It's a sad day

I am sad today. This afternoon John and I received an email from our adoption agency that they have officially closed their Guatemala program as a result of the State Department warning and the imminent shut down by President Berger.

I am just so sad for the families that have lovingly chosen adoption and the opportunity that is now lost to them. I am sad for the adoptive parents who have already given a piece of their heart to a child that they now call their own who may never come home. And most of all I am sad for the over 5,000 children in Guatemala that will languish in public institutions or on the streets with out a family to love them.

So what is next???

So now that we are out of PGN and that our adoption has been approved by the Guatemalan government many of you are asking so what is next? Well we are still awaiting the new birth certificate. It should be completed next week and picked up by our attorney. Once our birth certificated is done our attorney will have Joey's passport done (one quick day) and peition the US embassy for authorization to conduct the second DNA. For some bizarre reason this is called "getting orange" because apparently the peice of paper that the authorization comes on is orange. The attorney and foster mother will then take Joey to the doctor so that they can conduct the second DNA test and send the specimen to a lab in the US. Once the specimen is completed and matched we will be submitted for our pink slip. The pink slip is our PICK UP DATE!!! YIPEE!! So here we wait...not so patiently.

DOS warns Guatemalan adoptions to end 1/1/08- make some noise!!!

Yesterday the US State Department issued a new warning on Guatemalan adoptions - it is a very serious warning that adoptions in Guatemala will end as of Jan. 1 2008, when Guatemala becomes Hague compliant. The warning also states that adoption cases in-process (pending) WILL NOT BE GRANDFATHERED IN under the current adoption laws and MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE COMPLETED. This is completely unacceptable!! These are US citizens who entered a good faith agreement that are now going to be essentially abandoned by their own goverment. Interesting to me that the State Department continues to accept immigration applications (ie. $$$$$$$$$$$$$) for Guatemalan adoptions yet yesterday they made it pointedly clear that they are NOT going to stand behind their citizens. If the situation in Guatemala is so dire than STOP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR IMMIGRATION. This news sickens me; John and I have many friends that are going to end up in this disaster if the US does not pressure Guatemala to create a transition process for pipeline families.

Guatadopt (www.guatadopt.com) has some good info with a link to the DOS statement. I have spent the better half of my day emailing, faxing and calling the State department and congressmen. Even though our son is coming home it pains me to think of the thousands of children that may not find a forever family and the moms and dads whose hearts are breaking right now. I know how it feels when some out-of-touch beurocrat can control the outcome of your family. But, I also know that when people speak up and make themselves heard that we can make a huge difference, we have done it before! Please keep these families and all of the children of Guatemala in your prayers. Please check out Cheri's blog (see links section on side) for a list of talking points and how you can help by contacting your senators, reps. and the State Department.

Our little Angel

WE LOVE INS!!

Now there is something you just dont read everyday! Today John, Sarah and I got up at the crack ass of dawn and headed into Philly to plead for re-fingerprinting. We walked in fully prepared to hear "NO!" but instead were greeted with a refreshing "I'll see what we can do for you". WOW! I was so happy...they did it! Now there "should" be no roadblocks to our bringing our little man home.

I also emailed the Adoption Supervisors and checked on the birth cert. this morning. They said more than likely next week, bummer. BUT, I am NOT complaining.

On a REALLY happy note my fellow Guatemama and great friend, Trina and her husband Kevin are in Guatemala as we speak getting ready to hold their son for the first time. I have goosebumps just thinking about it, because I remember it like it was a moment ago. Trina, if you are reading this today (probably not because you are too busy) I know your heart is full and finally complete today. I cannot wait to see pics of the little man!

Love to all,
Lee Anne

Dumb Fingerprints...

So throughout the four years that John and I have been trying to complete our family we have been fingerprinted no less than FIVE times! We have been fingerprinted by the local, state and federal government and now despite the fact that fingerprints DO NOT change we must do it again!

I feel like I work for the CIA minus the cool top secret info. I would be privy to. The only problem is this time we are in a major time crunch. Our fingerprints expire on 10/17 and we cannot get an appointment to get new ones done until 10/9; one week before they expire. So you are probably thinking hey what's the problem? Well the problem is the US embassy will not issue us permission to come get OUR son if the prints expire within 30 days!!!!!!! Jez, would have been nice to know that rule! So basically John and I are going to just show up at the INS office Wed. morning (immigration) and beg them to fingerprint us! After spending the last 13 monthes battling a foreign country for our son, I guess we must now battle our own! Dumb fingerprints...

Our awesome kids!!!

more photos...there is another post below too w/ pics

Photos from our visit...

Hola from the Mala!

Hi everyone,

We are in Guatemala right now on our third and final visit trip. The next time we come here will be for pick up. We actually brought Sarah with us this time around and so far so good. Just the normal drama that comes with being the first born and an only child for four years. There have been many tears and a few major meltdowns (from Sarah) but overall she seems happy to be here and LOVES her brother (unless he is using something she wants). In one of her moment of complete despair I tried to explain to her that I once felt the same way when my sisters joined my family and that I understand that she is angry, confused and frusturated. I thought we were really reaching an understanding together as tears welled in her eyes and she nodded, but when I asked her if she wanted to talk about how she was feeling she responded (in border-line hysterics) "but my crotch hurts from my bathingsuit!" I am sorry...what? We were talking about deep seeded sibling emotions and she blurts that out! John applauded my efforts, and we both decided that we will save the philosophical conversations for a later date.

