Didn't have a chance to post yesterday, so I'll cover two days in one post.
We got up yesterday and had an email from our friends Sara and Coco about meeting for coffee or lunch after 10:30. We were ready to go sooner than that, so we headed out for a nice walk and ended up at Parque Central people watching. There was a parade with marching bands and students from one of the local schools in the downtown area, so it was kind of neat to see that. It was, however, rather loud so Lili and I headed to one of the Mercaditos (small market) and to get a coffee. Our friends called and, although we planned to meet at 11:45, the girls were both asleep so we ended up meeting around 1:00. We went to one of the nice hotels in the area... Hotel Antigua. It's on the opposite corner of town from my apartment... I am extreme Northeast, the hotel is extreme Southwest. We sat outside by the pool and had lunch, then took the babies to the playground and put them on the baby swing. Very beautiful hotel, that is actually open for public swimming.... we may head back over there sometime to go swimming.
After lunch, we stopped at a couple of shops, then went our separate ways. Lili and I headed home, she napped on the way, then we just hung out at home playing and bonding. This morning we got up at 6:00 and did laundry, had a mid-morning nap (I'm still not sleeping very well), played and ate breakfast, then played some more. Lili's napping again right now, so I actually have some uninterrupted time to post a message. It's actually a beautiful day outside... very sunny and no rain in sight, so when she wakes up I'm thinking we'll go for a walk through town. I would really like to find somewhere local to get fresh homemade tortillas, so that may be something that we try to do.
Don't really have any other definite plans... will probably get together with my neighbor Joanna and her son Alejandro (after her husband Tom heads back to the US tomorrow). Sara and I will surely get together again... we may actually venture into the BIG MERCADO.... they have more than just the handicrafts and arts and textiles... they have necessities for daily life. I'm very curious to see it, and Sara would love to go but is afraid she'll get lost. If we are together, we should be fine!
OK, well I'm going to get some stuff ready so that when Lili wakes up we can head out. Hope everyone is doing well..... we can't wait to get home so that we can see everyone!
Take care!
Krista & Lili
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
A beautiful day in Antigua!
Today was another beautiful day. We got up and were ready to head out for a walk this morning by 8:00. We called to see if our friends, Sara and Coco wanted to go with us. They already had plans, so we headed out alone to explore. First, we stopped at one of the premier local coffee shops that Moses and I found on a previous trip. We got a coffee, hot of course (they don't have iced coffee around here). We then walked across town to the far West side.... the area to the West is very busy and full of people. This is also where the Mercado is located. They have fruit and vegetable markets, flower markets, artisan markets, and pretty much anything else you could possibly want or need! We walked around the markets and bought some stuff, then moved on to the Parque Central. We met up with our new Mayan friend, Ligda. She sells different items to tourists in the park... we met her the first day we were there, and she is VERY friendly. She introduced me to some of her friends, and we just sat in the park and visited for a while. She's going to look into having some special items made for me with the local embroidery methods. If the rain holds off tomorrow, we'll walk into town again and find out if she can make the items for us.
After the Park, we walked home (I walked, Lili slept). After her nap, I tried fixing the computer (the mouse was not working). After several hours and a new mouse, I am finally back online. We also visited for about an hour with our landlord and his wife in their house. They are a very sweet couple and have been looking out for us and helping us. It was nice to sit at the kitchen table with them and just get to know them better. Lili really enjoyed their kitchen table.... she had a lot of fun banging on it!
So, after baths and dinner, Lili's off to bed, and I'm going to read for a little bit. I've been having trouble sleeping because of all of the different noises, as well as Lili's restless sleeping, so hopefully tonight is easier for me.
We hope everyone is doing well, especially Moe and Max. We miss them terribly and cannot wait until we are united together forever. If you read this and have a chance, please check in on my two boys. And let them know how much we love them.
Adios for now!
After the Park, we walked home (I walked, Lili slept). After her nap, I tried fixing the computer (the mouse was not working). After several hours and a new mouse, I am finally back online. We also visited for about an hour with our landlord and his wife in their house. They are a very sweet couple and have been looking out for us and helping us. It was nice to sit at the kitchen table with them and just get to know them better. Lili really enjoyed their kitchen table.... she had a lot of fun banging on it!
So, after baths and dinner, Lili's off to bed, and I'm going to read for a little bit. I've been having trouble sleeping because of all of the different noises, as well as Lili's restless sleeping, so hopefully tonight is easier for me.
We hope everyone is doing well, especially Moe and Max. We miss them terribly and cannot wait until we are united together forever. If you read this and have a chance, please check in on my two boys. And let them know how much we love them.
Adios for now!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Hanging out with Lili's foster family....
Yesterday we decided to spend the day around the house so that I could see what Lili's real schedule was like. It was rainy most of the day, so we really just stayed inside. I called Ligia in teh morning to find out when she wanted to come visit. We agreed upon 10am on Wednesday. Around 4pm Tuesday night, she called to see if they could all come around 6:30pm. Ends up there is a religious holiday in Guatemala today and the girls have no school. So.... they came last night and spent the night here in the apartment with us. Lili actually did very well... happy to see them, but not so much that she refused to be with me.
This morning, the girls and I walked to the panaderia for some bread, then we had breakfast and coffee. We all went out for a walk.... in the sun... it was HOT! We went to an old church that is now in ruins after a devastating volcanic eruption years ago.... it was very cool to walk around. We went to the Parque Central, got iced coffee (the only place in Guatemala that we can find it!), then went to a small market and another church. Ligia was tired, so we came back to the apartment and are just hanging out. Lili finally went to sleep, and the girls and Ligia are watching TV. I'm not sure when they'll be leaving, but I presume it'll be before it's dark since they will likely take a bus back to Guatemala City. My neighbor actually stopped by to see if Lili and I wanted to go to the pool, but since the girls are here, I told her that we would go with her another day. So... once they leave, we'll probably just hang out around the house. Tomorrow, if it's nice, we'll take another walk around the city... maybe go out for coffee or something. Friday night there is a get-together for families from the US who are here caring for their babies, so I'll probably go to that with my friend from Evanston, Sara. Other than that, we are just waiting to find out when Lili's appointment is at the US Embassy so that we can make travel arrangements for Moe and Max.
We hope everyone is doing well.... we can't wait to make it back home so that Lili can meet everyone! Take care, and please post comments to us! We'd love to hear from everyone!
This morning, the girls and I walked to the panaderia for some bread, then we had breakfast and coffee. We all went out for a walk.... in the sun... it was HOT! We went to an old church that is now in ruins after a devastating volcanic eruption years ago.... it was very cool to walk around. We went to the Parque Central, got iced coffee (the only place in Guatemala that we can find it!), then went to a small market and another church. Ligia was tired, so we came back to the apartment and are just hanging out. Lili finally went to sleep, and the girls and Ligia are watching TV. I'm not sure when they'll be leaving, but I presume it'll be before it's dark since they will likely take a bus back to Guatemala City. My neighbor actually stopped by to see if Lili and I wanted to go to the pool, but since the girls are here, I told her that we would go with her another day. So... once they leave, we'll probably just hang out around the house. Tomorrow, if it's nice, we'll take another walk around the city... maybe go out for coffee or something. Friday night there is a get-together for families from the US who are here caring for their babies, so I'll probably go to that with my friend from Evanston, Sara. Other than that, we are just waiting to find out when Lili's appointment is at the US Embassy so that we can make travel arrangements for Moe and Max.
We hope everyone is doing well.... we can't wait to make it back home so that Lili can meet everyone! Take care, and please post comments to us! We'd love to hear from everyone!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Together at Last!
