Merry Christmas

kicked out of PGN... I don't know why.
Sooooo our lawyer will fix it in his good ole time and we will be resubmitted to roll the dice again.
Have a Happy Holidays!

Since Nov.7th

( Thanks for all the compliments about the dolls... I used Dancing Rain Dolls to make the dolls...super easy! The woman who owns the company is a dream to work with...These are the first dolls I have ever made! I love how I can make the dolls unique to each girl...in our society that is not an easy task )

Not In...Ramblings

We are unofficially Not in PGN.... "They" say we will go in tuesday..."They" always say that, lol. "They" also thought we had *the* document that we needed to enter.... Now "They" say that they got it today but because it is a holiday (there not here); we will have to wait till Tuesday to go back in. Of course none of this really matters, right? I mean they explained what documnet they needed...But what should I really care...I can't help one way or the other... For all it matters they could tell me they need a salsa dipped black goose feather from the nearest volcano or they could tell me they need a document....either way whatever!.... at this point all the information in the world doesn't change that my girls are not here and that I can't do anything about it... SO get your goose feather or your document.... just get on with it!
All this blah blah information of documents and dates and names of people who will be taking my stuff from one place to another.... I don't care... I mean *I care* but you know what I mean... If Jose will take this piece of paper to Carlos and he will send it to Maria on Thursday; Great. Fantastic. However unless you give me Carlos, Maria and Jose's cell phone number my impact on all of this is very little. Oh but if I had those cell phone numbers....lol... I am sure I can guarentee you that my impact would be much greater then "They" who passed this info to me. Don't get me wrong I am glad that the Guatemalans on the Ground are getting something done... but they would have been doing something had I not been notified so my importance in the equation is very small. Most days when "They" talk my ear off about details and dates... I just become exhausted. I am sure "They" just want me to feel in the loop... but the loop spins slowly without me.
Unless the loop is "You are out of PGN and have PINK"..... all of these other facts are unimpressive.
Most days I try and save you from the boring details of the Guatemalans on the Ground ... but why should I be the only one who has to suffer through the boredom.... You check the blog (albeit you probably come here for pics only) so perhaps now you can be thankful that I save you from this, lol.

She jumps...

I got a little teary eyed reading that she can jump.... OF course she can jump!
While we were there that tiny little breath of a girl would jump on the bed:
"Uno!"
"Dos!"
"Tres!"
"Cuatro!"
"Cinco!"
"Seis!"
At this point Ben and I would hold our breath..."How could such a little thing jump so high". Ben's protectiveness kicking in as he would catch her before "Siete".
Thanks Doc....We know she can jump.

Rockin the Orphan Do!

So umm.... well... .... at first I thought they had gotten lice...Then I thought well maybe with their love of gum they got gum in their hair..AGAIN?!?...But nope...And thankfully so... they just have a bad do...and not so much "they" as just little Teeny. Apparently someone thought they would meld the concepts of french braid , minus the braid ...and corn rows, minus the corn?..Oh no!...lol...It *is * corny..no question there. But enough about their hair, lol. My girls are rockin Guatemalan Fabulousity regardless, dahling!
I can just see Tiny now... Just like when we saw her and I unloaded my collection of little girl shoes... she grabbed hers and explained to Teeny that the others were far too big for her and that she had to wear her old shoes as she handed her a dirty plaid pair of Strawberry shortcake zapatos.... I recently sent more shoes down and I see that Tiny is wearing the new ones and Teeny is wearing the ones I gave Tiny at the hotel. The shoes that I sent, were intended for Teeny funny thing that Tiny has claimed them and passed on her white sandals to Teeny.....ahhhh the joys of being the oldest sister!
Well outside of bad hair...and really, what girl doesn't suffer from the well intentioned, "let me do your hair...I am really good with hair" from a well meaning caregiver, right? Often times this is at the hands of a family member.....Lord knows my sister has braided my long hair into many a horrible french braid that only needed a goat and a milk bucket to complete the ensemble.
In the end I look into their eyes and see the light is still there and feel peace that my babies are healthy and well taken care of.

Who Knew????

They knew....
Then I knew....
Now They know I know.....
And now....
You KNOW!....
But what do you know?
We were kicked out of PGN.
"Oh No!" you say.... "That sounds terrible"
In fact I was elated... I love progress....
I love that someone handled my file
I love that they looked over it and processed it in some way....deemed a touch up necessary and kicked it out.
That's fine with me.... "Hey thanks...Thanks for looking it over...Thanks for taking the time to hurry my file along!"
Let's clean that puppy up and send it back in!


