We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

We woke up this morning to find the Gaddis family had text us last night.  They invited us to join them for a day at the zoo.  How wonderful!  It was the one place I had hoped to visit while Mam was here with us, but the one place we failed to make with ne thing and another.  I didn't need to think of the answer - YES! 
We had a mad rush to be ready in time for them to collect us.  I have never seen Lutaaya Deborah move so fast as she did this morning, to get ready for a day with Jaydn Priscilla.

So off to Entebbe zoo we went.  It was amazing on times how close we were to wild animals!  Some were in caged enclosures, but others free to walk almost right up to us.  We even managed to stroke the monkey's hand as he poked it through the wire.  Lutaaya Deborah loved not only seeing the animals, but also spending time with her little friend. 

The crested crane - national bird of Uganda

You could walk right up to some of the animals

This little guy let us hold his hand

Playtime for he lioness

Watching the chimps play

Baby warthogs - Pumba from lion king, eat your heart out!

Now we wait........

We piled into the taxi and made our way to the visa office first thing.  Little Benja joined us while his Mommy went to the American Embassy.  We were his babysitters for the morning!  He's such a sweetheart.   I can't wait to see photos of him with his older sisters back in Texas.  He is going to thrive with so much attention and loving!
So our application has been submitted.  It took FOREVER!  We went first and were sent back downstairs as needed extra copies of each document.  So off the the photocopying shop then back up.  The kids loved the elevator, making their tummies jump.  Back to the visa office to have everything checked again by the front desk lady.  Then you have to pay.  Not sure how the exchange rate works at the office, but instead of paying the £644, you're asked to pay over £700?!?!?!  That's Uganda!  Then you have the option of a SMS service so you have to pay a few pence more for this. 
You pass through 3 different people. who all check the same documents and all ask the same questions.  Then Lutaaya Deborah was invited into a room on her own, for ID photos to be taken and fingerprints scanned.  She loved being centre of attention and little Benja loved watching his big friend through the window.
Finally you are issued with two receipts and the top of the security bag.  All done.  So we ask the question, 'how long will the visa take?'  The reply being, 'well it can take up to 50 working days.'  Heart sinks.  'But sometimes, it can come within two weeks if you have provided all the paperwork correctly.'  Phew. 
Even two weeks is too long.  We need it next week!  Early next week.  So that is our prayer.  Let's shock the visa office with a result by Tuesday at the latest! 

Making slooooow progress!

Well we expected to go and pick up the legal paperwork on the guardianship order today, but as everything goes in Uganda, it STILL wasn't ready.  So we spent the morning having a wasted journey to the solicitors, nipped into town to get something notorised then headed back to the guest house to do some more WAITING!  Uganda certainly tests your patience as no one goes at the pace you'd expect them too.

So we waited and we waited.  Then a text came through from the solicitor to meet him at court!  So back we go again!  We arrived before the solicitor and the clerk gave me the order to check through.  I was dumbfounded to see that not only was Lutaaya Deborah's name spelt incorrectly throughout the document (Debora Luataya) the Judge also hadn't worded the document as we had requested.  So when the solicitor finally arrived we ended up going back in front of the Judge to get it amended.  Thankfully he did it as we needed and her name was corrected.

You would think the British VISA office would stay open til 5pm (normal working hours hey?)  but you'd be mistaken.  Yep, we're in Africa and some times things don't work out as planned!  We legged it over the road to the visa office to find that it closed at 3pm!! Unbelievable!!!  So plans have been made and we'll be leaving for the visa office at 9am tomorrow!  We need a lot of prayers that they'll turn our VISA around in 48 hours and we can get on a flight early next week!

We were drained after all the waiting and then running about!  It's surprising when you're in the heat, how quickly you need to rest.  So we got a taxi to the shopping mall in Kampala and slumped in two chairs in the cafe there, ordering a strawberry milkshake each.

Stacey, the lady from Texas, staying at our guest house with her two little ones, came and joined us later for tea.  The kids love each others company, and Lutaaya Deborah finally had oppportunity to hold baby Sadie, which she loved.  It has been a lovely evening with good food, good company and plenty of laughter.  We'll miss Stacey, Benjamin and Sadie when they leave for their flight tomorrow.  We wish them all the best with their flight, it's so exciting that Stacey's husband and two daughters will be waiting to meet the new additions to the family in the airport.  Ho excited must they be waiting to meet such beautiful children?  Another wonderful forever family made!

Even more fun at the supermarket when you have Benjamin to go in a 'car' trolley!  So much fun!

Making memories to last a lifetime

Through one chance moment where we were able to meet some other adoptove parents, who's children were at the same orphanage as Lutaaya Deborah, we have accessed a whole community of adopters.  Last night we were able to meet up with Lutaaya Deborah's friends from the orphanage, Joyce and Jaydn Priscilla.  What a special night for these kiddies to realise that their friends now have new families as well as them.  Lutaaya Deborah loved it, and her and Jaydn Priscilla had some special moments to cherish forever.

We've swapped emails and facebooks, so even though we live miles apart, all our children can stay in touch as they grow up.  How wonderful!

Farewell Mam!

Well tonight's the night we take Mam to the airport.  Obviously this is the flight we hoped to catch too but hey there we go, guess God had a different plan for us!
I'm sure we'll be fine.  Lots to do tomorrow but after that it'll be the wait for the VISA then book a return flight - easy peasy hey?

So we spent the day together with the lady at our hotel, Stacey, and her two little darlings, Benjamin and Sadie.  We treated ourselves to a trip to the posh coffee shop.  We strolled down with the double buggy, but later decided that maybe a taxi would be needed for the homeward stroll as it's such a steep walk.  So Mam has had a treat filled day with plenty of time spent with her adorable Granddaughter (even if I am biased).

 Stacey with Benjamin and little Sadie - such sweet kiddies!

 Loving the cakes!

 Jjajja and her girly!

Me and all three kiddies!  Too cute for words!

And Mam's just had a lovely surprise.  The lady who runs the guest house, affectionately known as Auntie Jane, has just given her a little purse as a farewell gift.  Made more tears mind, but they're good tears I'm sure.  Just makes Mam want to stay even more.  We really are part of the family here.  They are such lovely people.  It is a home from home :-)

Treated like a Princess

We were hoping for the ruling from the Judge yesterday but he decided we can have it Wednesday at 2pm now instead.  How nice of him hey?  They just do as they please here I tell you.

So we walked around Kampala city.  It was boiling!  We've realised that even in the nights, the temperature is still 31C so by day it must be at least 40!!!  HOT HOT HOT!

Mam was struggling yesterday and we seemed to lose our way and couldn't find the place we were heading to take a drink so we sat down on a wall.  As soon as we did, a young boy (18 years) came over with all his nail polishes and manicure/pedicure sets.  You obviously count as a customer if you sit on the wall!  So we treated Lutaaya Deborah (and me) to a treat and had her toe nails painted.

 How cute?

Just like Mammy's now!

Treats & Friends

After 7 years of early mornings, think this speaks for itself!

 Another first time treat!  You would not believe the mess she ended up in, as she had no understanding that the ice cream would melt.  So cute though.

We bought some play-doh at the supermarket and there are some new arrivals at the guest house.  Two little children being adopted too, with their Mommy.  Lutaaya Deborah and Benjamin have hit it off and are best buddys.  The play-doh, the TV and the cat, home sweet home.

Hopefully not much longer til Lutaaya Deborah gets to settle in her own house and meet her very own kitty.  At least the prepararation has begun and she no longer fears the cat as much as she did when we arrived.