Well, we're so blessed to have our story followed by many, so I figured I'd post an update for everyone to see. I am here in Guatemala.... with Lili.... together forever. SO HAPPY to say that!
Things are going well so far. I left Chicago at 6:00am on Sunday, flew to Atlanta, then after a short layover flew on to Guatemala City. Cesar, the driver that my landlord uses, met me at the airport and drove me to Hiper Paiz (like a Super Walmart). Did all of my shopping, which was rather difficult.... trying to navigate through a strange store, figure out exactly what we needed to survive a few weeks, read labels in Spanish, and thinking about what was happening!!! I was on my way to get Lili!
After the grocery store, we went to the hotel that we normally stay at in Guatemala City. My favorite bellman, Rafael & Giovanni, were both there and SO excited to hear that we are finally bringing Lili home. Our foster mother, Ligia, and her oldest daughter, Josselin, were already there with Lili. It ends up the attorney's office told Ligia to be at the hotel at 1:00.... I had told our agency that I would be there between 1:30-2. When I arrived at 2:00, Ligia was very worried about why I was late (even she knows how punctual I am!) It ends up she had the foster dad, Angel, call Moses to find out where I was. Since I didn't get to communicate with Moses until later that evening, he was a bit worried about where I was. It all worked out, though.
I kept the visit with Ligia and Josselin very brief. Lili was tired, and I wanted to get on the way to my apartment. Plus, I figured it'd be best if we reserved the emotional goodbyes for the final visit (when Moses is here with me). Lili fell asleep, and we headed out to Antigua. About 45 minutes from the city, we finally arrived at our new home. We are renting a guesthouse from a missionary, Paul, and his wife Ruth. They were born in America, but have lived in Guatemala for over 50 years. Incredibly nice people.... very helpful with everything! And their property is beautiful. It is very safe and secure, surrounded by an 8 foot concrete privacy wall. They have gorgeous gardens, their home, and three guesthouses. I've met my two neighbors. Kathleen is here during her travels. Joanna and Alejandro (15 months) have been here for 5 months waiting to finalize their adoption. Joanna's husband Tom is here visiting right now.... from Elmhurst!!!! What a small world!
The first night was a little rough... Lili spent over an hour crying. I don't know if she was confused, didn't feel well, or was just tired. Eventually, she took a bottle and went to bed at 6:00pm. She didn't wake up until 5:00am on Monday! I didn't sleep very well, considering the newness of the situation. Also, I was worried about every little sound Lili made, and added to the birds and rain outside, it was rather noisy.
Yesterday morning, we hung out, played and napped. We went for a long walk around Antigua trying to get our bearings, and eventually met up with an online friend from Evanston who is down here fostering her daughter. She's using the same agency that we are, and is at the same point in the process as us. We walked around a bit, had a nice lunch, and then went our separate ways for naptime. Lili and I ended up playing, cooking dinner, and then heading to bed a little early. I slept a little bit better last night, but am still trying to catch up on sleep.
Today is a day for hanging out. We've decided that we will stay in and play, get good naps, and maybe walk around the immediate neighborhood in a little bit. Tomorrow our foster mother, Ligia, is going to come to Antigua to spend the day with us. We're excited to see her, but I'm a little nervous about how it might confuse Lili. Oh, well, she'll be fine I'm sure.
So, hopefully today we'll hear something about our appointment time from the US Embassy so that we can make travel plans for Moe and Max. And we will also then be able to figure out when we are coming home! I will keep everyone updated through this site about when we are arriving home!!!!
Thanks for all of the well wishes.... keep in touch!
Love,
Krista & Lili
Things are going well so far. I left Chicago at 6:00am on Sunday, flew to Atlanta, then after a short layover flew on to Guatemala City. Cesar, the driver that my landlord uses, met me at the airport and drove me to Hiper Paiz (like a Super Walmart). Did all of my shopping, which was rather difficult.... trying to navigate through a strange store, figure out exactly what we needed to survive a few weeks, read labels in Spanish, and thinking about what was happening!!! I was on my way to get Lili!
After the grocery store, we went to the hotel that we normally stay at in Guatemala City. My favorite bellman, Rafael & Giovanni, were both there and SO excited to hear that we are finally bringing Lili home. Our foster mother, Ligia, and her oldest daughter, Josselin, were already there with Lili. It ends up the attorney's office told Ligia to be at the hotel at 1:00.... I had told our agency that I would be there between 1:30-2. When I arrived at 2:00, Ligia was very worried about why I was late (even she knows how punctual I am!) It ends up she had the foster dad, Angel, call Moses to find out where I was. Since I didn't get to communicate with Moses until later that evening, he was a bit worried about where I was. It all worked out, though.
I kept the visit with Ligia and Josselin very brief. Lili was tired, and I wanted to get on the way to my apartment. Plus, I figured it'd be best if we reserved the emotional goodbyes for the final visit (when Moses is here with me). Lili fell asleep, and we headed out to Antigua. About 45 minutes from the city, we finally arrived at our new home. We are renting a guesthouse from a missionary, Paul, and his wife Ruth. They were born in America, but have lived in Guatemala for over 50 years. Incredibly nice people.... very helpful with everything! And their property is beautiful. It is very safe and secure, surrounded by an 8 foot concrete privacy wall. They have gorgeous gardens, their home, and three guesthouses. I've met my two neighbors. Kathleen is here during her travels. Joanna and Alejandro (15 months) have been here for 5 months waiting to finalize their adoption. Joanna's husband Tom is here visiting right now.... from Elmhurst!!!! What a small world!
The first night was a little rough... Lili spent over an hour crying. I don't know if she was confused, didn't feel well, or was just tired. Eventually, she took a bottle and went to bed at 6:00pm. She didn't wake up until 5:00am on Monday! I didn't sleep very well, considering the newness of the situation. Also, I was worried about every little sound Lili made, and added to the birds and rain outside, it was rather noisy.
Yesterday morning, we hung out, played and napped. We went for a long walk around Antigua trying to get our bearings, and eventually met up with an online friend from Evanston who is down here fostering her daughter. She's using the same agency that we are, and is at the same point in the process as us. We walked around a bit, had a nice lunch, and then went our separate ways for naptime. Lili and I ended up playing, cooking dinner, and then heading to bed a little early. I slept a little bit better last night, but am still trying to catch up on sleep.
Today is a day for hanging out. We've decided that we will stay in and play, get good naps, and maybe walk around the immediate neighborhood in a little bit. Tomorrow our foster mother, Ligia, is going to come to Antigua to spend the day with us. We're excited to see her, but I'm a little nervous about how it might confuse Lili. Oh, well, she'll be fine I'm sure.
So, hopefully today we'll hear something about our appointment time from the US Embassy so that we can make travel plans for Moe and Max. And we will also then be able to figure out when we are coming home! I will keep everyone updated through this site about when we are arriving home!!!!
Thanks for all of the well wishes.... keep in touch!
Love,
Krista & Lili
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Almost definite plans.....
Well, we're waiting until the end of today before we book my flight to Guatemala. I've decided to travel to be with Lili on Sunday 8/12 (my BIRTHDAY!!!) What a great day for a gotcha day! Since we still don't have our appointment date from the US Embassy, we haven't been able to plan when Moses (& maybe Max) will come to Guate or when we will return home. So... if we get our appointment date today, I will be booking ALL of our travel arrangements. If we don't get our appointment news today, I will just book a one way ticket to Guatemala and make the rest of the plans later.
