Home and doing well

Sorry that it has been so long since I've given a final update. I know that a few of you revisit this blog to see how Charlie's adoption was going. He is home and settling in! There has definitely been an adjustment period. He KNEW that there was a change in his life. At 7.5mos, I could see it (whereas Patrick did not seem to go through it when he came home at 5.5mos). Charlie has been very sober since coming home - not very quick to smile. That is becoming less so (especially when his big brother dances around in front of him - at the height of silliness!). He is incredibly sweet and very laid back. As we walk around the neighborhood, Charlie ALWAYS has at least one foot up on the stroller bar - just kickin' back!

Patrick has been a GREAT big brother. He is so sweet with Charlie. As I mentioned, he LOVES to make Charlie laugh. We're still working on what is too rough play, but other than that he really loves having Charlie here. Two cases of rough play:
1) As I was in the kitchen making dinner, I could hear laughter in the living room (both boys - hysterical laughing). I poked my head out to see Patrick spinning Charlie in the excersaucer. YIKES! That was curtailed immediately.
2) Tonight, again I was in the kitchen and could hear laughter in the living room. You'd think that I would have learned and gone right out? Not so much. A little later I look out and Charlie is soaked - as is the front of Patrick's shirt! Turns out, Patrick was taking mouthfuls of water and spit-spraying it at Charlie. That both found this hysterical. Unfortunately, I did too - and had a hard time explaining not to do it again! If only the battery on my camera was charged!!

Attached is a slideshow of the boys so that you can see how they're doing:
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/ldaly550/?action=view&current=cfed32c0.pbw
as well as a slideshow with a few cool shots of the Chicago Marathon as it came past our home:
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m40/ldaly550/?action=view&current=ccfd0a40.pbw

Greetings from Guatemala!

I wish that I could have posted last night, but I had trouble getting to the blog. My mom is here with me and things have gone really well. Charlie´s foster mom was to bring him here yesterday at 6am - prior to our 7:15am Embassy Appt. I only learned later in the day that she arrived at 4:30am! But he arrived safely. It was a very tough goodbye. I did not get to meet his birthmom as I´d hoped (but expected that to be the case). The embassy appt was a breeze (oh, except Charlie pretty much screamed for most of the waiting time - the waiting area is like the DMV). This afternoon was the Visa pickup (again - at the embassy).

Other than that, we´ve stayed at a very nice little b&b type place right next door to the embassy. We walked around town yesterday and did some shopping. Today we stayed close - reading in the garden.

We leave very early tomorrow (up at 4:45am which 5:45am CT) to catch our cab at 5:30 and our 8:30am flight.

We look forward to seeing everyone and will post pics when we get settled!

Guatemala Bound

Well, here it is...the pickup trip is finally here. In some ways this seems like forever ago. In other ways, it has gone so quickly. We'll be bringing Charlie home in 4 days - such a quick trip. Thanks for all your support through this. We're off tomorrow am. The hotel we're staying at doesn't have great internet connectivity so I may not post until we're home on Friday.

Until then please keep us in your prayers that our trip goes smoothly.

PINK PINK PINK!

In this case, getting your pink slip is a VERY good thing. I talked to the Guatemala US Embassy today at 3:50pm to find out that we have pink! Our US Embassy appt is next Wednesday, 9/12 and we will return on Friday, 9/14.

I'll try to post from Guatemala if possible, but will definitely post pictures of Charlie when we get home. Thanks to all of you for your support through this!

And we still wait...

Still no word on pink. Will probably need to bug my agency today. I don't want to wait too long or my Embassy appt will be over a week out!

As for my condo - the inspection went well! YEH! Now, once kid #2 is home, we need to find a place to live. Hey grandma - are you getting your basement ready for us??? :-)

Tomorrow is a BIG day...

we seem to have a lot of those recently. But tomorrow is my home inspection (for the buyer of my condo) AND we hope to get pink (US Embassy rec'd 2nd DNA last Thursday). I SO hope that this is all settled and we're off next weekend for a Monday embassy appt - just need the stars to align.

Then when we get home, I have to find a place to live before my condo closes on Nov 1 and figure out new daycare (and maybe have a christening - we'll see!) before returning to work on Nov 19. Deep breadths...one step at a time...

I'll update you later this week. C'mon US Embassy - I want to make travel arrangements!!

Second DNA Results Received - on to PINK!

It won't be long now! My agency received the results for the 2nd DNA test and they'll be sent to the US Embassy tomorrow. With the proper star alignment this means that the US Embassy will issue my pink slip (in this case it is a good thing) to my atty and embassy appointment date. I'm guessing my embassy day will be 9/10!!!

