Our Trip

We traveled to Guatemala on Monday, June 11 and arrived around 8:00 in the evening. We just settled in since we were getting Elena the next morning. We didn't know exactly when so we were ready by 9:00 a.m. Well, 9:00 a.m. came and went and the phone didn't ring. It was the longest morning ever! Finally around 11:00, I checked the phone and they weren't working!! I couldn't believe it; one of the most important calls of our lives and the phones in our room didn't work. Sean rushed down to the front desk and as he was coming back, he ran into our foster mother, her daughter, and Elena coming in the door. What a coincidence! They actually asked if they could come early, before the coordinator, to spend time with us. She is comfortable with us because Sean speaks Spanish. We sat together then had lunch. I didn't take Elena from them; I let them hold her the entire time. We knew that this was a very emotional time for them. The coordinator/translator, Oscar, came a few hours later and we went over the Embassy appointment and what was needed for that. He is a true blessing! He was the only person that we met from our agency on both trips to Guatemala. We couldn't have done it without him! He took some pictures of all of us together and let them know it was time to say good-bye. Our foster mother told him that she was just going to wait there for the taxi, so he left. The taxi arrived and we said our good-byes. It was very sad for all of us. Sean promised her we would call as soon as we got home and he did. Her and Sean have a special relationship since he speaks Spanish. I know that she appreciates that he does.

We hung out for the rest of the day and got ready for the Embassy appointment on Wednesday. We were so excited that our friends John and Nina were visiting their new daughter the same week! It was so great to meet them face to face and spend some time with them. While they were visiting with us in our room, the earthquake happened! Sean was the only one who felt it, but he didn't know what was going on at the time. It measured 6.8, but Guatemala City didn't experience it like the coast and places like Antigua.

Thanks to our awesome coordinator, the Embassy appointment was a piece of cake! He picked us up, along with another couple, and walked us through the whole thing. I hope that all of my friends who are on their way to bring home their babies have the same experience. We were there for three hours (that wasn't so great), but Elena did great! She is so content and is so easy to care for. We just love her so much! Once it was over, we headed back to the hotel and hung out at the pool. Daddy did a great job swimming with his daughter. It was so sweet! Elena's visa arrived on time Thursday afternoon and we started packing for an early departure the next morning . . . holy early . . . we had to be in the lobby at 4:30 a.m. I packed the night before, so it wasn't so horrible.

Our flight left at 6:25. We checked in at the airline office located at the hotel which made the airport very easy. I carried Elena in the carrier in front of me and had the diaper bag (backpack style) on my back. It was a good workout, that's for sure. I carried her all day and I think I did pretty good. I wasn't even tired when we got home. Our first flight into Houston was about 3 hours and Elena didn't make a peep! She actually fell asleep during take off! Sean and I didn't realize it, but on both flights, we were separated. Ugh. We managed to trade seats on the first flight, but not the second. He was eight rows back and had all of Elena's toys! Our flight attendant was wonderful though. She passed things back and forth and tested the bottle for us and everything. I highly recommend Continental; they were awesome. Elena did great on the second flight as well, which was another three hours. I was relieved and immigration was easy too!

Once we got to Baltimore, we called Sean's parents who met us at luggage claim. It was a great reunion!!! We made it home to another wonderful reunion of friends and family! It was just great to be HOME with OUR DAUGHTER! My nieces decorating our house with balloons and welcome signs and best of all . . . food! We were starving. Elena did great with everyone.

The entire trip was smooth and we are so happy!

Back in Business!

I'm back!! AND . . we're home! Our sweet Elena is home too and we are just so excited! I have so many updates, but only just last night had the opportunity get this borrowed laptop hooked up and working. Elena is sleeping right now, but I'll update you on our trip and how we are doing really soon. And, of course, some pictures! She's so incredible! Love to you all!

PINK!!!!

Need I say more?! It came much quicker than we thought in terms of the notice they gave us. We got the call this morning around 10:30 and we leave MONDAY!! We still can't believe it! Our Embassy appointment is on Wednesday! We'll be flying home with our sweet Elena on Friday . . . forever. What a wonderful feeling! We are so blessed!

