Waiting Again...

After exiting PGN...we were told we wouldn't hear anything from our caseworker until we have PINK which is what we are waiting for now. She said we should hear something within about 2 weeks and I should then be traveling about a week later. Well...today we got some bad news, which really turned into good news!!! At first our coordinator told us that as of Oct. 5th there is a new form that needed to be filled out and down to Guatemala before we could be submitted to the Embassy for PINK...what a bummer...more paperwork, more money and more time...I was bummed. Then we got home tonight to an e-mail that said...forget the last e-mail...your lawyer got you in today...just in time!!! HOORAY!!! No more paperwork...money...or time!!! Since we were submitted today...if all goes well...we should hear about our PINK slip on Monday and we should have a travel date then...probably around the 16th of October!!! YIKES!!! Only 2 more weeks to get stuff done!!! I've got to get MOVING!!!

Can you tell I'm excited??? I can't wait!!!! I'm trembling with excitement as I write this!!!!!

Getting My Butt in Gear!!!

While we were in PGN, it was hard to imagine she would ever be coming home, so I didn't get done nearly as much as I had hoped. When we finally exited PGN last week...reality set in and I needed to get my butt in gear!!! I have so much to do!!! (get all of my stuff listed on Ebay, have a moms to mom sale, get her room ready, shop for clothes that will fit her, get our house in order, make meals for when we get home.....the list goes on and on!!!) I have been working like a mad woman to get things done. I'm feeling very excited and high strung lately. I can't sleep...I guess God is just preparing me for things to come!!! AHHHHHH....I'm going to be a Mommy again!!!!!! I can hardly wait to hold that baby girl in my arms FOREVER!!!!

9/28/06- Ups and Downs of Adoption

Well...I have to say this adoption process has been much more emotionally draining than I ever thought it would be. I didn't really enjoy being pregnant, so I thought this would be much easier and more fun...I was wrong!!! I could never have guessed how HARD it would be!!! At the beginning...the paper chase was a pain, but it was exciting, knowing that one day we would find out who our baby was. Waiting for our I171H seemed hard...we waited almost 6 weeks...waiting for our referral seemed hard...we only waited 2 weeks...waiting for the DNA test to be done and come back a match seemed hard...we only waited 5 weeks...waiting for our visit trip seemed hard...we only waited 6 weeks...the WORST waiting so far...began when we got home from our visit trip. We had been in the last court PGN for 4 weeks when we got home, so we didn't think it would be too much longer and I thought it wouldn't be a big deal to come home without our baby. I was SO wrong!!! It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do...leave her and not have ANY idea when I would be able to come back.

For at least 2 weeks after the visit trip, I was a mess...emotionally...mostly just very anxious and sad...I missed our baby girl. The third week seemed easier, but the next week was hard again. The UNKNOWN was so hard. If I had a date that I knew she would come home...I would have looked forward to that...the not knowing is what was killing me. PGN felt like a black hole...was our file lost??? would we be kicked out for a silly error after having been in so long??? Many other families are in and out of PGN for a LONG time and I was worried we were going to join the ranks of a longtimer in PGN. We were in PGN for over 8 weeks and I just kept hoping and praying we would be out soon!!!

September 28th was a day of PRAISING GOD!!! At about 9:30...I received a call from a great friend of mine that just moved to Oklahoma...she said she had a bad dream about me the night before and that I had been crying and wanted her to come over. She was worried so she called to make sure I was ok. We talked for a long time and I finally said "Maybe I was crying for a good reason and we will get the call we have been waiting for for weeks". Sure enough...I jumped in the shower after our call...had just gotten out and the phone rang...I didn't have time to answer it because I was late for a meeting, but I answered it anyway...and I'm SO glad I did!!!Our CALL came on Sept. 28th at 10:40 am. I don't remember much of the call except that I was wrapped in a towel...standing in the kitchen...doing the happy dance!!! I was SO EXCITED!!! I wrote down a few things...that I knew I would forget and then called Joe. We were so excited together...then I called my friend to tell her I knew why I was crying in her dream and it was a happy cry!!!

