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.