Today we were notified by our adoption agency that our case has been removed from the PGN court because an error was not fixed properly. The error will take atleast two months to fix and nothing can be done in the meantime on our adoption. The agency and Adoption Supervisors are uncertain at this time as to when the adoption will be finalized and this significant delay means that Joey will probably not be home for his first birthday. To say that John and I are disappointed would be the understatement of the century and we are exhausted from dealing with this process. We have verbalized our concerns and frustrations with both our agency and attorney in Guatemala. Both agree that this is an unfortunate situation but say that there is little that can be done. We have asked the Adoption Superviors that we hired back in January to step in (this will inturn infuriate our attorney) to see if they will be able to offer any legal solutions. Unfortunately Guatemala is essentially shut down for the next two weeks because of the Easter Holiday and Holy Week.
We have asked the agency if they will authorize two more visit trips, one for May/June and the other to celebrate his first birthday should it be necessary, although we are hesitant to go and remove him for a few days from the only people he knows. He has already been through so much.
We really need all of your prayers that this situation will be fixed quickly and that we will have Joey home in time for his birthday. Every delay is critical not only for us but more so for him! Poor Sarah keeps asking us about her brother and if he is ever coming home and to be perfectly honest I do not know the answer anymore.
Take Care and please keep us in your prayers,
Lee Anne and John
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
New pics of the little man...no, make that big man!
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Hi all, we just received updated photos of Joey taken the first week of March. He looks happy and well cared for...and he needs a hair cut. His curly tendrils are beautiful though. Just cannot wait to sqeeze him. No new legal updates, the courts in Guatemala are pretty much at a halt for the Easter holiday. Easter is the biggest holiday celebrated in Guatemala so not too much will get done.
Happy Easter to all,
Lee Anne
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
ALITTLE MIS-COMMUNICATION...
Well it seems that there was alittle confusion about the dates that I re-entered PGN and the news is not as good as I had hoped. We were told, if you recall, that we were resubmitted to court the same day that we were kicked out and apparently that is not the case. We were actually resubmitted to court only last week!!! So the clock started up again on 3/15 instead of 3/2. I know it does not seem like a big deal, but two weeks actually does make a big difference. So we are back on the desk of the reviewer and hope that we do not get kicked out again.
We are still awaiting updated March pictures and we have also asked for a developmental report. I am so curious to know if he is sitting alone, rolling and babbling. These types of reports are often very difficult to get when adopting from a foreign country because although we as Americans often use these as major milestones they do not mean as much in developing countries. Kids in Guatemala just do stuff when it happens, there is not a big push to intervene if there is a delay like there is here.
Thank you for the support and prayers,
Lee Anne
We are still awaiting updated March pictures and we have also asked for a developmental report. I am so curious to know if he is sitting alone, rolling and babbling. These types of reports are often very difficult to get when adopting from a foreign country because although we as Americans often use these as major milestones they do not mean as much in developing countries. Kids in Guatemala just do stuff when it happens, there is not a big push to intervene if there is a delay like there is here.
Thank you for the support and prayers,
Lee Anne
Thursday, March 15, 2007
We're in..we're out...we're in!!
So...is your head spinning because mine is! Today we found out from the Adoption Supervisors that we actually re-entered PGN the same day we were kicked out (I am not sure how this is possible and neither were they). So our file has returned back to the reviewers desk and the adoption supervisors are "confident" that we will not receive another previo (kick out). I am trying not to put a lot of hope in that statement so that I am not crushed if we do get another one. Once this reviewer has approved our file we are on to the directors desk for final sign off. Once the director, Senor Barrios, signs his name the adoption is considered final by the Guatemalan government. Senor Barrios is generally anti adoption, an interesting dicotomy given his job description, and definately takes his time signing off on files. I just pray that he takes pity on us and releases our case.
We also received news today that our Guatemalan facilitator that works for our agency will be leaving for maternity leave. I am happy for her, but for us this news is horrible! We depend on her for all of our medical, legal and photo updates, plus process questions so her leaving is making me very nervous. Hopefully whoever takes her position is well experienced in Guatemalan adoptions and extremely patient!
