Splash!

We stay quite close to the city so it's easier to just jump in a taxi and head to town for food.  There you have more variety.  Last night we sat in the food mall after eating and Lutaaya Deborah jumps up pointing at another child.  It's Joyce!  And so it was.  Another of the children from her former orphanage who has been adopted.  And minutes later, she spots another familiar face....Priscilla!  How wondeful to meet the new parents to children Lutaaya Deborah has grown up with.  We managed to leave our contact details and will hopefully keep in touch.  The families may live in America, but the internet makes it easy to let our new little additions keep in contact with each other and share their stories, as well as us adoptive parents sharing experiences and support eacch other.  What a blessing!

The shopping mall has a HUGE supermarket that sells everything, from kitchen items to food, to bedroom furniture and everything else imaginable.  Lutaaya Deborah had great fun, as she spotted the 'moving stairs'.  She also had the sweetest little trolley to take around with her.

Then it was off to the pool.  Friends had recommended the Speke Resort. They have an amazing pool.  Lutaaya Deborah LOVED it!  She has no fear of the water and jumped in off the side, even in the deep end!!! 

Fun Family Day

This morning must have been a very confusing one for a little girl.  Lutaaya Deborah slept all night.  She even slept through us getting up and getting ready.  She loved her new bed.  Although when we woke her she seemed surprised to still be with us.  She looked around the room in amazement that she was still part of our family and not in the children's home.

So our day today has been spent shopping.  Most the clothes I brought with me for Lutaaya Deborah are either a bit too big or too hot.  It's boiling here!  So we went to the African market and picked up two pretty little dresses for her to be cool in.  We also hope to go swimming tomorrow, so we needed a swim suit too.

Lutaaya Deborah is loving TV.  She has giggled while watching the film, Cheaper by the Dozen.  She has also spent time looking at her forever family book.  She's trying to remember who everyone in her new family is.  We are struggling with the change in me now being Mam rather than Auntie and it's catching her out a lot, but I'm sure with time we'll get that changed.  So here's some piccies of her settling in.

We have her!!!!!

We've been so busy the last few days plus the net crashed here, I'll add the pages for that at another time.  But the main thing of the day is - WE GOT MY GIRL!
Lutaaya Deborah is now legally mine!  The Judge said YES!
It has been a very emotional day but we have loved every second of it.  We went to court early and today the Judge was a changed man!  He even spoke to me!  He said he wanted to help not hinder my case, so he granted me legal guardianship of Lutaaya Deborah. 
We went and celebrated straight away with lunch at a cafe.

It's been a very exciting but also confusing day for a little girl.  She knew she would be coming to stay with us tonight as soon as the Judge said yes, but to say goodbye to some children, who you view as your brothers and sisters is a tough job, especially the ones you've spent the last 7 years of your life with.  Even some of the other children cried when we said goodbye at the home.  It was horrible.  But we know this is for the right reason, and even though she may feel she is leaving all she has ever known, we know that what we can offer her is so much better than an institution can ever offer.

As the night has gone on Lutaaya Deborah has grown in confidence.  She has searched her new clothes and had fits of giggles in the pyjamas that are two sizes too big for her.  She has looked through her book showing her new house and family.  We have been out for food in our 'new clothes' and are now snuggled on the settee, watching some TV before bed.  Thanks for the nightie Auntie Lorraine x

Feeling right at home :-)

I can't go home without her

We were invited to go to court again today to have the hearing on the adoption case.  We were up early and booked the taxi for 10am.  The solicitor said we didn't need to take Lutaaya Deborah today so we literally had to just take a car ride into the city.  This could take 15 minutes if it's quiet, but in Kampala you are rarely from a traffic jam.  Jams here are everywhere and they cause so much delay.  So a 15 minute journey can take up to an hour.  Booking the taxi for 10am and needing to be in court for 11am, plenty of time you would think.

So we waited for our taxi to arrive.  Henry, our regular driver, is so reliable and trustworthy and du to us using him all the time, he gives us very reasonable rates.  We waited and waited for Henry, and there was no show.  Then the phone rings.  Henry - saying he had the times mixed up and thought we needed him at 11am!!!  NO!  So can he come now and take us?  ARGH - he's 30 minutes away!

So on to find another taxi.  All our contacts were busy and the guest house 'mother' had broken her phone with her other numbers in.  You can tell already this day had nothing going in the right direction. 

