Today is brought to you by the letter

Today on Thursday we

...in

Two days....I will be holding my little

Turkey

(a new pic of her will be inserted Saturday)

As we encounter paper pregnancy complications,

we can't help but be THANKFUL this Thanksgiving for all that

this year has brought us,

new family (nephew Dawson), friends (through adoption and fostering)

and especially our Daughter Auri.

We have the best family, friends and Church family

and next year it will only get better!

And who can forget ...

TREE STANDS on this day!

I am very thankful God was watching over my husband

as he fell and he was not more seriously injured...

although he still got hurt pretty bad!



Blessing~Deanna

more days...until I am holding my daughter again!
but I am sure she will say...

but where's Papa?!?!

Brent had to work since he can't afford

to take off since he needs to save his days our pick up trip...

but then he fell out of a tree...

so he will be at home waiting to see you via Skype!

So funny...Brent on the MOVE!

Brent has been going crazy being cooped up in the house. So he was begging me to take him to Wal-Mart but the roads where getting bad so I didn't feel safe driving him and his big truck. So I texted Carl and he came right over and took us...Carl is the greatest (he teaches with Brent, in case you don't know who he is) and check out the video he shot tonight...a 31 year old...sweat pants...and a scooter:

From Colotenango to RENAP

Hi Deanna,

Just to let you know Gallo has sent someone to Colotenango today to present the paperwork and he is requesting they give it back to them the same day to then get it back to RENAP, but the person will probably not be back until Wednesday. The person is traveling all day long today to get there.

He is revising all the paperwork and I will let you know of any more updates.

Lymaris

Last nights phone conversation...

Last night we called and talked with Auri. I made the mistake of saying Elvia and she repeated her name a few times...so softly, so clear and cute! I tried to get her to say Auri Elizabeth Elvia...but no response! I guess we need to take it one step at a time! Last week she practiced saying Auri over and over again..she said is so loudly and proudly...yet speaks Elvia so softly and sweet! I feel so sad for wanting to change her name a little so that it is a little bit of a gift from her mama and papa and yet acknowledging the gift her birth mother gave her...life and a forever family. Thoughts anyone???

As for RENAP we are still not submitted. Our attorney hasn't made the trip to her town yet. It is a little bit disappointing and I hope he is able to have it next week and submitted so if there are issues I can address them when I am there December 1st.

(don't worry I will be adding a post as to what RENAP is...since many of you either didn't have to experience them or have no clue what I am even talking about!)

Brent is home!

Thanks for all your concerns and prayers. Brent is home although we both do not believe he was ready to come home. He did pt today with no problem however when I got there getting clothes on him, getting him out of bed and then into my Jeep was a whole different story!

I guess he is only good for one movement of a day! The best part of day was as we were leaving the hospital...we were sitting at the light in front of the hospital and I stopped...asked Brent if he saw a NO TURN ON RED sign and he said no so as I turn I notice the sign way far away and low on a pole no where near the light...as well as the cop behind me. So I decide to pull over before he could even turn on his lights! Well he left me off after running my info and I am sure remembering my crazy husband screaming he just got out of the hospital --I broke my hip all while he is holding him self up with the little handle in the roof and the armrest...he did this for the 45 minute ride home.

Prayers for Brent

Today while hunting, Brent's tree stand gave way...the bottom fell out like a trap door..so he says! Of course he did not have a safety harness on. He landed straight down on his feet then his legs buckled and he fell on his butt(about 20 ft). Once he realized he was okay he called is cousin who was hunting in the same area to help him...thank God! Brent said he could stand but when he tried to walk he was unable to. So the attempt to get him on the quad and to the hospital did not work. So they called the ambulance.

They took him to the first hospital. When I got there I was a bit in shock as they had him on the gurney tied down and in head traction or whatever the term is! Since he couldn't bend his knees they decided to send him to a trauma hospital. So off he goes in another ambulance. Can I tell you all he was worried about was them not cutting off the 4oo dollars in hunting gear? I tried to warn him they would cut it off but he thought otherwise. Well into trauma he went and they cut it all off! Out they came with 3 bags of clothing! I haven't checked to see if anything can be sewn back together yet...I think Santa may just have to bring him something new this year!

Anyway they admitted him tonight. They know he has a fractured sacrum but are not sure what else. I guess they did his second set of tests too late and the radiologist where all gone for the evening. So they sent Brent upstairs to a room...no food no water...and the head brace on until a radiologist can review his scans tomorrow. I think that is ridiculous and you better believe I will be filing a complaint that they could not call one in..they do get paid enough. Maybe they would like to sleep in neck traction for the night!!!

Please pray for Brent...with Auri coming home soon...this is the last thing we needed!

