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!