What an AMAZING day!!!! Such a huge RELIEF!!! What a glorious day!!! Our baby is coming home!!! After exiting PGN...she is legally ours!!! We are the proud parents of a BEAUTIFUL baby girl!!!!!

Smartest 4 Month Old on the Block!!!

Our agency director went to Guatemala a few weeks ago and returned with these sweet pictures of our baby girl. I'm sure just before taking this picture she asked...how old are you and she just wanted to let us all know she is 4 months old!!! She is one SMART girl!!! LOL!!!

4 Month Medical Update

We received updated pictures of our sweet girl on 9/20. Her Dr. said she is healthy and growing well. She now weights 14lb...is 60cm long and her head cir. is 40.5cm. Wow is she getting big!!!!

Visit Trip and Pictures- Day 10

Our last day in Guatemala...we had one last YUMMY breakfast...packed up and got a ride to the airport. Everything went well...we got on the plane and flew home...we had a SHORT layover in Miami...where it was crazy getting out luggage...changing plan and going through customs, but we made it just in time!!!!

On the plane...there were some issues with Daddy, so he didn't get to fly on the plane with us back to Detroit...he ended up stuck in Miami.

We arrived in Detroit around 11:30pm. We got our luggage and went home. Daddy ended up taking a flight from Miami to Denver and back to Detroit...just in time to miss the hurricane. We picked him up on Tuesday afternoon.

It's good to be home...but I'm missing my baby girl!!!

Visit Trip Pictures- Day 9

Visit Trip- Day 9

Today was our last full day in Guatemala. We love this beautiful country and will miss all of the beautiful people we have met!!!

We walked around and hung out for the day. My dad and I took Benjamin to McDonald's for lunch and to play at the play area. He loved it!!! We also walked down to the market at the other end of town. On our way back...we stopped for ice cream...it was YUMMY and so cheap!!!

Naptime for Grampy and Benjamin...Joe and I went shopping again!!!

We had dinner at a funky restaurant...Monoloco...the crazy monkey. The food was great and such HUGE portions!!! Joe and Benjamin got fun t-shirts!!!

We went back to the hotel and packed up. I couldn't believe how much we had to stuff in our bags and suitcases!!! Seems like we bought something for everyone!!!!

Visit Trip Pictures- Day 8

Visit Trip- Day 8

We ate a delicious breakfast out by the pool at our hotel...we had the most gorgeous view of a volcano...what a delight!!!

After breakfast...Jacobo met us for a tour of Antigua. He showed us around...we say a few churches, hotels, and other gorgeous places. He took us to the Jade factory where my dad bought my G-ma a bracelet that we actually got to watch the men in the factory make.

After our tour...we had a Guatemalan lunch at a nice restaurant. Then it was back to the hotel for a nap. Grampy stayed back with Benjamin while Joe and I went shopping at the market. We bought some beautiful things...mostly gifts. We met an amazing woman...Ruth who was selling her things. She was hilarious...."your husband is the bank"..."I have a good price for you 249.99"...she was just too much!!!!

After naptime...we walked to the Coffee shop to buy coffee to take back to our friends...we bought 10lbs!!! YIKES!!! On our way back...we stopped at Domino's and ordered a pizza to have delivered back to our hotel. Joe and Benjamin walked down to the other side of town to get McDonald's for dinner and met back up with us at the hotel.

We ate dinner and hung out. It was a fun day!!!

Visit Trip Pictures- Day 7

Benjamin making his little sister smile!!! PRICELESS!!!
Her first and ONLY 2 piece bathing suit! :)
Thanks Aunt Candy for this adorable blue dress!!!!