We are even more excited that we will be in Guatemala at the same time as John and Nina!

Well, we have a lot to do!! I'll be posting as we go! Praise God! Our Elena is coming home!

Nothing New Really

Well, we were hoping to hear something this past week, but didn't. That was hard for us, but we know it will be soon. We hope to get the Embassy appointment this week and travel about two weeks after (?). In the meantime, Sean is working on getting Elena's bathroom finished, we're making the finishing touches on her room, and I'm doing a lot of reading, thank you cards, and working out.

Sean's co-workers had a "manly" baby shower for him on Thursday. It was so nice! Very pink! Ha! Once again, we've been blessed with generosity. It was nice to see all of Sean's co-workers and meet new ones too.

I'm confident that my next post will be a great one!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer ~ Romans 12:12

Encouragement At Its Finest

Today we had an appointment with our SW to go over travel. This was very uplifting and encouraging. Not to mention it was just great to see our SW! She's an awesome person and a wonderful Christian. Our agency is incredible. She told us today that our attorney is one of the best . . . which we knew just from our experience. There wasn't much for us to go over today because we had already been there, done that. There are more forms to fill out though so we went over those. What a wonderful feeling though . . . nearing the end!


I was also blessed with a wonderful visitor at work this morning before we left for our appointment. We are carrying a package for an awesome couple who now have a beautiful son in Guatemala. I remember being at the same place in the process like it was yesterday so I pray that it goes as smooth for them as it did for us. It was a great pleasure meeting her today as she dropped off the famous Ziploc full-o-love at my work. Together we learned today that we are with the same agency, have the same attorney (Laura, see note above about how awesome our attorney is!), and our children live in the same city in Guatemala. How great! God put so many wonderful people in our lives as a result of our adoption who have been such great support. I hope I can offer the same support and strength for this wonderful couple and their son. I think it was meant to be! Thanks Nina, for hookin' us up!


Today was a really good day, I must say. Not to mention I keep forgetting Monday is Memorial Day and we have off work! Holy geez, that's awesome! It will be a nice day of appreciation, reflection, and relaxation.

Let the Games Begin

I just realized that I've never posted anything about our sweet little Sara! We adopted this little girl two years ago and she is our spoiled little furry daughter. She's six years old now and we just love her so much! We're a little worried about how she will be when Elena is here because she is use to 100% of our attention (more like 150%). She's so sweet and well behaved that we're not concerned at all with her being any kind of threat to Elena, we're just concerned she may be sad that she's not going to be the only "child" any longer. I guess people deal with that all the time when they have their second child, right?! We agreed we would do our best not to neglect her. We see other people do that and it is so sad. She's too cute to neglect anyway. :) Feel free to give us any words of advice in this situation!

So what' behind the title of this post? It's that time of year . . . the bunnies are born. Beagles and bunnies don't mix!! Sara doesn't need to be on a leash any other time of year, but if she sees a bunny, LOOK OUT! The chase is on! It's quite a scene actually . . . I scream "there she goes!" while Sean sprints across the yard as if he's actually going to catch her! She's never gotten one, thankfully, but it's been close! Sara rings a bell when she has to go outside and when she sees a bunny out the window, that bell sure gets a workout. Let the games begin!!

Waiting for Pink

Today we received an e-mail from the US Embassy requesting additional information from our attorney (this is called an I-72). It said that our file did not include Elena's original birth certificate. The good news is we were submitted to the Embassy! Our attorney has been amazing and I know he will get it taken care of quickly. We'll have our pink slip soon, that we know!

I have to say that this has been by far the most emotional time I have had in the entire process. I can hardly explain it. I know that we are so close to having her here in our arms forever. I'm having a hard time focusing on anything else and that is really not like me at all.

Thank you Kendra, Nina, and Marne for being my awesome emotional support!

We worked on Elena's room this week and I am thrilled! I love it so much! I find myself peaking in there over and over. Friends and family continue to be generous to us! We've received and continue to receive so many wonderful gifts, hand-me-downs, and gift cards that allows us to have everything we need for her homecoming. We are just so blessed and are so thankful.