Day 1288. The kids have swim class on Sunday every two to three weeks, and yesterday was one of those Sundays. That meant having to get up early to leave the house at 9 am. After the class we had lunch at McDonald's, and once back home, the kids went straight to bed for their nap. We usually try to go to church Sunday night, but with our upcoming trip especially, I needed the time to write a new email newsletter and was able to get the English version sent at night.
We had nothing planned this morning, thank God. Emmy was up early, as usual, and soon he had woken up his siblings as well. Randy eventually got up to make his oatmeal and change their diapers and sat down for breakfast with them. Then I cleaned them up and dressed them, and by 9:30 they were going downstairs, while I sat down at the computer to work. Unfortunately I did not get the German newsletter out today. At 10:45 I went to the kitchen to make chicken noodle soup, and once it was simmering on the stove, I returned to my computer to continue working. Soon the kids came upstairs and wanted to watch videos.
Just after noon we sat down at the table to eat. And today everybody ate everything which is very rare. They then all had some icecream before returning to their videos. Randy left for the grocery store, while I put them to bed for a nap at 1:15 pm. I asked them to go to sleep quickly, and they really did, so that I was able to leave before it was 1:30.
I soon lay down myself and set a timer for 50 minutes, which is all the time I had. It took me a while to fall asleep, and I heard Randy return, and then talked to Emmy who walked into the room. I was already awake, when the alarm went off, and didn't get much sleep. I got Sammy out of his bed, as he'd been whining to get out for a while, and put him on the floor, then I got ready for my 2:30 class. When I finished it at 3:20, I saw that Tammy was still in bed, while her brothers were downstairs with Randy. I woke her up, and she soon went downstairs as well, while I sat down to teach my next student. And then my third student. I finished early at 5:15 and quickly helped getting everyone ready to leave the house so we'd make the 5:32 train.
I was pushing Sammy's wheelchair, while the other two were walking, and we walked as quickly as possible to make the train, which we did. It was an old train, so that we had to carry the wheelchair over a few steps. After we got off, we bought some chestnuts, and both Tammy and Emmy wanted to be the ones to tell the guy what we wanted. Emmy then took the money out of my hand and gave it to the vendor. Then we started walking towards the school, while they (and I) were all eating chestnuts.
That public school where they have their exercise class has a lot of steps, first up, then down to the basement, where the gym is. So many steps that I took Sammy out of the wheelchair and carried him, while Randy carried the wheelchair. We were the first ones in the locker room and took their coats and shoes off. I then put Sammy back into his chair, and we all went into the gym.
Sammy sure got some attention with his new wheelchair. Today the teacher started with a competitive race he had first done last week. He split them into two teams and put cones up. They had to pick up a ball, weave through the cones and then put it inside the hoop on the floor at the end and come back for the next one to go. Sammy was second in line, and I ran with him holding the ball, pushing his chair, which he thought was great fun. Tammy was able to weave all by herself today, while Emmy hasn't understood how to weave yet. We did two rounds and lost, but that was okay.
Then everybody got a hoop, and the kids put them around their chests, being the horses for the adults. We then ran to the other end of the room and back. Once again I had Sammy in his chair. Then they lay down on the floor and we pulled them with the hoops. It was a lot of running for us adults, especially for me, but Sammy loved it all, especially being pulled on the floor.
Then the teacher got out the big stuff, the same as every week, and Tammy and Emmy were riding the cart carrying the mats. Soon the kids were walking up the bench to then jump off from top. Emmy was still scared, but a lot less than last week. He just wanted me to hold his hand to stand up on the top, then let go to jump off. While they were going up and jumping off, the teacher was getting the rings down that especially Tammy was impatiently waiting for. I think she got on more often than any other kid, but all three kids were enjoying them greatly. Sammy got on twice today, and was every upset both times, when I got him out again. Sammy was first playing ball with me, then Randy played with him, and then he got him out of the chair to play with him and even had him go up and jump off.
Time went by fast, and so it was time to put everything up again, and time for one last race. Everyone just ran to the other end and back, twice, and this time Randy pushed Sammy, so that I was able to take pictures and a video. Then the class was over, and we put their coats and shoes back on. I had to get Sammy out of the chair again to carry him to the exit of the building, so that Randy could carry the chair there, where we then put him back into it. Then we left to go home.
We walked to the train station, and they were eating and watching videos while we were waiting for the 7:23 train, which was once again an old train with steps. By around 7:30 pm we were back home. The kids sat down at the table to eat, and I kept bringing the fruit that I was cutting up in the kitchen. I was impressed at how well they were eating. Given the late time, they've been taking a shower on Monday nights, but today Randy had filled the bathtub, and so they went into the bathtub, where they ate the rest of their food. There was nothing left. We then got them out and ready for bed and sat down for the Bible stories. I prayed for them and put them to bed. It was already after 8:30 pm, but they were still talking with me. Once again Emmy was talking about my birthday and what he wanted to do for it. I then encouraged them to go to sleep, as it was already so very late. Randy then took my place in the chair, while I got myself something to eat. After I had eaten, I went back to work. Now 1 am is approaching, and I still need to clean up the kitchen before going to bed.
