Eli's been tagged!!!

Awwww...his first blogger tag! Hee hee!! Logan & Austin and Reese, Cassie, & Krista decided that everyone should know a little bit more about little pea. For this tag, Eli has to list 10 random things about himself. So, here he goes!

1. Sleep is gooooood. I usually sleep around 10-12 hours every night!

2. But, sleeping in a crib is overrated. I would much rather spend the night kicking mommy & daddy.

3. I guess I really need all of that sleep because I can't sit still. I love to jump, bounce, crawl, dance, and touch EVERYTHING!!! Sitting still is just boring!! I don't even like to lay still for a diaper change, which makes it really interesting for my mommy & daddy. It's actually really funny!! Like the time in MonoLoco restaurant...I made such a mess in my diaper that mommy & daddy had to take all my clothes off in the booth and then they ran out of wipes! Then Aeson's mommy had to come to the rescue with more wipes. It was like a circus!! I was trying to see what was going on, but for some reason my mommy did not like me sticking my hands in the mess. So I then had to stick my hands in my hair.

4. When I get really tired, I love to scratch my head and pull on my hair and ears.

5. I love to eat!!! I love black beans, chicken, papaya, bananas, carrots, red peppers, pancakes, guacamole, cake...the only thing I really don't like is pineapple.

6. One of my favorite games is "ojitos." My foster family plays this game with me. They say "ojitos", which means little eyes, and we all squint our eyes together. My mommy thought it was really cute and sweet.

7. My mommy & daddy say I have a funny laugh that sounds like a baby howler monkey.

8. My mommy & daddy also told me I am really smart (they said I have to earn lots of scholarships, too). I learned how to pull out the big phone book and stand on it so I could reach all of the fun stuff on the bedside table. I also learned how to climb off of the big king size bed and I discovered where daddy packed the snacks in the suitcase.

9. Mommy is a little worried that I have a high pain tolerance. I hit my head a lot, but it didn't bother me. One night I fell and hit my head on the wall and it just made me laugh!! I think I heard her say the word "daredevil." She also said my daddy is the same way. If that's the case, I think daddy and me are going to have loads of fun together when I come home!!

10. My mommy & daddy are pretty awesome. They smiled and laughed A LOT when we were all together. They also gave me lots of hugs and kisses. I think I make them very happy.

I guess I get to tag some of my buddies!! I like this game!!

Aeson
Kinsey & Kaiden
Jazzlynn
Nathaniel (Little E)
Katelyn
Alex & Anika
Dominic
Jadon

TAG...YOU'RE IT!!!!

Well, we are settling back into the daily grind of waiting and missing our little boy like crazy. There really are no words to describe what it is like to say goodbye and now we have done it three times. We are so lucky to have spent this time with Eli, but we are certainly tired of saying goodbye. It helps knowing that his foster family loves him dearly and considers him a part of their family. They were so excited to see him at the end of our trip and he them. Eli is simply thriving in their care. He is healthy, happy, and developmentally right on track.

On this trip, for the first time, we could actually visualize Eli coming home. Being together as a family felt more real than ever. It is a wonderful feeling to have, though bittersweet when we have to say goodbye. On the way to Guatemala, we watched the movie "Martian Child" on the plane. It is a beautiful movie about adoption and finding that place of love, acceptance, and belonging. By the end of the movie, Jason and I were both crying, blubbering messes but it was the perfect beginning for an amazing week with our sweet pea. There are two quotes from the movie that stood out to me (may not be exact wording):

"We reached out into the universe and found one another. I don't know how and I don't know why, but we did and that is where we belong."

"Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever give up."

This past week with Eli was incredible in so many ways. It reinforced to us that everything we have been through on our journey to parenthood led us directly to little pea, all in perfect timing. And, the delays we are experiencing in bringing him home have provided us life changing opportunities. This realization does not take away the pain, anxiety, and longing but it helps us to focus on all of the wonderful blessings we have received in the midst of waiting. When I reflect back on everything we have experienced in the the past year, pain and anxiety is not the first thing I feel. I feel joy, gratitude, and overwhelming love. I will continue to feel anxious until our sweet pea comes home, but I will not allow that to erase the incredible love and joy he has brought into our lives. We smiled from ear to ear and laughed A LOT the whole week with Eli. I am still laughing out loud just thinking of Eli's funnies!! Here is one sweet moment. Oh, the simple things that make children laugh!! Enjoy.

