Having four of our grandchildren here for a couple of months is quite a journey! We are enjoying having everyone here, especially when a child looks up at you and wants to be held. At that time, the crying and screaming they do fades away and you remember how much you love them and that they are behaving exactly how they should be behaving at this age.
I have not posted on this blog since Christmas Eve because I have been so busy being a grandpa, being "Pumpa." I figured what I was experiencing was an exceptional experience and that those few who read this would find it interesting if not amusing. Before you read it, however, I have to acknowledge the superhuman efforts of my daughter Emily, their mother. She deserves every bit of admiration and credit for this most difficult task she is doing. Her patience is just incredible, her caring boundless, and her love for them undeniable. She amazes me.
So here is what I have been experiencing as seen through the eyes of one of my grandbabies. Enjoy the ride!
Waaaaaah, waaaaaah, waaaaaaaaah. My name is Eddie and I am living right now with my “Pumpa and Geema,” and I thought that it would be fun for some of Pumpa’s friends to know what it’s like to be with my Mama and three-year-old sister, Elizabeth, and my triplet brother, Charley, and sister, Lucy. Pumpa is writing this down because my siblings and I are just a little older than one year old.
My day begins…waaaaaaaaaaaaah…sometimes at about 3am. I’m not fully awake but I sometimes will cry. Waaaaaaaaah. I just woke up Charley. We’ll cry for a little while and maybe fall back to sleep until around 6:15. Waaaaaaaah…that’s Charley…waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…that’s Lucy; I might as well cry…Waaaaaaah. That’s enough noise to get Mom and Geema and Pumpa up out of bed. The first thing…Waaaaaah, Waaaaaah, Waaaaaah…that happens is that either Pumpa or Geema or Mama put our three bottles of 8 ounces of milk in the microwave, one at a time, for 55 seconds. Ahhhhhh…warm milk. The three adults are cradling us while we hold our bottles.
It’s time to get our first of four or five diaper changes. Feels good to have Geema change me. She’ll put the wet diaper with the two others just out the back door where they’re dropped until Pumpa takes a bunch to the black garbage bin that gets pretty full (and stinky) in a week’s time. Before we came, Pumpa says that sometimes he didn’t even put that bin out every week.
It’s about 7 now, and we’re playing with some toys on the living room floor, next to where our three cribs are. Pumpa and Geema had some friends who loaned them a couple of pack and plays that work as our cribs. They go along with the one that they already had that my cousin Daniel sleeps in when he stays the night with my Uncle Doug. Waaaaaaaaaaaah. Charley just fell on me. Here comes Mama. We’ve kind of taken over the living room. It was really fun when the Christmas tree in the corner was up and we would try to take ornaments off. Waaaaaaah. That’s Lucy crying because Charley just took a book from her. Is Mama going to come pick her up? Here comes my older sister Elizabeth. She’s three years old and our crying probably woke her up. But then she got up at least once I think and started crying and woke Mama up.
Waaaaaaaaaaah. Lucy must be hungry. It’s about 7:30 and time for breakfast. Pumpa puts Charley in one of the three high chairs in the kitchen, one loaned by friends. We all get our bibs put on as Mom prepares our meal: oatmeal mixed with applesauce and honey. Yummmmm! Either Mama or Pumpa or Geema sit facing us with a TV tray in front of a chair, and they open their mouths to get us to open our mouths. One mouth, two mouths, three mouths…kind of like Dr. Seuss! Waaaaaaaaaaah. Lucy can’t wait for another bite. She gets the next spoonful. I think Mom is starting to give us little bowls with spoons to try to feed ourselves but we’re not too good at it yet. In front of the bowl are three “sipee cups” full of milk to help wash down the oatmeal. Waaaaaaaaaaaah. Charley wants banana. Dad taught Pumpa and Geema a trick with a banana before he went back to Brooklyn last week where we live. It helps when we are getting bored with oatmeal. The adult has the spoon in their right hand, filled with oatmeal, and cuts the banana with the left hand. The adult opens their mouth which makes us open our mouths in anticipation of a slice of banana, and shoves in the oatmeal and drops the banana slice on our tray. Pretty sneaky! I think I’ll turn and drop my sipee cup on the floor. The adults do not like it when I do that.
