Shopping for a Valentine's gift

Auri loved the Backyardigans while we were in Guatemala. So we wanted to find her a gift that had something to do with them. Brent threw out the idea of getting her stuffed Backyardigan, I was like boring...even though she loves her little teddy bear my co-worker Ruth got her. Since we need to find something fast so we can send it down with the next family with our agency that travels to Guatemala we decided to stop at Kmart on our way to get groceries...we found it...exactly what Brent was looking for:


Perfect for any Backyardigans™ fan, this cuddly and plush Singing Playpal Tyrone from Fisher-Price® will sing a song and say several phrases when you give him a hug!


Now please help me find a super cute V-day outfit...I can't find the perfect outfit anywhere!!!

As she sleeps...

Okay I thought I was doing great but maintaining my composure as we left Auri( I think I am going to now refer to her as Auri instead of Elvia)...but as I flipped to a fellow bloggers website and saw the time 10:24 (thanks Jill!) I got tears in my eyes! Thinking about our precious baby girl sleeping beside us in bed, pulling my hand to her tummy or rubbing her feet together and touching me in the process...oh mascara and tears is making my eyes itchy! Mommy and Daddy miss you so much...as soon as I can persuade Daddy to let me charge another visit, we will be there baby girl!

Teachers and Quads

So Brent calls me at work this afternoon and informs me he is on his way home from the hospital...uhm great I think, the last time he went to the hospital he cut part of his thumb off! He informs me he and Carl where out in the woods and Brent went off for a ride on his own and the front of the quad went down in a ditch and he went up over the front of it!

Of course I start screaming at him! I wasn't concerned if he was okay I was just concerned of his lack of responsibility as an adult as we wait to bring our daughter home! I continually warn that he best not do anything that could stop Auri from becoming a Heinrich! Once again I fear that one of us will die and the three of us, well five of us(Chloe & Peppy), no six but one currently removed (Tyrone T Cockatiel living at Grandma/Grandpa's) will never become a family!

Well Brent is okay, just sprained a joint and it was his lucky day--- 5 dollars off his co-pay @AVH...I am sure it is accident time with the students or should I say teachers off for break!

Christmas cards and a chicken bus!

Wow! Our agency is amazing! Can you believe we got a Christmas card from our agency??? Heck AIP prob used my FedEx account to send out their cards to their friends and family!!!

Just another shot with Daddy!

Chicken Bus

Oh a runny nose!!!

Tonight we developed most of the pics from our trip...and some of the pics from the last night turned out the cutest but...Elvia has a runny nose!!! It was so dark down in the lobby we never noticed while taking the pics! So just pretend you don't see it when you get your Christmas/New Year card...and yes they are coming, I just haven't found the time to order them!

Oh do I miss her!

Beautiful Girl!

Will update the blog!

Hey everyone! I will try and update the blog soon! We had a great time in Guatemala with Elvia! Our foster mom thinks she will be home in Feb but I don't see anyway that could happen! She said they plan on pushing all the cases under the old law out asap to begin processing all new cases under the new law. Let's pray this is the case!!!

We do plan on changing her name to Auri Elizabeth Elvia Heinrich but we will wait to do that once she is officially a Heinrich! Geez - Elvia already got Christmas gifts and she doesn't even know it! We def need a bigger house! Santa even left books and dvd's for her and Grandma (she will be hanging with grandma and grandpa B while we are at work).

Elvia got the biggest Piggy Bank I have ever seen from her Grandparents and Uncle Dave already made a contribution! Uncle Mike got her the softest white little teddy bear and a baby gap card(can't wait to go shopping!). Elvia loved going through her suitcase while we were there and pulling out all her clothes! Think she will have no problem shopping with me! Aunt Michele, Uncle Jason, Sidney & Madison got her a memory game, little teddy bear, playdoh play set (which we took one can and Elvia thought it was cool to throw little pieces all over the floor), bathtub toys and a little people's house. Grandma and Grandpa H got her a Dora knows your name doll, Dora talking phone, dancing Santa which she loved to shake her booty to, Dora rolling backpack and Dora bath towel and wash cloth. Aunt Sue sent her pj's, robe & slippers, princess overalls and denim jumper with a pink shirt and matching tights. Grandma and Grandpa B sent her a ball popper, Dora cell phone and Peppy Lepito (sp?) book. (lots more gifts given ...will update later)

We got a ton of other gifts that we took to Elvia and some still here at home! I will update you all later!

Merry Christmas!

Trying to keep Elvia on schedule!

