We're In!!!

I received an update tonight that we entered PGN yesterday (June 23). PGN is like the Guatemalan equivalent of the US Attorney General. Please, please let us get through without any previos. A previo (also known as a kickout/KO) is when the file is rejected for any problem and it has to go back through the system again. They can be issued for any reason, big or small. And it seems that from month to month there is a different previo du jour that crops up and hits cases. Things like signatures are possible reasons for them. It's a typical beauracracy with lots of red tape.

As I have said before, this stage is the most unpredictable and where we need everyone's prayers for "smooth sailing". We're told right now it is taking about 6 weeks in PGN. This is quite a bit longer than it was taking some months ago before a new director took over. The unfortunate thing is that sometimes it takes that amount of time just to find that you get KO'd and then back to the beginning you go. So, you can see why this is going to be a stressful time for us and can make or break how fast we get her home. Once you successfully make it out of PGN, it's usually around 3-4 weeks until travel.

The Good News Keeps Coming!

I received another update that our case exited Family Court on Thursday, June 8!!!!!!!!!! That is record timing - only 2 1/2 weeks since the interviews were complete!!! It averages 3-6 weeks. I am on cloud 9 at this point.

The lawyer will now prepare the file, get things sealed and notarized and submit us for PGN. I just cannot believe how well things have gone so far. PGN will be the hardest part though, as it is very unpredictable. Can everyone do some kind of collective PGN dance and send good thoughts to the director (he can be persnickety, I understand)?

June Doctor Visit

Gabriella had her monthly checkup on Monday, June 5. She was one day shy of 12 weeks old and she now weighs 9 lbs 12 oz and is 20.2 " long. Still quite the peanut, but growing well.

She had her 2nd Hepatitis B shot and her first DPT and HiB vaccine.

Enjoy the pics.

PA!!!

I got the email today from the US Embassy that we have our Pre-Approval!! So, we are now just waiting on the Family Court interviews to be written up and exit Family Court. This normally takes 3-6 weeks from the last interview, which was May 22. Once we exit Family Court, our case will be prepared and submitted to PGN, the last big(and the most unpredictable) step in getting Gabriella home! We are hoping to be in PGN by July.

Last Post from Guatemala

This morning we went to the Artisan's Market in Guatemala City to finish up our souveinir shopping. Later we met with someone with Ferdy had worked with here in Guatemala about 6 years ago. We met her and her husband and had some lunch, picked up their son and went to a mall. Ferdy has desperately tried to find a soccer jersey from one of the Guatemalan teams, but they are nowhere to be found. If you want one from Brazil, Spain, Italy, France,etc, no problem. Guatemala, no - go figure. Then they drove us around the city for a while. It was a nice afternoon.

Here is one last picture of Gabriella and Maegan who share the same birthday. We bought the quilt they are laying on in Antigua at the market and found another one just like it today for Maegan. We were even able to bargain down the price to the same that we paid in Antigua(they seem to be more expensive here in the city). So, someday Gabriella will have that on her bed(hope she likes bright pink!!).

We head home tomorrow and get home around midnight. It will be good to be home, but I hope to return very soon!!

Goodbye For Now - We'll see you soon!

Well, as expected, today was a really tough day - so hard to say good-bye to such a precious baby. We know she is in good hands, but of course we wish we could take her home with us now. Her foster mom was so excited to see her again and showered her with kisses and compliments. We had to ask them to take the crib and baby bathtub out of the room so we wouldn't be reminded she isn't here tonight. Sadly, the crib is still out in the hallway this evening.

Today, Ferdy spoke to the doctor that checks the babies monthly and he believes that Gabriella was a preemie, but we will never know for sure. The good news is that she is growing and healthy, just tiny.

Enjoy the pictures from today and just ignore my red eyes!

Another FTC Family

Today, we met Lisa and Joel who are using our agency as well. They arrived today to meet their daughter Maegan who shares a birthday with Gabriella! Gabriella looks so tiny next to Maegan. Can you tell who the unhappy one is??


It rained for a good part of the day, so we were cooped up inside most of the time. Mommy got a hot stone massage. AHHHHHHH. Very relaxing.

Gabriella has been quite the fussy girl this evening for some reason. She's not cried this much since we have been here. We hope it's not a sign of how the night will be. Maybe she too is sad it is her last night to see mommy and daddy for a while.

I just love looking at my daddy while he feeds me.











Getting dried after my bath!

Last night was about the same as Tuesday night. She went to sleep around 10(we tried to keep her up later, but no dice), woke up at 2:00am and 6:15am. Mommy is feeling a bit like a truck ran her over today. Gosh, after only 3 days. Wimpy,huh?

We met another FTC (our agency) family by the pool yesterday. They are taking their sweet little one home today.

Thank you to everyone who has left us such nice comments! Keep them coming. And if you are just lurking, step out of the shadows and say hello!

The Family

Before a mutiny occurs due to the demands of a family pic - Here it is!!

We'll get some more, I promise!

Check Out My Feet

I've included a pic that shows her feet as per a request from Sares! And sorry, Jeri, no shoes. Can you believe I didn't bring any?? They'd probably be huge on her like everything else. Mommy brought lots of cute outfits that just swallow her up! As you can see, even the smallest diapers are big too. But, if she keeps sucking down the formula, that should change soon.

Good Morning Sunshine!

She loves her bath!