Semana Santa

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Home

Well, we made it back...barely! Our last night in Guate started out great!! We went to dinner with some new friends (Danny, Brittney, and sweet babygirl Kinsey) and then spent the rest of the evening playing in our room. Eli was in such a playful mood and he was making us laugh all evening! Then, it all went downhill! I started feeling a little sick, but did not really think much about it and went to bed. Well, it wasn't long before the chills started, then the sweating and high fever, then the vomitting, then the severe stomach pains...the doctor arrived around 6:30am. Thank goodness the Marriott has a doctor on-call! He gave me a pain medication and some antibiotics. Oh, it was awful! Poor Jason was up all night taking care of me, Eli, running to the pharmacy, and then packing all of our bags to go home. Have I mentioned that I have the BEST husband? For awhile, it was questionable whether we were going to make our flight home, but we did and it was a very long day! I definitely feel a bit better today, but still on the mend.

We had such an amazing trip and have lots to share, including Eli's first haircut!! This boy has a serious head of hair! It grows straight up. I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of money on haircuts and hair product!! His foster mother said she tried to cut it, but he would not sit still. So, we took him to the salon at the Marriott for a little trim.

Before....constant bedhead

After

More cuteness

"Yay! Look how tall I am!!!"

Ya, and look how much Jason is struggling to hold up this big pea! Hee hee!! :)

Waiting for one of the Semana Santa processions to start. Eli was such a trooper throughout all of our adventures!!

Ahhhhh, daddy love. Jason and Eli started this adorable game while waiting for another procession. Eli would lay his head on Jason's chest and they would both say "ahhhhhhh." This went on over and over. Oh, soooo sweet!!!

"Wow!! I am king of the world!!!" Eli also enjoyed using Jason's head as a drum!

Standing up at the big boy picnic table.

Playing with his buddy Aeson at MonoLoco restaurant in Antigua.

Eli practicing his wave with mommy.

Having fun with the activity table!!

Check out Kimberly's blog for some more pics!!!

We're Here!!!

We made it!! Sorry is has taken so long to update, but we have been BUSY!!! And, we are about to head off again on another adventure so I don't have much time. We are having an amazing time. We are staying in Antigua with Kimberly and Aeson and Kimberly has been such a great hostess! We spent all day yesterday watching the Semana Santa processions and it was INCREDIBLE!!! We have tons of pics to share later.

Eli has been doing very well despite some separation anxiety. He is cleary very attached to his foster mother and that is wonderful. He is so much fun and such a sweet boy.

Okay, gotta go. Antigua is waiting for us! ;)

In the meantime, here are a few pics to tide you over!

Holding up Hope

From the last post: We know we are surrounded by love and hope. We know on the days that we feel very low, many of you are holding up that hope for us.

Look what arrived the day I wrote that. A box full of love and hope from my blogger pal, Nicole. Included was her Guatemalan cell phone she so generously gave to us to use on our next trip, a gift card for some "retail therapy," and the essentials for surviving an embassy appointment - snacks! Thank you, Nicole!!!!!!!

My brother and Chris came over on Sunday to install Eli's window valance. Isn't it incredible? We LOVE it!!!

Not only did we come home to a box of hope from Nicole, we also came home to a little surprise in Eli's room...the finished crib skirt!!!! My brother snuck in while we work! Oh, we just love, love, love it!! The nursery is close to being finished. Now, that is FULL of love and hope!!!

And, the preparations for our next trip have begun....yes, this is what we have to pack and this is not all of it. It is a sickness, I know. Retail therapy really does help. Hee hee!!! What better way to restore our hope than to love on our sweet pea. Oh, we can't wait!!!

