So today we got home!!!! It was a journey just getting home. We showed up to the airport 3 hours early but they claimed that they did not have Elliott's ticket. After 3 phones call to Aaron, we figured out that they had acutally only reserved his ticket, but we got it figured out and they finally got his ticket and boarding pass.
After we got through with this, then we had to go through immigration to leave Uganda, they guy that was checking passports was not wanting to let me out of the country since he said my visa was only for 30 days. However, I told him that it was for 3 months and that was the time that we told them when we first entered the country. Elliott was throwing a fit a this point and the guy tried to help, but only made it worse, so he stamped Elliott's and my passport and just told us to move along. So we had to hurry and rush to the gate and we were the last ones to get on the plane.
he was so tiered since i tried to keep hm up most of the day so he would sleep well he was beyond teired and screamed ...so all those nice people on the 11pm flight that thought they were going to sleep..so sorry..i finally put him in carrier and stood up and rocked him to sleep..every one and their mother was tryng to help but made it worse ..he went to sleep and for 3 hr and woke up and seen were he was at a screamed again...and all the people were trying to help me ...i asked for some warm milk and he went back to sleep...but mommy could not sleep afraid he would wake up screaming agian...well we made it through the first flght and headed straight for the coffee stand in the amsterdam airport..elloitt got hot chocolate and then we were ready to play...there was a lot of other familys n the kid play room so it kept him entertained..we then got some breakfast and walked around he did really good ...he then fell aslepp ah shoot ..we didnt want that since i really needed him to sleep on as least have the 10hr flight ...but he was out..so i have him so benadryl before the flight this worked great geating on the flght he was soo out...but when putting bags away he woke up and seen he were he was and started screaming agian ..so i went to back of plan to get him back to sleep before we took off..no such luck..he didnt sleep untll the last bit of the flght..so i dont really need to tell you how the flght went..at least it was a mid day flight ..so i didnt feel as bad..well when we got off the flght we went through immagration and then had to get ellotts papers processed ..we then grabbed our bags and went hrough custumes and then we got to see daddy..at this time my emotons were shut off i cant belive we were really home ...we got him to the car and he loved hs car seat ..dady kept feeding him sweetys and won him over...it worked he let him carry hime take him into store to chage him and then we went over to let great grandma he did amazingly well he let every one hold him and was so calm..we then went home and let him see all his toys and dad gave him a bath which he loved but was still very quiet and calm...we then let him play in our bedroom for a bit then we turned off the lights and all hopped in bed he soon went to sleep...well we all got up at 4am because well elliott got up..he eat some breakfast and is now playing dady fell back to sleep on couch...ellott was a little more awake so he didnt go to dad as good ..but he will get there.....we are so happy to be home!! elliott is ajustng well...praise him...
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Day 73 - My Final Day In Uganda
So this morning we woke up and went to the Embassy first thing, we were there when they opened again. When we first showed up they did not have Elliott's Visa ready, but they were finalizing it. By 9:10 I was leaving the Embassy with Elliott's visa. So today is the last day I will be in Uganda, tonight at 10:50 I will be flying out here and be home tomorrow afternoon.
I am so happy to be coming home finally, I cannot believe what was suppose to be 3 to 5 weeks has turned into 14 plus weeks. God really has given us the strength to get through this and I know I am only standing today because of the prayers of all of you back home. Thank you so much and I look foward to see you all really soon.
I am so happy to be coming home finally, I cannot believe what was suppose to be 3 to 5 weeks has turned into 14 plus weeks. God really has given us the strength to get through this and I know I am only standing today because of the prayers of all of you back home. Thank you so much and I look foward to see you all really soon.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Day 72
Well it was an uneventful weekend, but today we woke up and left the house around 6 or 6:30 to make sure we were first in line at the Embassy to try to get Elliott's Visa today. I showed up and there were people that were there waiting, but they were all sitting down in the chairs waiting for the Embassy to open. I just waited right in front of the door and as soon as they opened I was inside and the first one to talk to the consular.