Marta told me to make sure Elvia gets a bottle at 6 am ...so she wakes up and wants no part of that! She did go back to sleep until 9. Then only decided to take her bottle once Brent acted like he was drinking it! Then we went to breakfast...she ate pretty good but wants nothing to do with her fork. I don't think Marta wants her eating with her hands but if that's the only way she is going to eat then I am all for it! So she had eggs, bannanas, chocolate fruit loops of some sort and lots of strawberries! I also gave her some strawberry bannana yogurt which she insisted on deeping everything in!

Last night she chowed on chicken nuggets and french fries dipped in barbecue sauce from McDonalds! And watched the little girls next to us with their Happy Meal toys from the movie Bee.

We will prob be heading down to the pool soon and then later we need to try and get a picture developed for an ornament for Marta.

Love ya guys!
Deanna

Abner Brent Elvia and Victor

Claudia Gestember Marcos Abner Elvia Brent Deanna Marta

Pool Party!!!

Today we used Victor which many of you are familiar with from the yahoo chat groups to translate for us when the foster family came! Victor was great and I highly recommend him!
This morning we didn't have breakfast, Elvia just had some snacks and a bottle...well I guess she likes to eat cause she was very fussy. When the foster family came the questioned what we fed her...ah oh! Bad mom!
No really we were waiting for them b/c I want to see what she eats so she does not choke. Well she eats everything and her two favorites are hot dogs with tomato sauce and grapes...okay these are complete no - no's in the use for a 17 month old!
So we took them all to breakfast - total 600.00-- but that is in their money! But it was well worth it! Then it was off to the pull! Elvia loved splashing everyone and the youngest Abner really took a likening to Brent and his hairy arms and legs!!!
Here are some pics:

Slept through the night!

We put Elvia down in bed with us before 10 last night and she is still sleeping! I of course didn't sleep well b/c I was too worried about her - Brent rolling on her, her suffocatting, etc! Brent hates this thing I do with my feet, rubbing them together all night and usually they end up touching his leg in the process...well Elvia does it too!!! She was so cute when she woke up around 6 ish...open her eyes - looked at me then crabbed onto my arm and cuddled it and went right back to sleep!!!

So now I need to hop in the shower so we can get ready to meet the foster family again!!! I am really nervous! Not sure if we are going swimming, eating, shopping or just hanging out here!

Update you later!

Love, Deanna

Daddy's Little Girl

Seems that Daddy is the go to guy!!! Elvia did great!
Our flight got in late, so we didn't make it to the hotel until prob 3ish..we met another couple on our shuttle using the same agency! They were actually meeting a lot of the baby boys still waiting!
So after checking in and going back down to ask where the microwave is since all I have for Elvia to eat was Gerber Graduates...(which they advised no one has a microwave!) I told Brent I wanted to walk the long way around to the elevators to see all the baby boys they brought in from our agency and wouldn't you know it...I spotted little Elvia and Marta sitting in a chair!!! We were so exhausted! Of course Marta speaks no english! So I asked her to come to the room and I would try and pull up the translator page...of course we can't connect to the internet( later we paid 1o (a day) to be able to access the internet!) So Brent called down to the front desk and had one of the workers come up and translate...then later the atty's daughter came up to help!
Elvia didn't shed a tear with Marta left and didn't cry until about half an hour ago when I said no to her for trying to open the fridge!!! Guess No means no in most languages!!! Then she is all excited for a bath, well then decides when it is actually time to get the bath -- she is going to scream at the top of her lungs!!! Of course Daddy comes to the rescue! Then when I laid her down with a bottle, Maur kept popping into my head saying not to do that!!! So I took her out in the sitting area and of course she spotted Brent and off she went to him! So now they are in bed together!!!
Well here are some pics!!!
I will post more tomorrow. Marta and her family are coming at 10 to hang out!
Love you all!

Waiting in Pittsburgh

We made it to our gate...now we are just waiting until we can board at 5:25!

Love you Mom and Dad! Hope Peppy and Chloe aren't being too much of a pain!!!

Brent is listening to his Ipod and sleeping! I am getting ready to tear in to the goody bag from the crew!

We have the BEST Friends!!!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

I can't talk long as we have 43 minutes til we head out and I am sitting here with my head in a towel and need to paint the toe nails yet!

But thank you so much Sarah, Brooke, Justin, Carl and Uncle Rossi!!! You guys are amazing -- it means so much to us to have such caring and supporting friends! We can't wait for Elvia to meet you all!!!

