18 months 15 days

After going to bed at my regular 4 am time, we got up at our typical time of 8 am to feed the littles ones who NEVER sleep in. They were pretty much done eating, when Caritas helper Christine arrived at 8:30. We now have to wear masks, when she is with us, which is pretty annoying. Also pointless, in my opinion, as we'd ALL have Corona, if one has it, and they don't keep their distance from the babies. And they were masks anyway. But what can you do.

The little ones went downstairs, and I went to bed. For some reason it took me a long time to fall asleep. And during the next few hours I got woken up several times - and had to get up - because of crying babies.

Christine cooked lunch right away, so that they could go to the nearby playground later, while Sammy went to bed for his morning nap. Then they fed them lunch and put Tammy and Emmy to bed. I woke up because I heard Sammy screaming, and finally got up, when he was only screaming harder not less. She wanted to take him out on a walk in a stroller, but without Mommy or Daddy, he would have just screamed the whole time, so I rescued him. Daddy took him, and Mommy went back to bed.

She left at 2:30, which is also when I got up for good, as Emmy's crying had woken me up. I picked him up, and we went downstairs to where everyone else was. Then I warmed up my food and ate as well. Randy was feeding Tammy and Emmy their afternoon jar. When Sammy woke up a little bit later, he fed him too.

Then it was playtime. Emmy impressed me, as on day 2 of the new slide, he's already mastered climbing up the slide and sliding down all by himself. He was fearful at first, but got over it today. And he would go up and down and up and down over and over again, really enjoying it. Tammy doesn't care as much about the slide, and has been more confident from the beginning.

Randy got the big, blue bouncy ball out that we got for Sammy's exercises, but haven't used in a long time. Emmy enjoyed seeing it bounce up and down, and Sammy enjoyed lying on top of it and rolling around. So did Emmy.

Sammy really enjoys standing on his feet, but needs to be held to be able to do so. He's not at that point, needing first to master sitting and to strengthen his hip and torso. That doesn't keep him from standing up whenever he gets a chance. Tammy is so sweet with him, and stroked his head, when he was standing by the donkey she was sitting on.

Tammy also loves books, and brings us books to read to her all the time. And often we have to read the same book to her over and over to her. But I love it! I love seeing her interest and spending that precious time with her. I myself was a big reader as a kid, as soon as I was able to, reading books even during break time in school. Today Randy had both Tammy and Emmy sitting on his lap and was reading to them, and it was really precious to watch.

They all got to go on the swing as well. It helped, when Emmy was cranky, and Sammy loves it a lot too.

At 5 pm I left them to go make dinner, and as soon as I had the bread with cream cheese ready, they came upstairs, and I gave them a piece everytime they'd come to me, while cutting up the fruit. Then we sat down to eat. Once they start throwing food around, I take their plates away, and then I take the leftover food to the bathtub, where they finish it. I also hold Sammy, who finishes his food there as well. Sammy comes out of the water first, and it takes me some time to put his leg braces on. Once he's in bed, we get out the other two, who then go to bed. Tonight it seemed that they were all going to sleep without ever needing me to come back. But after a while the girl started crying, and when I finally went to see her, she had taken her sleeping bag off and was standing in bed. I put her back to bed, stayed for a short time, and then walked away.

After eating and then doing today's pictures, I went upstairs to clean up and get everything ready for tomorrow. I also went through some "too big" clothes as we constantly throw out too-small clothes, and it's time to get some bigger clothes out. I just don't really have the time for that.

Now it's after 1 am and time for office work. It's nice that I got more sleep today, but tomorrow nobody is coming to help.