Our attorney reported today that we are still in PGN. I have been fighting the urge to call PGN all week, mainly because I was too scared to hear bad news! Well, I finally broke down and called today to find out exactly where we are in the review process. Of course, I couldn't get through. I was hung up on a couple of times, was told to call back, and when I did call back I was told that Laura (the famous PGN receptionist) went home sick. Maybe tomorrow.

Happy 11 months!!!

mmmmmm...yummmmy teething biscuit

Can you believe it? Little pea is 11 months old!! Wow! Only a few more days, sweet pea.....


We really don't have anything to report. Still waiting...tick tock...tick tock...sigh...


I haven't posted much over the last week or so because, well, I really don't have much to say! Same old, same old...tired of waiting...aching for Eli to come home...anxious we may get kicked out again...blah, blah, blah. I am tired of "wow, I don't know how you guys do it," "why is it taking so long," "why can't you just go down and get him," and my favorite. "hang in there." I know people have the greatest intentions and, at this point, nobody even knows what to say anymore. I think we are all out of words. But, that's okay. No words are needed. We know we are surrounded by love and hope. We know on the days that we feel very low, many of you are holding up that hope for us.

But, honestly, I am really tired of myself right now!!! Can I take a vacation from myself?? I have been in such a fog the last couple of weeks. Numb is not really the right word, but it is the only one that comes to mind. I certainly don't feel "numb," yet I feel like I am just going through the motions of everyday life right now, very disconnected. My newest skill, or more like a symptom, is the ability to completely tune out everything that is going on around me with the flip of a switch. There could be 20 people in my office talking all at once and there are times I would not even notice. Pretty scary, eh? I think I am just feeling so worn out by this process, that I am turning into a zombie. I know it will pass and it is simply a coping method, but I am so ready to be DONE. There certainly is the possibility of being kicked out of PGN again and that thought makes me nauseous. But, there is nothing we can do at this point except wait and hold on tight to hope. I know this time waiting will pale in comparison to a lifetime with Eli. I know that one of these days, I will be begging for time to slow down. But, right now, this time waiting for Eli feels like an eternity!

Fav Foto Friday

Eli at his best!! He is such an active pea, he could barely sit still for a bottle!! So cute. Oh, do I love this sweet boy.

I called PGN on Monday and at that time we were with the 2nd reviewer. Ya, we've been there before. Let's hope this time we are approved. Come on. It's time. Please set us FREEEEEEE!!!

Picture Parade

A little something sweet in our inbox tonight!! Check out our CHUNKY pea!! Oh my gosh...look at those cheeks and those chubby little fingers! Hee hee!!! And, that toy action figure just cracks me up!

It's okay baby boy, mommy & daddy will be there very soon!!

"Really?? You're coming?? YIPPEEEEEE!!!!"
"Did you hear?? My mommy and daddy are coming!!!!!"

Ramblings of a Madman

I've had this overwhelming urge to post lately, but my thoughts are so random and jumbled lately that I feared I would just ramble-on incoherently. However, I'm going to give it a go anyway, so you've been warned.

First, I wanted to piggy back the comment Steph made about Eli feeling so far away. I too have been feeling the same lately. I didn't know Steph felt the same until I read the latest post. I find this feeling somewhat disconcerting. Throughout this process, this is the furthest Eli has felt from me. I hope this is just a natural progression of emotions, and it only last a short time because it is not a good feeling, to say the least. While on the topic of emotions, I've been looking for a way to explain all that we have experienced throughout this adoption. I don't like calling it a roller coaster ride. For one, it is cliche. Two, a roller coaster ride only lasts a short time - two minutes tops. This has certainly gone on longer than that. So, I am open to suggestions. How do you describe an experience where you have your heart ripped-out with bad news then handed back to you within days, sometimes hours or minutes with the best news you've heard in while? How do you describe the joy and bliss, the utter sadness and helplessness we've had to endure? However you describe it, we want off of this ride. We want our Eli for good!!

