Mario at home

Our little guy is just thriving!  He is such a happy boy and just so sweet.  He has been adjusting to the new family and new home very well.  Sleep at first was a little touch and go, but he seems to have settled into it just fine now.  His pediatrician says he is very healthy just needs to work out more!  Nothing too major, just needs to work his muscles and grow in strength.  All day long we play play play.  He is doing so well.

I can hardly believe what an amazing gift he is.  It took a long time to get him but he is so worth every little bit of every struggle, every form we had to fill out, every notarization, every authentication, every day of waiting, everything.

We love you precious boy!

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Every day cuter and cuter!

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"I'm a big boy . . .see . . .I can already stand up . . . sort of . . ."

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"I'm getting teeth in now, and have the drool to prove it!"

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Mario loves looking at and touching this poster, made by our friends the Dietzlers and Burzinskis to celebrate Mario's homecoming.   I think he must love the bright colors and shapes.

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Our little snuggle bug

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Another friend sent this jumper. We thought we didn't have a place for it, but found the perfect spot between our bedroom and the office. Mario loves it!  Too bad they don't make them for adults!!

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What are you thinking about sweetie pie?

We're home!

We made it!

Thursday

All is well!  Daddy and Henry went to the Embassy this afternoon and were able to pick up your passport with the U.S. visa in it, so we are all set to leave tomorrow.  They also handed Daddy a big manila envelope and told him not to open it but to give it to the Immigration officials at the airport when we land back in the States.  Sort of makes you wonder what would happen if you just peeked in the envelope!  But we were not about to take the chance!!

Poor Daddy is having a bad case of cabin fever, so it is good that he was able to get to the Embassy today.  We absolutely love spending time with you of course, but it is odd because we are mostly just in a hotel room all day long with not a ton of options.  It's a nice hotel room, a suite actually, but it is a hotel room.  We wake up, give you a bottle, get ready, go to breakfast downstairs, walk around a little in the lobby, go back up to our floor, walk the halls a little, play in the room, give you a snack, you take a nap, play some more, go down the dining room and have lunch, walk around some more, go up to the rooftop area, play, let you have another nap, play some more, eat some more, play some more, walk around some more, eat dinner, bathe you, and put you to bed.  We've also visited the play room a few times, and hung out in the lobby in the afternoons with some of the other families that are adopting.  You especially like to sit on Mommy's lap and eye the other babies, especially the cute little girls!

Here's a shot of you in the umbrella stroller doing some of our laps in the hall, and another shot of you and Henry.

Embassy Day

This morning was our appointment at the U.S. Embassy for your visa.  Henry, who works for our attorney and also for the Radisson, picked us up first thing in the morning and took us to the Embassy.  It is a big, plain looking, concrete building, with a huge fence around it, and tons of people waiting in line.  Hundreds of people.  As soon as we saw that, we remembered what Rudy had said about how long it took our attorney to get an appointment.  We totally could see why.  Anyway, U.S. families that are adopting get to go to the front of the line.  It was really strange being able to just walk around all those people.  It didn't feel right, but families that are adopting have priority and are given the first appointments of the day.  So we stood around at the front, Henry held the place in line, and we waited for the doors to open.  After a short wait, we could go inside, go through security, and go to the waiting room.  Henry waited in one of the lines at the cashier's window, and we paid the fee for the visa.  It took maybe an hour for our name to be called.  We walked into the tiniest room you ever saw.  It was like a small closet with a couple of chairs right at the door, a thin desk and another chair on the other side of the desk with a door behind it.  The Embassy official asked us a few questions about when we first saw you, if this was our first trip, etc.  She looked through our papers, gave us a smile, and all was well!  We had to wait a little more, then were given a piece of paper that was some kind of receipt, and could leave.  Hopefully tomorrow afternoon, at 3:00, the visa will be processed and finalized, and we will be able to head home!

The rest of the day, we continued playing with you.  You were all smiles all day today.  Yesterday was somewhat mixed.  You were happy and would be playing, and then all of a sudden you would look up and look around the hotel room, get a sad look in your eyes and give a little cry.  We think you were missing your foster mama!  After a few seconds you would be distracted with a hug or a toy, and all would be well.  That happed several times during the day yesterday.  Of course you would miss the woman that had taken care of you your whole life!

That's one content Mama.

Rice Cereal

We are adjusting to being a family of three!  The hardest part has been having to give you medicine four times a day.  Ugh!  You just start to like us and then bam!  Here come some more drops in your throat and drops in your eyes!  The medicine, or the cold, or both, are making you sleepy, but it works out just fine since Daddy and I can't get enough of snuggling with you!