I will write more later!!! (and I think a little someone may get her first pair of Crocs from a special Uncle!!!)

Love you all!
Deanna (& Brent)

Elvia's to be dropped off between 4 and 5...

So looks like you will all have to wait till after dinner to catch the first glimpse of her with mommy and daddy!!! I was hoping they would have her there at 1...I would have never scheduled us for such an early flight if I knew they would wait so long to get her to us! Well I need to take Peppy and Chloe to my parents, get passport copies, finish drying my clothes, take a nap, and pack the last few things and off we go! To a b-ball game, then a Steeler/Christmas party at our friends and then to the airport!!!

I will post again tomorrow when I get a chance..maybe from Houston!

Love you all! Pray for us ... and wish us luck!

Deanna

6 suitcases, a laptop and a Vera Bradley bag!

No I have not decided to stay in Guatemala a month! After trying my hardest to persuade Brent this was the best thing for me and little Elvia, I could NOT convince him!!! We are taking gifts for 6 other families. I am hoping our agency sends the little cuties so I can snap a few Christmas pics for their families back here in the US.

Anyway back to the bags....can you believe we are going to have to cart all of those bags everywhere?!?!? Brent is now just putting the locks and ribbons (to identify our suitcases easy) on the last suitcase. Of course my swimsuit is MIA so I still need to try and find that tonight as we plan to do a lot of swimming!

Well I better get a move on it and find that swimsuit and a few others gifts I misplaced!

Nerves are setting in!

In four days we will be in flight to Guatemala! I hate to fly! Not sure I can do this!!! I would love to be one of those people that fear nothing...but I fear EVERYTHING!!! I have this huge fear of dying...lately when the roads have been bad I have asked Brent to drive me to and from my second job because I wanted to be able to make it to see our daughter! Sick I know...but that is just me!

Dear Elvia,

Tonight Daddy and I were talking about how excited we are to coming to see you in 5 days!!! We can't wait to hold you so tight! Sooo tight that we decided to leave the stroller at home because we are just going to fight over who gets to hold you as we walk through the mall as we shop, visit Santa and ride the kiddie rides!!! We have completely fallen in love with you and hope you do the same!

Once you are old enough we will share our journey to becoming family. You may be confused as we referred to you as Elvia and Auri. Well as we will always tell you, you have two moms, your first mom named you Elvia and we plan to name you Auri Elizabeth Elvia Heinrich...however we decided to wait until we meet ya because we are sure we will then know!

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other.

One you do not remember, the other you call mother.

Two different lives shaped to make you one.

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, the second taught you how to live it.
The first one gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.

One gave you emotions, the other calmed our fears.

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home that she could not provide.

The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me through your tears

The age-old question, unanswered through the years.

Heredity or environment, which are you a product of?

Neither, my darling.

Neither.

Just two different kinds of love.

Love ya! Mommy

Almost done shopping!

Last night before my work Murder Mystery Christmas Party at Spaghetti Warehouse, somehow starring my husband as Elf 2, we picked up a special gift for our foster mom Marta/ Elvia/Auri's Nany Marta...a digital camera! Not only will Marta be able to capture all the wonderful moments we are missing of our little girl but she will also be able to capture the moments of her three boys. I also just finished writing out the Christmas cards to Marta and her boys...although Elvia still needs to sign them when we get to Guatemala!

Rumor has it the chocolate isn't so good there so I picked them up little boxed Hershey kisses for each of them. Still working on a stocking filled with goodies for all of them, so far I have light up Christmas ring pops, post cards of Pittsburgh, Christmas pencils, a tin of Ghirardelli chocolate squares, an ornament, a photo ornament I need to put a picture of Elvia in, Christmas tea towels, those tubes of neon light sticks for this kids...and any other suggestions? I am giving each of the kids spending money since I have no idea what to get them.

As for Elvia, she has a million gifts from friends and family...but we wanted to give her something a little bit special to open on Christmas day....but what do you get a 1 year old?!?!?! I wanted to get her a little locket but realistically she's too young to wear it with the whole strangulation issue (just recently Brent's co workers little boy somehow strangled himself in the blind cords...so it does happen...luckily his mother resuscitated him and after they brought him out of a medically induced coma he is doing just fine! ( he was adopted too!)) I decided to get her a little heart bracelet...similar to the Tiffany & Co one. Also since she loves cats...I wanted to get her the Fur Real kitty, but Brent decided we needed to get her the FurReal dog so she is prepped for Chloe (our boxer). I also know how much my nieces love their little purses. First I thought I would just get her a little purse and put somethings in it but then I reminded myself again she is only 1! So after a lot of shopping online I found her My First Pursue at Target filled with age appropriate purse necessities! So lets hope the bracelet and pursue make it here before Thursday!