I've got almost all of my stuff packed, including everything that Lili and I will need to survive in our apartment. The only thing I still have to decide is which clothes to take for Lili. She's got SO many cute things, but I want to make sure that I take things that are comfortable and that I can layer in case of variations in the weather. Right now in Guatemala it is their rainy season... it's typically in the mid 70s during the day and the 50-60s at night. Mid 70s with sun can be warm, but mid 70s and rain can feel damp and chilly. So.... I've really got to plan well so that I don't overpack.
I'm SO excited to leave and be reunited with Lili forever, but I am getting more emotional with each day about leaving Moses and Max. This is the longest time that we've spent apart, and although I know Lili needs me and we'll have a great time, I'm REALLY going to miss my boys. Thank goodness the end of all of this is in sight, and pretty soon we'll ALL be HOME.... in one place..... together as a family.
I may not have a chance to post before I leave on Sunday, so please say some prayers for safe travels for myself (and Lili). Also, please say an extra prayer for Lili's foster family.... they will surely be upset to see her go, but I hope that they are consoled by the knowledge that we will always stay in touch with them! Finally, please say a prayer for Moses and Max so that they can survive the time that we are apart and not experience too much stress!!!
I've got almost all of my stuff packed, including everything that Lili and I will need to survive in our apartment. The only thing I still have to decide is which clothes to take for Lili. She's got SO many cute things, but I want to make sure that I take things that are comfortable and that I can layer in case of variations in the weather. Right now in Guatemala it is their rainy season... it's typically in the mid 70s during the day and the 50-60s at night. Mid 70s with sun can be warm, but mid 70s and rain can feel damp and chilly. So.... I've really got to plan well so that I don't overpack.
I'm SO excited to leave and be reunited with Lili forever, but I am getting more emotional with each day about leaving Moses and Max. This is the longest time that we've spent apart, and although I know Lili needs me and we'll have a great time, I'm REALLY going to miss my boys. Thank goodness the end of all of this is in sight, and pretty soon we'll ALL be HOME.... in one place..... together as a family.
I may not have a chance to post before I leave on Sunday, so please say some prayers for safe travels for myself (and Lili). Also, please say an extra prayer for Lili's foster family.... they will surely be upset to see her go, but I hope that they are consoled by the knowledge that we will always stay in touch with them! Finally, please say a prayer for Moses and Max so that they can survive the time that we are apart and not experience too much stress!!!
Monday, August 6, 2007
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lili's officially an Arenas and she's COMING HOME!!!!!!!! We don't have an exact date for her arrival, but our file was submitted to the US Embassy on Friday 8/3! We are just waiting for the Embassy to issue our PINK slip (it's a pink piece of paper that they use to issue appointments). The pink slip will contain the date and time of the appointment when Moses, Lili and I need to appear at the US Embassy in Guatemala to request her VISA to come to the United States and obtain Citizenship!! We are anticipating maybe 2-3 weeks before we can bring her home, so it looks like I may be leaving soon to go to Guatemala and stay with Lili in an apartment until it's time to bring her home!!!!!!
We couldn't be any more excited (unless we were already home with her!!) Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported us and helped us to get through this process. It has been more difficult than we could have imagined, but SOOOOO worth it in the end...... our family has been blessed with our precious ANGEL........ LILIANA ROSE MARIE ARENAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We couldn't be any more excited (unless we were already home with her!!) Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported us and helped us to get through this process. It has been more difficult than we could have imagined, but SOOOOO worth it in the end...... our family has been blessed with our precious ANGEL........ LILIANA ROSE MARIE ARENAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sorry for the delay in posting.....
Wow, things have been crazy! I'm going to try to be more diligent about posting to the blog, now that things will hopefully settle down! We have been very busy this summer, although we still can't stop thinking about Lili and wondering when she'll get to come home.
Regarding the stage that we're at in the process of the adoption.... our file is currently in PGN (the equivalent of the Attorney General's office). They've had our file for 2+ months, and we are still waiting for an approval from the attorneys and the Director. After we receive their approval, it will be roughly 4-6 weeks before we can bring Lili home. Unfortunately, the waiting time in PGN is very unpredictable and can take as long as 18 months! We're obviously saying many prayers and hoping that we get out much more quickly, but there's no way to know what will happen. Any prayers or well wishes that you can send our way would be much appreciated!
Other than waiting for Lili, we've had a lot going on. Moses has been very busy at work with insufficient staffing and running two offices. My work has been kind of slow, but I'm making up for that with everything else! Our dear friend Rebecca (one of Lili's Godmothers) married Scott on 7/21/07! We had so much fun planning the wedding over 18 months, and the entire wedding weekend was so much fun! Moses and I were able to spend the entire weekend at the resort where the wedding reception was being held. This was in part due to the fact that Max was having his first week away from Mommy & Daddy trip with Grandma & Grandpa Parollina in Wisconsin! He stayed with them for 8 days and had a BLAST! They went fishing, to the park, had picnics, went to the waterpark, went swimming, went camping in a tent, to the pet store, to the coffeeshop, and on and on! He was so excited to spend the time with them, and it was nice that we were able to spend our weekend at the wedding with limited responsibilities! Unfortunately, after drinking too much at the wedding, we weren't in the greatest shape when we picked him up, but we were all excited to be reunited and get home for some family time!
After the wedding, we spent the last week handling final preparations for the Wine & Cheese Cocktail Party and Auction for Lili. We had an amazing time, thanks to our wonderful friends and family! We spent 3 hours enjoying food, drinks and bidding action with our loved ones and ended up raising a good amount of money to help offset some of the adoption-related costs. Our hope is that we can actually put some of the money towards paying for Max and I to go to Guatemala to foster Lili. It would mean no income for me, and paying for an apartment and living expenses in Guatemala, but we may just find a way to do it! We are going to continue to try to raise money to help support the costs, so please check out our auction website at www.freewebs.com/roadtolili (and share it with everyone you know) so that we can raise more money to help us improve the transition for Lili and (hopefully) connect her with her forever family more quickly!
Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers, concern and support over the last several years as we've been trying to build our family. And thanks for supporting us during the difficult time that we've spent waiting for Lili to come home. We really appreciate each and every one of you and could not be more excited for all of you to meet Lili!!! Keep us in your prayers, and say an extra one for Lili that she stays healthy and happy and is able to transition into her forever family with peace and happiness.
Regarding the stage that we're at in the process of the adoption.... our file is currently in PGN (the equivalent of the Attorney General's office). They've had our file for 2+ months, and we are still waiting for an approval from the attorneys and the Director. After we receive their approval, it will be roughly 4-6 weeks before we can bring Lili home. Unfortunately, the waiting time in PGN is very unpredictable and can take as long as 18 months! We're obviously saying many prayers and hoping that we get out much more quickly, but there's no way to know what will happen. Any prayers or well wishes that you can send our way would be much appreciated!
Other than waiting for Lili, we've had a lot going on. Moses has been very busy at work with insufficient staffing and running two offices. My work has been kind of slow, but I'm making up for that with everything else! Our dear friend Rebecca (one of Lili's Godmothers) married Scott on 7/21/07! We had so much fun planning the wedding over 18 months, and the entire wedding weekend was so much fun! Moses and I were able to spend the entire weekend at the resort where the wedding reception was being held. This was in part due to the fact that Max was having his first week away from Mommy & Daddy trip with Grandma & Grandpa Parollina in Wisconsin! He stayed with them for 8 days and had a BLAST! They went fishing, to the park, had picnics, went to the waterpark, went swimming, went camping in a tent, to the pet store, to the coffeeshop, and on and on! He was so excited to spend the time with them, and it was nice that we were able to spend our weekend at the wedding with limited responsibilities! Unfortunately, after drinking too much at the wedding, we weren't in the greatest shape when we picked him up, but we were all excited to be reunited and get home for some family time!
