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.