After we’re washed off at the sink, we start playing with toys again. Pumpa and Geema sit at the dining room table after we’re done and help Elizabeth eat her cereal for breakfast. They eventually eat their breakfast. Waaaaaaaaaah. Somebody fell on me. Geema is coming to the living room to make sure I’m not hurt. Waaaaaa. Charley took a toy from Lucy. Waaaaaaaaaah. Charley took a toy from me. Waaaaaaaaah. I took a toy from Charley. Waaaaaaah…waaaaaaaaaaaaaah…waaaaaaaah. We’re all crying. It’s probably time for our morning nap/crib time because it’s getting close to 9. Mama usually sings a little lullaby to us before putting us down; we like it when she sings to us. When we’re all down she closes the door and goes to the dining room to have her breakfast and maybe work on the crossword puzzle from the newspaper. I think she does it to help her mind from turning to jelly, like the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches she’ll fix for us when we wake up for our mid morning snack.
Pumpa has gone to work but Geema is here all day. She has a two-month break from teaching and that’s why she invited us to come stay with her and Pumpa. Mom needs help because dealing with us is pretty hard. When Pumpa is here, he’ll change diapers, help feed us, and read books to us, and hold us when we need to be held. He likes it when we smile. He’s got a goofy smile, and he is always squeezing my nose or tickling me under my chin.
PU! Somebody’s pooped. Oh, it’s me. Waaaaaaaaaaah. Here comes Geema to change me…thank heavens. That’s another dirty diaper for outside. PU! I think Lucy’s filled her drawers as well. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Lucy doesn’t like Mama trying to hold her arms so she can’t put her fingers in the goo. Waaaaaaaaaah. Charley just fell down on Lucy while she’s getting her poopy diaper changed. Mama and Geema are taking us out of our pajamas and putting us into our day outfits.
Waaaaaaaaaah. I want to be held. Waaaaaaaaaaaah. Charley’s crying and screaming because I took his toy from him. Waaaaaaaah. Charley was climbing onto a chair and wants to get down. Waaaaaaah…waaaaaaaaaaaah. Lucy fell on me and I bumped my head. We’re all playing with toys for awhile, quietly. Mom can’t get onto the computer while we’re up like the few minutes she stole to go on Facebook while we were in our cribs. She tells Geema that it helps her keep somewhat attached to the outside world. Waaaaaaah…waaaaaaah…waaaaaaah. I think that it’s time for our lunch: PB&J and pieces of fresh pear or grapes cut in half. Yummmm. I like getting it all over my face. So does Lucy and Charley. Mama and Geema rinse us off and then it’s another lullaby at about 1 for our nap. I give Geema a big smile and that makes her smile.
Mama says it’s pretty quiet when we’re all asleep. But you know what. We don’t go right to sleep, usually not right away. Pumpa says that we play around for awhile and then eventually fall asleep. While we’re asleep, Mama or Geema sometimes go to the supermarket to buy more whole milk for us and 1% milk for the adults. When Pumpa and Geema were alone, they would go through a gallon of milk every 8-9 days. They’re buying milk every other day now.
Waaaaaaaaaaah. I’m bored and I want out of my crib. Waaaaaaaaaaah. I woke up Charley. Here comes Mom. Let’s see, where can I put this toy so nobody else will find it? Waaaaaaaah. Charley took my toy. Waaaaaaaaaah. I hit Charley on the head with a plastic cup. Mama is not very pleased with me. Waaaaaaah…waaaaaaaaaah. Lucy and Charley want the same toy. Here comes Mama and Geema. Waaaaah…waaaaaaah. We’re hungry because it’s time for our afternoon snack. Mama has cut up some cheese into little cubes and filled other “sippy cups” with water. That will help wash down the cheese and cracker pieces that she’s giving us.
