Day 74 - Finally Home

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...

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.

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.