We received an e-mail from our SW yesterday that said we are still in PGN. I have decided that no news is good new. We haven't gotten kicked out, which is great! We have just completed our seventh week in PGN.
I just got home from spending an absolutely wonderful evening with friends who have adopted their son from Guatemala. I had met him when he was a baby and can't believe he's going to be three already! I just loved being around him and playing with him and especially loved hearing the stories about their journey! Sean wasn't able to make it, but he will another time. Thank you D, T, & Little T for an awesome evening and all your support!
Hope our next update is THE ONE!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
What could possibly take our minds off Elena???
Sean and I had decided we wanted to support another child in Guatemala prayerfully and financially. We contacted our agency and they matched us up with a very special and beautiful little 2-1/2 year old girl named Andrea. We have fallen in love again! Andrea needs all of our prayers. She is HIV positive and also deals with mental and physical challenges. In the past year, she has shown great improvements and is considered strong and healthy. We pray for her everyday and wish we could do more for her! Our new association with Andrea reminds us that Elena is healthy, safe and well taken care of in her foster home. While we constantly pray for her welfare and quick homecoming, we know that Andrea may never have the same opportunities as her. The way God brings us together is amazing and we are so glad that Andrea has come into our lives. 
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Pictures from Our Trip February 10 - 16, 2007
We had a wonderful Valentine's Day this year! We met Elena for the first time and we had a great visit with her. She is so sweet and was so easy to take care of! She was four months old at the time. She hardly fussed at all and it was so easy to make her smile. It is an unbelievable feeling meeting your child for the first time and instantly falling in love. Sean did an awesome job with Elena and thank God for his skill of speaking Spanish! Our FM doesn't speak a word of English and he did great conversing with her. We had Elena with us from Monday to Thursday. Giving her back was very difficult, but we know she is in good hands. We miss her so very much.
A little bit about our Elena
Elena was born in Amatitlan, Guatemala, which is about 20 miles south of Guatemala City. She now lives in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (known to the natives as Xela -- pronounced Shala) with her wonderful foster family. Xela is located about three hours west of Guatemala City. She was born on October 4 and weighed 6lb, 6oz and was 19.5" long. Apparently she was considered a big baby, which we thought was funny. We think she is absolutely perfect and just can't wait to bring her home.
Our Story
Let me preface this by saying that it doesn't matter what the "Title" of my entries are . . . I go off on tangents! For those of you who know me well . . . you get it!
Sean and I decided to adopt last February after several years of infertility and miscarriages. God opened up the adoption path to us which was great because my body and emotions called it quits! In early March of 2006, we began our research and chose our adoption agency who we just LOVE! Our SW is the best; I don't think we could find any better. After several meetings, interviews, and a TON of paperwork (aka our Dossier), we received a call on November 9 telling us we have a referral (meaning, we have a daughter!). What an exciting and memorable day for us! Since then we have done a lot of waiting, met a few milestones in the process, and most importantly got to visit our Sweet Sweet Elena!
We found out that we entered PGN on March 12 and haven't heard must since. That's probably a good thing; no news is good news, I hope. For those of you who are not familiar with the Guatemalan adoption process the PGN is equivalent to our Attorney Generals Office. It is the final step in the adoption process, but is the LONGEST. I'm praying my way through it! Some cases get through it in a matter of 6 to 8 weeks (that's the average they gave us) and some are in it for months. The PGN has several layers of reviewers who look at your case and have the opportunity to kick it out if they find any "errors." These are lovingly known as a KO in the adoption world. If you get kicked out, it is hopefully for something that your attorney can easily fix and get you back in quickly. The sad news is, you go right back to the bottom of the pile. :(
Once your case gets approved by everyone, including the top dog at the PGN, you are considered OUT! So keep a look out for that topic on our blog! We're hoping it is soon. Once you are out, you wait for PINK. This is when you get your appointment at the US Embassy in Guatemala and can finally bring your child home. Congratulations to our friends Kendra and Michael who just found out they are PINK!! It's amazing how excited I get to hear of other's wonderful news.
We have made some of the most wonderful friends through this process! I want to give out a special THANK YOU and lots of love to those friends who have been so supportive . . . Marne, Nina, Kendra, Lori, Peg, Dina, Andrea, Ellen . . . oh, I hope I didn't miss anyone. I don't know what I would do without all of you!
Our families have also been so wonderful and supportive! We are truly blessed!
Sean and I decided to adopt last February after several years of infertility and miscarriages. God opened up the adoption path to us which was great because my body and emotions called it quits! In early March of 2006, we began our research and chose our adoption agency who we just LOVE! Our SW is the best; I don't think we could find any better. After several meetings, interviews, and a TON of paperwork (aka our Dossier), we received a call on November 9 telling us we have a referral (meaning, we have a daughter!). What an exciting and memorable day for us! Since then we have done a lot of waiting, met a few milestones in the process, and most importantly got to visit our Sweet Sweet Elena!
We found out that we entered PGN on March 12 and haven't heard must since. That's probably a good thing; no news is good news, I hope. For those of you who are not familiar with the Guatemalan adoption process the PGN is equivalent to our Attorney Generals Office. It is the final step in the adoption process, but is the LONGEST. I'm praying my way through it! Some cases get through it in a matter of 6 to 8 weeks (that's the average they gave us) and some are in it for months. The PGN has several layers of reviewers who look at your case and have the opportunity to kick it out if they find any "errors." These are lovingly known as a KO in the adoption world. If you get kicked out, it is hopefully for something that your attorney can easily fix and get you back in quickly. The sad news is, you go right back to the bottom of the pile. :(
Once your case gets approved by everyone, including the top dog at the PGN, you are considered OUT! So keep a look out for that topic on our blog! We're hoping it is soon. Once you are out, you wait for PINK. This is when you get your appointment at the US Embassy in Guatemala and can finally bring your child home. Congratulations to our friends Kendra and Michael who just found out they are PINK!! It's amazing how excited I get to hear of other's wonderful news.
We have made some of the most wonderful friends through this process! I want to give out a special THANK YOU and lots of love to those friends who have been so supportive . . . Marne, Nina, Kendra, Lori, Peg, Dina, Andrea, Ellen . . . oh, I hope I didn't miss anyone. I don't know what I would do without all of you!
Our families have also been so wonderful and supportive! We are truly blessed!
I'm Really Behind . . .
Welcome to our Blog! I'm really behind! So I guess the best thing to have done would have been to start the blog when we first started the adoption process, right?! Well, I hesitated and now I have a lot of catching up to do, but that is okay. Thank you to all my fellow adoptive parents and especially all of you who have inspired me to get started . . . you know who you are . . . Lori, Peg, Kendra. LOVE your blogs and love checking the updated pics and stories of our Guatemalan babes. Not to worry, I'll catch up! God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, a beautiful Guatemalan baby girl, and fast finger. ;)
Today is a very special day. This morning at 9:38, our new little nephew was born, who I have lovingly nicknamed Sweet P. SIL and BIL are doing great, as I suspected they would be. Little Brother also seems good. He may not know what this whole new baby thing is about, but he's going to be a great big brother! LOVE YOU ALL and CONGRATULATIONS!
Today is a very special day. This morning at 9:38, our new little nephew was born, who I have lovingly nicknamed Sweet P. SIL and BIL are doing great, as I suspected they would be. Little Brother also seems good. He may not know what this whole new baby thing is about, but he's going to be a great big brother! LOVE YOU ALL and CONGRATULATIONS!
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