Despite all of the crap we've had to endure, in the same breath we feel very blessed. To put a positive spin on us having to wait as long as we have, it has given us the opportunity to experience Guatemala in ways we probably would not have otherwise. Had we flown through this adoption we probably would have never taken a visit trip, let alone three. It is because of having to wait we have met so many wonderful people, both here in the US and in Guatemala. We probably never would have got to see the hospital where Eli was born. We would not have experienced Christmas in Guatemala- one of the best experiences of my life. And now, we will get to see Semana Santa. The best part is we did this all with Eli. These will be important parts of Eli's life story. It because of all of these happenings that we have fallen madly in love with Guatemala. It is in our soul. We feel such a strong connection to Guatemala, even greater than this is being Eli''s birth country. I think I speak for both of us when I say, Guatemala is on our minds every hour of everyday. We are always plotting ways in which we can go there and stay for awhile (longer than a week). So, to say we are blessed is an understatement. Don't get me wrong, I'm not jumping up and down with joy the adoption has taken this long, but I do feel blessed.

Once again I think I speak for the both of us on this, we have been provided a deeper glimpse into inner beings, due to our excruciating wait. We have seen how strong we really are and can be in the face of hardship. I am amazed how gracefully we have gotten through all of this. That doesn't mean there haven't been some ugly days around here because there have been . . . some really ugly ones. But, we get back up to face the next challenge. People have said to me in the past when I tell them what is happening "I don't know how you guys do it." I once responded, and I truly believe this - this is the hardest thing I have ever done, yet it is the easiest. I think it is pretty obvious how it's been hard, but it has been so easy because I want this so badly. When something goes wrong with our adoption I don't have to wonder what we are going to do; I already know. We are going to do whatever is necessary to get through it and to rectify the issue. It's that easy, but not easy by any means. Anything worth doing is going to be difficult. I didn't fully realize what I was signing-on for when we decided on this adoption . . . I still don't.

Reconnecting

The past 3 weeks or so have been incredibly stressful, full of so many uncertainties and so many emotions. I have really been struggling with anger over our delays and sadness over the time we are missing with little pea. Up until recently, I had not put much energy into lamenting the things we are "missing" because that is just something I prepared myself for when we embarked on this incredible adoption journey. But, Jason and I never imagined Eli would not be home for his first birthday and, as that day draws closer, it is becoming harder not to think about lost time. I have realized over the past couple of days that I am much sadder and struggling more than I really wanted to admit. And, Eli has been feeling farther and farther away.

At the same time, however, I still do not want to be consumed by this sadness and anger. I do not want it to cloud the joy and blessings of this process. Yes, despite the delays and frustrations, this has been an incredibly life-changing experience in more ways than we ever imagined. We acknowledge that our delays have brought many blessings in disguise. That certainly does not erase the heartache, the anger, sadness, and the anxiety, but it helps us remember that there is so much more than that.

So, to help ease my sadness and help bring Eli a little closer, we watched some of our video from our last visit trip. It was just what I needed. Dan and Erica videotaped this clip for us as we were reunited with Eli after four months. THANK YOU!! We were so lucky to meet Dan & Erica and their sweet son, AJ. We received our referrals on the same day and our timelines have been virtually identical! If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of Dan & AJ in the background.

Eli's foster mother had to wake him up when we met them in the lobby of the hotel so he was still a little groggy and probably a little overwhelmed! But, this video is priceless and it is one incredible moment in our lives. As my dear friend, Beth, reminded me in her perfect way, we are creating our own unique story on becoming a family. We are experiencing our own unique "firsts." This video is part of that story. Oh, and I love watching how much Eli's foster mother dotes on him and how much her son adores Eli! He is so loved. The video is a little long and the resolution is low, but enjoy!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Finally...

our attorney found the time to submit our file to PGN yesterday. Me bitter??? Nah.......

Okay, letting it go and moving on....it's time to beg.

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE, PGN, let our sweet boy come home!!!!

"Bring it on PGN. I can handle that big stamp of approval. Let me prove it to ya."