So now we will fix the file up...make it pretty and send it back in....Then they will clear it and say that it looks great .
Aren't you excited?
I am excited!
Get excited these girls will be here soon!

A family Portrait

So there we are...Funny thing I always thought they would be home by now. So instead I give you; My family in Pumpkin Form. There really isn't anything I could update you on... There are "details" but they are boring and I wouldn't want to bog you down with mundane details. It would be a good idea if you kept us in mind from time to time...think of us and our girls.
Overall I have peace and feel that it will happen at the perfect time.... However it would be so sad to everyone if I had to give you: My family in SnowFam form.
Bella keeps praying that they will be here for her birthday.
*****************************Updated to add: My girls are doing great. They had Merci's birthday party last week and it was a big hit. They are asking all the time "When will our Mama and Papa come again and take us swimming". Ahhhhhhhhh...They are good!******************

Miracles on Vacation

So after 71 days and a big "shove off" from the US embASSy.... we have PA.
For not just one girl!
But for Dos Hermanas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes they told us this wouldn't happen.... heck they told it to our faces when Ben stood in their office in Guatemala.
Our agency advised us to get our Congressman involved. We didn't get that far.
Welp...........
No need because we have both...BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!
On top of that...
there's more!
Our agency found out a day or so before us (us being on vacation) and they already got it and had us in PGN!
Talk about Johnny on the spot! Our agency wasn't letting any dust settle.
Miracles are happening.

Back to Business

Okay so I talked to our agency about this whole PA-DNA mess. Upon contacting the lab via fax and phone... we know that the US EmbASSy did, indeed receive TWO DNA's ...one for our Teeny and one for our Tiny. So where do we go from here? Welp, the lab resent the results to the Embassy... and in a few days we will follow up with phone and email begging them to keep the girls together. However, this got us nowhere when we stood before them and asked that the cases not be split...so I think only a miracle will change their minds. I have seen miracles before so I am not ruling it out.
So at least we are progressing....now do we get to "Pass Go and collect $200"?...!!!!

OH! and it should be noted that the fostermom does not think herself , Vidal Sasoon.... the girls got gum in their hair.

We are back

We are back... and some have asked me, "Did it break your heart to leave them?"
No....my heart is not broken... My heart is soaring! I went there with so many questions...will they gel with our family? ... are they healthy?..... are they being taken care of..... are they broken... will they overcome?
Oh and my questions were answered. The fostermom takes them to mass every week... and the light in their eyes speaks to your soul telling you that they are not broken....They are in great hands. They will fit perfectly with our family...They are our family.
Tiny and Teeny are in great hands... and yes, I am sad to leave them... Ben and I wanted to stash them in our carry-on and fly home... but my heart is not broken... My heart is soaring ...because I have an awesome family and my children are strong wonderful people!

Guatemala ...The Movie!

Now before you watch this.... if you have a poor connection or it appears choppy... I would just let it play through with the volume off, but don't watch it then.....After it has played through once hit play again , with the volume on...and you should get a smooth show no problemos...si? si!
Today we did tons of funs stuff.. but we knew the clock was ticking so I didn't post any pics... hopefully this makes up for my blogging absence.
For the moment...ie... until I get some where with a good consistant connection the movie will be residing at the bottom of this page....so scroll down...lo siento...y gracias
Oh and please click on the comment button below (after you watch the movie) and let me know what you are thinking...

