The quintuplets became quadroplets..(De vijfling die een vierling werd)

Simon got a telephone call today from a Police lady. There was a family in the village who had quintuplets, they were around 6 months old and they were not doing well. We decided to go and look, out of experience, the situation is not always the same as they tell you. On the other hand, five baby's is a lot of work, there might be a chance that one of two of them is not growing....

So we went this morning, with the police lady, who also didn't know them herself. It was a long drive and the road became a path and after that a very small path, but we made it...... And the story was very different... There were no five baby's, but four. And they were not 6 months old, but 1 year and 4 months. And they were not doing bad, they were doing good. They were all walking, they looked well nourished, one was a bit smaller than the others, but not to be worried about. We even knew the mother and the baby's. When they were born in Soroti Hospital, in November 2013, the doctor called us, he was worried about the youngest two. He suggested that we would take the two smallest baby's for a while so the mother would not be overwhelmed. But the father of the children refused, so they went home. We met them again in the feeding centre in Soroti Hospital, some months ago. But to see them now again at home was good. 

The children were all looking good, much better than the last time we saw them. Also the mother was now more relaxed. The last time she was so worried and occupied with the children, that she was a bit confused. The lady is 38 years old and she has now 11 children. And to get four in one time, I can understand that she was so worried and didn't know what to do. 

We had brought porridge flour, sugar and soap. And a bag with clothes, for baby's of 6 months....... So we couldn't give them, they will come to Soroti and come for some bigger clothes in the next weeks. But we had some balloons and some little dolls, which we gave. They had never blown a balloon, so I was busy blowing!

I was very happy that the baby's were okay and that we didn't have to take any of them to Amecet. I had some blankets with me, you never know... But Amecet is so full!!!! We have several beds with two baby's instead of one. Sunday the police brought a small baby, maybe a couple of months old. He was abounded in a house by his mother. We are full, but what do you do? This baby was starved, so hungry and he has problems with drinking. He wants to drink so badly, that he gets all uptight and tense that he can't drink.

His name is Emmanuel, it is so sad to see such a malnourished child, who is so tense and worried looking.  We pray that he will pick up soon and be more relaxed and smiling.