State of Guatemalan adoptions

There has been so much news in the past week regarding the future of Guatemalan adoptions. I have wanted to post about it, but have struggled to figure out how to capture all the complexities. Today, I saw that someone from the adoption community has put together a website to talk about the issues.

Please, please check it out.... http://www.5000orphans.com/

In quick summary, the day we heard we had our Embassy appt., the DOS (US Dept of State) issued a statement regarding the immediate future of adoptions from Guatemela. There has been much of this in the last months....but this one being more immediate- stating that effective 12/31/07 adoptions have the possibility of being halted. Even ones currently in process (in PGN). In the past there was talk of in process cases being grandfathered in. There are currently about 5000 in process cases- that is not only 5000 families who have already fell in love with their son or daughter- but more importantly 5000 babies who's lives hang in the balance- as talk of transition and changes occur.

We are so thankful that we are bringing Samuel home. Legally, he is our son- he has our last name and Guatemala has finalized our adoption. We are at the end of the long process- now we just have to travel and pick up his visa from the US Embassy. One the day that brought such closure and relief to us and many of you who have journeyed with us, brought chaos and fear to many waiting.

And we know so many families who are devastated as they face the possibility of not bringing their child home. And we know our own past fear and uncertainty as we would hear rumors of change. Right after we accepted our referral in Feb, our agency stopped giving referrals for a few weeks after the news that as of April 1st cases would cease. Thankfully they didn't.....but I know I had a glimpse of what mothers in process now are feeling- with more intensity than I did.

Please pray- pray for those facing such uncertainty, pray for wisdom, pray for governments, pray for all in process cases to be completed, pray for smooth transitions to a new system, pray for health and care of children who are threatned to be abandoned in the process. Samuel's future brother or sister may be impacted by these prayers. Children of our friends definitely will be.

melanie

For you to look forward to....

I was just realizing tonight that we can soon be putting pictures of Samuel back on the blog. As you may remember our social worker requested that we not have pictures on the blog until the adoption was finalized.

And now that Samuel has our last name- and from what I understand, now that the Adoption Public Deed is signed, we are legally his parents!!

But I will wait until we are there and have him in arms- and then this blog will probably turn into a photo gallery!!

Good night.
melanie

October 9th at 7:15am

On that date, Rob and I will be sitting at the US Embassy in Guatemala with our son Samuel.

We found out our date this morning.

That's about all I can type right now through my tears....it is real, he is coming home.

melanie

Car Seat and Zoo

Rob and I crossed a threshold into parenthood....we now have a car seat in the new Jeep!
In the first attempt, the past engineer in Rob came out and he knew something wasn't right. So out came the car seat which sat in our living room as he was figuring out something about heat transfer (well maybe that wasn't it, but did bring me back to his days of writing his thesis and words related to vectors and force and impact from a car accident).

After studying the aerodynamic issues, adjustments were made and a second attempt was made.....Success!! We have a convertible one (not an infant seat since Samuel will soon be out of that). It looks so big while it is rear facing. But guess when it is turned to forward facing will "fit" better.

On to the second topic- the zoo. I went to Point Defiance Zoo this morning with a woman who is also adopting from Guatemala (we learned of each other through our agency). It was so fun to meet her and to talk about this crazy process. Her daughter is just 2 days younger than Samuel. They are still in PGN, but are hoping to have her home by Nov or Dec. How fun it will be when they are both here and can play together. (And I think Samuel is going to love the zoo!)

melanie

DNA

Not too much news to report.
We did have a charge on our credit card last Thurs (9/13) from a lab.
I believe this means they would have received Samuels DNA sample. Not sure how long it takes to process...I have heard about a week. So I'm thinking that the lab (in the US) will be sending back the results to the US Embassy in Guatemala. And then the Embassy will notify us (our Pink slip).
My guess is that our Pink slip will come the beginning of next week...so my current estimate is that our appt will be 10/3, 10/4, 10/8, 10/9 or 10/10. (they don't typically have appts on Fridays)
Just wanted to keep you all updated!!
melanie

Oil change and Samuel

Rob and I just got back from a wonderful day in Victoria BC- thanks to a very generous gift!!
I shared this with a few people, but I had the same experience again today.....

I looked at the little sticker on the windshield of the car for the oil change.
It says the next one is due 11/20......
The other day I saw that and just started crying, thinking "Samuel will be here by then."

It's funny the little things that affect you.
It was the first time I looked at a set date in the future, knowing that he will be here.

melanie

ps tomorrow we are heading to babies r us- we are getting the car seat!!!

Medical Update!

On Thursday we received Samuel's 7 month medical report.
He is 16.5lb and 26.4 inches.
He gained a pound and grew almost an inch this past month.
He continues to stay on the same growth curve!!

On the medical report they have a catagory that says 0-3 months, 3-6 month, 6-9 months....and then for each catagory a list of developmental task (ie can grasp an object, can support head, etc) and the doctor checks off which ones he can do. Each time he has all of them checked.

This month he moved to a new catagory- the three items are:

• can hold object between thumb and index finger
• understands no (not sure how they measure that one)
• and crawls

The first two said "si" and the last one "no".

Which of course I wouldn't be expecting quite yet.

It hit me this is the last medical report we will get.......we will be bringing him to the doctor next time:)

melanie

Passport

Today we received a photocopy of Samuel's passport.
It is so cute to see a little seven month old baby in a passport picture!!!

And more so, it was amazing to see our last names after his.
(In traditional Spanish custom, Rob's last name and then my maiden name)

Orange

We received an email saying our agency received our ORANGE slip from the Embassy today.
You may wonder, what that means....well Orange is the new Pink!
When we first started the process, the Embassy issued a Pink slip, which was basically the notice of your appt date.
With the new DNA requirements- the Embassy first issues a Orange slip, saying the second DNA has been authorized.

So if you look at my previous post- the first six bullet points are done!!!!!
And much much much faster than we ever anticipated. (What we thought would take about 2-3 weeks, was done under a week.)

So what's next?
Samuel has his blood drawn (we think that happened today) and then it will take about a week to get the results. Once the Embassy has the results they issue the Pink slip (that takes about a week to issue). And then we travel.
So we are now looking like it would be very realistic to travel in about 3 weeks.

Thank you for all of your prayers and emails.
I have started printing them out- there are about 50 notes to show Samuel someday of how excited everyone was to keep updated on his journey!!

love
melanie

and yes, this does mean my panic level has increased. I worked on grants for work for about six hours tonight. I'm trying to focus on work on Tues, Wed and Thurs and then all the other days are preparing for our trip!!!!!!

OUT!!

We received the call saying we are OUT of PGN as of yesterday, 9/6!!

We will be traveling in 4-6 weeks to bring him home!! (Actually our agency said 6-8 weeks, but from what I've been tracking on the discussion boards I think it will be sooner. And she actually said, but you have C as an attorney and he is known for being fast, so you might be sooner. I had heard we have a great attorney in Guatemala.)

So what happens next?

• I panick after making my list of things to do before we leave
• Samuel's adoption public deed is signed (2-3 days)
• New birth certificate issued with our last name (1 week)
• Passport issued
• Submitted to US embasssy (1 week)
• 2nd DNA authorized
• 2nd DNA results (1 week)
• Wait for Pink slip (1-2 weeks)
• US Embassy appt!!!!!!!!

Our agency said that currently with the new DNA requirments the time from getting notice for your appt and it happening is about one week. Some have only had 4 days notice.

So that means we may get a call on Thurs saying our appt is the next Tues. We will have to be ready to leave quickly!!!!

Samuel we are coming to get you!!!

Today is his seven month birthday.

melanie