Fav Foto Friday

I love this foto!! Eli woke up very early one morning and decided it was time to play. He was crawling all over Jason and then just laid down his head and fell asleep. Oh, it was so cute!! Not too much longer before we will be soaking in more of this sweetness!

As far as any updates on our case...nothing. Nada. Zilch. As of yesterday, our attorney still had not resubmitted our case to PGN even though our file has been ready since 2/10. There are families who were resubmitted 2/11 and have already received PGN approval while our file just sits on a desk. To say we are frustrated right now is an understatement. We are really fighting that anger and bitterness. It's hard. VERY hard. I will just leave it at that for now.

More Guatemalan cooking!

My newest Guatemalan cookbook finally arrived! I LOVE it! It has recipes from all over Guatemala and Central America. My first dish from this cookbook comes from Livingston, Guatemala which is located on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of the Rio Dulce. There are no roads that lead into Livingston so it is only reachable by boat. Livingston is home to a small Garifuna population, which is very distinct from the rest of Guatemala with its culture and language (though most also speak Spanish). The Garinagu are the descendants of Caribs Indians and Black African slaves. Overall, Livingston is noted for its unusual mix of Garífuna, Maya, Indian, and Latino people and culture. It's quite fascinating to discover the rich diversity of Guatemala.

This dish is called Pollo Con Leche de Coco, Chicken with Coconut Milk. It was DELICIOUS!!! This recipe is definitely a keeper. Very easy and YUMMY!!!



We ate the chicken dish over rice and served it with Chayote, or Guisquil, as it is called in Guatemala. Chayote is a small, slightly sweet pear-shaped squash that is very common in Guate. It is eaten in a variety of ways: stews, mashed, fried, baked, and even in desserts. I just sauteed it with a little bit of butter and cilantro.



Chek out some Punta music and dancing straight from Livingston, Guatemala. Who wants to give it a try?!?!

Stunning Semana Santa

Check out these incredible pics of Semana Santa in Antigua. Click on the Semana Santa Set. Breathtaking.

Semana Santa

Guess where we're going.....

GUATEMALA!!!

Oh, I am soooo excited I can hardly stand it!!!!! We will be with little pea 3/19 - 3/25. We initially wanted to go for his birthday, but it is very difficult for Jason to get time off as a teacher. So we are going during his spring break, which also happens to fall around my birthday and Semana Santa (Holy Week). So, we will celebrate my birthday (the BEST birthday present EVER!!), Eli's birthday, and experience Semana Santa.

Semana Santa is probably the one of the most important holidays in Guatemala, especially in Antigua. AND, we are going to Antigua on Good Friday to experience this incredible celebration. It's an amazing trip already! The best and most important part, of course, is being with our little pea. EEEEEEEEEECK!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! Check out some pics: Semana Santa.

Ya know, when we started this adoption process, we were not planning on taking even one visit trip. I cannot believe we are going back for the THIRD time!! We just can't stay away. One positive aspect of our adoption taking longer is it is giving us the opportunity to have these amazing experiences. I have dreamed of going to Antigua during Semana Santa and NOW I AM!!!!! Have I mentioned how EXCITED I am?????

So, how are we affording this? Well, I bring this up because it is a funny story!! When we arrived home from our visit trip in December, we discovered that someone had smashed into our car and did not leave any note. Hit & Run. Of course, we were upset and couldn't believe that someone would do such a thing and not leave a note! The damage really wasn't too bad. The front bumper was damaged and one of the headlights. We decided not to get the car repaired because it is old and not worth putting money into. Plus, Jason is a pretty handy guy! He worked his magic with some duct tape and fixed the light. Hee hee! We still filed an insurance claim and got $600 after our deductible. End of story, right? Well...about a month later Jason calls me at work and proceeds to inform me that our car was hit AGAIN!! This time it was in his school parking lot. One of the subsitute teachers thought it was a good idea to allow a student to drive her car (nevermind he didn't have a driver's license). What happened? Ran right into our car in just about the same spot! A few more dents added, but hey, I guess they add character, eh?!?! Can you believe it? I told Jason this car was bad karma...he said "either that or a cash cow!" Well, we got some estimates and the teacher simply wrote us a check for almost $1400. So, our car is a little more beat up, but...I don't care!!! WE ARE GOIN' TO GUATEMALA!!!!