Last night, we got you to bed quite easily,  due in large part to the cold and the medicine, mostly likely.  Then today we played, held you, gave you your bottle and some rice cereal.

Funny story about that.  It's funnier when Daddy tells it, so you'll have to ask him to act it out for you.  The hotel where we are staying, the Radisson, is great.  Beautiful hotel, excellent food, and wonderful staff.  They even have a family floor, the sixth floor, for those families traveling with small children or those families that are adopting.  The family floor has a beautiful playroom with lots of toys for little kiddoes.  Anyway, when we arrived on Monday, the family floor was fully booked, so we got a room on the 16th floor.  It does give us some amazing views, that if for sure.  Another great thing about the hotel is that it is well-furnished and well-stocked for families with small children and babies.  A wonderful crib for you, a baby bath, formula, and cereal were all there waiting for us.  Only thing is that because there were so many other families with babies there, they were out of rice cereal.  All they had was wheat or mixed grain.  We knew your foster mama had started you on rice cereal, but weren't sure if she had tried any other grains yet, and we really didn't want to take a chance of an allergic reaction when you were already sick and medicated.  So Daddy went down to the hotel gift shop to get rice cereal.  They were out, but the concierge told him about a little store just a couple blocks away that was sure to have it.

He thought, "Ok, I gotta go get the rice cereal."  So he walks out the door and down the block.  Security is a different thing in various countries around the world.  In the next block, where a building was being constructed, stood several guards.  Armed guards.  Guards with big machine guns and very serious looks on their faces.  It's a little unnerving to encounter something like that, especially when you have just arrived in a foreign country and you don't speak the language.  Anyway, Daddy is courageous, so he continues on his way and eventually sees the little store.  He goes in, finds a box of baby cereal, and heads back.

Uh oh.  It's multigrain!

By this time, it was getting too late to try again.  We figured one night without cereal would be ok, and we'd deal with it in the morning.

Mommy went today in the other direction, found another hotel with a gift shop, and got the rice cereal.

To Guatemala

November 14th, 2005.  We will never forget this day -- it is the day we first held you!!

Daddy and I woke up bright and early, I know neither of us slept well the night before out of excitement.  We flew from St. Louis to Guatemala City with a three hour layover in Dallas.

 

We made it to the hotel and waited what seemed like eons for there to finally be a knock at the door, and in you came with your foster mama!  It took all I had not to grab you immediately from her arms.  It seemed like this day would never come, and now here you were:  right in front of me!

You had just developed a bad cold, and the reason you and your foster mama were late getting to the hotel was that she had taken you to the doctor, and then the pharmacy to get medicine, and of course there was bad traffic throughout the city.  Your foster mama obviously loved you and took excellent care of you.  It's just that sometimes babies get sick.  We could tell that she was somewhat embarrassed that you were sick, thinking that we might have thought she wasn't taking good care of you.  We told her in our best broken Spanish that we understood and that it was ok.  I think she understood us.  I hope so, at least.

I'm sure it was terrible for her to walk away from you, the baby she had been taking care of for seven months.  Her love for you was palpable.  She asked us to send photos of you when you were home, which we did, so that she could see for herself that you were well, happy, and completely loved.

 Here's some shots from our hotel room on the 16th floor.

We're tickled pink!!!!

Some more waiting….It seems like every little thing that could go wrong at the very end has gone wrong – well, probably not that bad, but it seems we have been so close for so long that the last couple weeks have been agony.  Our lawyer (or her helper) eventually made to the Embassy, but it turned out the cable which is sent from our local Immigration office to the Embassy was either lost, or never made it or whatever.  And apparently the file doesn’t go forward until the cable is there.  And of course the Embassy personnel don’t go back up the chain to the Immigration folks and ask them to resend the cable – it has to be requested from someone else, like Rudy.  Rudy explained that the Embassy in Guatemala is processing a huge number of adoptions this year, and they are rather overwhelmed.  He mentioned something about them hiring more people, but not fast enough to make any difference for us. Anyway, that is the last of the complaining, because….we finally got the beloved pink slip and an appointment at the Embassy for November 16th!!!  We just made our travel reservations, half paid for from bonus points your Daddy got at work, and we are all set to go.  We travel Monday November 14, leaving St. Louis early in the morning, and should see you that very afternoon.  We fly home, all three of us, on Friday the 18th.  I am so happy to be actually writing those words.  We have been waiting so long now – and you are practically seven months old at this point.  We had hoped to be able to bring you home much earlier, but this is what it is, and at least now it is only another week away.  We are so excited!!!!