He had everything already, he had Elliott's pictures and everything. So he looked over the court order and told me everything was good and that I could come back tomorrow at 8 am and the Visa will be ready. We are so relieved because we are not guessing as to when I will be home we now know that I will be home on Wednesday. The excitement is great, I will be flying out of here on Tuesday at 11pm (that is noon Tuesday in California) and then getting into LA at 3:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday. Aaron got the tickets all squared away today so we are all set. It has been a long journey but I know that it will all be over soon, then comes the fun task of raising Elliott.
So we went shopping today and then back to the house. It has been the longest day of my life, I am so ready to leave here. I will only be sending out one more update from Uganda and then it will be an update from California letting everyone know that we are back safe and sound.
On that note we will are looking at doing a welcome home party on Saturday at Freedom Park from 11 to 1. I know you are all excited to see Elliott so rather then try to get everyone we figured it would be easiest to do a party at the park. I will be sending out an e-vite so look for that.
So we are now back at the baby house and it is almost dinner time and Elliott is throwing a fit. He wants the third banana and I will not let him have it as dinner will be ready in 30 minutes. He is just laying on the ground grunting and moaning. This is one of his fits when he doesn't get his way right away. I have been allowing him to throw then, and they are getting less and less. So he has crawled over to me and is making sure I realize he is throwing a fit. No doubt about it, he is definitely a toddler.
He had everything already, he had Elliott's pictures and everything. So he looked over the court order and told me everything was good and that I could come back tomorrow at 8 am and the Visa will be ready. We are so relieved because we are not guessing as to when I will be home we now know that I will be home on Wednesday. The excitement is great, I will be flying out of here on Tuesday at 11pm (that is noon Tuesday in California) and then getting into LA at 3:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday. Aaron got the tickets all squared away today so we are all set. It has been a long journey but I know that it will all be over soon, then comes the fun task of raising Elliott.
So we went shopping today and then back to the house. It has been the longest day of my life, I am so ready to leave here. I will only be sending out one more update from Uganda and then it will be an update from California letting everyone know that we are back safe and sound.
On that note we will are looking at doing a welcome home party on Saturday at Freedom Park from 11 to 1. I know you are all excited to see Elliott so rather then try to get everyone we figured it would be easiest to do a party at the park. I will be sending out an e-vite so look for that.
So we are now back at the baby house and it is almost dinner time and Elliott is throwing a fit. He wants the third banana and I will not let him have it as dinner will be ready in 30 minutes. He is just laying on the ground grunting and moaning. This is one of his fits when he doesn't get his way right away. I have been allowing him to throw then, and they are getting less and less. So he has crawled over to me and is making sure I realize he is throwing a fit. No doubt about it, he is definitely a toddler.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Day 69
Okay so I was gonna be coming home today. There was two things I need to do today to be able to jump on a plane this evening. I had to get the paperwork from the judge, after she signed it, after that I need to get over to the embassy to get the paperwork to the consular to get him to issue the visa.
So I was up really earl and left and was at the courthouse at 8:30 am. On our way to the courthouse, I called and talked with the consular, and explained that I was getting the paperwork today and then I would be over there to be able to give him time to get the visa issued, he told me that they embassy closed at noon today so I need to be there by 11 am.
So I was at the courthouse and called our lawyer and told him I was there and he told me was gonna be the first one in line to get the paperwork as early as possible to allow me to the visa today. So I wait in the parking lot for the paperwork.
So it is now 11 and I have not seen or heard anything yet, I called Aaron. He told me I need go in and find out when it will be ready so I can let the consular know what the time frame will be. After I got off the phone with Aaron, I called the lawyer and he told me that they were no more the 20 minutes from being done. I then called the consular and told him what was going on and he told me was working on our visa at that moment looking at the pictures. So it looks like it might all end up working out.
Okay so it is not all working out today. It is 1 pm, the embassy is closed and I just now got my paperwork. So I will not be able to leave today. This means that I need to wait till Monday at the earliest to be able to Elliott's visa. So on Monday morning I will be going to the embassy first thing and working to get the visa so that I can leave at by 8 pm on Monday afternoon. This will mean that I will be home Tuesday afternoon. I am so excited to be home. Please keep praying, I need God's strength to continue through this.