It's OFFICIAL!!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!! We received a copy of our stamped registration receipt today. Oh wow!! We really needed to see that. Last week we were so upset with our attorney, this week we LOVE him!!!! Our attorney and our agency has really been on top of providing information to us. I guess being a squeaky wheel really does work! Ahhhhh...we are breathing deep tonight and restoring our energy for the next hurdle...PGN. I hope we get resubmitted SOON!!! I think they have seen our file enough already. It's time for that big stamp of APPROVAL. PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!! Yes, I have resorted to begging. Eli has some wise words for PGN:

"Seriously, dude, I am ready to come home. Just sign your name where it says APPROVED. Come on, it's that easy. You can do it...I know you can. Now...don't make me throw a temper tantrum!"

PHEW.......

Oh, what a ride this is....we received verbal confirmation from our agency that our attorney re-registered our case over the weekend. THANK GOD!!!!! In fact, they confirmed that ALL of the families with our agency are registered. Our agency promised to provide us with a copy of the receipt, so we are anxiously waiting to see with it with our own eyes!!! We stalked the various adoption boards all weekend for updates on the registration process. In fact, Jason was initiated into the world of adoption boards and I think he is hooked. We may have a fellow board stalker in the house! Ha!!

The central authority stayed open until midnight on Saturday and very late Sunday. It sounds like the attorneys literally stood in line for HOURS waiting to submit paperwork. Can you imagine??? We are so grateful for all their hard work and dedication to get families registered. Unfortunately, there are still many families still waiting to get registered and tomorrow is the deadline. If you received our e-mail and have not sent any letters, yet. Please still do!! No child should be left behind because time ran out. One thing we have learned in this process is the power of community, the power of speaking out and taking a stand. It matters!!

So, we can finally take a deep breath at least for tonight. Some people are reporting that PGN is accepting files back with the registration number so it is possible we could be resubmitted this week. So, what does Eli think of the latest development?

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about!! Let's see some of this fast action in PGN."

And...HAPPY 10 MONTH BIRTHDAY, SWEETPEA!!!!!!!!!

More craziness!!

Well, the procedures for the Central Authority have changed, yet, again!! This is just nuts!! But, it is not necessarily a bad thing because it sounds like they are starting to get organized, they have staff, hopefully office supplies, and the funding was apparently finally released by the president. Of course, there are still many rumors and speculations. But, what we know for sure is that ALL of the attorneys must return to the Central Authority and re-register cases by 2/12. Okay, we are talking about approximately 2500 cases. Can you believe this???

The attorneys have been advised to bring back the original stamped registration form (what they received when they first registered cases) and they will be restamped with a registration number. There is speculation that PGN may accept cases with this number as proof of registration rather than waiting for the central authority to issue a certificate of registration, which could take weeks and weeks. But, it is purely speculation and interpretation at this point and, as you know, everything changes by the hour. So, we just have to wait and see.

Apparently, the attorneys started lining up today and there was still a very long line late into the evening. The central authority will be open all weekend so hopefully they can get all of these cases re-registered by 4:00pm on 2/12. Good grief!

We also received confirmation from our agency tonight that they WILL be providing ALL families copies of the stamped registration forms, though we may not get them until later next week. Even so, our coordinator assured me that we would receive a verbal or e-mail confirmation of our re-registration no later than 4pm on 2/12.

We just need to get through this registration mess. Hopefully, they will get these cases registered quickly and we can get back into PGN soon. Not that we really want to go back to that blackhole, but we gotta get back in to get OUT. I'll tell ya what, I am tired of "apparently," "hopefully," "maybe," "wait and see," etc. etc. Let's get this worked out and get these children home already!! So, what does Eli think of all of this?

"You gotta be kiddin' me. Get your act together people. I want to come home!"