Well, we all survived another night! Gabriella seemed to be much more comfortable last night and didn't have trouble going to sleep. She went to sleep about 10:15 and slept until 2:30, had a bottle and then back to bed until 6:30. She woke up so happy and active this morning(at left). She's been awake more today than she has been so far.

Daddy got inaugarated and got peed on! And he drew the lucky number yesterday and got the poopy diaper on his watch.

A visit in Antigua

While we were in Antigua, we met up with Marie and Steve from Maine who are adopting from the same agency. They are in Antigua fostering their sweet little one born not long after Gabriella. We met them at the Hotel Antigua which opens the pool to the public on Sundays. What a gorgeous place belied by the plain wall surrounding it from the street. Inside those walls is a lush landscape and an enormous pool.

The Daily Dose - Tuesday

Last night was a bit trying as we had a hard time getting Gabriella to sleep. She was quite upset and inconsolable for about an hour but Ferdy finally got her calmed and to sleep around 12:15am. I'm sure the strange surroundings and these new people left in charge were a bit much for her. She slept until almost 5:00am, had a bottle and diaper change and went back to sleep.

Mommy and daddy were tired and didn't wake up until 9:00am!! She was still sleeping until I woke her. She was quite happy when she woke up. Breakfast is only served until 10:00, so we had to scramble to feed her and get down there before they shut down. Tomorrow we'll need to get up a little earlier, that's for sure.

We chilled by the pool for a while until it got cloudy and breezy and then we came back to the room for the afternoon. Ferdy went out to get some lunch and supplies and mommy and Gabriella spent some time napping.

Enjoy the pics!

A Day in the Life

Here are a couple more pictures we took today. She really enjoyed some play time with daddy. She had some tummy time too and is doing a good job lifting her head up.

At Last!

OK... So, the post you've all been waiting for! We left Antigua at 8:00 am and were in Guatemala City by 9:00 am. We checked in to the hotel and around 10:20 am, the foster mother coordinator called us down to meet our daughter. I could hardly keep it together going down in the elevator. The moment I'd been waiting for, at last!


Can you tell she is going to be Daddy's little girl?






She was hungry, so I got to feed her a bottle. Man, can she suck down the formula in no time flat!

It's only been a matter of hours but so far she is a pretty happy, content baby except when her diaper needs changing or she is hungry. Boy, she let us know when it was time for another bottle!

It has been quite a day to day the least. I just can't believe this beautiful baby will be ours very soon. We've been just staring at her the entire afternoon, taking in every expression. She likes to stick her tongue out!

La Antigua

Hola from Guatemala! We arrived Saturday afternoon. After quite the zoo to get our bags and meet our driver, we were on our way to Antigua, about an hour away. Here are a couple of pictures of Antigua.

The one at top is an old Monastery that was mostly destroyed by earthquakes. Antigua used to be the capital of Guatemala before they finally got tired of rebuilding it after earthquakes kept destroying it. It was then moved to Guatemala City.

Below right is a picture of the lap pool at the hotel we stayed at. I don't think anyone actually uses it. We had dinner at one of the tables just to the left. We were afraid we were going to end up in the pool with one wrong move!

This is an old Cathedral.

We're on our way!

Well, it's just after 4:00 am and we're leaving for the airport in about 10 minutes for the trip that will forever change our lives. I probably won't be able to post again until Monday, so stay tuned!

Adopt Proud

A fellow adoptive parent using the same agency as mine has started a venture that is pretty cool. Instead of trying to cleverly paraphrase the intent, I'll just post from the website:

Adopt Proud was born out of a desire to spark conversation. To, through the use of one simple word, trigger lively discussions both about adoption and about family. At Adopt Proud we believe that only through redefining the concept of family will all in need of a home finally find one.

So, check out the website: adoptproud.org

I'm certainly proud to be adopting and not because I think it's some noble thing to do, but because I am proud I will be known as mom to a wonderful, beautiful child. I will be proud to watch her grow and blossom into whatever she dreams possible. And I am also proud to be adopted myself. People who know me already know that fact, but my cyberspace friends likely don't(though some do). It was always something I felt made me a special person. I remember as a child working it into conversations with classmates,friends,etc. very early on. It was something that not many other kids got to claim rights to and that was pretty darn cool in my books.

My shirt was delivered last week - pretty cool. I think I'll wear it the day I go to register for my baby shower(thank you Sares and my other AWESOME!!! friends who are putting it together). At least then I won't get strange looks putting together a registry without a pregnant belly (though all the eating I've done since I quit my job is certainly working towards one that might be mistaken for early pregnancy!).

99.87%

We received the DNA results from the lab today and it is a 99.87% match. So, one more milestone.

Legacy of an Adopted Child

So, today being Mother's Day and all, I'm feeling a little sentimental. I ran across this poem on an adoption website. The author is stated as unknown, so I can't give the credit to whom it is due. Someday, I will be able to share this with Gabriella and the experiences will be real and not just dreams of mine as of today.

LEGACY OF AN ADOPTED CHILD

Once there were two women who never knew each other.One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make you one.One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it.The first gave you a need for love. The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name.One gave you a talent. The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions. The other calmed your fears.One saw your first sweet smile. The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home that she could not provide.The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me, through your tears,the age-old question unanswered through the years.Heredity or environment, which are you a product of?Neither, my darling. Neither. Just two different kinds of Love.