Love,
Deanna

The Final Steps to bring Auri HOME

Well it's official...we have our PGN Adoption Decree...although there are a few minor errors...a typo and a generalized address for us..which could end up being a HUGE problem but we are praying and hoping RENAP will be okay since nothing should impact what they need to do.

Here is what we have left to do:


ADOPTION DECREE:
The attorney then prepares the final adoption Protocolo or deed, and meets with the birth mother for her to sign her final consent to the child’s adoption. The executed Protocolo is filed with the Archivo de Protocolo. At this point, the child is legally the child of the adoptive parent(s) under Guatemalan law.

CIVIL REGISTRY AND PASSPORT:
The attorney presents the required documents to record the adoption at the Civil Registry where the child’s birth was recorded, and requests that a new birth certificate be issued to reflect the adoption, and to change the child’s surname to that of the adoptive family. This used to be a simple process but now it has to go to a central registry called RENAP that could take months. I really don't know what they do besides delay the process..I guess they re-review the documents and once they approve it then you can have the new birth certificate created. The attorney then takes all documents including the new birth certificate and applies for the child’s Guatemalan passport. The child is again fingerprinted to affirm his/her identity.

2nd DNA
Is then taken and send off to a lab in the US to make sure Auri is the same child we started the process with. The results are then sent to the US Embassy.

US EMBASSY – FINAL APPROVAL AND VISA:
The attorney presents the case file with the child’s passport and new birth certificate to the US Embassy. The Embassy again evaluates the file as well as waits on the final DNA test and, if all documentation is in order, issues a “Final Document Approval” or pink slip. (Note: Guatemalan passport is NOT required to submit the REQUEST for the pink slip, it is however required to PICK UP the pink slip from the US Embassy.) After the attorney receives this approval, the adoptive parents and child appear at the US Embassy for final verification, and an embassy official then issues a visa for the child’s entry into the US.

The steps we have completed so far:

I. Getting "Paper Ready"
There are several steps adopting parents must take in order to be "paper ready" to proceed with a Guatemalan adoption. First, the adopting parents must arrange to have a homestudy performed by a social worker and/or agency licensed in the state in which they reside. Second, parents must file form I-600A with USCIS (formerly INS) as the first step in receiving approval to classify the child you will adopt as a member of your immediate family for immigration purposes. Finally, parents will prepare their "dossier". The dossier is an accumulation of documents required to complete a Guatemalan adoption.

II. The Guatemalan Adoption Process
Once a family is "paper ready" to begin the Guatemalan adoption process, their dossier will be forwarded to the Guatemalan adoption attorney. A child will then be referred to the adopting parents. At the time of referral, the adopting parents are usually provided with photographs of the child, as well as general health information and laboratory test results. Upon accepting the referral, the adopting parents will execute a power of attorney authorizing the Guatemalan adoption attorney to represent them during all stages of the adoption process.

A. DNA
The U.S. Embassy requires DNA testing of the birth mother and child. This requirement ensures that the woman relinquishing the child is indeed the birth mother, and is for the benefit of all parties involved with the adoption. Our attorneys schedule DNA testing as soon as you accept your referral. DNA samples are taken in Guatemala and sent to a laboratory in the United States for testing. DNA results are provided directly from the laboratory to both the adopting parents and the U.S. Embassy. Upon receipt of the positive DNA results (indicating a match between the birth mother and child), the U.S. Embassy completes its evaluation and issues "pre-approval". U.S. Embassy visa pre-approval is essential in Guatemalan adoptions as it is required before the adoption case may proceed through PGN.

B. Family Court
As soon as the power of attorney is executed, your case will be entered into Family Court. It is very likely that your case will be submitted to Family Court during the same time period as the DNA process is being conducted. The social worker assigned to your case will review all of the documents related to the involved parties: the birth mother, the child and the adopting family. The social worker will interview the birth mother and visit with the child and his/her foster mother. Assuming that everything is satisfactory, the social worker will write a report recommending that the adoption proceed. Your case will then exit Family Court.

C. PGN
After your case exits Family Court and you have U.S. Embassy pre-approval, it will be submitted to Procuraduria General De La Nacion (PGN). PGN is tasked with ensuring that the requirements for adoption under Guatemalan law are met. As part of this process, your case will be submitted to a PGN reviewer for a determination as to whether all legal requirements have been met. Your reviewer will examine all of the documents that you submitted as part of your dossier, additional documents submitted by your Guatemalan attorney, the social worker's report and the U.S. Embassy visa pre-approval. If the reviewer determines that all of the documents are in order, the reviewer will sign off on the file and forward it for final approval. When final approval is granted, your case exits PGN. Shortly after your case exits PGN and the final paperwork is completed, the Guatemalan adoption process ends and you are legally the parent of a new son or daughter!

