February 6th Second Update – An Epic Adoption Story
Saturday was our first down day without a single appointment. We played with the children outside, just hung out and read, played cards, and got online to fix the blog. The kids like watching movies on a portable DVD player that was here already. We thought we’d use our computer for movies, but they push every button so, unsupervised movie watching is not an option. They like to watch parts that they like over and over again and seldom watch a movie from beginning to end. Miss Pattie Cake is a preschool movie, kind of like Barnie, and the kids love singing along and may even break out in dance. When Daddy dances it is funny. Tim and I will make an evening trip to the grocery store at the end of our road to get beverages,
Our lawyer is well spoken and understands our English fairly well. I believe he spent time in America, so that helps. His desk has stacks of files on it, and his assistants have small desks in two other offices that attach to his. It was obvious that the first time that our judge looked at the cases was the day of court. There was no homework done prior to our day in court. He took handwritten notes that his assistant will transcribe. I guess the investigation and homework part is done between court and the ruling. Both he and the lawyer referenced the Ugandan Child Act and the judge addressed our lawyer for a moment as a member of parliament asking why there isn’t more direction for government and judges in regards to guardianship. I think our judge is going to be an advocate for reform, which could mean an easier road ahead for future adoptions.
We will not make the five hour trip to Busia until we have several days between appointments. If things move rapidly next week we might get lucky and get an interview with the Embassy by Friday. If we don’t, then we may leave soon after getting our ruling for Busia. We will check with the Embassy on Monday, after our hearing, to see about that possibility.
It is my hope to visit several villages and preach, maybe even go to Mbale and preach there, and to Tororo to see a friend who has been in prison for a year for a crime he did not commit, nor has he been tried. Let’s just say that even as broken as our justice system can be it is beyond compare, and I imagine a Ugandan prison to be as different.
February 6th Update – An Epic Adoption Story
The girls love to play house and pretend cook. They pour their juice or water into water bottle lids or preschool measuring and counting cups. If “Bisquick,” their word for bread or crackers, is available they will crush it up in the water and make a mess. Eating in general is pretty messy so, as long as we have daylight the children eat on the porch. Sometimes they will use their hands to eat stuff you should use a utensil for, and use a utensil for finger foods like to eat a roll, or banana, or sandwich. Lots of stuff ends up in their mouths like the lids of water bottles or toys. They will wipe their hands on anything so you must make napkins available.
Going to the bathroom has also been an adventure. We’ve had to do show and tell on using paper, washing hands, the purpose of the toilet “seat.” I don’t want my Ugandan friends to be embarrassed. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Using the bathroom in a village bathroom was not easy for me the first time. Hitting the hole without hitting me was a challenge. For my American friends information toilet seats are a luxury, and typically an outhouse with a hole is the toilet. It’s neither good or bad, but it just is how it is. We are accompanying them every time now with much better results.
Showers are also a new concept. The children hold their breath when sprayed in the face. Kamri asked specifically that the water come primarily from the faucet this morning. They are used to splashing themselves in order to get wet and rinse off. It’s quite effective, but when bathing outside in a tub.
Personal failures as parents include remembering to put on lotion every day. We bought some Vaseline sold as a skin conditioner and used it for the first time today because we are running out of lotion. Our African American friends are most likely thinking, “I told you so.” We also failed to pack jackets on an overcast and cool day as we went to the zoo. The Mzungus were very comfortable, but the Africans were cold – especially the girls in their sun dresses. Woops.
February 5th Second Update – An Epic Adoption Story
We are trying to get used to the fact that the children often do not answer with words but gestures or facial expressions. We are trying to get them to use words, but communication continues to be our biggest hurdle. We also are having issues with them hiding food in their bags, and sneaking into our closet to get the torch, aka flashlight, or makeup. The girls are the most mischievous. Lucas desires to please us more than anything, and so he is seldom found getting into things and is eager to help.
All three love to be tickled, which is good for Daddy, but bad for bedtime. 🙂 Lilli even asks for it, but she has the loudest laugh on the planet. Seriously, it is ear piercing, but the pain is worth the laughter, except at bedtime. 🙂 Mommy can be a killjoy.
The clothes we brought for the kids all seem to fit perfectly. The pink shoes we brought for the girls became brown on the first day, and will most likely remain that way. Kristi wanted me to try to clean them up, but I convinced her that this was an expectation that needed to be lowered.
When we gave them their bags, with their embroidered names on them you would have thought it was Christmas morning. Things we learned include – colored pencils and crayons are the best. Markers, not so much, because they require lids and the kids are not used to the permanence. We also learned that all of the kids should get the same in regards to crayons or pencils or we should make them community property from the beginning. Sharing is not a concept that they are very familiar with in regards to gifts. They don’t mind sharing food. In fact, the same sucker could be passed back and forth between every child multiple times. Gifts is a whole other world. They know who has what, and when coloring it is a big deal if someone takes your crayon.
Balls, Hot Wheels, sticker books, coloring books, and just plain paper are great. Anything with buttons that controls something is also a fascination. Whether it be light switches, fans, computers, DVD players, cameras, video cameras, or phones if you leave it out then you should expect it in their hands. Lucas loves wearing Daddy’s ball caps, and watch. Brushing teeth is big fun and they tend to brush really hard so we had to have a little lesson on that.