Got the birth certificate! How much longer??

Well, so much for that being the last entry until we had laid eyes on you in person. Another month has passed, and we are getting closer to being able to pick you up, but not quite yet. It should be soon!! We did find out on October 14th that our attorney in Guatemala got your new birth certificate, which is excellent news! After that, we understood that she would go to the U.S. Embassy and present all the paperwork. They would, within 24-48 hours, issue the pink slip and set an appointment time for us to take you to get your visa. So, we were convinced that sometime last week we would be jumping on the plane. We waited until Friday and still hearing nothing, I called COTW and talked to both Kati and Rudy. What we hadn’t considered, hadn’t even imagined, was that there would be a long line to get in to the Embassy. Apparently our attorney, or someone working for her, waited Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and still couldn’t get in. Thursday was a holiday, and the Embassy doesn’t take new cases on Friday, so that left us with having to wait another weekend. Rudy said she was going to try again on Monday, and apparently she was given a low enough number (like at a bakery) to have her think that Monday she would be able to get in. We had started to feel a bit angry as the days passed last week, but when we understood what exactly was happening, it helped us to feel better, at least because we knew what was going on. So, we’re obviously hoping that our attorney gets in on Monday and that we could be able to fly down next weekend probably to get you. We hope so!

We got some more photos of you and a note from the doctor:

"Hello! I hope you are doing well this morning. I have just finished seeing your son who has reached his 6 months of age and continues, in the words of his caregiver, doing fine since he was seen for the last time here in my office. He is a bright little one who shows interest and interacts with all that goes on around him, will turn to sound and to the sound of his name, he searches for the person who calls him, he is also vocal himself and will make cooing and some babbling sounds of his own. His motor abilities also appear to be coming along nicely. He shows interest in things that are nearby and will attempt to grab them; of course everything he gets hold of will end in his mouth. He is now able to roll over to either side and will attempt really hard to sit up. If put in the sitting position, he keeps it with support around his back. The caregiver shares with me that this little one takes well his formula and diet and that he is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found him in good health, his physical as well as his neurological exam do not denote any obvious abnormality. His weight today is 16 lb 3 oz, length of 62.9 cm (24.8 inches) and head circumference of 42.7 cm (16.8 inches). He received today his third dose of DPT, HiB and Hepatitis B. Please find some pictures attached."

Wow are you getting big and even more adorable! Those eyes – it is as if you are looking right here saying “Mommy – come get me! Why are you making me wait?” If you only knew how much we want to get you and how difficult it has been waiting for you. I have heard from other people on the message board that the wait won’t seem bad once we are finally united with you. It is hard to imagine that now, since the wait is almost unbearable, but I’m willing to forget about it as soon as I have you snuggled in my arms.

Five months old and still no travel date

We are SO ready to fly down to Guatemala to get you!!!! We haven’t heard any more news from COTW about our case since hearing about PGN approval, and it has now been three weeks since then, give or take. As soon as we received PGN approval, your Daddy let his boss and co-workers know that it could be as little as a week and we could be flying down to get you. Of course, everyone in his office went into panic mode, even though Daddy had been telling them for all of 2005 that this was in the works. What can you do – people sometimes put off dealing with things until the last minute.

Your room is as ready as it can be and not have a baby in it: even laundry is done and bottles are washed. Babkie bought us a nice gliding ottoman to go with the rocking chair that is in your room, and I sewed a slip cover for the ottoman and a cushion for the rocking chair in a nice moon and star pattern that coordinates with the rest of the room. Your Daddy finished putting up new shelves and pole in the closet, which looks very nice. He also added knobs to the dresser and topped it off with the changing pad, so we are all set furniture-wise. The bookshelf is full of great books, which I am so looking forward to reading with you. The playroom is ready too, and you’ve got so many cool toys, some that we got from your three showers and others that we picked up at yard sales. We are going to have so much fun in there!

I finished cross-stitching three bibs that Babkie had bought some years ago for one of your cousins, not sure which one. She had started stitching one of them, so I picked up where she left off, and now they are all ready for you to get them dirty! Daddy also installed a water filter at the kitchen sink, so you will have healthy water to drink. And just today, we ordered a camcorder, after doing much research, which should be delivered within a day or so. This way, we’ll be able to take it with us to Guatemala and capture our first moments with you. I definitely want to get images of you with your foster mother and the attorney, so you will have that as a momento of your first few months of life.