After the wedding, we spent the last week handling final preparations for the Wine & Cheese Cocktail Party and Auction for Lili. We had an amazing time, thanks to our wonderful friends and family! We spent 3 hours enjoying food, drinks and bidding action with our loved ones and ended up raising a good amount of money to help offset some of the adoption-related costs. Our hope is that we can actually put some of the money towards paying for Max and I to go to Guatemala to foster Lili. It would mean no income for me, and paying for an apartment and living expenses in Guatemala, but we may just find a way to do it! We are going to continue to try to raise money to help support the costs, so please check out our auction website at www.freewebs.com/roadtolili (and share it with everyone you know) so that we can raise more money to help us improve the transition for Lili and (hopefully) connect her with her forever family more quickly!
Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers, concern and support over the last several years as we've been trying to build our family. And thanks for supporting us during the difficult time that we've spent waiting for Lili to come home. We really appreciate each and every one of you and could not be more excited for all of you to meet Lili!!! Keep us in your prayers, and say an extra one for Lili that she stays healthy and happy and is able to transition into her forever family with peace and happiness.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Update from HOME
We are home from Guate and settling back in. It's rough coming home - leaving Lili is of course heartwrenching. Also, the logistics of travel, unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, sleep deprivation, etc, etc all make for a tiring time. We're finally starting to feel closer to normal, although I think this weekend will really help all of us to catch up on sleep and chores.
So, while we were in Guate we found out our file was submitted to PGN!! This is the last legal approval that is required before we can prepare to bring Lili home! I'm hopeful that we make it through quickly and get an approval the first time around, as the attorneys in PGN are notorious for rejecting the file for corrections. Still no really good idea of when Lili will be coming home, but at least the light at the end of the tunnel is shining!
Our trip was good.... with a few minor glitches. Max ended up sick on Sunday, our first full day there. Fevers and vomiting for two days, but thankfully he was feeling better before we left Guate City for Antigua. While in Guate City, we pretty much stayed at the hotel. We did have our foster family over to the hotel to visit one day, and to have dinner. We also made it for a walk around a new mall that we discovered.... very high end, but we did find a place for ICED COFFEE!!! This is nearly unheard of in Guatemala, and usually when we ask for it they look at us like we have two heads!
We spent a few days in Antigua this trip to get a feel for how "American" and "adoption" friendly it really is. We felt very comfortable walking around any time of day or night, and really enjoyed exploring this small historic town. The cobblestone streets make it an interesting town to walk in, but we took a jogging stroller and baby bjorn carrier so we managed pretty well. We visited churches, hotels, jade factory, historic buildings, artisan and handicraft markets, restaurants, coffee shops, a coffee plantation/museum, and a Mayan costume/music museum. We were able to travel one day to Chichicastenango, which is about 3 hours away by car. This town is the home to the largest and most colorful outdoor market in all of the Americas. We had a nice few hours exploring the market and purchased lots of souvenirs, gifts and items for our AUCTION!!! We've decided to do a fundraiser to help finance the adoption, so we are in the process of planning a cocktail party/auction where we will sell some of the items that were purchased in Guatemala as well as many other items! We are hopeful that we can get a good turnout of our friends and family together for a fun and profitable time!
Our time in Antigua was enjoyable, other than the substantial presence of mosquitos who continued to feast on me during our visit! I still look like a polka-dot covered person with all of the bug bites. We felt so comfortable with our visit, that we would consider staying in Antigua for a few weeks at the end of our process with Lili before we bring her home to the US. We'll have to see how everything works out, but at least we know that's an option. I have to say, as nice as our hotel was, I will not stay there again if we go back. Instead, I will either rent an apartment or stay in a hotel that has a/c or at least has screens on the windows to keep the mosquitos outside!!!!!!!!
Hoping that everyone is doing well and preparing for summer! If you have time, say some extra prayers for us so that we can get through PGN quickly and get our baby girl home! Thanks to everyone for your love and support!!!!
So, while we were in Guate we found out our file was submitted to PGN!! This is the last legal approval that is required before we can prepare to bring Lili home! I'm hopeful that we make it through quickly and get an approval the first time around, as the attorneys in PGN are notorious for rejecting the file for corrections. Still no really good idea of when Lili will be coming home, but at least the light at the end of the tunnel is shining!
Our trip was good.... with a few minor glitches. Max ended up sick on Sunday, our first full day there. Fevers and vomiting for two days, but thankfully he was feeling better before we left Guate City for Antigua. While in Guate City, we pretty much stayed at the hotel. We did have our foster family over to the hotel to visit one day, and to have dinner. We also made it for a walk around a new mall that we discovered.... very high end, but we did find a place for ICED COFFEE!!! This is nearly unheard of in Guatemala, and usually when we ask for it they look at us like we have two heads!
We spent a few days in Antigua this trip to get a feel for how "American" and "adoption" friendly it really is. We felt very comfortable walking around any time of day or night, and really enjoyed exploring this small historic town. The cobblestone streets make it an interesting town to walk in, but we took a jogging stroller and baby bjorn carrier so we managed pretty well. We visited churches, hotels, jade factory, historic buildings, artisan and handicraft markets, restaurants, coffee shops, a coffee plantation/museum, and a Mayan costume/music museum. We were able to travel one day to Chichicastenango, which is about 3 hours away by car. This town is the home to the largest and most colorful outdoor market in all of the Americas. We had a nice few hours exploring the market and purchased lots of souvenirs, gifts and items for our AUCTION!!! We've decided to do a fundraiser to help finance the adoption, so we are in the process of planning a cocktail party/auction where we will sell some of the items that were purchased in Guatemala as well as many other items! We are hopeful that we can get a good turnout of our friends and family together for a fun and profitable time!
Our time in Antigua was enjoyable, other than the substantial presence of mosquitos who continued to feast on me during our visit! I still look like a polka-dot covered person with all of the bug bites. We felt so comfortable with our visit, that we would consider staying in Antigua for a few weeks at the end of our process with Lili before we bring her home to the US. We'll have to see how everything works out, but at least we know that's an option. I have to say, as nice as our hotel was, I will not stay there again if we go back. Instead, I will either rent an apartment or stay in a hotel that has a/c or at least has screens on the windows to keep the mosquitos outside!!!!!!!!
Hoping that everyone is doing well and preparing for summer! If you have time, say some extra prayers for us so that we can get through PGN quickly and get our baby girl home! Thanks to everyone for your love and support!!!!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Good news from Guatemala!
It is Sunday morning, 5/20. We are here in Guatemala City at our favorite hotel, the Grand Tikal Futura. I am sipping a cup of awesome coffee, Lili is falling asleep while taking her bottle, Max and Daddy are in the room getting showered and changed for the day. We will probably just take it easy today.... maybe go swimming, visit with our foster family, walk to the mall. Yesterday was a very long and tiring day. We left home at midnight on Friday night, got to Guate at 7am, got Lili at 10am, went to Super Walmart for some groceries, and spent the rest of the day napping and roaming the hotel. We had a late dinner at McDonalds (Max got to pick where we had dinner, can you tell?) We watched a movie and all fell asleep while watching it. Lili was in bed by 9pm and was up at 6am this morning! Good girl!!!
So, yesterday while Max and Moe were napping, I brought Lili up to the reception lounge to hang out and check our emails. We got GREAT news!!!! We received the email notifying us that we have Preapproval from the US Embassy! This was the step that we were waiting on so that our file can be submitted to PGN for the final legal review. With any luck and blessings from above, we can get approval from PGN in record time. Still no really good idea of when we can bring Lili home, but this is another step completed and movement in the right direction!!!
