Happy Birthday...well a few days late!

Happy Birthday Auri!!!

(We tried and tried to connect to the internet Sunday and well I finally figured out if I sit on the front top deck...I can connect to someone elses internet!!!)

BYE BYE SWEET AURI

Mommy don't leave...please!!! Auri didn't want to leave me this time...it makes me feel so good she realizes who I am. (this pic is actually from one of her tantrums- for no reason!) But her big 2nd birthday is on Sunday and her foster mom is throwing her a party! Auri and I also went shopping at the party store at the mall earlier today and got a banner for her party when we return!
This was the little light show the kids threw us last night. Auri laughed her head off when I stuck the glow sticks in my hair...so of course she had to do it too! Also she didn't want to share these with the other kids...we really need to work on that!
Oh yes...what is a stay at the Grand Tikal without a Happy Meal at McDonalds! You would not believe how unbelievable friendly the staff is here. They open the door when you enter, they carry your tray to your table, they put your kid in the high chair, put the bib on them and push them to the table. They come around and take orders for dessert and they throw your trash out for you! There is one girl by the name of Claudia who helps me everytime. I tried to tip her and she would not take it! I will get her next time! I did tip the other girl who helped me and she wouldn't take it until I demanded! Oh ya and the place is very clean...the go around mopping non stop!!!
Auri spotted the Universal camera crew at the hotel so she is strutting her stuff! She even tried to take her clothes off! Sorry can't post that pic!
She won their hearts with this one!

Dancing with my hands in the air!

Ready to go home!

Looking cute in my pigtails!

Out for a walk...wait till you see what fun we had on this walk once we met up with Lee Ann and Erick...

There's a trampoline in our neighborhood! You should have heard the kids laughing! We also saw 2 puppies and 2 big dogs today. Fernanda was very frightened, Auri only got concerned once she noticed Fernanda was. She was okay with the big dogs with the owner had them sit and she could pet them.

Play Play and Play some more!

Well basically we play ALL day! Yesterday we met some other moms Emily, Lee Ann and Melissa (& Melissa's sister Virginia) and their tots to play at Hotel Antigua which is awesome...but it started to rain! So off to a different Pollo Campero to play at an indoor playground and we all had so much fun!

For my dad....

We made it through WEEK ONE!

Well we made it through week 1! Of course nothing new with our case. Frustrating but we are used to it! Today Melodie Stacie and I decided to take the kids to Pollo Campero for lunch b/c they have a nice outdoor play area...well we ate lunch and then it poured! Poor kiddos! Then we headed over to the grocery store for a few things and then off to the computer guy for our router (in the rain)...of course he forgot to get it! He told us to head over towards the park to that computer store but it was raining too hard so we just headed home!

The kids are all starting to play. Auri and Fernanda are close in age and are so cute together! Of course Auri loves all the little ones too but forgets they are just that littlier! I catch her pushing Andrew, hugging and knocking over Eliana or laying next to Rosa acting like a baby!

Auri finally got to see her daddy on Skype! She was soooo excited! She was talking, blowing kisses and trying to reach him through the computer! Hopefully we can get the rest of the family connected so they can all spend a little time chatting with her too!

Well I can't think of anything else...the days all kind of run together! Good night!

Well since we can't get our skype cams up & running....

here are more pics for daddy!!!

Not sure who this child is...doesn't look much like mine!

Okay well I recognize a sippy cup always being in her mouth but she still looks a little different...

Okay now this is MY DAUGHTER!!!

Update on why DNA and Court did not take place...

Our agency called today and said our birth mother lost her ID so she needs to request this herself. She also advised she cannot get another day off for 15 days. So once again we face more delays. Depending on when she gets into PGN I may need to come home at the end of September so that I may return to get her. I hate to do that because it is so hard for Auri to adjust from her foster family to family at the big house! Well she is napping now so I am trying to catch up on emails. We found a place that said they would have a wireless router for us today so hopefully that will all work out so I can spend more time on the internet in the morning and evenings while Auri is in bed. We have a very steep spiral staircase that are cement and I am aftaid Auri may wake up and tumble down them or pull the key out of the door and lock herself in! Well here are a few pics:

Auri, Eliana in front, Rosa crawling and Fern laying back...