So out we go, walking to see if we can find a taxi.  There is a hospital not far from the guest house, although the walk seemed longer than it does when you pass it in the car, and there are often specials parked up there.  So out trekking we go.  And the heavens opened.  So on with the macs and off to search for a taxi.

As we reach the main road, someone shouts, 'Natasha'.  I look to find out who knows me, and it is the man who brought us from the airport, Christopher.  'Why are you walking?  Aren't you meant to be at court?'  I have never been so glad to see someone as I was to see Christopher.  He quickly whisked us off to the court.

So we're there!  The solicitor ringing to find out where we are as we run from the car to the building.  On our way, on our way.

You couldn't make this story up if you tried.  In the court building you have to go to the 3rd floor for the family courts.  So quick jump in the lift and up we go......or so you'd think.  Power cut!  Me and Mam stuck in the lift in the pitch black!  There is no alarm button and no one notices we are stuck!  Literally only 2 minutes and the power kicks back in but it felt like forever.  Not trusting the lift any more, we take the stairs. 
Finally make it to the floor we need and the police stop us for the routine bag search.  Normally this is a quick unzip and feel around, but no, not today.  The police officer does a full search of everything. 

Eveentually I swing around the court waiting room door, completely out of breath, heart pumping, to see that Isaac, the solicitor is still waiting, as the Judge is on the phone!

Unbelievably, the Judge then decides he won't see any of us, not even the solicitor, and sends a message out with the Clerk saying he will make a decision later today.  So all that madness for nothing.

So we spent the day at the home.  Waiting for the phone to ring with the Judge's decision.  Nothing!  Until the journey home.  And there it hits us.  The Judge said NO!  Total disappointment.  A total loss of all hope.  All becaus I am only 20 years older than Lutaaya Deborah and Ugandan law states there has to be 21 years difference. 

An emotional rollercoaster to say the least.  So many tears.  So much heartbreak.  A night of tears, but a glimmer of hope.  The Judge has offered legal guardianship.  It's basically meaning the same thing but means I'll leaglly adopt her in the UK in a few months time.  Not sure it will work or can work but it's a glimmer of hope we didn't have earlier today.

Priceless!

Today has been utterly priceless.  The little boy, who I asked many of you to pray for, has been laughing and smiling.  He comes to us when we call him and now loves cuddles.  It really is a miracle.  Tomorrow we find out his results from the hospital so hopefully, if something is wrong, he can get the treatment he needs.  He came into the home very badly beaten.  I have never seen a child in so much pain or experiencing so much trauma.  It broke my heart.  But today we saw it all turned on it's head and finally this little boy is learning to trust adults and realise he can fill his days with love and laughter.

We also had time to sit and play with Lutaaya Deborah and her friends.  They loved pretending to be at school or at home, with one child acting as the mother or the teacher.  We found out recently that Lutaaya Deborah's friends all shout goodbye to her as they leave for school in the mornings.  The word has spread that I am trying to adopt her, and they are scared that if it goes through, she will be taken away from them without them knowing.  It's tough enough for the ones 'left behind', so I will make sure that if/when we get her, we'll do something special to give all the kids closure on Lutaaya Deborah moving on.

That's what friends are for :-)

Life of Riley

Last night we had a lovely Chinese meal with the Riley's.  It was our chance to say a BIG thank you to them for all their support, prayers and encouragement over the past year, during the adoption process.  They became my 'inter-country experts'.  We ended our meal with this carved melon full of fruit salad!  We didn't even order it, it just appeared.  Look at the work gone into carving that though!

Mark and Keren, along with their three adorable children, have moved to Uganda to live.  They are currently doing some incredible work with some children's homes here, in attempting to put into a play a new way of running things.  Their vision is to see a type of foster care system in place here in Uganda.  This would mean children benefit from the love of parents, experience a family environment, are removed from the standard institutionalised settings and given the opportunity of a better future.  It is a wonderful vision, but it won't be an easy journey for them.  Most people are reluctant to change and many do not see the damage the current systems are having on the children in their care.  There will be many hurdles for them to overcome.  But you know what?  They are two very determined and passionate people.  They will strive to make the changes happen.  They have my backing 110%  Every journey starts with a single step and they have made a lot more than just one step in the short time they've been here.
If you'd like to find out more about the work they are carrying out and their journey here in Uganda, you'll find their blog here