Quick update

FINALLY...we received confirmation from our agency that our attorney registered us with the central authority on Tuesday. We requested proof of this registration and hopefully we will receive that soon. When our attorney submitted our case, he should have received a stamped copy of our submission paperwork basically confirming it was received. This is what we want to see. Phew...it has been an extremely stressful few days not knowing the fate of our case given all of the current political craziness. The stress of all three previos combined does not even compare to the stress of the last 3 days. I am emotionally and mentally exhausted!! But, this mama and papa stood strong! I suspect we may be blacklisted at our agency right now! Hee hee!! I don't care. This was WAY to important and critical for me to care.

One question we have been asked several times is if we can change attorneys at this point and the answer is a big fat NO for several reasons. The most important reason is we signed power of attorney when we accepted little pea's referral to allow our attorney and his assistant to act on our behalf. The grandfather clause specifies that a case must have a registered POA in Guatemala by 12/30/07 in order to proceed under the previous adoption law. So, if we switched attorneys now, we would have to sign a new POA and we would no longer be grandfathered. If we are not grandfathered, our case would be subjected to the new laws and that would have an unthinkable outcome for our family.

Okay, it's time for SURVIVOR!!!! A much needed respite from a very stressful week.

Check this out

There has been sooooo much bad press about Guatemalan adoptions lately and it has all been one-sided. This article is a breath of fresh air from everything else that has been out there. I usually choose not to read many of the articles because it is just too stressful right now. I don't always like Jon Stossel, but I think he did a great job trying to balance out the story in his one. Granted, the situation in Guatemala and adoption in general is much more complicated, but it certainly offers a different perspective than what we generally hear outside of the adoption community.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2008/02/06/usa_makes_adoption_harder

We do not have an update, yet. Apparently, our attorney submitted his cases to the Central Authority yesterday, but I am not holding my breath until we get confirmation. I know some of our "non-adopting" friends have a lot of questions about all of this. I will try to answer some of them in another post.

Standing on the ledge

Oh, just when we didn't think we could handle anymore bad news....we found out today that our attorney DID NOT submit our case to the Central Authority for registration. In fact, he did not submit any of his cases. We were initially informed that we had been submitted last Wednesday. WRONG. We still have not been submitted, and as you know from the previous post, the Central Authority is not accepting cases right now. How did this happen??? Does our attorney not realize this deadline is not optional?? Getting registered means our adoption either continues or it doesn't. Simple as that. Yes, I am very angry tonight.

At the same time, I CAN'T imagine that our attorney would allow all of our cases to simply be annulled. I can't imagine he would let that happen. This is a completely preventable thing. Oh, I can't believe this.

There is a rumor that the Central Authority started accepting cases again today. Hopefully, this is true and our attorney can get us submitted, like, TOMORROW. The initial deadline to register cases was 2/12, but obviously there have been many complications. It is possible that the deadline could be extended, but that would require a vote from congress. This is such a mess...

Ohhh, I think I am on the verge of a panic attack...someone hand me a paperbag.

Not the news we wanted to hear....

but also not completely unexpected. We were informed by our agency on Friday that the Central Authority is temporarily shutdown. They are not accepting any new registrations and they are not issuing any registration certificates at this time. There are several things going on. My friend Jennifer did an excellent job explaining everything on her blog so click on this link for more information: http://www.lifewithfishers.com/2008/02/whats-going-on-in-guatemala.html.

Basically, we are caught in a political mess and who knows when this will all be straightened out. It's so discouraging and it is so difficult not to be overwhelmed with all of these uncertainties, especially since things seem to change by the hour! The future of our family is in the hands of both Guatemalan and US politicians, many of whom are more concerned with power and control than what is in the best interest of children. Of course, there are many people fighting for our children, but the fight is plagued with so many political games. All of us stuck in this mess are hoping for some answers soon. I think I can comfortably speak for all of us in process that we are ready to get off this roller coaster ride!!

Something sweet....

just in time for fav foto Friday!! What a sweet little surprise in our inbox last night. These fotos were probably taken in the last week or so. Boy, do these make me want to catch the next flight out to Guatemala.....