Visit Trip- Day 7

Friday morning was our last morning with our sweet girl and I had quite a few outfits that she hadn't worn...so I decided we needed to have a fashion show!!!! She was such a trooper throughout all of the outfit changes!!! I had so much fun!!!

After our fashion show...we went to breakfast and then just hung out for awhile. Around 11 am...it was time to hand her back...Ilsa, her son and daughter and Olga's fosterbrother came, Max our attorney was there and Pedro the translator. Ilsa was so sweet...she brought Benjamin a soccer outfit, Joe a soccer jersey and she also brought me a small bowl. Benjamin was so excited about his outfit...he put it on right in the lobby of the Marriott!!!

Oh...giving the baby back was harder than I ever imagined. Benjamin was so sad he almost had tears in his eyes...he said he didn't want her to go...I, of course, cried harder when I saw how sad he was!!!

Upon being babyless...we finished packing up and got ready to go to Antigua for the weekend. Jacobo picked us up and drove us to Antigua where we checked into Hotel Casa Azul....what a gorgeous place!!!!

We walked around a little...in the rain and stopped at Burger King for dinner...yep...fast food in Guatemala!!! After dinner we just went back and hung out at the room.

Nighttime was quite the experience in our hotel room...as we were right on the street level across from a bar. It was loud, but really neat to see and hear all of the sights and sounds!!!

Visit Trip Pictures- Day 6

We had an awesome "YEAH she's Healthy" lunch at the pool at the Marriott!!!
Fostermom Ilsa and our sweet girl at the Dr. appt.

Baby Sister's First Bath...She didn't mind the water...actually she enjoyed it!!!

Visit Trip Update- Day 6

Aug. 24th-

Breakfast buffet, "Baby Sister's" first bath, another photo shoot, of course and then off to the Dr.s.

Pedro met us and took us to the Embassy Dr. We waited in the waiting room...similar to a pediatricians office here...this was the first time we came in contact with anyone that was not for adoptions to the US...some people gave us very dirty looks!!!

We saw the Dr....he did measurements...weight 12.5, height 60 cm and head circ. 39.5 cm. Looked good so far...he also did many other tests...looking for hip dysplasia...eye problems, etc...he checked the bump on her leg...said it was swelling from the shot and it should go away....he said she looked like a VERY HEALTHY little girl!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!

We were so happy at that point!!! We were on Cloud 9!!! We went to the waiting room to pay and got to ask the fostermom a few questions. We found out she has an 18 year old son, 12 year old daughter and 11 year old son. She is also fostering another little boy who is the same age as our baby. She lives with her husband and mother also. Her husband fixes motorcycles for a living. They have 2 dogs and 2 parrots. She hates cats! :) It was neat to be able to ask her all of those questions...she is such a sweet woman. Olga was her first foster baby. I can only imagine how hard it will be when we go to pick her up.

After the Dr. we went back to the hotel to tell my dad the news. He was very excited. It was so sweet....when he was holding her...he said...even if we had to get a new referral, I always knew you would be my second granddaughter...it's so nice to know he is IN LOVE!!!!!

The rest of the day we spent enjoying together...the boys went swimming, napped, then they went out to dinner at a steak restaurant. Us girls met our friends for a drink! :) The boys came back and went swimming...then we went to bed.

Our third night I was still up quite a few times, but it was much better than the first two!!!

Visit Trip Pictures- Day 5

Daddy and our Sweet Boy!!! They LIVED in the pool!!!!



More of our sweet girl...

Visit Trip- Day 5

Aug. 23rd-

I, of course, was awake all night and at 8:30am I couldn't wait anymore to call our agency. I called and no answer, so I called our facilitator in GC. His wife answered...took my information...said she would make a Dr.'s appt. for us and that we would need to be ready to go in about an hour. YIKES...gotta eat breakfast and have a quick bath!

Breakfast at the buffet...after breakfast we got the call that there weren't any appointments until the next day at 11 am. Oh NO, how am I going to wait that long to see if our sweet girl is healthy???