Joey is doing pretty good. He has a horrible cold so he is not to chipper at the moment, but doing better than expected considering he probably does not remember us too much. This visit has really shown us how attached he is to Yoli and her family. His pick up trip and the weeks/months subsequent are going to be a huge transition for him (and for us too). We have been a family of three for SO long now and there have been more than a few times in the last 48 hours where I have thought, wow this is going to be a lot more work than I thought. I feel up to the challenge but welcome any advice from other moms/dads with more than one kid (for the sibling rivalry issue) and moms/dads with older adopted kids (attachment issues).

I will post some photos later, I need John to help me with that part and right now Sarah is holding him hostage at the pool!

By the way, thanks for all of the well wishes on the previous post. It is all going in to his babybook. How awesome for him to look back someday, and he better look at it since that book is a lot of work, and see all of the people who were waiting for him.
Love,
Lee Anne, John, Sarah and finally Joey

THE BEST NEWS EVER!

I cannot believe that I am posting this, I really can't! We received an email late this afternoon (6:29 pm to be exact) from the Adoption Supervisors that we are OUT of PGN!!!! I nearly peed my pants! John and I just thrilled beyond words! So you may be asking what does this mean? Basically what it means is that our adoption has been approved by the Guatemalan government!! Joey is officially our son!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another four to six weeks until pick up, but I am so happy right now I don't even care about that! Thank you all of you for your never ending support and encouragement. Please post a comment because all of this is going in Joey's baby book!
Love you all,
Lee Anne, John, Sarah and Joey

The Sign of a Cross

This past Sunday John, Sarah and I went to church. I have been praying especially hard lately, but on Sunday I felt completely discouraged. As I sat through the readings and homily I could not concentrate; my eyes wandered to all of women with swollen bellies and the parents holding beautiful babies. I thought about all of the milestones that we have missed over the last 13 mo. of Joeys life and as I saw precocious toddlers snuggling their moms I wondered will he cling to me like that. I thought about his eventual christening and how big he will be compared to all of the other children there on that day. I pondered where will I even find a baptism outfit for a toddler? I just felt so sad.

But, my depressing train of thought was interrupted by a sassy four year old (Sarah) who had tired of sitting still and was quickly becoming disruptive. I took her by the hand and escorted her to the cry room for alittle "come to Jesus meeting". I knelt down and quietly scolded her for her behavior and explained that we would have to now wait in the back of the church for Daddy. As I stood up I picked her up in my arms and as I did so something caught my eye. I could NOT believe it...hanging in my church right next to me on the wall was the exact SAME hand-painted Guatemalan cross that hangs in Joey's nursery.

I know it sounds silly but to me it was a sign, a sign that I need to keep praying, and keep being patient, and keep waiting and that He is listening and that my son will come home.

It's Friday...again!

I have never in my entire life dreaded Fridays, but I do now! In the world of adoption Fridays suck...because they mean two more days with NO information and updates. I am probably the only one reading this who can honestly say this "I cannot wait until Monday".

The Gestation of a Blue Whale

Throughout this entire adoption process (both domestic and international) we have received some "interesting" comments from both acquaintances and strangers, but perhaps my favorite statement is "Adoption takes a long time, but so does pregnancy! It is just like your pregnant!".

My response (with a great deal of sarcasm)...NO IT IS NOTHING LIKE BEING PREGNANT!!! Having been pregnant I have complete confidence in my response. Pregnancy has a clear beginning and... it has a pretty predictable ending (the main thing adoption is lacking); it might even end alittle earlier than it is supposed to, but worst case it ends two weeks later than estimated.

An adoption can go on and on and on: so unless I am pregnant with a Blue Whale (average gestation period 480 days) adoption is NOTHING like being pregnant.

Hee Hee... :)

Okay here we go...week eight

Alright I am really serious now enough is enough we want out! This is week eight since our most recent resubmission (supposedly the magic amount of time)and the director is FINALLY working on cases from July. Last week he made it up to July 6th, we are the 11th. I have emailed both our agency and the Adoption Supervisors (the hired help) to see what their opinion is. My guess is neither one of them will go out on a limb and venture an opinion, but hey makes more sense then asking John (hee hee). Luckily this week will be busy with Sarah going back to preschool and my practically moving into the gym to work off the SEVEN pounds I gained on vacation last week (John did too). I am going to try and contain myself and only check my email twenty times an hour.

AHH...I was feeling so optomistic when I started this post (not my nature) now the sense of dread is returning...please just let us out of PGN!!!

One year ago today...

September first wow!! One year ago today I was lounging on the couch with my baby sister Katie and Sarah when the email came I remember hearing the "DING" of the computer telling me that I had email...the referral of our son! I nearly peed my pants when I saw the subject line I was SO excited, it felt just like finding out I was pregnant and delivering a baby at the same time. When I saw the first pictures of him I just fell in love, I know it sounds cliche but I did. I printed off a copy of the pic and told my sister that I was going to head to Johns office to tell him the amazing news in person. I gave her specific instructions to forward the email when I called her on my cell, but NO sooner, I wanted to be there to see John's expression when he saw Joey's face for the first time. I am still stunned that I did not get a speeding ticket that day as I raced to the office.

John was SO happy when I told him the news and we waited eagerly together for the email to register in his inbox. "OHHHH, he is SO awesome!" is what he said when the email opened as his face blushed. He just loved him too; I could tell. We called Katie back home and told her to get ready, we were all going out to celebrate.

We have a family tradition whenever we are estatic or need to drown our sorrows we go out for huge ice cream sundaes. Until Sept. 1 2006 the last time we had done that was the night that the domestic adoption had disrupted the Novemeber before. But this time the ice cream was especially sweet: it was a wonderful day, the day that our son was born in our hearts.

I think I will go have a little bowl of ice cream...