at a time. She has to pause drinking to take breaths, as she can't breathe through her nose. I was glad when Randy arrived, as he's the rocker, and Tammy loves being rocked by him. He was even able to get more milk and even food into her, and then rocked her to sleep, taking his own nap at the same time. After a while I moved her to her bed.

Since then, Emmy has woken up and needed comforting, and Tammy has woken up repeatedly needing help. It's already not easy with three, but when they are sick, it sure makes it hard! Even more so when you don't feel great yourself! Prayer appreciated!