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!