So we got back to the house and there is another family here that is adopting a little girl. She is older then Elliott, but she wanted to play with Elliott. It was so funny to watch Elliott run and try and hide from her. So he is not to big on playing with other kids yet, but he will get there. So has learned how to kiss, he is actually kiss daddy's picture on the computer. We did a web cam chat with Aaron so he could see Elliott love on him. I am so excited to be home next week, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, the great thing is that I only need to deal with one more person and that person is an American, and he knows I am trying to get home. Please keep praying and I will see all you really soon.
So I was up really earl and left and was at the courthouse at 8:30 am. On our way to the courthouse, I called and talked with the consular, and explained that I was getting the paperwork today and then I would be over there to be able to give him time to get the visa issued, he told me that they embassy closed at noon today so I need to be there by 11 am.
So I was at the courthouse and called our lawyer and told him I was there and he told me was gonna be the first one in line to get the paperwork as early as possible to allow me to the visa today. So I wait in the parking lot for the paperwork.
So it is now 11 and I have not seen or heard anything yet, I called Aaron. He told me I need go in and find out when it will be ready so I can let the consular know what the time frame will be. After I got off the phone with Aaron, I called the lawyer and he told me that they were no more the 20 minutes from being done. I then called the consular and told him what was going on and he told me was working on our visa at that moment looking at the pictures. So it looks like it might all end up working out.
Okay so it is not all working out today. It is 1 pm, the embassy is closed and I just now got my paperwork. So I will not be able to leave today. This means that I need to wait till Monday at the earliest to be able to Elliott's visa. So on Monday morning I will be going to the embassy first thing and working to get the visa so that I can leave at by 8 pm on Monday afternoon. This will mean that I will be home Tuesday afternoon. I am so excited to be home. Please keep praying, I need God's strength to continue through this.
So we got back to the house and there is another family here that is adopting a little girl. She is older then Elliott, but she wanted to play with Elliott. It was so funny to watch Elliott run and try and hide from her. So he is not to big on playing with other kids yet, but he will get there. So has learned how to kiss, he is actually kiss daddy's picture on the computer. We did a web cam chat with Aaron so he could see Elliott love on him. I am so excited to be home next week, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, the great thing is that I only need to deal with one more person and that person is an American, and he knows I am trying to get home. Please keep praying and I will see all you really soon.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Day 67
Well today the roller coaster continued... I started out this morning with Elliott running around the guest house playing and he is starting to talk more, he is saying airplane all the time, knows that daddy is in the computer and he said poopy the other day (here is hoping toilet training will be easy).
So we left at about 10am to go to the embassy to pick up the Visa, I was not able meet with the consular but his secretary told me that our visa was not ready and they have to do an investigation. I lost it. Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving the embassy is closed, so that means I will have to stay here another week. I left the embassy and called Aaron, I cried and was so upset I almost throw up.
After talking with Aaron, I decided that I would go back to the embassy to try to talk with the consular to see what he needed and when I would be able to leave. I was told that I needed to get the final order that are to be signed by the judge, and that is prove enough of his origin and abandonment so that is the investigation that needs to take place. I know that the consular is working with us because I broke down crying on him. So I left the embassy and tried to call the lawyer to find out the status of the paperwork I need.
The lawyers phone was off, I knew the road that his office is located on, but I do not know what the name of the office is so I cannot go to his office. I called Aaron and asked if he knew the name and location of the lawyers office, but he knew the same thing I knew. I then called the baby home and they were able to get me in contact with lawyer. We went to pick up the lawyer (he will do almost anything for me now because I am crying) and take him with us to the embassy to see if he would take the lawyer's word that he will deliver the paperwork once it is signed.
We showed up at the embassy 5 minutes before they closed for the day. We meet with the consular and explained the situation to him. He told me there is no way he could issue the visa without that paper.
The good news is that the embassy is open on Friday. We had a friend in county call the judge's boss and she will be in at 10 am tomorrow to sign the paperwork. So we will get the paperwork tomorrow and then on Friday I will be at the embassy at 730 in the morning and get the visa right away. I will be able to fly out that night and home on Saturday.
So now that we got that all out of the way, we are back at the guest house, and Elliott is being a real joy, I think he knows mommy needs cheered up. He is playing with a balloon trying to hit me on the head with it. Then we found out while he was running around naked that he likes his extremely ticklish, but he really enjoys it. He loves bath time, yesterday he actually cried when I drained the sink after his bath. We is such a joy and we am so bless to have him in our life.