Afternoon

So like I said...we went swimming....low and behold Teeny hates the water....just like another certain 2year old boy that I know...Tiny loves the water. Her and "B" were mermaids ....the fostermom said that the girls hadn't ever swam... well that Tiny is like a little fish. It was a shallow pool...so she didn't actually "swim" but she was under the water and holding her breath like a champ.
I included a pic of outside our hotel window... see the Pollo Campero... Teeny won't stop with that, lol. Everytime Ben comes in with a bag, "Pollo campero papatito...te quiero pollo campero". She said the same thing when we went to breakfast this morning in the hotel, lol...again with the pollo campero.
We finished off the afternoon with making necklaces. BIG HIT! I thought it was to much fine motor for Teeny... so just me and the older girls worked on necklaces.. then I lost interest in the beading so I handed mine to Teeny... OH my was she excited when she got a bead on. She lit up like a firework...Oh so proud of herself...she worked at each bead for quite some time then ...uhoh... she grabbed the wrong side and all the beads rolled to the floor........but no, little Teeny just laughed and laughed and laughed... her good humor prevailed over any disapointment in the loss of her hard work.
They love Ben... I mean LOVE him. When Tiny woke up from her nap,"Donde es Papatito?" I told her he went for food. The second he unlocked the door she ran to him and hugged him , "Oh Papatito!" Seriously..I kid you not; huge giant arms outstretched hug ...we just looked at each other dumbfounded. You can imagine Teeny's interest in his return... as he carried bags of food...starts with Pollo and ends with Campero, lol.
I made sure their fostermom told them this was *just* a visit. But I don't know if they get it.
Pray for their hearts. They get picked up tomorrow night.

This morning........

So we are all fine ...everyone gets along. They started calling Ben and I Mama and Papa.... well they call him Papita...is that like daddy? We never told them to call us that... I am guessing the Foster mom may have.
We ate breakfast and now we are going for a swim.
I know more Spanish then I ever knew I did, lol!

Pollo Camperro

so they really know the words...Pollo Camperro....okay already..we will go get fast food chicken which goes against everything I hold holy, lol.. but hey when in a 3rd world country maybe its a good idea to have all your food deep fried in scalding oil...I mean, what could live through that!
They are BEYOND tiny.... they are like the littelest things in the world.
Tiny cried for about an hour.. but quickly came around once I showed her her new dress....and painted her nails.... and lotioned her like a little slippery soap from head to toe in Burts bees. She is currently wearing mariposa wings with a sequin headband...and pink toenails...little Teeny wraps everything up in a towel and it is her bebe...she is a delight to be around..always laughing and smiling.

Just now Tiny came up to me and said, "Momma......." and then she pushed all the buttons on my computer...lol! She knew just what to say to get her little lotioned hands on my computer.
Ben's back and Teeny just exclaimed, "Te Quiro pollo!"
WE are having a great time.
Did I mention they are sooooooooo tiny?
so small.

Not Slowing down.

Well we heard from the US embASSy.....they have lost half of our paperwork...specifically Yenifers DNA results. We have copies of the stuff...and well they could have emailed/called/faxed the lab and asked them to resend it. But apparently that is out of the reach of their ability. However, we will be in town...so we will just drop by and enlighten them.
I ask you...where in your job can you just *opps* loose your project you have been working on...and not get fired? What job are you allowed to take over 60days for something that should take 10days? Amazing....and this is OUR embassy...not the 3rd world country's...ours.
Today... I broke my toe. And by broke it I mean..it is pointed at a 90 degree angle from my foot when I take the tape off.
Either way...I AM going to Guatemala
I AM seeing my girls.
I WILL have an awesome time.
and
Ben WILL go to the embASSy and clear this whole thing up.
(sorry no pics... you will get your fill next week).

Get Excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise God....

Tomorrow is Saturday..... and Saturday is the day they often hand out the PAs... and We Just HAFTA get PA tomorrow...
We.
Just.
HAFTA!
Can you see it? Can you see our file...our big file sitting in the US Embassy? Now imagine that it is being signed off on and being given a big Pre-Approval....now Praise God for that.... I am not kidding... You reading this blog, ....you praise God for our Pre-Approval.

Thanks!

And let's not forget....WE will be in Guatemala next week.
Are you excited?
I should pack, right.. .well I haven't... because I want to wash all of our clothing in the same scent ...because I think a certain scent will really lock in the memory for the girls. Sort of like when the kids and I go to a store and they smell a certain perfume and look at me excitedly and say, "Smells like Nanny...Is Nanny here?...Let's go see Nanny and Papa." I want the girls to remember what our family smells like...and sounds like... I am so excited.

* We are so close :

* We are 12 days from visiting and meeting our girls!
* We are 51 days into waiting for Pre-Approval!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For a good read please take the time to click on the new links I added in the upper right margin. The first one is really good and gives you a great perspective on adoption and the spiritual significance of our role in the process. The second one perfectly articulates the thoughts which have been swirling around in my head since before we started this journey. I was so grateful to see it put into words so smoothly. Both entrees are inspiring, encouraging and just plain great!