3 Down 3 to Go

We are still packing! We are taking care packages for 6 other families. We have already received three and hope the other 3 will be here soon! I just get overly stressed for no reason! I just want to make sure all the other kiddos get to have a special gift from their parents for the holidays since nothing can compare to a visit trip! So if need be, I will leave a few of the many many many outfits for Elvia/Auri here for our next trip in Feb or March!

Ortega Passed

New Guatemala Adoption Law Approved
By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA – 48 minutes ago

GUATEMALA (AP) — Guatemalan legislators approved a new law Tuesday to tighten adoptions, while allowing pending adoptions — mostly to U.S. couples — to go through without meeting the stricter requirements.

The legislation had upset thousands of would-be parents who had invested their savings to adopt a child from Guatemala, which is second only to China in sending adoptive children to the United States. Many feared thousands of children would be left in limbo.

However, the law approved by Congress stipulates that pending adoptions, some 3,700 children already matched with prospective parents, will be allowed to move forward without being subject to the new rules.

The law, aimed at cleaning up an adoption process that critics say allows birth mothers to sell their babies, will take effect next year. It requires the signature of President Oscar Berger.

"Starting Dec. 31, the business of adoptions is over," said lawmaker Rolando Morales, one of the measure's biggest supporters.

Adoptions in Guatemala are now handled exclusively by notaries who work with birth mothers, determine if babies were surrendered willingly, hire foster mothers and handle all the paperwork.

Notaries charge an average of $30,000 for children delivered in about nine months — record time for international adoptions. The process is so quick that one in every 100 Guatemalan children now grow up as an adopted American; Guatemala sent 4,135 children to the U.S. last year.

Check out the elves!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1294895196

Could our adoption ever be easy?

Rumor has it they are supposed to announce tomorrow who is to be grandfathered in under the new adoption process. Of course that would not include us, only cases currently in PGN. I pray it is only a rumor as we cannot handle any more disappointment!!!

Keep us and all the future guatemama's and dada's in your prayers!!!

Make a postcard!

TWO WEEKS TWO WEEKS TWO WEEKS!!!

I can hardly wait!!!

Timelines

Just posting this here since I keep losing it with these free christmas lay outs that don't permit you to post add'l info on the side. As you can see I tried to place it under our summary and it just looks horrible!!

TIMELINE
09-16-07 Contacted Agency
09-21-07 Contract to Agency
09-21-07 Accepted Referral
09-22-07 POA to Consulate
09-30-07 Homestudy Visit
10-09-07 I-600A Filed
10-15-07 Dossier to Sec of State
10-26-07 Dossier to Guatemala
11-07-07 I171H Received
11-07-07 I171H to Agency/Guatemala
11-15-07 Updated Medical Received

UGH!

So I try and change things up and this new layout deletes all my timelines, tickers, etc!!! I guess I am going to have to find sometime this weekend and fix everything!

Extra Prayers Needed Please!

I have some friends and family that need some extra prayers right now over the holiday season!

Please pray for:

The Wheelers and a speedy I171-H (Guatamala)

The Meenachs and an extra special Christmas gift and LOI (Kazakhstan)

The Schaefers and a Holiday trip to Poland and a court date (Poland)

and US...DNA authorization! I emailed our agency again today to see if our attorney obtained the certification needed to get her DNA authorized...no response yet! We just can't imagine having our hearts broken in the event we spend time with our precious little girl and then be unable to adopt her!

And wishing Jeff, Jill, Alli and Mario Lesko a Very Merry First Christmas together!

...and I didn't forget about all my other blogger friends and family...have to save some holiday cheer for later posts!!!

WOW - 2 weeks and five days and we are off!!!

I just looked down at my ticker and can you believe we are leaving so soon? It seemed so far away when I booked it, now I feel like I don't have enough time to get everything ready!

Brent put the outside lights up last week but we still haven't found the time to put the tree up! Guess we should get moving! Santa has a lot of presents he needs to try and fit in our suitcases too!

Hold up on DNA

I emailed our agency to see what the hold up on the DNA was. I was advised our attorney is waiting on one last certification from the municipality in Huehuetenango which has been closed on vacations. As soon as they reopen and reissue it they are ready to ask for authorization.

