17 months 25 days

It was about 3:30, when I went to bed, but this morning we had to get up earlier. We already heard them after 7 am, and got up just before 7:30, so they ate nearly an hour earlier than usual. Then I cleaned and dressed them, and Randy got Sammy ready to go to physiotherapy. They needed to leave the house at 8:30 am. Just before that time, I got a phone call. It was the physiotherapist canceling the appointment. So much for an early morning.

Caritas helper Christine arrived with an apprentice at 8:30 and was surprised to find everyone already dressed. They put the rest of their clothes on, while Randy ate his breakfast. Then they all left to go to the playground. The double stroller still has a flat tire, so Emmy and Tammy each sat on a push tricycle, and Sammy in his single stroller. They all had a fun time at the playground. Sammy enjoyed the swing more than ever, and Emmy loved the slide. Tammy always enjoys the swing. Though it's been much warmer, Emmy had really cold hands, and they had left the gloves at home on purpose, so they left a little earlier than planned to go back home.

As their breakfast was so early, I asked Christine to cook earlier so they could feed them lunch at 11:30. And I asked Randy to see whether the boys couldn't also stay awake until lunch and go to bed after, like the girl. He said that Sammy was pretty tired, but they stayed up. And so they all went to bed after having eaten, and slept at the same time, which is really nice for us. As for me, I was blessed to be able to sleep all morning and not have to get up to cook. I woke up when Emmy woke up from his nap and cried. Randy rocked him back to sleep for a little while, and then they all woke up. It was 1:45 when I got up, and I had just missed Christine leaving.

I went downstairs with all three of them, where we played. At 2:15 we all went back upstairs to feed them their afternoon meal, while I ate my lunch at the same time. Then we went back downstairs and continued playing. As the boys had also slept earlier, only once, we all had more time to play. In the past I'd always have an hour or so to play with Tammy alone. We had lots of fun. Sammy spent a little time in his chair - the first and only time today - and then he did lots of crawling on the floor. One time both his siblings came to hug him, which was so cute. I wished my phone was taking better pictures. Another time Sammy got a hold of the newspaper I was reading whenever they'd be busy with something else, and he sure likes tearing paper. When Emmy saw my bag of chestnuts, he came to get some, as he likes them too. Tammy didn't want any. And we had lots of fun me chasing them, which usually involves their tent and tunnel.

Just before 5 pm I left them to get their food ready. They were still amazingly fit, considering it was the first time the boys had only had one nap. Emmy was cranky, though, which he is either way anyway. Randy came upstairs with them just before I was done getting their food ready. Tammy seems to be an organizer, like her Mommy. She put her food, piece by piece, into her cup, until it was full. Then she turned it over and put it all back onto her plate. She was so concentrated, while she was doing this important job!

Then they all went into the bathtub, where they had more food, and drank the leftover cereal with milk from the morning. Sammy then came out first, and I put his leg braces on, with the pj on the inside, then put him to bed.

For the first time in days Emmy was actually tired and not messing around, thank God. That's a big advantage of just one nap a day. I did have to sit down by Tammy's bed for her to fall asleep.

And then it was the same as every other day - cook, eat, clean, and office work.