All this and a contract on my condo today too. Now to find a new place. YIKES!

Training, we don't need no stinkin' training...

I received word from my agency today that we were submitted for PINK today! Apparently the embassy granted some appointments - despite original word that they were taking the whole week off for training. So what is left is getting the 2nd DNA test done and final review and signoff by the US Embassy (resulting in a PINK slip).

I did see that someone received PINK today after having been submitted 2 weeks ago. YIKES! This could mean travel the week of 9/10! More to follow...

We got Birth Certificate today!

Only 1.5 weeks to get the new birth certificate (from GC for those that are tracking timelines). This is really quick. The birth cert has Charlies given birth name as his first name and my last name as his last name. It also officially lists me as his mother. Our adoption is complete according to the Guatemala gov't!

The bummer is that getting the BC a week or so earlier than expected doesn't speed up the overall process. The US Embassy isn't taking any appointments for the next week due to training (what?!?). So we can't be submitted for 'pink' until 8/27. Basically, this last step is a US Embassy review of all docs to approve for a US Visa. This includes a new step where a second DNA test is done (to verify this was the same baby that started the process - with the same birthmom). With this new process, it isn't clear when we'll get pink.

Hopefully we'll be travelling in mid to late September to pick him up! Stay tuned...

No News is Good News...

Well, now the final wait begins. It is hard to believe that this is finally all coming together. All this, while trying to sell our condo and find a new place. I just KNOW that something will happen on my condo JUST as I'm about to take off for Guatemala. Uggh - the thought of moving with two of them home.

Anyone know of anyone looking for a vintage 2br condo in Chicago??!?!

There probably won't be any more news for 2 weeks (just waiting for a birth certificate that has his 'new' last name!). But come back next week, as I should have updated pictures from him monthly medical appointment.

We're OUT!!!

That is a good thing. It means we're out of PGN - which is the most unpredictable time in the adoption process. We were in 1 day shy of 10 weeks - which is on the lower end of average.

If all goes well, Charlie will be home in roughly 5 weeks. That having been said, today is the first day that a new process went into affect. The US Embassy is now requiring a second DNA test (testing Charlie to ensure that he still matches the DNA results on file for his birthmom to validate that there wasn't a baby switch mid process). It is not clear how long that will take, but I'm hoping 5 weeks is a fair guess to pickup.

I'll keep you posted!

Four Month Old Dr Visit Pictures

More new pictures! This is from his fourth month Doctor visit. He is happy and healthy. Up to 12.6 lbs. Hopefully the PGN-man will give us a break...

Kicked out of PGN and (soon to be) back in!

Turns out that Charlie's case was kicked out of PGN (i.e. the Guat Atty Generals review - it is highly common to get ko'd - I've ready 96% of cases get ko'd at least once). It was ko'd a couple of days ago for having an "old" police letter. It was done in August and is supposed to be less than 6mos old. Well, my atty talked to the PGN reviewer and will allow the atty to create an 'act' (some form of legal verification) and attach it to my letter.

This is great news because it could take weeks to get a new form in their hands (the Guatemalan Consulate is running SO SLOW). I'm going to do the form anyway - just in case anyone questions it. But in the meantime, we go back into PGN friday and move forward!

I'm still hoping he's home by September. This would allow a month to clear PGN and 5 weeks for the remainder of the process. We'll see...

New Pictures!

I added a new picture to the right. You have to look twice, because he is in the same outfit as his last picture. His foster mom puts him in the same outfit (because I sent it down). He's getting big! I got these last week, and they were late due to vacation schedules. But I expect another set in a week or so.

Charlie went into PGN on 5/21. This step should take 2-3months (please God!). This step is highly variable though. Hopefully he'll be home by September!

Stay tuned!

Charlie has a bio sister in NJ...

I had a really nice email from a woman in New Jersey (our agency put us in touch). Charlie has a biological sister that is 7 years old. She has two brothers. How exciting is that? I'm really thrilled and looking forward to meeting her and her family some day. We need to bring Charlie home first!!!

Could it be?!?! PREAPPROVAL!

Well, this may not mean much to some, but this is a big step. The US Embassy grants preapproval (PA) that they'll recognize Charlie as a US Citizen once the adoption is complete. The US Embassy has been taking REALLY long (more recently, 11 weeks), so I thought I wouldn't get PA for another month. The email came today!