That's right...we are OUT of PGN!!! Praise God!!! We are beyond excited! Lymaris our agency director called on my way home from work...I finally got out of a big old traffic jam and the phone rings. I see a number I don't recognize and think this is either Leigh Ann or the agency calling...do I answer it? So I decide to. Lymaris asks what I am doing and I tell her I am driving and she says well I hope I don't make you wreck but your are OUT. I was like OUT as in good or bad and she said Auri is coming home! I was in complete shock...could barely talk! Then I get off the phone with her and start crying and could barely see and of course almost wreck!

Well the journey is not over yet...I will post more info on the next steps a bit later!

GOD is GOOD...now do you think we can have her home for Christmas?!?!?!

Love you all and thanks so much for all the prayers!!!

PGN Email

Hello Mrs Heinrich, regarding the case No. ####-2008=Elvia Leticia ##### #########, the file is allready signed, and is goingto be ready at the delivery window on friday 14, please contact your lawyer to pick it up thank you regards, Elisa Soto PGN Information Center

> Hi Elisa,
>
> Just wondering if we could get an update on ####-2008=Elvia Leticia
> ######## #########. We were told it should be discharged from the
> window today. Is that correct? Can you advise if it is approved or
> has previos (lack of requirement - irregularities?)
>
>
> Thanks so much,
> Deanna
>

This is not a happy post...

I am furious. PGN needs to get their act together. Today I called and they told me two more weeks..what the heck?!?! I am so so sick of this. Most would say we have been through the adoption roll coaster for the past 2 years but really it has been adoption hell. How can one be excited when our daughter should be here with us for the Holidays. Instead she is in Guatemala and our attorney can't even visit her to get an update and pictures for us. And our agency is not willing to call PGN for us when it is so hard for us to communicate due to the little English they speak and almost zero Spanish vocabulary we have? Seriously, what is the 24k we are paying going for? Our foster mother has not been paid in about 7 months so when Brent and I can scrounge together some extra money we send her a $100 so she can buy Auri the foods she wants. I have never been so aggravated in my life. If I had the money I would be headed out on a plane next week because the one person(who is not being paid by us) who has been helping us advises that I should get there in person as soon as possible if I want our case to be out any time soon. Its hard to watch everyone that started their adoptions after us go home before us as much as we are excited their life as a family finally gets to begin. Well I am out to Toys R Us now to try and find Auri a gift or two that I can fit in my suitcase so Marta can give it to her for Christmas since we won't be able to make it for a visit this year. I just bought her a Strawberry Shortcake DVD that plays in English and Spanish so since I saw Strawberry Shortcake Pinatas in Antigua I am thinking Auri may know who she is so hopefully I can find something cute to go along with it!

Packing my bags....

I am headed to Guatemala November 29th ! It's just Mama and a few suprises for Auri...no her Abbie is not making the trip...she still doesn't have a passport! Another mom Lisa with our agency is meeting me in Atlanta to fly out and her little girl Katie will be staying with us too! I can't wait to see how much fun the girls have together! Hopefully Lisa and I will have good news regarding our cases or this will also become a BUSINESS trip!

Brent has in service day that he can't miss and we really can't afford for him to go! Luckily I booked a round trip flight when I flew home this summer and for some reason I cancelled the other half and they refunded me the money! My parents also gave me a voucher for 100 dollars off a package from Expedia...so it was just meant to be!

This trip will likely be my last before pick up as the rates are outrageous over the holidays...so that means Christmas card photo shoot! Oh I cannot believe I am going to get to see Auri in about 3 weeks! I am also very excited to meet Lisa and Katie...we talk all the time over email!

As for our case - its still not released. I guess all we can do at this point it wait and pray that everything is approved once its released.

Also a big THANK YOU to the Dowling family for raising money for us at a recent cash and carry at Meg's Signature Homestyle's party! That was completely unexpected! We appreciate it so much! (we will be calling you to thank you all - we were trying to hold out a few days until we heard we were OUT to let you know that the money was being well spent - to pay for the rest of the adoption...but we haven't gotten that call yet but I can't wait to say thanks so I hope you are all reading this!!! (of course it is also too late to call you tonight to say THANKS!!!)

the latest...

Gallo (our attorney) went to the PGN yesterday and was again turned away; was told it is not ready, his secretary advises there is nothing they can do right now.

Another person on Guatadopt.com spoke to Elisa at PGN today and she said it is true all cases will be approved by years end. THIS MAKES NO SENSE! Our files has been sitting for 6 weeks. If there are previos there is no telling how long they will take to fix and then how long the file will once again sit at PGN.

I could just scream with frustration right now. If this little girl is not home by Christmas there are going to be a lot of people unhappy with the Christmas Cards they get from me this year! Don't worry I have a naughty and nice list!

2nd reviewer...not at window...okay have attorney pick up!