They are confident they will have her DNA completed prior to our visit.

Just as I sit her missing her...

I get suprise pictures...

I can't wait to hug and kiss my sweet baby girl!!!

Yeah! Updated medicals!

I just got an email from our agency with updated medicals! I can officially say we have a little peanut! She is almost 16 months and she weighs 18.4lbs and is 69cms. I found an age and weight chart on the internet and well according to this one she is not even in the 5th percentile! But her doctor's note said she was developing appropriately for her age...guess maybe I need to find a chart for Mayan children.

Now maybe I can get them to give me her shoe size on the next visit!!! haha

Hair bows, hair bows & more hair bows!!!

So Brent and I just got back from Walmart and I came to realize I have a hair bow addiction! Is there any help? I have quite a few from ebay, Gymboree, H&M and now Walmart! I hope our precious baby girl loves her hair bows!!!

Always something!

Our I171 H finally arrived and as I am trying to scan it (but was unable to as my printer refuses to work when one of the cartridges is out of ink) I notice they forgot the New in front of Kensington on our address!!!

So I still ran it over to Staples and faxed it...hopefully tomorrow I will have a corrected copy faxed to me!

Where are we now in the process?

Many people have asked me where we are in this process. While our agency informed us our dossier is registered with Foreign Affairs, our POA is registered and our dossier has been translated.

Once they receive the hard copy of the I-171H our attorney can renew all the paperwork and get it ready to submit to the Embassy. It could take a couple of weeks depending on all the municipalities.

Crib/Toddler Bed has arrived

After spending the evening doing a little Christmas shopping and trip shopping for little swimmies, more hair bows, gerber graduates, etc. etc. we came home and saw 2 large boxes and two smaller boxes! Our red crib, dresser, toddler bed railing and bumble bee and lady bug pics have arrived! Time to convert the nursery..of course I already have the big girl room stuff that she will likely be sleeping in and using 6 mos after she is home!

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From: Warner, Susann [mailto:susann.warner@dhs.gov]
On Behalf Of Orphan, PitSent:
Tuesday, November 06, 2007 9:23 AM
To: Deanna HeinrichSubject:
RE: Heinrich - PIT0020080000

Hi, the new application has been approved and approval notice will be sent out this week. If you wish to do a one time free change of country just send in a request for the change of country and with it a copy of I-171H and state the new country you wish to adopt from. Thanks.

Trying to get that I171-H sooner!

Okay the Pittsburgh immigration office has to be sooo annoyed with me! I just emailed them again to see if we can just change countries on our original I171-H in hopes to get it back faster. She emailed me back stating we can do that but did not say if it would be quicker or not. However she did ask how our Kaz dossier was lost...so I explained...maybe she will feel bad for us and just change our prev approval...doubt it though!!!

A Christmas to Remember!

I am so excited and so scared!!! I just booked our first visit trip over the holidays December 21st- 24th! I can't wait to meet our precious baby girl and spend Christmas, well Christmas Eve and then bring all the pics and hours of video's to share with the rest of the family on Christmas Day!!!

Come on I171H and DNA!!!

Love my nieces and nephew!

Brent's brother Matt and his family live in Columbus so we don't see them as much as we would like. They aren't that far away but with our weekend work schedules and Kari's its hard to find a weekend that works for all of us! The have two of the most beautiful children... here is pics from their trick or treat. We can't wait till next year when we get to have all the kids together!

(When I get pics of his sisters beautiful children I will post them.)

Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween is my favorite time of year!!! I already have a special little someone's costume for next year!!! If I get a chance I will post a sneak peak of next years cutest trick or treater's costume!

Can't wait to see the little "Hen"-rich in this!!!

Dossier on its way to Guatemala

Received an email that our dossier was received by our agency and is now on its way to Guatemala!

Ooops though...I never got our pics off to our agency yet...don't worry they will be fed-exed today!

Pray we get our I-171H soon!!!

WOOO HOOOOO!!!!

The Lesko's have made it out of PGN!!! Little Mario will get to spend his first Christmas with his forever family!!!

UGH!

We filed our I-600a on October 9th. Of course the receipt/tracking number states it will take 4-6 weeks to process. Since our approval for our Kazakhstan adoption only took 2 weeks I was hoping for the same. So I sent an email out today and get a response stating 6-8 weeks! Okay wrong direction! I thought I would place a post on one of the Yahoo groups and another adoptive mother told me she filed hers 4 weeks ago, also recently emailed them and received the same response.

