14 months 18 days

My regular bed time now is 3:30 am, so you can imagine how hard it is to get up 5 hours later to make their food and feed them, and some days, I have so much going through my mind that it takes me a long time to fall asleep.

This morning we put them to bed for their nap after having eaten. I ended up lying down with Tammy, and when she woke up rather early and I left the bedroom with her, I found Daddy asleep with Emmy sleeping on him. It didn't take long for the boys to wake up as well, and everyone went downstairs, while I went back to bed, after having put their lunch jars into the warmer. Pretty soon, when we're in Mali, they won't be eating any more jars but what we're eating!

I set my alarm for noon, as we had to leave the house at 1 pm, but I turned it off and fell back asleep. Randy woke me at 12:15, and we fed them, then dressed them. Thankfully I had already picked out their clothes, and so we left a few minutes late, at 1:15 pm. Tammy was wearing a new, bigger coat, as the sleeves had been a little short on the last one, and it's cold now. It was also the first time that the sheep skins and sacks for their legs were on the strollers - except for Emmy, but at least his legs are more protected. The picture of Tammy shows her asleep on the way home.

We got to the pediatrician's office just after 2 pm, and Grandma was already waiting for us. Today it was a lot busier than it had been the last few times, and we spent nearly 2 hours there before going home!

First we spent some time in the waiting room, where they had a new game, and some more babies came later too, and Tammy and Emmy immediately started touching this girl from both sides at the same time, but she didn't mind.

We were finally called inside and had to take their clothes off. They ALWAYS weigh and measure them, no matter how often we come, though today only Tammy got measured because they were all screaming so hard just being weighed! I guess they know now that pain is involved when they are there, though it came later.

Today's appointment had been added, as they are getting monthly shots during winter for a second and last winter because they were preemies. It's just antibodies to protect them from respiratory infections, but it's an unpleasant shot.

However, we waited a long time before they finally returned to give them the shot, and so they had lots of time to calm back down, walk around and explore the room. Emmy always explores all the boundaries and tries to expand them, and we had to continually keep him from going into the neighboring rooms. They found some pretty (empty) cabinets, and Emmy loves making noise by drumming on things. The doctor and assistant finally returned, and were still trying to figure out how much to put into the syringe, and then Tammy was first. Much of the time both her and Emmy wanted to be with me, but now especially, as she was screaming from the pain of the shot, and she was in Grandma's arms, though I was right next to her. Then it was Emmy's turn, who I was holding, and then Sammy's, who was held by Daddy. The doctor called Randy Grandpa today, which is the first time somebody has done it to his face like that. Well, he is closer in age to my Mom than to me (4 years only!)!

It took a while to calm them down and get them dressed again, and then we left, getting another appointment for next month's shot, just before our trip to Mali, so we have to come two more times before traveling.

It was late as we said our good-byes to Grandma and started our 55 minute journey home. Sammy was the first one to fall asleep in the stroller, then Emmy and then Tammy. We left at 3:45, and got home at 4:40 pm, so their nap was pretty late. I got them out right away once we were home (Sammy was already awake), so they would still be able to sleep at night just a little while later. I got straight to work making their dinner food, and it was close to 5:30, when we started feeding them. Sammy ate everything, but Tammy and Emmy prefer eating the second half of their food while walking around, but they were too dirty, so I did not want to set them on the floor. Instead I put them straight into the water, which they love playing in. Sammy also enjoyed his bath, and then he was the first one to bed. Emmy came next - he always protests being taken out of the water - and then the girl.

For a while I thought they were falling asleep fast, but no such luck. I ended up giving them all milk, and even then Sammy was still awake and talking, Emmy walking around when I was there, and Tammy screaming when I'd walk away. FINALLY they did all fall asleep.

It's been busy, and tomorrow we get to stay home. Please pray for our preparations for the Mali trip. It's time to start packing!