Keep your fingers crossed (toes too) that we get the heck out of PGN asap, we are going on six weeks now!!
Take Care,
Lee Anne
We also received news today that our Guatemalan facilitator that works for our agency will be leaving for maternity leave. I am happy for her, but for us this news is horrible! We depend on her for all of our medical, legal and photo updates, plus process questions so her leaving is making me very nervous. Hopefully whoever takes her position is well experienced in Guatemalan adoptions and extremely patient!
Keep your fingers crossed (toes too) that we get the heck out of PGN asap, we are going on six weeks now!!
Take Care,
Lee Anne
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!! THANK YOU!
I just found out that President Bush has heard our pleas to address adoptions and has added this to his agenda to discuss with President Berger (Guat. president) at their meeting on Sunday/Monday. Hopefully he will be able to exert some influence over him and make a change!
Thank you again for your letters to the Senators and President!
Lee Anne
Thank you again for your letters to the Senators and President!
Lee Anne
KO'D WE HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT AGAIN!!!
Well family and friends we have been kicked out of PGN court...again! We re-entered court on Feb. 27th and within three days of submission were kicked out again. We have been told that it is a simple error to fix, we are just tired of getting the boot! In the past it would have been almost unheard of to get issued this many previos (kick outs), but lately PGN seems to be picking on silly little things just to have the file removed. I will let you know when we are back in!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
UNICEF
Hi all,
I have been asked a few times recently about the United Nations organization UNICEF and why I am not a fan of it. This question usually comes up around Halloween when many children are out "trick or treating for UNICEF" with their little orange boxes. Probably seems alittle untimely (being March) but much of the turmoil occurring in Guatemala now with adoption is related to 15 million dollars that UNICEF is planning to give the president of Guatemala if he closes the country to international adoption.
Although I admire much of their humanitarian work including feeding and immunization programs their views on International Adoption leads a lot to be desired. Their stand is basically this...the following statements are taken from www.guatadopt.com
UNICEF’s official position would not in itself be a cause for concern. It sounds quite logical and hard to debate. However within it lies the question of implementation, pragmatism, reality, and idealism. In addition, it is worth noting that it was only in the last couple of years that UNICEF’s official position admitted that ICA was preferred to long-term institutionalization. To illustrate my point, it is hard to debate that it is best for a child to stay with his biological family. From there is it best if she stay within her country of birth. And after that, ICA should be considered. Sounds good, but let’s illustrate where the problems lie in the details.1.) Stay with biological family – should a birthmother have the right to say that she does not wish for her child to grow up within her biological family. Should UNICEF pressure countries to pass legislation that would remove a woman’s right to develop an adoption plan? What if she knows her family would want to keep the child but not provide a safe, stable, loving environment?2.) 2.) Stay in country – So just how long should a country, under law, have to search for a hypothetic domestic family to adopt the child? What happens to the child in the meantime? What if the country offers no good foster or institutional care?
The main issue with UNICEF’s position and formal lobbying efforts are that they are based on one universal standard that does not waiver or give consideration to the uniqueness of each country. Impoverished nations with poor government infrastructure, absent of social programs, do not have the ability to implement the UNICEF ICA model and end up with a clean, functioning system. Instead what we have seen time and time again in countries like El Salvador and Honduras is an end to ICA with no evidence of an increase in family unification or domestic adoption. This is what UNICEF calls “success”.
** if anyone is further interested this is a great publication http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/FWBstudyGuatemala.pdf
just know that next year when Halloween rolls around we will not be trick or treating for Unicef :) Just something to think about!
Take Care,
Lee Anne
I have been asked a few times recently about the United Nations organization UNICEF and why I am not a fan of it. This question usually comes up around Halloween when many children are out "trick or treating for UNICEF" with their little orange boxes. Probably seems alittle untimely (being March) but much of the turmoil occurring in Guatemala now with adoption is related to 15 million dollars that UNICEF is planning to give the president of Guatemala if he closes the country to international adoption.