Missing is Andrew he was prob staying as far from the girls as possible!

All smiles this morning eating my yogurt puffs!

Auri getting ready to lay a big ole' kiss on Eliana.

I tried to snap a pic of the kiss but it basically looks like Auri has Eliana in a headlock!

NO DNA or FAMILY COURT

What a nightmare our adoptions are! After spending 130 dollars on a hotel...plus paying a driver to get us there...I have to pay for a taxi to get Auri to her attorney's office. We get there and out he and the foster mom come and tell me court and dna will not take place as the birthmother did not bring her documents. So back to the hotel we go with our foster mom. Of course the ATM's here would not access my second checking that has the money in and my husband is in Grad class and my parents are gambling...so my co worker Mary helped to transfer the funds into my other account!

We have been back at the house for a couple of hours and Auri is a mess! I had to wake her up so early and then after breakfast she went back down for a nap....then we got the call to take her to the attorney where she once again fell asleep...and then after being up again to talk with the attorney and foster mom she fell asleep right before we got to the house. Of course now there is too much going on that she does not want to nap! So the baby whisper Kelsey is now home and hopefully she can get her to sleep!

At the Tikal

We are at the Tikal now. Auri has DNA in the morning. Today she had very very bad gas! And after giving her mylicon she had very very very bad diarrhea! I had my driver stop at a pharmacy on the way out of Antigua to get some pedialite and some better diapers! But they aren't much better! Well her little belly is so big and hard and it sounds like there is so much fluid in there. I can hear it when I carry her. I emailed my agency and will ask our attorney and foster mom to take her to the doctor if it doesn't get any better tomorrow. Please pray.

This is so much harder than I could have ever imagined. It gets better every day but when you have a day like this it doesn't help! Well I need to get her to bed!

Love you all!


On a side note...as I typed this and give Auri her pretend phone and said its papa she takes it and says "hello"! She has also successfully emptied all of the diapers and placed them under the night stand!

More pics

We went to the grocery store today...it was an interesting sight loading in about 1100 Q in grocerys into the strollers with two kids and 3 adults! Of course my child has a gas problem and the diapers here stink...so poor Kelsey our roomie who is the "Child Whisper" got some wet marks on her from little Auri! Well we are about to eat dinner! Catch you all up later!!!

Pics for Daddy

Mug shot???

Sorry I couldn't get any good pics...she is always smiling but by the time the camera takes the pictures...she's not!!! Well I just booked a night at the Tikal for Sunday. Auri has first DNA and Family Court Monday morning and our driver wanted to send someone to pick me up at 5:30 and then I was to find something to do in the city!

Here in Antigua

Just wanted to give you all a few quick pictures! We are here in Antigua...we didn't get to the house yesterday until about 9:30 after we picked up Auri and Melodie's girls Rosa and Fern. We also stopped at Hiper Paiz...of course my credit card did not work! The house is amazing...but this is all about of a shock to me! We got to watch a few fireworks tonight and Auri was a bit scared! Well I need to run.... once we get a router I will be able to catch you up a bit!

Auri talked to her daddy tonight and just smiled away as she listened to his voice!

Spending the night in Florida

Just wanted to let you all know I made it to Florida... I will post more later!

HOUSE....NO HOUSE....VERY NICE HOUSE!!!

Okay it is a very long story but we lost our house in Guatemala. After hours and hours of emails and phone calls we finally found another house in the same subdivision but MUCH nicer! Or at least I hear!!! Well I am off tomorrow..wish me luck. I am stopping off in Florida. If any of you have skype and want to reach me let me know...you can see little Auri in action!!!

Pray for Eliana

Eliana is throwing up again. Chris went home Saturday and Lindsey's mom Kay is now with her in Guatemala City. Please pray for this sweet little girl to get better and SOON! I know Lindsey and her mom are just exhausted so please pray for them too!