This past Monday, our friend Sue, who is also a Parent Educator with Parents as Teachers, came by for our first visit. She gave us a few handouts detailing what babies your age can generally do, and also a cute little board book for you. She’ll be able to come by a few times a year, for your first few years, to check on your progress and to teach us some fun activities that you would enjoy.

I also had my second Spanish class of this second session, Beginners II. I am really enjoying the class, and am trying to learn as much as I can.

Yesterday we also got new pictures of you and a note from the doctor:

"He is now aged 5 months and has been, the caregiver shares with me, doing really well in the time since he was seen for the last time one month ago. He continues to show a steady growth and his development, from what the caregiver shares with me, is also progressing as expected for his age. He is alert and active and shows a nice growth and development. I am told that he likes to listen to music and enjoys a lot being talked to. He makes many cooing noises and will vocalize his laughter and cry if disrupted. He also likes to play with the different sounds he is able to produce. This little one is now able to roll from his stomach onto his back and will try really hard to roll over completely. When on his stomach, he lifts his head and chest clear from the bed. He attempts to grab whatever is nearby and puts everything into his mouth. He appears to recognize familiar objects and anticipates seeing things in a whole when he sees a part of them (like his bottle) and smiles in anticipation. I am told that he takes his diet very well and is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found this little one in good health with no obvious physical or neurological abnormalities, his weight is 14 lbs 14 oz, length of 61.8 cms (24.3 inches) and head circumference of 41.8 cms (16.5 inches). He received today his following dose of Polio vaccine."

What cute pictures of you again this month! I was a little sad to see that your hair had been cut – I was interested to see if it would have curl to it, since it appeared in last month’s photo that the ends of your hair had a bit of a curl in the front. Oh well, we’ll just have to experiment with that on our own! You grew more than an inch in length but put on only 4 ounces, so I guess you are looking a little bit longer and leaner. Can’t wait to see you in person!

I know I keep saying that, but this last month and a half especially has been difficult for me. I am so ready to see you. Every time the phone rings I think: is this it? Is this the call that will tell us that we have that beautiful pink slip and can travel to pick you up? And so far each time it has been someone else saying something else, but the next time I still hope. I am hoping also that this is the last entry I make to this journal before laying eyes on you in person!!!

PGN approval!

Today we received the best news of the entire month: we received PGN approval! It has been just under six weeks since we received pre-approval from the U.S. Embassy, so even though we don’t know exactly the day when PGN review began, the amount of time seems about average compared with others on the message board. So now just a few more steps! Length of time for obtaining the new birth certificate is the real question mark – the checklist from Children of the World lists 3-5 days, but it has been as many weeks or more for several people. So, at the moment, we still have no idea how quickly we can travel down to get you!

Another awesome baby shower

This past Sunday, friends from church had a baby shower for us.  It was held at Claudia's home and was a great afternoon.  Our dear friends Claudia, Linda, and Katie hosted the shower and did a fabulous job.  Katie made the most amazing cake – it was the most beautiful cake I have ever seen in my life, and it was delicious too!  Linda had made the most beautiful invitations, which in fact matched the cake, and also brought some lovely bouquets of the most fragrant flowers.  And of course, there was a lot of delicious food.  Several of our friends attended, and even though it was an open house style, most people stayed for the entire shower.  People, again, were very generous in giving us all sorts of things to help take care of you, including books, toys, stuffed animals, and clothes.  Everyone is so looking forward to you being here and being a part of the parish family.

Troubling News

Soon after we received the last photos of you, we heard some troubling news on the message board. A couple in St. Louis named Angela and Larry who are also in the process of adopting a baby, and in fact had been at the same stage we were (waiting on PGN approval), lost their referral. The baby’s birth mother had changed her mind and decided to parent the baby herself. It is too difficult for me to imagine being in that situation, and my heart totally goes out to Angela and Larry. For a couple days, I could not get their loss out of my mind. If I had heard that news, I don’t know how I would have been able to bear it. I love you so much that the thought of not getting to be your mom is almost impossible to fathom. I would do whatever God asks me to do for love of you, but losing you would be a very difficult cross to bear. I understand it is not common for the birth mother to change her mind that late in the game, but obviously it does happen. I pray for peace for all those involved.

Mario at four months

Fourteen pounds 10 ounces of total cuteness. 