Please pray we get this quick as we need it to proceed with the DNA in order to start through the courts!

Mommy & Daddy I love my new picture book!

Our Little Pumpkin

Registered in Guatemala

There is a lot of talk about grandfathering of "registered" cases. Well I checked with our agency today and they said you are registered once your POA is with Foreign Affairs..and we are!!!

I should be receiving an album of new pics tonight...as soon as I get them you can bet I will be posting them!

Dossier off to the Secretary of State

We finally got our Delaware and Westmoreland County seals that were needed on a few of our documents. Now the documents are just hanging out in the fed ex drop box until tomorrow at 5 when they are picked up and sent off to the Department of State.

Dossier Complete

I am just waiting to get County Seals back from Delaware and Westmoreland County. I will be taking the rest of the dossier to the Allegheny County Courthouse on Thursday and hopefully I will be sending the paper work off to the Department of State that same day.

I also filed my I-600a today...thanks to Angie for driving over with me the Homeland Security Office...I would have been LOST!

After reading one of my favorite Kazakhstan blogs (I won't mention their names but I know they are reading this!) and looking back over their journey over the past two years it has just brought so many tears of joy. I know this is coming soon for Brent and I. Of course I just keep replaying the adoption videos I have on our Kazakhstan blog and balling!!! I just can't wait to be able to look back on the moments when love just takes us in and we all become a family! Even though both of our adoptions will not be smooth --- I found myself looking for jobs at adoption agencies! Who knows what the future holds!

One of my favorite lyrics: I need someone who needs me!

The Package!!!

Okay so here it is!!! Thanks for every one's suggestions...the next care package will include the other suggestions I didn't get to purchase since I was limited to the stores nearby due to our schedules!

Oops! Forgot some shoes and tights!

And now comes the real challenge...fitting everything in!

Okay so here it is!!! Thanks for every one's suggestions...the next care package will include the other suggestions I didn't get to purchase since I was limited to the stores nearby due to our schedules!

Gathering a Care Package

Our agency director is traveling again next week to visit the children as well as taking donations for the foster parents of the little boys waiting for families.

So while gathering gifts for the boys we get to send our first care package to Elvia/Auri and they are delivering it personally! I am so excited! Any suggestions on what to send??? She's 14 months now!

Home Study is Complete!

Such a relief!!! Our home study social worker Molly is absolutely amazing! Brent and I could sit and talk with her for hours. If anyone is in need of a home study near Pittsburgh, let me know and I will forward her contact!

Sharing the blog

I decided to share this blog with a few other adoptive families.

We haven't really told anyone about this adoption due to the uncertainty of Guatemalan adoptions so please try to keep this between all of us until Brent and I decide to share our journey to our beautiful little girl with everyone else! Its just so hard and frustrating answering every one's questions but all of you in the process know all about it!!!

Well now its time to clean the house for our home study update tomorrow.! I will be so happy when I have this dossier completed!

POA off to the Guatemalan Consulate

This morning Cheryle, the kids and I headed over towards campus to shop and locate the post office. Our POA is officially on its way to the Guatemalan Consulate and then from there onto our agency.

I received an email from our agency yesterday that they received our signed contract and our paper work is on its way to Guatemala! So exciting!

Due to the problems with our Kazakhstan adoption Brent and I are trying not to get too excited and go over board shopping. So today I only picked up a Penn State bib to send to Auri's foster mom.

The Contract is Signed and a road trip to the Capitol

Yesterday I fed exed the contract back to our agency, officially accepting Elvia Leticia Garcia as our daughter!

So then it was off to the bank to transfer half of our program fee and one months foster care that we have to pay until we are paper ready.

And since we had a trip to PSU planned with the Wilson family, we took a road trip to the Capitol to get our POA certified. Hopefully tomorrow Cheryle can help me find a post office here to send the POA to the Guatemala Consulate.

Received adoption packet

We received our adoption packet tonight. There were a few mistakes to correct. Tonight we also learned the full name of our little angel and her mothers. Its quite a different feeling to see her mothers name there as well. All we know about Elvia's situation is that she came from poverty. I am so thankful her mother has decided to give her a better life and we will be forever grateful to the gift she has given us.

Auri Elizabeth Heinrich - we can't wait to bring you home!!!

Daddy's Little Girl

As we wait to travel to meet and bring our son home, we decided it was time to start our journey to our daughter. Who could resist this face??? This adoption is so different from our Kazakhstan journey which I will explain in later posts.

Elvia Leticia Garcia

born July 20th, 2006