4 years 3 months 17 days

 Day 1569. After a long and busy weekend, I was glad that we were all gonna stay home for a change. Except for Sammy who was back at kindergarten after a 4-day break. And at 10:30 I had a student. I was pretty tired. After I was done, it wasn't long until I had to go to the kitchen to cook lunch.

It was the first Monday afternoon off this semester, as their music class had ended. And it was a special day for another reason. It was also the last time the Mobile Support lady was coming to play with the kids, specifically Sammy. We had a different person first who we never really connected with, and then this one took over nearly two years ago. She was a God-sent, and she was a believer, which is pretty unique as there are not that many true believers. And so we've really connected and all had a great two years together. Because Sammy now goes to kindergarten, her time with us has ended.

She came at 2:45 pm, and she came bearing gifts. The kids already knew that she had a good-bye present, so Emmy asked for it right away. And she got it out right away. She had a card with personal words for Sammy, and then she got out bubble and a crocodile that could open and close its mouth to catch the bubbles. Tammy had the bubbles, and Emmy the catcher, and then they started! Sammy was having fun watching them, until he got to do it as well.

After a few minutes of playing, and me talking with her, they went downstairs to play, while I had a student at 3 pm. And I taught until 6 pm. I was able to come back out to say good-bye, though, as my student was late. We'll definitely stay in touch and hope to see her again this side of heaven. I like the picture of her with the kids that Randy took.

Tammy had the second tough night in a row because of her stuffy nose and cough. And her body felt a little warm last night. She continued sleeping, when the alarm went off at 7:15 am. I got up to make Sammy's snack box and then lay back down. I did help Emmy open his advent calendars. Tammy and I stayed in bed, and I was surprised how she continued sleeping. I eventually got up, Emmy eventually went downstairs with Randy, and at 10 am she finally got up as well. She was pretty hoarse, and her voice has been like that all day. She then went downstairs as well, while I continued working on the computer.

At noon they came back upstairs. Randy left to go get Sammy, while the kids got their school tablets to study using their fun learning software. Emmy is now even excited, when he hears school! Now that's a change! While they were on their tablets, I was in the kitchen cooking lunch. When Sammy returned home at 12:45 pm, I had just finished cooking, and so we all sat down to eat.

After lunch, the kids got their tablets and the like to watch or play, while I had to get ready for my 2:15 pm student. I taught until 3:30 pm, then we finished dressing the kids and all left the house at 3:40 pm. We took two subways and then walked to the ice-skating rink for session 5 of their ice-skating class. We put their shoes on and walked to the cordoned off area for classes. The teachers were already on the ice, and Tammy and Emmy got on the ice to join them. The three of us walked to the wall near where they were having their class to watch.

They were doing really well, not falling at all for a while. They were weaving around cones, then the teacher showed them how to glide. Emmy was better at it and already got pretty fast. Tammy continued mainly walking. Then Emmy started falling, and falling a lot, and he wasn't really getting up right away. But today he never left the ice to take a break or go to the bathroom.

I had Sammy for most of the time and tried to keep him happy. He had his tablet with songs with him, but at some point he'd had enough of it. I then put him on my shoulders and had fun with him up there, making him laugh and giggle.

At 5:15 they were taking a break. Sammy had already been asking since the beginning to go back home and did so again. I then decided to go home with him, which I had thought of doing earlier on anyway. And so Sammy and I left, and he was really happy, when both subways we rode to go home had new trains to carry us. He got to push the door button at every station.

By 6 pm we were back home. Sammy started playing, while I was trying to get some work done. At 6:30 I went to the kitchen to start making their dinner, and then Randy and the kids already returned. They sat down to eat, then continued eating in the bathtub. Then we put their pj's on and let them open the chocolate advent calendars. Emmy finally got the big prize of a surprise egg that he'd been waiting for this whole time! Then it was time to brush their teeth, write down what chores they had completed, read a story and pray for them. Then it was finally bed time. Randy sat down with them, while I grabbed something to eat and sat down to prepare for my 9 pm class. I then taught until 10 pm, and was really sad afterwards, as I had found out that I only had one lesson left with my student. They'd canceled their contract and are going to take a break. The Syrian refugee lady I've been teaching German twice a week for a year has become really dear to me, and I'm gonna miss her.

I did some more work, then finally got into a more relaxed position to continue working. Now it's 2 am and time for bed. I'm glad that Tammy is doing better tonight. She has not woken up screaming and fighting off anyone coming too close tonight.