Say some prayers for us that we get into and out of PGN at the speed of light.... and before we all know it, Lili will be home meeting everyone!!!!!
So, yesterday while Max and Moe were napping, I brought Lili up to the reception lounge to hang out and check our emails. We got GREAT news!!!! We received the email notifying us that we have Preapproval from the US Embassy! This was the step that we were waiting on so that our file can be submitted to PGN for the final legal review. With any luck and blessings from above, we can get approval from PGN in record time. Still no really good idea of when we can bring Lili home, but this is another step completed and movement in the right direction!!!
Say some prayers for us that we get into and out of PGN at the speed of light.... and before we all know it, Lili will be home meeting everyone!!!!!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
10 days until we leave!!!!
In another 10 days, we will be leaving to go to Guatemala again! We are so excited to be going to visit Lili and to get to spend some more time in Guatemala. Moses and Max haven't been to see Lili since early March, so this will be a big visit for them. She's changing so much.... getting bigger physically, talking (actually more like squealing), eating solid food, playing with toys, trying to move herself around much more, sleeping the night through in the crib, and just generally interacting much more. She's developing a little girl personality, rather than just a new baby personality.
We talked to our foster family last night and were able to see Lili on the web camera. I was so excited to realize that, for the first time, Lili really seemed to recognize our voices! We would talk to her over the computer (just like if you're talking on a phone line), and she would be in front of the camera just looking around as if to say "Hey, where are you guys?" It was so cute and heartwarming. We've been making a lot of sacrifices and trying not to worry too much about where the money will come from to pay for all of the expenses related to the adoption and the travel. This was affirmation that we are making the right choice to spend the money and visit.... we obviously get so much out of it ourselves, but more importantly, Lili appears to be getting something out of it and recognizes us.
I talked to one of my bosses at work today and she very logically and reasonably discussed the benefits of us holding some sort of fundraiser for the adoption. She is a huge advocate of worthy causes, and she believes people would be willing to help financially to bring our precious little girl home to a wonderful home and family. Moses and I have discussed it briefly and think it's not a bad idea, especially considering how wonderfully supportive all of our family, friends and acquaintances are about this process. I've got to start thinking about our options and really get in gear with planning an gathering of some sort.... maybe a party with a lot of donated items to auction off, or a dinner with a band..... who knows, we'll have to start hitting up some of our talented and creative friends and family for help with this project!!!!! Stay posted for more news and be prepared.... we may be calling on each of you for your help!!!
One last note.... Lili had her 5-month birthday over the weekend (on 5/5). Her loving foster family took her and the other kids to a lake that's about 1.5 hours away for a celebration. They were able to take her horseback riding, for a ride in a cable car up into the mountains, and on a boat ride of the lake (among other things). They sent us some ADORABLE pictures where Lili just looks SO BIG.... so I thought I'd share! Enjoy!!!!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
One more step forward!
We got great news.... the social worker and the judge for the Guatemalan Family Court approved our file on April 9! So we're one step closer to bringing Lili home! We are still waiting for Preapproval to be issued by the US Embassy, then our file can be submitted to PGN (the Guatemalan equivalent of the Attorney General's office). PGN can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months to get approval!! Let's pray that we get through on the fast end....
After PGN approval is issued, there will only be formalities that need to be completed in Guatemala. Passport issuance, Embassy Doctor's visit, issuance of a new birth certificate, and scheduling of a Visa appointment with the Embassy. At the time that the appointment is scheduled, we will travel to pickup Lili and bring her home!!! We are getting close, although we still don't have any committed timeframe for the rest of the process. It seems as though most of these steps are inconsistent and random.... we've been right in the average timeframe for most of the steps, although a couple of things have taken longer than normal. Let's hope that we're blessed by a few steps that move more quickly than most!!!
Keep us in your prayers!!!
After PGN approval is issued, there will only be formalities that need to be completed in Guatemala. Passport issuance, Embassy Doctor's visit, issuance of a new birth certificate, and scheduling of a Visa appointment with the Embassy. At the time that the appointment is scheduled, we will travel to pickup Lili and bring her home!!! We are getting close, although we still don't have any committed timeframe for the rest of the process. It seems as though most of these steps are inconsistent and random.... we've been right in the average timeframe for most of the steps, although a couple of things have taken longer than normal. Let's hope that we're blessed by a few steps that move more quickly than most!!!
Keep us in your prayers!!!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Catching Up
I've been so bad about posting, but things have been busy and my mind has been elsewhere. Moses is busy with a system conversion at work and is working long hours. Last week I spent trying to catch up on chores, errands and sleep after returning from my visit with my mom and Lili!!!!
We only spent 4 days with Lili this time, just my mom and I this time, but we had a great time! I've never had a chance to travel alone with my mom, so this was a first. Add to that the fact that we were going to a Spanish speaking area without Moses and I was a little nervous. We did very well.... communicated with no major issues, loved on Lili like crazy, spent a day in Antigua, hung out with our foster family and just enjoyed the getaway. Mom was very intrigued by the cultural differences and really enjoyed spending time with our foster family. Of course, the trip to Antigua was a good opportunity to show her some of the culture and beauty of the country. And, most importantly, she LOVED spending time with Lili. It's hard to believe Lili has gotten so big - she'll be 5 months old on 5/5! She's such a happy and easy going baby, and she is growing up quickly. She's chattering a lot, smiling and eating some table food! We had a rule while we were there that she couldn't leave the room more than once in the same outfit! In four days, she probably changed her clothes 15 times!!! She's sleeping through the night in a crib and barely cries! What a DOLL!
We had a great visit, but of course I could move down there and be happy staying with her until she's ready to come home. And Moses and Max didn't get to see her this trip, so we've planned another family trip for later this month! We're going for 8 days, part of the time we'll spend in Guatemala City and the other part in Antigua. We're excited to spend a few days in Antigua as it is more tourist friendly and safe and we'll be able to walk around more freely. Also, there's a great little cafe that we found that has ICED COFFEE in Antigua!!! One day, from Antigua, we may take a shuttle to Chichicastenango. This is about 3 hours from Antigua, but it's the site of one of the largest handicraft markets in Central America! Max probably won't enjoy it very much, but hopefully he can enjoy being outside if nothing else!
OK, so no other news regarding our case. We're still waiting to get word of Family Court approval as well as US Embassy preapproval. Once we have both of these steps completed, our file can be submitted to the last "legal" check in PGN (the Guatemalan equivalent of the Attorney General's office). We're saying our prayers that we'll make it through everything in time to bring Lili home by my birthday in August. If you have a spare minute and can say a prayer for us, we'd really appreciate it!
Thanks to everyone for your interest in our journey and your support! We're thrilled to be sharing this experience with all of our friends and family!!!!! And we can't wait until you can all meet Lili!
We only spent 4 days with Lili this time, just my mom and I this time, but we had a great time! I've never had a chance to travel alone with my mom, so this was a first. Add to that the fact that we were going to a Spanish speaking area without Moses and I was a little nervous. We did very well.... communicated with no major issues, loved on Lili like crazy, spent a day in Antigua, hung out with our foster family and just enjoyed the getaway. Mom was very intrigued by the cultural differences and really enjoyed spending time with our foster family. Of course, the trip to Antigua was a good opportunity to show her some of the culture and beauty of the country. And, most importantly, she LOVED spending time with Lili. It's hard to believe Lili has gotten so big - she'll be 5 months old on 5/5! She's such a happy and easy going baby, and she is growing up quickly. She's chattering a lot, smiling and eating some table food! We had a rule while we were there that she couldn't leave the room more than once in the same outfit! In four days, she probably changed her clothes 15 times!!! She's sleeping through the night in a crib and barely cries! What a DOLL!