Needless to say, it was a stressful day...the boys went to the zoo...us girls hung out...met some of our friends at the pool, etc... Dinner at Champions...pizza...boys swam... went to bed.

"Baby Sister" was a little better that night. She still didn't sleep well, but didn't have nearly as many spasms and I felt a little more at ease about that.

Visit Pictures- Day 4 "THE BIG DAY"

Our First Family Photo!!!



The Meeting...

Visit Trip- Day 4 "THE BIG DAY"

We got up early...ate at the buffet...can't believe it's the day to meet our sweet girl!!! How am I going to react??? Will I love her??? Will I think she is beautiful??? AHHHHHHHH!!!!

Pedro called the night before and told us they would be there around 9:30...they changed it that morning until 10:00. At about 10:15...we got a phone call...they were down in the lobby!!! OH MY GOODNESS...this is really happening!!!

We headed downstairs and I don't remember much from that point on!!! I know we looked around the lobby, Joe found them and there she was...in her fostermom's arms...what a sweetie!!! The fostermom handed her to me and I thought I had died and gone to HEAVEN!!! She is just beautiful!!! I smiled at her and talked to her for awhile...then we went to sit down to ask the fostermom about her schedule, etc. She isn't on a schedule, eats when she wants and gets up once a night...I can handle that!!!

We took her up to our room and took some more pictures with her...our first family photo!!! She is just so AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!! She is so precious!!!! I took her upstairs to put on a pretty dress and feed her. We had a short photo shoot...and then she fell asleep!!! WHAT SLEEP...you CAN'T SLEEP...I want to be with you!!!!

After her nap...changed clothes again...more pictures...you have to understand...I need to squeeze in 3.5 months worth of cute outfits and pictures!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

We had lunch...the boys brought it back for me from McDonalds...I had a massage...the boys swam...we walked around...had dinner...the boys swam some more. It was a fun day meeting our WONDERFUL baby girl!!!

There were some health concerns that were raised in the baby lounge while I hung out in there about her head circumference...and I noticed a hard bump on her leg. I called Marty to see what he thought. He thought the bump was probably just a sterile absess from a shot, but was worried about her head cir.

I did some research online and went to bed very worried about our little girl. The night was long and scary and made me more worried. She had spasms all night long...almost like convulsions...while she was sleeping. She was also so stiff while she was sleeping that you couldn't bend her little hand. I had such a hard night worrying and crying. What if there was something wrong with this sweet baby? What would we do????

Day 3 Pictures

Pictures of our day at Lake Atitlan and Santiago.

Visit Trip Update- Day 3

Got up early...went to breakfast at our hotel...met Jacobo.

He led us to the waters edge where we were going to get on a boat and take a ride across Lake Atitlan to a little village called Santiago.

We got on a boated and waited until it was full...these are not typical American boats...but rickety old boats that sort of seem like you're just glad they got you where you wanted to go. The ride was fast and BEAUTIFUL!!! It was such a gorgeous day. The volcanoes were beautiful...it was all so VIVID and green!!! Just an unbelievable ride!!!

We arrived in Santiago...we shopped some and toured the village. We saw a Church...and went to see Maximo...a god that they pray to that I guess is VERY important. I'm not sure of the whole story, but he lives with a family for one year and it is an honor to see him. We actually went inside a home in Santiago where they were having a prayer/ceremony praying to him. It was very strange...uncomfortable. It was neat to see the inside of a house, though...

After we were finished touring Santiago...we took another boat ride back. This time the water was much choppier and the boat was WAY CROWDED. It was kind of scary!!!

We made it back, of course...had lunch at the hotel and traveled back to the Marriott in GC.

After arriving at the Marriott...we ate dinner, swam and got ready for the BIG DAY!!!

Day 2- Pictures

Pictures from our hotel in Panajachel...
This is the market at Chichi.