Here's the latest note from the doctor:

"He is now 4 months old and has been, I am told by the caregiver, been doing fine in the time since he was seen for the last time. He is active and alert and shows a steady growth. I am told that he is a happy little boy who shows interest and interacts with what surrounds him, will listen when spoken to and responds to the different tones of voice he hears. He is very vocal himself and will make many cooing and some babbling noises of his own. He vocalizes laughter and eagerness as well as his feelings of pleasure, smiling in anticipation when he sees his bottle. This little one now shows good control of his neck muscles and keep the head straight in the midline when pulled to the sitting position, with minimal bobbing, reaches out and grabs things that he will then put into his mouth. He now, when on his stomach, lifts his head clear form the bed. The caregiver tells me that this little one takes well his formula and is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found him in good health with a normal physical exam his weight is 14 lbs 10 oz, length of 58.3 cms and head circumference of 41.2 cms. He received today his second dose of DPT and HiB."

And some truly adorable photos of you! Those eyes! That hair! Man, have you grown in the last month. You are looking like such a big boy! Everyone that I have shown your photo has commented on how gorgeous you look. I lap all the compliments right up!

Just keeping busy

No more news of progress on your case.  We are trying to keep ourselves busy around here.  We had a 5-day vacation at the beginning of the month up in Michigan seeing Aunt Mia, Uncle Lou, Jake, and Elsie at Glen Lake, Michigan.  Jake has his sixth birthday on August 11th, so the trip was for his birthday.  We had a fabulous time at the lake and spending time with them:  swimming around in the lake, biking, kayaking, and generally hanging out having fun.

When we got back from Michigan, Daddy and I made a cassette tape for you of the two of us reading bedtime stories.  I dropped it off, along with some photos of us, at the COTW office, since Rudy would be making a trip to Guatemala and could carry the materials with him.  I hope the tape and photos get to you soon and that it helps you get used to the looks of us and our voices, so that when you see us (whenever that will be) you will know that we are mommy and daddy.  I’m sure it will be a difficult adjustment for you at some level, so hopefully these things will help in the transition.

This Friday you turn 4 months old.  It is difficult for me right now to respond to some people when they ask when you are coming home and how long it is going to be.  Obviously, we want you now!  And we are hoping and praying that it will be soon.  Other than that, we know you are getting wonderful loving care at your foster home, and we know the whole thing is in God’s hands, and it will happen in God’s good time.  So, I will try to keep that in mind the next time that someone asks!

We had some sad news last week.  Our neighbor passed away.  He was elderly and had been suffering with cancer.  He was a very sweet man and a good friend, and he was definitely looking forward to your homecoming.  He was looking forward to rocking you!  I guess he will get his chance in heaven.

I looked on the message board today and saw a note from one woman saying that they had been waiting six weeks already for a Guatemala City birth certificate.  We’ll have to get your birth certificate from Guatemala City, so that was hard news to hear.  Another six weeks would be hard.

Pre-approved for the visa!

We got additional good news last week: the case had received pre-approval for the U.S. visa! A great step forward! Kati  from COTW had previously told me that during pre-approval, they look for anything that might be a stumbling block for PGN (Guatemalan attorney general) review, so to make it through visa pre-approval is a good sign for PGN review. So our case is now in PGN and no telling how long it will take to make it through. I’ve read on the message boards that it can be anywhere from three weeks to a couple months, so I sure hope it is closer to three weeks! It has been fun to read the message boards lately – a few families have written that have just returned with their babies. They are so deliriously happy that it brings tears to my eyes. Others are still somewhere in the waiting process.

I just heard from a colleague of mine from Minneapolis (she and her husband are also adopting a baby boy from Guatemala) that they just received the beloved pink slip from the U.S. Embassy, and can travel to pick up their baby! Tomorrow will be her last day of work, then they’ll fly down on Monday. How totally excited they must be to be just a few days away from seeing their little boy. I am so happy for them, and can’t wait to be in their shoes myself!

I visited with one of the possible pediatricians last week. She seemed very nice and competent, and the office seemed well-run, colorful, and kid-friendly. I’ve got an appointment with a different doctor in a couple weeks, and then I’ll have to pick one for you! I go in your bedroom at least once a day, dreaming about you sleeping in your crib or playing with your toys. I am so looking forward to having you in your forever home. There are so many people here, family and friends, that are so anxious to see you (most especially me and daddy!), but we know that you are in very good and loving hands with your foster mother. If you were smiling that much to the doctor who was going to give you shots, then you must be happy and secure. It is great comfort to me to know that.

Photos and an update of our three month old!

The note from Kati at COTW said this:

"I was emailing the attorney about your case (for any updates) and not only did he say that your case is indeed out of family court (just waiting for preapproval now), but your baby apparently just saw the doctor this morning, so I have some pictures to send you with the good news! Congratulations, we're one step closer.  Enjoy the pictures, and I'll be in touch soon."