We had a great visit, but of course I could move down there and be happy staying with her until she's ready to come home. And Moses and Max didn't get to see her this trip, so we've planned another family trip for later this month! We're going for 8 days, part of the time we'll spend in Guatemala City and the other part in Antigua. We're excited to spend a few days in Antigua as it is more tourist friendly and safe and we'll be able to walk around more freely. Also, there's a great little cafe that we found that has ICED COFFEE in Antigua!!! One day, from Antigua, we may take a shuttle to Chichicastenango. This is about 3 hours from Antigua, but it's the site of one of the largest handicraft markets in Central America! Max probably won't enjoy it very much, but hopefully he can enjoy being outside if nothing else!
OK, so no other news regarding our case. We're still waiting to get word of Family Court approval as well as US Embassy preapproval. Once we have both of these steps completed, our file can be submitted to the last "legal" check in PGN (the Guatemalan equivalent of the Attorney General's office). We're saying our prayers that we'll make it through everything in time to bring Lili home by my birthday in August. If you have a spare minute and can say a prayer for us, we'd really appreciate it!
Thanks to everyone for your interest in our journey and your support! We're thrilled to be sharing this experience with all of our friends and family!!!!! And we can't wait until you can all meet Lili!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
I'm SO Excited!!! (But kinda sad, too!)
In 24 hours, I'll have Lili in my arms. Or should I say my mom and I will be fighting over who has her in their arms?! We leave tonight from our house around midnight, the flight leaves Ohare at 3:15am, and we get into Guatemala at 6:30am local time. I didn't sleep well last night because I was so excited and my mind was racing thinking about the stuff I still need to pack, etc. We're pretty much packed, although the pack 'n play and stroller situation still have not been resolved. I'm trying to take down lots of baby supplies that our foster family could use, including a bouncy seat, boppy pillow, activity gym, stroller, pack 'n play, and clothes, toys and bottles. We've fit almost everything into existing luggage, but can't figure out how to transport the pack'n play or stroller. We thought a travelling golf bag would work, but it's 3 inches larger than allowed by the airlines. So, we're scrambling to figure something out. If we can't fit them into a "bag", I'll have to buy new ones when we get to Guatemala.
As excited as I am, I'm really kind of sad about leaving Moses and Max. Max is very upset about the fact that he's not going with us. We've told him what's going on, but have tried not to mention it over the last couple of days since it just causes a meltdown. Additionally, I'm feeling guilty about Moses not being able to go. He swears that he's happy I'm going to see Lili, and that my mom is able to go with. I know he means it, but I still feel badly that he can't see Lili and that he's gonna have his hands full taking care of Max while I'm gone. A small consolation is that we are trying to plan another trip to visit Lili in May (again, just myself, Moses and Max). I'm hopeful that will be our last trip before we pick her up to come home!
So, I may not be able to check in from Guatemala.... but please say some prayers that mom and I have a safe trip, a nice visit with Lili and that Moses and Max do well with their boys' weekend!
As excited as I am, I'm really kind of sad about leaving Moses and Max. Max is very upset about the fact that he's not going with us. We've told him what's going on, but have tried not to mention it over the last couple of days since it just causes a meltdown. Additionally, I'm feeling guilty about Moses not being able to go. He swears that he's happy I'm going to see Lili, and that my mom is able to go with. I know he means it, but I still feel badly that he can't see Lili and that he's gonna have his hands full taking care of Max while I'm gone. A small consolation is that we are trying to plan another trip to visit Lili in May (again, just myself, Moses and Max). I'm hopeful that will be our last trip before we pick her up to come home!
So, I may not be able to check in from Guatemala.... but please say some prayers that mom and I have a safe trip, a nice visit with Lili and that Moses and Max do well with their boys' weekend!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
It's a MATCH!
I've been so busy at work and home that I haven't posted much. We received news on Monday in the mail.... the results for the DNA test came and it was a MATCH! Basically, there's a requirement of the US Embassy that DNA samples be taken from the baby and the birth mother to prove maternity. If for any reason the DNA does not prove maternity, then the child cannot be placed for adoption (unless the true biological mother is found). So, this is a huge hurdle to cross! We were thrilled to get the results and to be past the thought of "what if". Now we're pretty much only thinking of "WHEN"!
So, other than craziness at work for both Moses and I, we've had some transition with our adoption agency in Indiana. We found out Wednesday evening that our coordinator, Kristi, is no longer working for the agency. Thursday morning, I called and spoke with the Director of the Guatemala program and told him that, being this is our 3rd loss of a coordinator and we are going to be assigned to our 4th coordinator, I preferred that we were assigned either to his caseload, or to the Senior Coordinator's caseload. He readily agreed, and we found out this morning that we will be working with Diana, the Senior Coordinator for Guatemala. I've already spoken with her today.... and it's a GREAT FIT! I was excited even before talking with her because our good friends Misty and Chris have been working with Diana for their adoption and they love her. They've been raving about her from the time we met them, but since we were happy with Kristi, there was no real reason that we had to interact with Diana. Now that Kristi's left, it gives me a sense of peace to think back on all the wonderful things that Misty has said about Diana and to realize that she will be walking with us through the rest of our journey to bring Lili home. I think this process is certainly made more bearable by the people that you are surrounded with during the journey, and I couldn't be happier that we will be able to work closely with Diana for the remainder of our adoption.
I've been getting ready for my trip with my Mom to go visit Lili. We leave two weeks from today on 4/19 at 3:00am. We'll be with Lili from Thursday morning through Sunday evening, and I couldn't be more excited about introducing my mom to her granddaughter. I think the only person possibly more excited than me is MY MOM! Between the two of us, we probably have 30 outfits for Lili plus a lot of toys. Of course, they're not just for the 4 days we're there... we plan to leave most of them with the foster family for Lili to wear daily. We're also taking down a stroller, a bouncy seat, and some other baby supplies (boppy, bottles, etc). That's the nice thing about travelling so often... we don't need to worry about how we're going to ship things down to Lili and her foster family... we're able to deliver them ourselves. Of course, the flight/travel expenses are a little more costly than just shipping a package, but I can't seem to pass up an opportunity to see Lili as often as possible!!!!
We're getting ready to go our for pizza. Daddy is staying home with Max tomorrow (daycare is closed for Good Friday), so they're going to come up to my office and take me to lunch. That'll make for a great start to the weekend! Take care, and if I don't post before then, have a GREAT EASTER!!!
So, other than craziness at work for both Moses and I, we've had some transition with our adoption agency in Indiana. We found out Wednesday evening that our coordinator, Kristi, is no longer working for the agency. Thursday morning, I called and spoke with the Director of the Guatemala program and told him that, being this is our 3rd loss of a coordinator and we are going to be assigned to our 4th coordinator, I preferred that we were assigned either to his caseload, or to the Senior Coordinator's caseload. He readily agreed, and we found out this morning that we will be working with Diana, the Senior Coordinator for Guatemala. I've already spoken with her today.... and it's a GREAT FIT! I was excited even before talking with her because our good friends Misty and Chris have been working with Diana for their adoption and they love her. They've been raving about her from the time we met them, but since we were happy with Kristi, there was no real reason that we had to interact with Diana. Now that Kristi's left, it gives me a sense of peace to think back on all the wonderful things that Misty has said about Diana and to realize that she will be walking with us through the rest of our journey to bring Lili home. I think this process is certainly made more bearable by the people that you are surrounded with during the journey, and I couldn't be happier that we will be able to work closely with Diana for the remainder of our adoption.