Please continue to pray that we get everything squared away for me to be home on Saturday, I know the prayers are helping so much. I feel as though this is the final push of the labor pains (Aaron said the head is out but he shoulders are stuck). I know God is carrying me through this and I will come out a stronger person. Thank you so much for all your support.
So we left at about 10am to go to the embassy to pick up the Visa, I was not able meet with the consular but his secretary told me that our visa was not ready and they have to do an investigation. I lost it. Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving the embassy is closed, so that means I will have to stay here another week. I left the embassy and called Aaron, I cried and was so upset I almost throw up.
After talking with Aaron, I decided that I would go back to the embassy to try to talk with the consular to see what he needed and when I would be able to leave. I was told that I needed to get the final order that are to be signed by the judge, and that is prove enough of his origin and abandonment so that is the investigation that needs to take place. I know that the consular is working with us because I broke down crying on him. So I left the embassy and tried to call the lawyer to find out the status of the paperwork I need.
The lawyers phone was off, I knew the road that his office is located on, but I do not know what the name of the office is so I cannot go to his office. I called Aaron and asked if he knew the name and location of the lawyers office, but he knew the same thing I knew. I then called the baby home and they were able to get me in contact with lawyer. We went to pick up the lawyer (he will do almost anything for me now because I am crying) and take him with us to the embassy to see if he would take the lawyer's word that he will deliver the paperwork once it is signed.
We showed up at the embassy 5 minutes before they closed for the day. We meet with the consular and explained the situation to him. He told me there is no way he could issue the visa without that paper.
The good news is that the embassy is open on Friday. We had a friend in county call the judge's boss and she will be in at 10 am tomorrow to sign the paperwork. So we will get the paperwork tomorrow and then on Friday I will be at the embassy at 730 in the morning and get the visa right away. I will be able to fly out that night and home on Saturday.
So now that we got that all out of the way, we are back at the guest house, and Elliott is being a real joy, I think he knows mommy needs cheered up. He is playing with a balloon trying to hit me on the head with it. Then we found out while he was running around naked that he likes his extremely ticklish, but he really enjoys it. He loves bath time, yesterday he actually cried when I drained the sink after his bath. We is such a joy and we am so bless to have him in our life.
Please continue to pray that we get everything squared away for me to be home on Saturday, I know the prayers are helping so much. I feel as though this is the final push of the labor pains (Aaron said the head is out but he shoulders are stuck). I know God is carrying me through this and I will come out a stronger person. Thank you so much for all your support.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Day 66
Wow so I am in a numb shock right now….I just got back from the embassy and we will get his visa on Wednesday morning so we will fly out Wednesday night and be home thanksgiving afternoon…I am soo exited..I really am at a loss for words…God is so faithful!!! we really are coming home…God just keeps shocking me and showing me how much he does care and love me….I can’t even explain it all in to words just that I am one happy momma!!! I can’t wait to see all your faces!!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Day 65
Ok so still don’t have written ruling in hand…but I have the orders saying we are his legal guardians…so tomorrow morning we will stop by and see if judge is back in office and will sign the papers …then go to embassy if not Iam still going to embassy and my lawyer said to tell them he will deliver the paper when signed Iam praying it is all done in morning before appointment at embassy…I am also beliving I can get visa before the office closes down on Thursday before the holidays..it is suppose to take three to five days but they have does it faster…so Elliott it doing great other then throwing fits instead of talking ...he understands so that part is good but frustrating …but the bonding is going well ….he was starting to talk and kinda stopped so who knows…he kept saying airplane yesterday so he can he just maybe is still confused …he has been exposed to over five languages…He is loving the one on one time though …I am just so done and stressing for no reason over this last step the visa…I still allow myself to freak out because of past…every step God has shown himself so strong there is no way this is a Tiffany thing I just keep telling myself that God is in control…so no matter how it goes tomorrow I know it is Gods best…bottom line I just need this guy to tell me yes!! Which is no doubt other then my stinking flesh trying to get the best of me..I soo miss every one and will never take relationships for granted again…no one really should do life alone!! This has made me rely on God more but he gave us relationships for a reason… so pray for God best tomorrow…I want to come home now!!!! Ok I know that sounds so desperate …but it is the truth …love you all
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