Get ready girls we are on our way!

Started Packing.

Here is a picture of most of the treasures I will be taking down to share with the girls. I have thoughtfully chosen all of it in an extremely obsessive compulsive way! As in; driving far and wide to find the perfect silken fairy wings so everyone would match but have different colors. Most things are very Waldorf inspired.... did you expect something else? lol. If you click on the pic you can see the things close up. One of the little books is about a Mama chicken taking care of her peeps...so cute. Some of my books are still being shipped... but I think this is just about everything. I realize they probably won't have the foggiest idea about tea parties...but no time like the present!
Day 47...They (The US Embassy) haven't even returned our email inquiry.
I am now trying to come up with the perfect questions to ask the FosterMom when I meet her...any ideas?
On a super cute note...."A" refers to the girls as Metsee and JemmaJemma as in "Oh momma, a picture of Metsee and JemmaJemma in Guatamama."

42 Days....

Move over Noah... we have been in this ark for over 40days... so we are releasing a bird (oh dare I say which "bird", lol)... We are sending that Embassy an email (Thanks Kristi...you adoption maven you)... so hopefully we will hear something...Anything...

Travel Plans!

So we are getting closer and closer to meeting the girls.... and I have to do something with all this energy...and as some of you know who *know* me; my first thought of the day is normally one of my best. I have been wanting to come up with something to give the girls , that would be made by me. At first I thought of bracelets and necklaces... scrapbooks and other trinkets.... THEN.....:
The other morning I woke up with the thought to make the girls some cute little felted fairy dolls. And boy did I ever! I sat down and pounded out fairy after fairy... it was if they made themselves. Within the evening I had made 5 and by the next day more arrived. I have ideas for about 6more. So my little flock of felted flower fairies are going to Guatemala.... I hope they don't expect for the Americans to bring Barbies!
Ironically we will be staying at the place that has the webcam featured on the bottom of this page...of course it only sporadically works... if it was reliable I would have you all tune in to me jumping in the parking lot and waving.
******Oh and we are on day 40 of our wait..... UGH!!!!******** (how many fairies do you think I will have felted by the time I get in to PGN?)

Just a bit of Teeny......

It is amazing what decent nutrition and ridding ones teeny self of acute brochitis can do for 2year old girls growth! Don't get me wrong ...she is still pocket size...and she did only put on one pound which brings her to a hefty 19 lbs....HOWEVER she utilized most of her energy to grow taller. In December she was 29inches....now in June she measures 31inchs tall! Most kitchen counters are 36inchs tall... so you can image how little she still is....but nonetheless; Good for her! Her medical report said she is very healthy ...no brochitis and everything checked out well within normal. So I guess that little girl earned the holes in her shoes!
I don't have the medical report on Tiny at this moment...hopefully soon. She is looking good in all the pics. There is a light to her eyes that hasn't been there in the previous pictures. That is encouraging.
Does ANYONE have connections in the US Government to get this moving a bit faster? We are now at 35days waiting for PA.. and as I have said before ...this used to only take them 30days to complete... but now it is ridiculously long and NOTHING can happen until we have Pre-Approval from the US Embassy in Guatemala....nothing...it's like sitting alongside the road with a flat tire waiting for your ride to show up.
Seriously?! THIRTY-FIVE days of waiting....Let's go already!

MY GIRLS!!!!

Okay so seriously... they are adorable.. but someone needs to tell the fostermom that she is no Vidal Sasoon, "Put the scissors down and step away from my girls!... I am sure your momma told you that you were good with hair...she lied to you...Stop cutting their hair." Could they be any cuter? I see they are wearing clothing that I sent. They have on the shoes and the socks and the shirts and the pants....those are things I held...those are things I put in a package and now they are wearing them. They will brush their teeth with organic toothpaste...hahaha....all because I put it in the package...they will brush their teeth with Barbie toothbrushes because we picked them out just for them. Wild, just wild!
I have many more pictures but I will post them soon along with the other updates that I expect to gather. I know that their medicals are being located...because I didn't ask...I demanded in preparation for our trip.
We have waited 28days for our lovely government to issue Pre-Approval. I won't mention how crazy it can make you to know that only a month or so ago it only took them 30days to accomplish this and now they like to make you grovel for PA. We can't go into PGN until we have PA. I know it is confusing...if you are one for details click on the link to the right and you can find a nice chart that will spell out the process.
Pray for Pre-Approval. We want these girls home!