I've been getting ready for my trip with my Mom to go visit Lili. We leave two weeks from today on 4/19 at 3:00am. We'll be with Lili from Thursday morning through Sunday evening, and I couldn't be more excited about introducing my mom to her granddaughter. I think the only person possibly more excited than me is MY MOM! Between the two of us, we probably have 30 outfits for Lili plus a lot of toys. Of course, they're not just for the 4 days we're there... we plan to leave most of them with the foster family for Lili to wear daily. We're also taking down a stroller, a bouncy seat, and some other baby supplies (boppy, bottles, etc). That's the nice thing about travelling so often... we don't need to worry about how we're going to ship things down to Lili and her foster family... we're able to deliver them ourselves. Of course, the flight/travel expenses are a little more costly than just shipping a package, but I can't seem to pass up an opportunity to see Lili as often as possible!!!!
We're getting ready to go our for pizza. Daddy is staying home with Max tomorrow (daycare is closed for Good Friday), so they're going to come up to my office and take me to lunch. That'll make for a great start to the weekend! Take care, and if I don't post before then, have a GREAT EASTER!!!
Friday, March 30, 2007
DNA & Birthmother Interview Confirmed!!!
We got confirmation on Wednesday night that the DNA test and the birthmother interview both took place on 3/22 (last Thursday). They were originally scheduled for 3/19, but there must have been some conflict that caused them to reschedule, but the great news is that it's DONE! Now, we just have to wait 2-3 weeks to get the results of the DNA test in the mail! Then, the US Embassy can issue Pre-Approval in preparation for entering PGN (the legal part of this process). Also, before we can get into PGN, the social worker who interviewed our birth mother will need to complete her write up and get a judge in the Family Court to approve our file. Once we have the Family Court approval and the Pre-Approval from the US Embassy, our file will be submitted to the attorneys in PGN!!!!!!
It's so nice to be making progress and getting closer to bringing Lili home. Still no real firm idea of when she'll be home.... so keep praying that it's soon!
It's so nice to be making progress and getting closer to bringing Lili home. Still no real firm idea of when she'll be home.... so keep praying that it's soon!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Mommy & Grandma's TRIP!!!
Well, we're still waiting for news from our agency about the DNA test and birthmother interview that were scheduled for last week. I'm hopeful that we'll get an update today. I've been really anxious about Lili's birthmother seeing her and maybe changing her mind. My coordinator, Kristi, has reassured me that if anything like that happens they would call us right away.
So, our other big news is that my mom, Lois, and I are planning a VISIT TRIP!!!! My parents had been talking about going on a tour in Guatemala (with us, if possible) and then coordinating with one of our trips so that they could meet Lili. Unfortunately, with my Dad's surgery on his arm, and with the fact that our kids are really too small for a long tour, we've decided to wait and take a bigger tour when the kids are a little older. So, in the meantime, Grandma is SOOOOO excited to get to meet Lili and has decided she just can't wait! Grandpa was going to go along with us, but he's not real keen on the idea of sitting in the hotel room staring at our little Lili! He's a much more active kind of guy and likes to be able to at least play with the kids!! So, Grandma and I have scheduled a long weekend in April to go for a girls weekend, 3 generation visit!!! We are SO excited, and have been talking every day to coordinate and plan the details. Good thing Moses, Max and I have already made a couple of trips and know what we need to pack for a visit trip.... I think with everything that we take for Lili, it's important that we only take the basics for the adults!
I'm excited for my mom to meet Lili... and for us to spend the weekend together. I'll definitely miss Moses and Max... this is the first that I've been away from Max for more than just an overnight. Still haven't quite decided what we'll tell Max about my trip... we may have to tell him that Mommy and Grandma are just going away for the weekend and not tell him about Guatemala. Then again, maybe I'll just tell him that Mommy has to take Grandma to Guatemala, and Daddy needs someone to take care of him so Max has to stay home!!!
So, our other big news is that my mom, Lois, and I are planning a VISIT TRIP!!!! My parents had been talking about going on a tour in Guatemala (with us, if possible) and then coordinating with one of our trips so that they could meet Lili. Unfortunately, with my Dad's surgery on his arm, and with the fact that our kids are really too small for a long tour, we've decided to wait and take a bigger tour when the kids are a little older. So, in the meantime, Grandma is SOOOOO excited to get to meet Lili and has decided she just can't wait! Grandpa was going to go along with us, but he's not real keen on the idea of sitting in the hotel room staring at our little Lili! He's a much more active kind of guy and likes to be able to at least play with the kids!! So, Grandma and I have scheduled a long weekend in April to go for a girls weekend, 3 generation visit!!! We are SO excited, and have been talking every day to coordinate and plan the details. Good thing Moses, Max and I have already made a couple of trips and know what we need to pack for a visit trip.... I think with everything that we take for Lili, it's important that we only take the basics for the adults!
I'm excited for my mom to meet Lili... and for us to spend the weekend together. I'll definitely miss Moses and Max... this is the first that I've been away from Max for more than just an overnight. Still haven't quite decided what we'll tell Max about my trip... we may have to tell him that Mommy and Grandma are just going away for the weekend and not tell him about Guatemala. Then again, maybe I'll just tell him that Mommy has to take Grandma to Guatemala, and Daddy needs someone to take care of him so Max has to stay home!!!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Feeling GUILTY!
I'm feeling very guilty about not posting very often, but things have been pretty busy. My parents were in town last weekend for a visit, Moses was out of town on Monday, sick on Tuesday, and now out of town again today and tomorrow. I really can't wait for the weekend so that we can spend some time relaxing!
So, I still need to post some updates about our last visit trip in early March... I promise I haven't forgotten! I just need to make sure I find enough time to dedicate to the task. Speaking of visits, I looked online this morning and flights are ON SALE again! Woohoo! Looks like I'll be seeing my baby girl again sometime in the next 4-6 weeks! Moses probably won't be able to go because of work, so I'll either plan a short trip for myself or maybe talk my Mom into going with me and taking Max along. We'll see!
Adoption news has been quiet this week. We were scheduled for DNA test and birth mother interview on Monday. We hope to find out early next week if this occurred, or if there was a conflict for the birth mother and they had to reschedule. I was reassured by Kristi, our coordinator, that if there's BAD news, we should hear something right away. Otherwise, no news is either no news or good news.
We've been able to talk with our foster family a couple of times this week, and see Lili on the webcam as well. Last night she was VERY active when we were trying to see her live. She wouldn't stay still, so they had to keep moving the webcam to try to capture her in action! Although Moses will be out of town tonight, I may try to get a look at her again via the webcam. I can say enough in Spanish to get by with the foster family, and I really don't need to talk too much if I'm just trying to get a look at my baby girl!
I promise, I'll try to post soon about our last trip. And, I'll be sure to post any good news updates that we receive! Keep us in your prayers for quick progress... it's getting warmer and I'm just DYING to get our beautiful girl home!!!!!!
So, I still need to post some updates about our last visit trip in early March... I promise I haven't forgotten! I just need to make sure I find enough time to dedicate to the task. Speaking of visits, I looked online this morning and flights are ON SALE again! Woohoo! Looks like I'll be seeing my baby girl again sometime in the next 4-6 weeks! Moses probably won't be able to go because of work, so I'll either plan a short trip for myself or maybe talk my Mom into going with me and taking Max along. We'll see!
Adoption news has been quiet this week. We were scheduled for DNA test and birth mother interview on Monday. We hope to find out early next week if this occurred, or if there was a conflict for the birth mother and they had to reschedule. I was reassured by Kristi, our coordinator, that if there's BAD news, we should hear something right away. Otherwise, no news is either no news or good news.