Here's the note from the doctor:

"I hope this report finds you well.  This morning I had the opportunity to examine this little one who is now 3 months old and has been, the caregiver, shares with me, doing really well in the time since he was seen for the last time one month ago, he is aware of his surroundings and will interact with what goes on around him, will turn to the sound of voices and is quite vocal himself making cooing noises of his own both in response andalso to call attention to himself, smile socially now and is eager to show his feelings of pleasure. He now shows voluntary control of his arms and legs and will alternate opening and shutting his hands as well as kicks and pushes with his feet. The caregiver tells me that this little one takes well his formula and is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found him in good health with a normal physical andneurological exam, his weight is 13 lbs 9 oz, length of 56.1 cms and head circumference of 40.2 cms. He received today his following dose of Polio vaccine. Please find some pictures attached."

Wow!!!  How much you have grown and progressed, gaining 1 lb and 12 oz and growing another 0.4 inches in length and 0.8 inches in head circumference, all in the last month.  And you are able to do so much more than at your previous visit to the doctor.  I would so love to be able to see your smiles and hear your coos in person!  I am very happy to hear that the case has made it out of Family Court.  Just a few more steps to go, though I understand from reading on the Yahoo message board that some of these can still take a long time.  So…we just keep doing what we can to prepare and to help the wait pass.

Getting ready for our baby

We have been working hard around the house getting ready for your arrival.  We painted your bedroom a very nice “Utterly Blue” color on the walls, with white trim.  We have your crib, which we got from Babkie, and bedding which used to belong to your cousin Jillian, but is now yours.  We sure hope you like moon and stars! We have had two baby showers so far, one hosted by our friends the Kims in June, and one hosted by your Aunt Jojo and Aunt Mia that we just had on Saturday.  Both were wonderful, and people have been so generous in getting gifts for you.  Everyone loved so see your pictures and your video.

The shower this past weekend was especially funny – you know how funny your Aunts can be.  They cooked Guatemalan food and decorated Aunt Jojo’s house for a fiesta.  Everyone loved the food, because Aunt Mia is an excellent cook.  Then we played games.  The first game required the contestants to match the English and Spanish names for various baby items.  Your cousin Mary Ann won even though she has never studied Spanish.  “I’m very competitive,” she said, and it is clear she is part of our family since we all love to compete in games.  The second game and the most hysterical required the ladies, who had been divided into two teams, to compete in an adoption game.  Two people from each team were selected to be Angela and Jerry.  Your cousin Judy played Angela, and your cousin Beth played Jerry on one of the teams, and Nana played Angela and Aunt Vera played Jerry on the other team.  The game was played out on the driveway at Aunt Jojo’s house.  The first step of the game required “Angela and Jerry” to fill out an adoption application.  They had to write:  “I really want a baby” and sign their names.  Then various friends and family members of “Angela and Jerry” had to write out references.  Next “Angela and Jerry” had to clean the house for the home study.  This required them to pick up a few items from the driveway and put them in a basket along with the application and the references.  Next they had to “jump through hoops” by stepping through a hoola-hoop.  They had to endure the wait by sitting in a chair for ten seconds (our wait has been a lot longer than that!!).  There was a group photo, and then it was time for them to travel to Guatemala.  “Jerry” had to pull “Angela” in a wagon decorated with a sign Air Guatemala down the length of the driveway.  Waiting in Guatemala was “baby Mario,” a doll baby.  Then “Jerry” had to pull “Angela and baby Mario” in the wagon all the way back to the top of the driveway while “Angela” changed the baby and sang a lullaby.  Your cousins Judy and Beth won, but the race was very close since both teams were very competitive.  It was so hysterical!

We have received lots of toys and clothes and other baby items for you, and are so looking forward to using them with you. I am also reading a couple baby books and learning about what you are probably able to do week by week.  It is exciting to hear about, though also a bit sad, since we would like to see you making all this progress ourselves.  But we know that you will be our son forever and ever and ever, so waiting a little bit longer is what we’ll have to do.  I know it will be well worth the wait! I also have made appointments with a couple different pediatricians to check them out and see which might make the best match for us.  They both come very highly recommended, but it will be good to meet them in person.