I like running around the dining room table with my Elizabeth except when she can’t stop herself and knocks me down. Sometimes I cry or my brother and sister cry when she takes a toy away from us that she wants for herself. But she also helps Mama by closing doors or getting something Mama needs. I think sometimes Mama gets pretty upset with her, but Mama always makes up by loving her a little more afterwards. Mama is that way with me too. I know that this is really hard on her and I think Mama likes being here where she can get help with us.
I like looking out the window. Waaaaaaaaaaaah. Charley is crying because he climbed onto a chair and can’t get down. Lucy is playing with toys on the living room floor but she likes looking at books too. I like to crawl onto Geema’s lap and have her read to me. We all like it when Mama or Geema or Pumpa read to us. Waaaaaaaaaah. Charley just took my book away. Waaaaaaaaaaaah. Elizabeth wanted to read that book and took it away from Charley. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Elizabeth is crying and screaming because Mama took the book away from her. I think Mom wants to let us run around outside on the grass for a change so Mama and Geema are putting on our shoes. It’s nice here in California. Daddy says that it’s been cold in Brooklyn. I like it when Mama calls up Daddy and talks to him and lets us talk with him. Mama tries to Skype with him so that we all can see him and don’t forget him. But is usually is hard to sit in a chair while Skyping with Daddy. We all want to see him and we fight for position. Waaaaaaaah…waaaaaaaah…waaaaaaaah.
Mama tries to take advantage of the grass and the enclosed yard every day, a couple of things we don’t have in Brooklyn. It’s pretty hard living in our second story, 700 square foot, two bedroom apartment with no washer or dryer or dishwasher. Mama also tries to keep a tradition each day that we have in Brooklyn. She tells us that we are going to have dance time, and we’ll all gather in Pumpa’s office which is now Elizabeth’s bedroom, and dance to You Tube songs she plays on Pumpa’s computer. We all really like the Wiggle and Hold Still song. I’m pretty good at holding still like a statue—for about three seconds.
It’s getting time for dinner. It’s about 5:45 in the afternoon. Mama will feed us some food that Geema made, or sometimes food that she makes. Pumpa usually is home by now and he helps us put on our bibs, and he’ll wash up the high chairs and trays afterwards. When we’re finished, I’ll play with some toys or look at books or ask Pumpa to hold me. Waaaaaaaaaah. Lucy fell down and hit her head. Here comes Mama to comfort her. Waaaaaaaaaah. She likes holding me;s he likes holding all of us. Charley is getting his diaper changed but doesn’t like lying still while Mama changes him. PU. Mama is reaching for the wipes that are just about gone. We go through about a container of 72 in about ten days. Geema and Mama went to Costco a couple of weeks ago to buy diapers and they bought two big boxes—around 300 diapers. I don’t think that they’ll last us until we go back to Brooklyn just before Valentine’s Day.
I know that all of the adults are looking forward to us going to bed so I might as well not fight having Mama take off my clothes and putting on my pajamas. Lucy and Charley are getting into their pajamas now, and pretty soon Mama will make sure we have our pacifiers in our mouths and will gently rock us before placing us with our blankets so that we can go to sleep. Waaaaaaaaaaaaah. Charley does not want to go to bed. Mama taps him and tells him she loves him and that she’ll see him in the morning. I sure like it when Mama sings the Go To Sleep lullaby to me before putting me down. I know that she loves me and loves our family. I know that Pumpa and Geema love us too.
Once we’re down, it’s time for Elizabeth and the adults to eat dinner. Sometimes they eat when we’re still up but that isn’t so good for their digestion. After finishing dinner, Mama begins the process of putting Elizabeth in her pajamas and getting her ready for bed. Elizabeth always wants to stay up with the adults and will keep doing things to stall finally having the night light on and her tucked in bed with her Pooh and Foofa dolls and her blankets. Mama sometimes gets a little impatient with her, but I know Mama loves her.
If they’re lucky, the adults won’t hear us wake up too much in the night. Pumpa and Geema have started wearing ear plugs. We all sometimes will stir and wake up and cry just a short time but then fall back to sleep. I need to get a good night’s sleep so that I can do this all over again tomorrow here at Pumpa and Geema’s house in California!