Since the Begining!

I have had a lot of requests for more pictures! Well I thought it would be fun to make a timeline of the girls since our first picture. The first two are from December of 06... then the next is February of 07..... then the last one may have been from April. Soon we expect new pictures. I love picture day. I can't wait to put pictures up that I took myself!!!!!!!!!
For the record today is day 14 of waiting for PA.... after we receive that from our government; we can go into PGN.
Enjoy!

DNA is a Match

The DNA is a match. I found out from my agency earlier in the week. However, I wanted to save this post until I got my packet of information. In it was the birthmother's signature .... she has a beautiful name. Also the results from the DNA which were 99.9% affirmative. Last but certaintly not least... the pictures of them each sitting on their birthmothers lap. How strange that day must have been for everyone. How emotionaly hard for everyone involved. But it is done.
Looking at the polaroids was a surreal experience. I pray that she will have peace. I wish I could meet her. I would love to tell her that I will do my very best.
Now onto the future.... I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel..... we need :
*PA (from US embassy that they are cleared for passports into the US)
*then we go into PGN (fine tooth comb)
*Pink...our invitation from the US embassy to come get our girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DNA

The DNA is on it's way. We are all relieved that it is over with. Most likely that was the last time the girls will ever see their birthmother face to face. Such a bittersweet realization. I am so glad they have each other for this process. I can't wait till they can get their childhood back.

Family Court

We are: to.... through.... and past Family Court!!! Family court is when a Guatemalan social worker sits down with the Birthmother and verifies that she (the bmom) really wants to do this... They talk about the girls births and upbringing and what led to the choice to make an adoption plan. Then the birthmother signs off again. The social worker does go the fostermoms house and talks with her and the girls. She files her report with Family Court and it is approved to move further.
This is one of many things that will be in A Packet that we will receive (Sealed) at the US Embassy in Guatemala. We won't get to even open it ourselves.... that will be for immigration. However, once settled in at home we will file to get it....and all of our other documents.... mailed back to us.
As you can see that this is a nice sized chunk of progress! Hopefully soon we can have word on DNA.... and the third sign-off by their birthmother!!!

Freakin' Adorable!!!!!!!

The girls look cute, right? I am so happy that they are so healthy. As I was downloading and uploading their pictures I noticed what nice teeth they have... I know a lot of kids in Guatemala struggle with bad teeth... but it appears our girls have some nice pearly whites. I imagine it is because they weren't exposed to bottles and formula..as their birthmother breastfed them both well over a year. I also noticed that their ears are not pierced! We were happy to notice that... then all the girls can do it together as sisters....when they are old enough.
The things WeDon'tKnow still out weigh the things WeKnow.... hopefully that will change soon! Our DNA had been scheduled... when the results and veriification will arrive is anyones guess. We are sailing towards PGN. After PGN is our invite to come get our girls.... isn't that exciting!
If any of these terms are confusing to you; Use the links in the right hand column.... or don't and just keep smiling and nodding. We try to not get to caught up in timelines and details...it could make a person crazy! So far we hold out talking to our agency because it's so nice to find out you are further along then you dreamed.

Great Updates!

Tonight I received a medical report on little Teeny...and the emphasis on "little".... Back in December when she was seen by the doctor.... she was 18pounds and 29inches tall ....so that makes her smaller then Zim. She is soooo teeny. However at that time she was enduring acute bronchitis.... so hopefully that has been cleared up and she is on the mend. I guess that is why she looked healthier in the February pictures and even more spunky in the April photo update.



We finally got our I-7somethingorother and I faxed it right over to our agency. They will send it down to Guatemala and then we can get going with the DNA. That is fantastic. Once the DNA drama is over it would be a great idea to visit. The drama of it is; the girls will need to sit with their birthmother to have their cheeks swabbed.... for this DNA collection it is mandatory that each girl be seated upon the birthmother's lap. I hope my next update will be that DNA is done and a match (of course) and Tiny's medicals..... I love all this progress!



***p.s. Check out the live web cam at the bottom of this page... you can see a volcano near Guatemala City, in the background. Hopefully you have noticed the weather girl to the right. It's as close as I can get to being there.... for now!