Oh, and Spanish class!  Your daddy and I are enrolled in a Spanish class and are learning a lot!  We have two more classes to go, out of  total of eight. I definitely want to sign up for the next session, which will begin in early September.  I’ll have to make sure to study a lot on my own in August in between the two sessions. I also have recently joined COTW’s listserv on Yahoo and have been looking at some of the messages other ladies have been leaving.  There are lots of other families out there who are waiting on their babies, and many more who have their babies already.  I haven’t written a message yet, but am learning from others’ experiences.

Still more news of our baby

You can understand why we were so very excited in April to finally hear that you had been born!  Your grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends were also very excited to hear about you and to see your first photos.  Everybody wanted to know how soon you would be home with us, but there were several more steps that needed to be accomplished in Guatemala before that could happen.

At this point, our dossier has been presented to the family court by the attorney in Guatemala acting on our behalf, Maria del Rosario.  DNA work has been completed.  We are waiting for the case to make it out of family court and are also waiting for pre-approval for your visa from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala.  Once those things have been completed, the case then goes to PGN (the Guatemala attorney general) for approval.  Once the case is out of PGN, then the birth mother signs off again, the deed is registered at Civil Registry, a new birth certificate is issued, and a passport is issued.  The final step is we get a pink slip from the U.S. Embassy, and then we are free to travel to pick you up!!


In addition to the set of photos we received at the time of your placement when you were almost a week old, we also received a set in May (about 5 weeks old) and in June (about 9 weeks old).  We also received a three-minute video that Rudy took during a visit later in May.  The May 17th note from Dr Monteil, which came with the photos, said:

"This morning I had the opportunity to review this little one.  He is now aged 1 month and has been, I am told, doing really well in the time since he was seen for the first time one month ago.  He is gradually spending more and more time awake and starts to notice his surroundings, will listen when spoken to and quiet his cry, he shows active, symmetrical, reflex movements of both arms and legs and also when on his stomach will briefly lift his chin from the bed.  The caregiver shares with me that this little one takes well his formula but is not receiving his ordered vitamin supplement as they have not been provided to the caregiver.  Upon exam today I found him in good health with no obvious physical or  neurological abnormalities, his weight is 9 lbs 1 oz, length of 49.9 cms and head circumference of 36.1 cms.  He received today his first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine.  Please find his pictures attached."

We had to chuckle at the part about you taking your formula well – gaining 3 pounds in a month – you certainly are taking your formula well!!  We didn’t get a note with the video, though there were some more photos taken at that same time, which we got.  The next communication was written by Dr. Monteil on June 18th in which he said:

"This morning I have just finished seeing this little one who has now reached two months of age and has been, the caregiver shares with me, doing well in the time since he was seen for the last time one month ago.  He shows a steady growth, and his development appears to be progressing well.  He is alert and notices his surroundings, he enjoys being talked to and will listen attentively making some initial cooing noises of his own as well as smiling in response.  He shows active, symmetrical, mainly reflex movements of both arms and legs and will also move his head from side to side. When on his stomach he is able to lift, briefly, his face from the bed. I am told that he takes well his formula and is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon exam today he appears in good health with no obvious physical or neurological abnormalities.  His weight is 11 lbs 13 oz, length of 54.9 cms and head circumference of 38 cms. He received today his second dose of Hepatitis B and first dose of DPT and HiB. Please find some pictures attached."

 That is the most recent information that we have about you at present, though I expect we should get some more photos any day now.  Can't wait to see them.  Can't wait to see the real thing!