So what is next, you ask? Well, PGN is the next big step. You can see that Charlie's timeline has been tracking pretty much right on with Patrick's. Here is where they'll likely diverge. I would imagine that it will take at least 2mos to get out of PGN. Time will tell!

Please keep us in your prayers. There are still changes to the law being proposed and voted on. I hope that they do the right thing for the kids. Stay tuned for more info...hopefully I'll get updated pics in the next week!

Can it be? Good news AGAIN??

Well, I'll keep expecting the worst, while enjoying the best! Today, I got word that we're out of Family Court (YEEHHH!). In the next 2-3 weeks I should be hearing about Preapproval. Once that happens, we enter the dreaded PGN. Come on US Embassy! Give up that Preapproval!!!

Pictures and Medical Update

Check out the two new pictures in the sidebar to the right!!

Charlie is healthy and growing! He is now 20.9" (up 2.4" since birth) and 9.8lbs (up 3.8 lbs since birth). I love the pictures - he always looks surprised! His fostermom puts him in the outfit that I gave to her, which is very thoughtful. She is a wonderful woman. Her name is Myra (Meera) and she is in the second picture with Charlie. If all goes well, it will be another month before I have any more news to report. Let's hope that is the case!

DNA Results Back - It's A Match!

DNA results were sent to the US Embassy yesterday. Now we wait for them to review them and give preapproval (saying they'd recognize Charlie as a US Citizen if the adoption completes by the rules setforth). It will be 5-6 weeks before I receive preapproval. Hopefully we'll be out of Family Court then too (birthmom interview by a social worker). Then on to the dreaded PGN (Guatemalan Atty General's office that reviews all documentation - can take MANY months and can 'kick out' for the littlest things).

I hope to get the monthly medical update (with pictures!) sometime next week. Come back to see!

More progress!

Good news today! DNA Testing occurred on 3/22 - only two days after DNA Authorization. This means that Charlie and his birthmom went to be tested by the US Embassy to confirm that she is the bilogical mother; this is the first of many times that she confirms her wishes for this adoption plan.

In a parallel process, Charlie's birthmom has to go before the Tribunal (or Family Court). This is an interview with a Guatemalan social worker that confirms her history and adoption plan wishes. Another step.

These are really significant and are moving faster than I'd expected. YEEEHH! On the conservative side, I'm waiting to turn a corner and see tailights. Until then, let's enjoy the ride!!

Is it Good News, Bad News, or just News??

Truth be told, I don't know that it is good news. I'm hoping that this process is improved, but I don't know that proposed changes are going to do that due to issues like no funding. My concern is not just for Charlie's adoption but for all the kids and adoptive families (especially the kids left behind if things stop or are dramatically slowed).

There is an alphabet soup of players (ADA, DOS, JCICS, NCFA) in a he said / she said debate. This gives a good overview of the basics: http://www.guatadopt.com/WritersCorner/KevinsCorner/2007/03/the_current_situation.html#000603
Since the article on guatadopt.com was written, two child / adoption advocacy groups (JCICS and NCFA) have called the Department of State (DOS) to the carpet on some inaccuracies of their statements in the FAQ mentioned in the article. What is most disconcerting though are all the warnings that significant slowdowns are bound to happen. We'll have see what impacts this has...

But we keep moving!! There IS good news today - we received DNA Authorization!! This means that the birthmom and Charlie can now go to get tested to verify biological relationship. The chances of the birthmom changing her mind after DNA testing goes down dramatically. I'll take the progress - regardless of how small!

Welcome to our Blog!

What a concept! This will allow me to keep everyone informed of any updates. We look forward to having Charlie home with us!

This is from a message that I sent out on March 6th to many family and friends (pre-Blog)...

There are some changes in the process that are being proposed by the Guatemalan President (Oscar Berger) that could interrupt all international adoptions in Guatemala. This means that I could lose Charlie (and the option of adopting from Guatemala); hopefully that will not occur. You may have heard that I flew (unexpectedly) to Guatemala last week ago to sign a document (Power of Attorney). My goal was to get my adoption to a state where normally adoptions would be 'grandfathered' in and thus not affected by process changes. Unfortunately, this new proposal later announced that it will not consider 'grandfathering' in adoptions that are in process. The proposed changes, while trying to deal with ethical issues are introducing new issues that will cause thousands of kids each year to wind up in underfunded institutional care (or on the streets). While Berger and his team work through the proposal implementation, we keep moving forward. I'll have more info in the coming weeks. Until then, please keep us in your prayers.

On a lighter note, while I was in Guatemala I was able to have Charlie with me for 2 days. I met his foster mom, who is wonderful. Hopefully I'll get him home!