We've been able to talk with our foster family a couple of times this week, and see Lili on the webcam as well. Last night she was VERY active when we were trying to see her live. She wouldn't stay still, so they had to keep moving the webcam to try to capture her in action! Although Moses will be out of town tonight, I may try to get a look at her again via the webcam. I can say enough in Spanish to get by with the foster family, and I really don't need to talk too much if I'm just trying to get a look at my baby girl!
I promise, I'll try to post soon about our last trip. And, I'll be sure to post any good news updates that we receive! Keep us in your prayers for quick progress... it's getting warmer and I'm just DYING to get our beautiful girl home!!!!!!
Monday, March 19, 2007
A BIG Day.... Please say some prayers
Well, today's got my stomach in knots. I'm sitting here staring at my cup of coffee wondering if I'll be able to drink it, or if it will just make me feel worse. Today is one of the biggest days in our adoption process.... it's the day of the DNA test and the social worker's interview with Lili's birth mother. And, forgetting the steps of this process for a moment, it's the last time Lili's birth mother will see her or hold her.
I'm having a hard time keeping my emotions and worries under control. I'm obviously worried about the fact that the birth mother will want Lili back after she sees her. We spoke with our foster family over the weekend, and they promised to skip her bath this morning and make sure she's wearing something kind of ugly so that she doesn't look as cute as normal! I'm also nervous about getting the DNA results. The norm is that 2-3 weeks after the test, we will receive a copy of the results in the mail. We don't anticipate any issues, but there's always a chance that the woman who relinquished Lili to the attorney is not her birth mother. If this is the case, and the DNA does not match, then we would not be able to proceed with the adoption (unless the true birth mother were found). Obviously, this is a big deal and we are holding our breath just waiting for this part to be over.
Above and beyond all of these worries, though, are my emotions. I am feeling overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions. For Lili and for her birth mother, as well as for us. I am SO grateful to the birth mother for her selfless gift.... for her willingness to put Lili's needs above all else. I am unable to imagine how she must be feeling about this entire process, and especially hope that she can find peace with her decision when she sees and holds Lili for the last time today. As desperate as we are to have Lili home with us, I wonder what her birth mother is feeling and thinking about everything? I wonder if my prayers for her peace and strength are matched by her prayers for Lili's future. I will most likely never be in a position to personally thank her for our beautiful daughter.... so instead, I will make sure that we give Lili every opportunity in the world and that we give her the best life possible... filled with love. One other gift that I CAN give to Lili's birth mother is our prayers. If you believe in the power of prayer, and would be willing, please say a special prayer for Lili's birth mother... that she can find the strength to get through today and that she can find peace in her decision. And that she has the knowledge in her heart that Lili will have a wonderful life filled with love.
I'm having a hard time keeping my emotions and worries under control. I'm obviously worried about the fact that the birth mother will want Lili back after she sees her. We spoke with our foster family over the weekend, and they promised to skip her bath this morning and make sure she's wearing something kind of ugly so that she doesn't look as cute as normal! I'm also nervous about getting the DNA results. The norm is that 2-3 weeks after the test, we will receive a copy of the results in the mail. We don't anticipate any issues, but there's always a chance that the woman who relinquished Lili to the attorney is not her birth mother. If this is the case, and the DNA does not match, then we would not be able to proceed with the adoption (unless the true birth mother were found). Obviously, this is a big deal and we are holding our breath just waiting for this part to be over.
Above and beyond all of these worries, though, are my emotions. I am feeling overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions. For Lili and for her birth mother, as well as for us. I am SO grateful to the birth mother for her selfless gift.... for her willingness to put Lili's needs above all else. I am unable to imagine how she must be feeling about this entire process, and especially hope that she can find peace with her decision when she sees and holds Lili for the last time today. As desperate as we are to have Lili home with us, I wonder what her birth mother is feeling and thinking about everything? I wonder if my prayers for her peace and strength are matched by her prayers for Lili's future. I will most likely never be in a position to personally thank her for our beautiful daughter.... so instead, I will make sure that we give Lili every opportunity in the world and that we give her the best life possible... filled with love. One other gift that I CAN give to Lili's birth mother is our prayers. If you believe in the power of prayer, and would be willing, please say a special prayer for Lili's birth mother... that she can find the strength to get through today and that she can find peace in her decision. And that she has the knowledge in her heart that Lili will have a wonderful life filled with love.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
We're Home - AND We Got GREAT News!
Well, I've been negligent in updating the blog (thanks to Teresa for pointing this out!) We had a wonderful visit trip with Lili (and with the foster family). We got home from the trip early Saturday morning (around 3 am), and spent most of the day Saturday and Sunday resting up, doing laundry and unpacking. Monday was a pretty rough day for us, as I was down about receiving no new updates on our case for 6 weeks! We both talked to Kristi, our coordinator at the agency, and she was honest with us about the fact that she had no news. BUT... someone must have recognized how down we were, because she called us early Tuesday morning with GREAT news of progress! Our file was entered into Family Court in Guatemala on 3/1, and the attorney has scheduled our birthmother's interview and DNA testing for Monday 3/19!!!! This is awesome!!! Doesn't really do much to tell us when we can bring Lili home, but it's a HUGE step forward and something to be celebrated! We took Max out to dinner last night, although we didn't really explain why.... until it's time to bring Lili home, he really can't comprehend the baby-steps that we are moving forward in this process!
I've got to cut this message short, but I will post more details about our 2nd visit trip soon!
Krista
I've got to cut this message short, but I will post more details about our 2nd visit trip soon!
Krista
Thursday, March 1, 2007
36 hours and counting!
Well, we're 36 hours away from holding our little Lili! We're scheduled to leave our house tomorrow night at 11:00pm, and we fly out of O'Hare at 2:30 am. We get to Guatemala City at 6:30 am, and the hotel shuttle will pick us up and take us to the hotel. With any luck, they'll have a room ready for us like they did last time. Then, at 10:00 am, our foster family will bring Lili to us at the hotel! We are SO excited!
We've been rather anxious about the visit trip, especially with the drama this week surrounding my health. I've been home all week trying to pass this darn stone... no luck so far. When I started out, it was in my ureter causing kidney blockage (NOT GOOD!) I visited a nephrologist (renal specialist) yesterday. He ended up sending me back to the ER last night, where we discovered it's moved into my bladder and should be passing sometime soon(?) I'm still having pain, although it's not quite as bad as when it was ripping through my kidney and ureters!!! And thanks to my doctor, I've got clearance to take as many pain meds as I need to enable me to leave for Guatemala as scheduled!!!!!! Thank GOD!!!!
So, I'm feeling sleepy from my pain meds, so I'm gonna sign off. Say some prayers for us that our flight goes smooth and that we have a wonderful uneventful week with Lili. And say an extra prayer that I pass this darn kidney stone!!!
We've been rather anxious about the visit trip, especially with the drama this week surrounding my health. I've been home all week trying to pass this darn stone... no luck so far. When I started out, it was in my ureter causing kidney blockage (NOT GOOD!) I visited a nephrologist (renal specialist) yesterday. He ended up sending me back to the ER last night, where we discovered it's moved into my bladder and should be passing sometime soon(?) I'm still having pain, although it's not quite as bad as when it was ripping through my kidney and ureters!!! And thanks to my doctor, I've got clearance to take as many pain meds as I need to enable me to leave for Guatemala as scheduled!!!!!! Thank GOD!!!!
So, I'm feeling sleepy from my pain meds, so I'm gonna sign off. Say some prayers for us that our flight goes smooth and that we have a wonderful uneventful week with Lili. And say an extra prayer that I pass this darn kidney stone!!!
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