Some history

Let me back up a little bit and tell how we got to be working with COTW.  Daddy and I had been talking about adoption for a while, but were feeling completely overwhelmed with all the possibilities:  domestic, international, foster care, independent, infant, older child, etc.  We got a good suggestion to read the Adoption Handbook, which helped us understand what each type of adoption was like, and then we decided we would talk to various people that we knew that had been through various types of adoption, and this helped us very much to know what would be the right fit for us.  We also met with a social worker Maureen from Catholic Charities, who would be the one to help us with the home study.  She helped us narrow down the possibilities even more.  Of course, we prayed a lot during this to help us understand God’s will for our family.  We ultimately realized that adopting from Guatemala was the right decision for us.  We checked out a few adoption agencies, and realized that working with COTW would be best for us, and in October 2004, we signed a contract with Catholic Charities for our home study and with COTW to be the adoption agency. From then on out, we had a lot of paperwork to take care of, for the home study and also for COTW.  We had short questionnaires, long questionnaires, autobiographies, family references, friend references, financial analyses, medical analyses, criminal record checks, child abuse checks  – it seemed like everyone wanted to know everything we had ever done or ever wanted to do.  Plus everything had to be signed, then notarized properly, and then authenticated.  Authentication is the process whereby the Secretary of State's office signs off that the notary is legitimate and that the notarization was done properly.  We had some difficulties getting other people to act as quickly as we wanted them to, and the amount of work was daunting, but we knew that you were at the end of the road and that we had to do all these things before you could join our family, so we were going to do it!!! We attended our first COTW party, the Halloween party, in October at Purina Farms.  It was wonderful to see so many happy families, and so many adorable kids in completely adorable Halloween costumes!  We also attended the COTW Christmas party, which was also wonderful.  By this time, we had already met another family that had used COTW and was home with their sweet little girl, so we were able to spend more time with them at the Christmas party.  We also met several other very nice families and heard parts of their stories, and it was great to receive support from them already.  Rudy Rivera, the head of COTW, had arranged to bring four Guatemalan senators to the party, so they were also impressed by the obvious love shared with the children and how much the children were truly members of the families. The senators, I’m sure, will be wonderful good-will ambassadors for COTW when back in Guatemala. From there on out, it was just waiting on the placement.  A couple forms had to be re-done due to some minor errors.  Everything in the file has to be absolutely perfect or it could be kicked out of the process and sent back, causing more delays.  So, we had the forms re-done. Then, more wait. 

To my sweet Mario, my first post

Hi sweetie! This is mommy! Some day, probably when you are much older, you may want to read this to hear about all the details of how you came to be a member of our family. Though you have probably heard bits and pieces of this story over and over again, still you may prefer to learn how the whole thing took place and how you became our son.


Tuesday April 19, 2005, was the day Daddy and I first heard about you! I will never forget that day, ever! We had just been up in Michigan visiting Aunt Mia, Uncle Lou, Jake, and Elsie for Elsie’s 3rd birthday, and we had just returned to St. Louis the night before (Monday). We didn’t check email that night, instead just unpacking and heading to bed. It was not until the next day, April 19th, that I checked voice mail and learned there was a message from Carol at our adoption agency, Children of the World. Her message said that she had emailed us and was trying to reach us, and that we should call her right away. Our son had been born!! As you can imagine, I was completely excited! I called Daddy to share the news and checked email, and sure enough there was a message from Carol. And not just a message: photos!! Here’s what the message from Carol said, and also the attached note from the doctor in Guatemala.


 "Your son has been born. He is healthy, and here are some pictures. Call me after you have had a chance to look at the pictures. This is also the doctor's report stating he is in good health."


 "Hello.  This little one was born on 04/12 at a private health centre here in the city. The reported birth weight was 6 lbs 2 oz. Upon evaluation today I found this little one in good health with no abnormalities upon exam; his weight is 6 lbs, length of 44.1 cms, and head circumference of 33.2c sm. His lab results are still pending. Please find his pictures attached."

 Of course, when I saw your photos, I thought we had the most beautiful little baby in the whole wide world! So completely precious!!!! We loved you right from the first instant of hearing you were born! Of course, we loved the idea of you well before you were born, but now we knew that this precious little boy in the photo would be our son! Your daddy and I were so excited, and I called Carol right away to say that we accepted the referral. I’m sure I had tears of joy in my eyes when I talked to her. The first order of business was to sign, certify, and authenticate (how we knew those terms well!) a power of attorney for the attorney in Guatemala to act on our behalf in the various court proceedings in Guatemala involved with the adoption. Carol sent me the power of attorney by email that afternoon, I emailed it to Daddy, and then drove out there for both of us to sign it. Then immediately we had it notarized, then I drove downtown to the Secretary of State’s office to have it authenticated and then dropped it off at the COTW office in Clayton. I was overjoyed that I could get all that done in one afternoon: home to Daddy's office to Clayton to downtown St. Louis and back to Clayton before 5:00. Everybody was so nice to me along the way, including one lady who helped me with change on the street for the parking meter. There was also a Cardinals baseball game that night, so traffic was very heavy. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get back to Clayton that night, but it all worked out fine. I wanted to get the completed paperwork back to COTW that night, since Carol was leaving the very next day for Guatemala and could take the paperwork with her, and I was happy to make that happen. We had been waiting for you to be born for so long, that I wanted everything from then on out to go as quickly as possible so that you could come home with us very soon. And if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day, April 19th was also the day the Pope Benedict XVI was elected! I said to your Daddy when he got home from work: “We got a Papa and a baby all in one day!!” When the bells were ringing in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, I felt like in addition to celebrating Pope Benedict’s election, they were also celebrating that Mario was going to be an Anderson!!