Although I admire much of their humanitarian work including feeding and immunization programs their views on International Adoption leads a lot to be desired. Their stand is basically this...the following statements are taken from www.guatadopt.com
UNICEF’s official position would not in itself be a cause for concern. It sounds quite logical and hard to debate. However within it lies the question of implementation, pragmatism, reality, and idealism. In addition, it is worth noting that it was only in the last couple of years that UNICEF’s official position admitted that ICA was preferred to long-term institutionalization. To illustrate my point, it is hard to debate that it is best for a child to stay with his biological family. From there is it best if she stay within her country of birth. And after that, ICA should be considered. Sounds good, but let’s illustrate where the problems lie in the details.1.) Stay with biological family – should a birthmother have the right to say that she does not wish for her child to grow up within her biological family. Should UNICEF pressure countries to pass legislation that would remove a woman’s right to develop an adoption plan? What if she knows her family would want to keep the child but not provide a safe, stable, loving environment?2.) 2.) Stay in country – So just how long should a country, under law, have to search for a hypothetic domestic family to adopt the child? What happens to the child in the meantime? What if the country offers no good foster or institutional care?
The main issue with UNICEF’s position and formal lobbying efforts are that they are based on one universal standard that does not waiver or give consideration to the uniqueness of each country. Impoverished nations with poor government infrastructure, absent of social programs, do not have the ability to implement the UNICEF ICA model and end up with a clean, functioning system. Instead what we have seen time and time again in countries like El Salvador and Honduras is an end to ICA with no evidence of an increase in family unification or domestic adoption. This is what UNICEF calls “success”.
** if anyone is further interested this is a great publication http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/FWBstudyGuatemala.pdf
just know that next year when Halloween rolls around we will not be trick or treating for Unicef :) Just something to think about!
Take Care,
Lee Anne
Monday, March 05, 2007
Uncertainty
Hi everyone,
we want to thank you all so much for the support extended to us last week. Many of you faxed, emailed and called senators offices on behalf of continuing adoptions in Guatemala and we appreciate it. As of today March 5th the situation is still unstable and there seems to be no real consenus on what will happen to in process adoptions like ours. For adoptions to continue in Guatemala they must become Hague compliant and to do that they must make major changes to the system. But, it is unclear as to whether the Guatemalan government will "grandfather" existing cases and simply apply the new guidelines to "new" referrals. It seems to make sense that they would, right? But, not much makes sense down there and to be honest the government does not seem to have the finances and organizational skills to transition into the new process smoothly.
Our case was kicked out of the PGN court last a week and a half ago for an error and should have entered last week for another review. We will hopefully find out today from the Adoption Supervisors where we stand. I think the most difficult part is the uncertainty. There is a real lack of information from authorities and the threat that this may end poorly seems very possible now. The government feels that it will take weeks to implement their new plan (I would guess mnay monthes) so hopefully we can finish up in PGN before they make any real progress. As of right now (and that could change in a nano second) there is NO moratorium on adoptions. If anyone is interested in keeping themselves up to date on the situation I have posted some websites below
www.guatadopt.com
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3146.html
Take Care,
Lee Anne
we want to thank you all so much for the support extended to us last week. Many of you faxed, emailed and called senators offices on behalf of continuing adoptions in Guatemala and we appreciate it. As of today March 5th the situation is still unstable and there seems to be no real consenus on what will happen to in process adoptions like ours. For adoptions to continue in Guatemala they must become Hague compliant and to do that they must make major changes to the system. But, it is unclear as to whether the Guatemalan government will "grandfather" existing cases and simply apply the new guidelines to "new" referrals. It seems to make sense that they would, right? But, not much makes sense down there and to be honest the government does not seem to have the finances and organizational skills to transition into the new process smoothly.
Our case was kicked out of the PGN court last a week and a half ago for an error and should have entered last week for another review. We will hopefully find out today from the Adoption Supervisors where we stand. I think the most difficult part is the uncertainty. There is a real lack of information from authorities and the threat that this may end poorly seems very possible now. The government feels that it will take weeks to implement their new plan (I would guess mnay monthes) so hopefully we can finish up in PGN before they make any real progress. As of right now (and that could change in a nano second) there is NO moratorium on adoptions. If anyone is interested in keeping themselves up to date on the situation I have posted some websites below
www.guatadopt.com
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_3146.html
Take Care,
Lee Anne
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