17 months 24 days

I had so many great pictures today, it's already late. And I have beeng going to bed late again, yesterday it was nearly 4 am. The little ones get up at 8 am regardless. We fed them, dressed them, and then Randy went downstairs with them, while I went back to bed. But today things were different.

For some reason Randy put all three down at 10:30 am. Well, that doesn't work. They were talking and having fun, but not sleeping. I woke up at 11 from the noise, and got the girl out of bed, as she was obviously not gonna sleep. But then Emmy wanted out too, not having slept. I think Sammy actually got some sleep, but woke up as well, so I took all three downstairs to their Daddy, one after another. That's when I took this cute picture of him reading to all three kids at the same time.

I tried to go back to bed, but it wasn't happening. There was a doorbell - twice - and so I just got up and got their food ready. Then I decided we'd feed them early, at 11:30, which we did. They ate pretty well. By the time Sonja arrived at noon, they were done eating. I cleaned them up, and put Tammy to bed. I knew better than to put Emmy to bed at the same time, even though he hadn't slept yet. However, it was earlier than usual, just 12:15, and Tammy wasn't ready to sleep yet. She stood in bed and was talking away. I finally took Emmy and put him to bed, even though she wasn't sleeping yet. They talked with each other for a while, then Emmy lay down to sleep, and after a while of talking to herself, Tammy went to sleep as well.

Sonja was downstairs with Sammy, and I showed her how to put Sammy into his new chair he got yesterday. Randy doesn't like putting him in there, but he likes sitting in there, so I like putting him on it from time to time. Sonja read a book to him and also noticed how relaxed he is in the chair. At 1:30 I put Sammy to bed as well, as he had not slept much in the morning.

And suddenly all three were in bed and asleep, which is so very rare (too rare). I was very tired, not having had my regular sleep in the morning, and I lay down as well, and was about to fall asleep, when Randy brought me my omelet. Once a week it's omelet day. I really much rather wanted to sleep than eat, but I got up and ate.

I never got to sleep after that, though I was nearly asleep, when the first baby woke up, and the other two then followed suit. It was about 2:45, and we sat down at the dining room table to feed them their afternoon meal. Then we went downstairs.

Randy left to run some errands, and so it was Sonja, me, and the little ones, and we had a great time. I read books to them, and Sonja pulled them around on the nursing pillow, which they love. I put Sammy into his chair again, and his siblings climbed on top as well. Tammy was pretty cranky again, as she has been the past few days, but we were able to distract her.

Randy returned, and at 5 pm I went upstairs to get their food ready. After two chaotic dinner times, I finally had the time again to get all their food ready before they came upstairs. It was so much easier! I ended up feeding Tammy, and she did better than usual, and wasn't throwing food around. Then they went into the bathtub, where they ate some more, and then drank the leftover cereal with milk from the morning. Sammy is always the first one out of the bathtub, and now it takes a little longer to get him ready for bed, as I have to put his leg braces on. He has three straps on each foot. I put him to bed, and in the meantime Randy and Sonja were getting the other two out. Thankfully our changing table is big enough for two. I then put the other two to bed, and walked away.

I put the dishes away and cleaned up the kitchen, while listening to Tammy increasing the intensity of her crying. I finally went to sit by her bed, which is when Emmy got up and started messing around. I think him and Tammy need to switch beds, so he's not right next to his brother and can't bother him. I left and returned a few times. As Emmy was on his feet, Tammy got up too a few times, which is when I'd walk away, and so she'd start screaming again. Finally she fell asleep while I was sitting there, and I could walk away, all the while listening to Emmy continuing to talk, until he finally lay down and fell asleep. It all takes a while now.

I got my food ready and went downstairs to eat, then started office work. At some point I take a break to go back upstairs and clean the dining room floor and the high chairs, and turn the dishwasher on. Then I return to office work until going to bed. Tomorrow we need to get up a little earlier than usual, but it doesn't look like I'll be going to bed any earlier.