3 years 9 months 23 days

Day 1391. Sammy wears braces at night to keep his feet flexed, but the ones he's had for this past year have been falling apart. They said they could get him new ones before our trip, so we had to accept a 9 am appointment on Thursday morning. That meant that Randy and Sammy had to leave the house at 8 am, which is mighty early for us. The other two were occupying themselves, while I was working on getting the day started. I was extremely tired. Just before noon Randy and Sammy returned.

In the afternoon Sammy had his last physiotherapy session before our trip. In the picture you see him practicing opening a bottle with the physiotherapist. I had two students, so the other two kids were once again playing or watching stuff.

On Friday Sammy did not have speech therapy this week. My afternoon lesson was canceled, which gave me much-needed time to continue scanning teaching books I'll need while in the US. Randy took the kids outside, where they enjoyed running their bikes and scooters.

I then started making their dinner earlier as usual and gave it to them, when they came upstairs, then got myself ready to leave the house. I don't think I've ever gone out by myself since they were born. I had invited one of my classmates I graduated with 32 years ago to my birthday party, but she couldn't come, and so she had the idea of organizing a get-together for the 10 of us who graduated together from High School in 1991. The last gathering had been 7 years ago. I got there just after 7 pm, and they had started at 6 pm. There were 7 of the 10 of us, and we were having a great time. There was a lot of catching up going on, and I really enjoyed this time out that I don't usually get. I still left at the same time as the first person leaving at 9:15 pm. To many more times of socializing!

Back home Randy had to bathe them and put them to bed by himself, and the kids stayed up for a long time asking for Mommy. By the time I got home just before 10 pm, they were all asleep.

This morning the kids had piano class, and we decided to change it up a bit. Instead of us all going, Randy left with Tammy and Emmy to go to class at 10 am. At 10:30 I left with Sammy to go to the playground right there by the music school. Sammy was clearly enjoying the 1-on-1 time with Mommy. He was talking the whole time on our way there. Then he was eager to get into the swing and waited patiently for his turn. He giggled and laughed the whole time in the swing. He was not happy, when another kid wanted to swing, but I took him around to the other equipment at the playground until the swing was available again.

Just after 11:30 the others joined us at the playground after their class was over. They were really excited as they really enjoy the equipment there, but it was only about their third time there. They started climbing and sliding and showing what they can already do, having lots of fun. After about 20 minutes we decided it was time to leave, as it was nearly noon, and Sammy was getting hungry.

We walked to the subway and rode it for 3 stops to where our favorite McDonald's is. We then had a great time eating there and having fun with each other. At 1 pm we left again and got on the subway home, but we made another stop, where we knew there was a grocery store right there. I needed to buy "thank you candy", so we did that and got a few other items as well. Tammy and Emmy each had a small kids' cart that they enjoyed pushing around.

Tammy was getting really tired, so it was high time to get home and put them to bed for their nap. Sammy was also really quiet. We got home just after 1:30 pm, and a few minutes later they were in bed. Tammy was so tired she was crying, so I held her for a few minutes to calm her down. By 1:50 they were all asleep, and I could walk away.

I had to teach at 3 pm already, so I needed to lie down quickly myself. It was nearly 2:15 before I was able to close my eyes, so I only had about half an hour to sleep, but then Emmy already awlked into the room before 2:30. He lay down next to me, but did not fall asleep again. At 2:45 I got up to get ready for my student, while Emmy got his tablet and stayed in my bed to watch and play. Sammy then also woke up, probably from us talking, and a little later Tammy did as well. At 3 pm I started teaching, and then I had another student at 4 pm.

Before I was done with my second student, at 4:30, Randy handed Sammy to me who was just crying and crying and would not be comforted. He quieted down immediately with me, and I taught my last 20 minutes first holding him, then I put him into his bed, where he was standing and could see me. After I was done teaching, I took Sammy back downstairs, and he was fine again. After a few minutes I returned upstairs to get some more work done before they'd all come upstairs for dinner. They did really early, at 5:30, and started playing or watching. Then a 7 pm pick-up was confirmed for Randy, so he had to quickly leave just before 6 pm. I then started making their food a little later than usual. They sat down at the table to eat, and I brought them food as I was making it. Sammy was in the kitchen with me, where I was feeding him.

Then they went into the bathtub, where they continued eating. I then got them out one after another. I was putting their diapers and pj's on, when Randy returned at 8 pm. I then read a Bible story to them, prayed for them and flew them into bed. Randy was making his dinner at the same time. I sat down by them for a few minutes, then Randy took my place, while I went to the kitchen to make my food. After having eaten, I went back to work. I then found out that Mali is now kicking out the UN peacekeepers, which Paul believes is gonna lead to a civil war in the country. My heart has been heavy ever since. Now it's 1 am and time to finish in the kitchen and go to bed.