This was my conversation with PGN today. So really I have no idea what is going on. I asked if they could please tell me if we were approved or kicked out and they could not see that information. They said that we were with the 2nd reviewer as of September 23rd. I was like we were told Thursday we were at the window and to call Tuesday and it would be discharged. So this is all we know!

She asked me to call my lawyer to pick the file up so I sent an email onto our agency. Here's hoping we have another post with more information later today!

Chatterbox Auri

We just talked to Auri and she was talking up a storm...kept telling me about the apples we sent her! She was so cute laughing and saying mama and papa...and then counting with her mama! We felt bad getting off the phone with her but we talked for almost 20 minutes. She also got excited when we mentioned a plane...coincidence...we don't know but it seems as though someone may be teaching her a little English! She was also amused with my cat and dog sounds!!! Of course I played the Abbie belly game where I ask where her belly is...some weird game my mom and her play!!!


Well to update you on some cases...

Samuelito and Emily are on their way home on Friday...after a long 8 or 9 months of fostering in Antigua.

Erick and Lee Anne are out of Renap...in a few short weeks they will be home too!

Otoniel and The Huffs are O-U-T of PGN! Can you believe their case was approved about 5 weeks ago but due to the computer issues it took 5 weeks to get signed out.

And I don't think I mentioned this but all of these families along with the Embrey's that I have mentioned are from the same town and I think Church! I think that is so awesome!!!

OKAY PGN...Auri said again she wants O-U-T so she can come home for Santa Claus (yes we talked about that tonight too!).

Auri Not Forgot in Guat!

Brent and I contacted Not Forgot in Guat (http://www.notforgotinguat.com/) a few days ago about delivering Auri a ride on toy since she loved her Dora the Explorer one gave her for Easter. Well for some odd reason at the end of the trip we packed it back in the suitcase and took it back with us. And since its hard to communicate with a 2 year old that her mama and papa miss her very very much and have not forgot her...we decided we would send her a few of her favorite things! I just received this email from Karla with Not Forgot in Guat and it is so sweet I just have to post it and the pictures:

Hi Deanna,

How are you???

We are so happy, we can deliver your order today afternoon. Your baby girl is so sweet. Mrs. Marta told me that she and her sons love Auri so much, and they will miss her.

Auri really loves the apples and M & M´s, she was so happy with her little ride on. I will send some pictures, I hope you enjoy it. Mrs. Marta told me that she will send you some pictures because yesterday they went to the beach.

About your question of the shoes, sorry I forgot to ask her, but tomorrow morning I will call her for ask, dont worry I will let you about the size that Auri needs.

Thank you for using our services

Take care.

Karla Guerra
Not Forgot in Guat
www.notforgotinguat.com

I asked her to ask about shoes sizes since it seems Auri's little feet keep growing...well she was barely in a size 3 when we went last Christmas. At Easter we took 4s, and well her Crocs are 4-5...the girl-ee ones fit better...the unisex ones are a bit big but of course they some how made it back the US with me instead of in Guatemala where they need to be! That is so sweet Karla was going to call for me. However I mentioned since Marta didn't mention it, she must be okay for now! Seriously these girls are awesome...the package below was a special request not listed on their website and Auri loved it! Thanks again Not Forgot in Guat!!!

Gifts and Christmas

I just stumbled across two new sites. Of course I am taking advantage of both of them. First is the ornament...

They have a red heart around the shape of the country of Guatemala (colored the blue of the Guatemalan flag), and they say "Celebrating Our Life Together" in red. They have a silver ribbon and come in a silver gift box. 100% of the proceeds go towards building a playground at New Dawning Christian School in San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala.

The second site is:

which is a gift delivery site in Guatemala. The links are on the side of my blog! Can't wait to send Auri a new little toy!

Waiting for another Tuesday!

Brent called PGN on his lunch break and they said the file would be discharged and ready for pick up next week, so he was like Tuesday of course they said yes as Monday is another Holiday.

Let's hope the file is ready and it is an O-U-T!!! I guess last week they did just say the file would be at the window...one would have thought if it was at the window then it would be ready for pick up...I guess our reasoning and logic in the US is a bit different than theirs.

So here we go into another very long weekend ... we are running out of things to keep ourselves occupied!

Still at the window.

Our agency emailed and advised the file is at the window but not discharged for pick up. Seriously this is beyond ridiculous. This is a life and a family waiting to be together and you are just going to hold the file for weeks and then send it to the window to be held again until discharge? Of course no one knows if it is approved or has previos. So lets hurry up and wait some more. :-(

at the WINDOW!?!?!?!

Brent called PGN today and they said they thought our file was at the window but they wanted to double check. Unfortunately when the lady came back the connection was bad and she kept repeating hello and then just hung up. We haven't received an email from our agency yet...and of course I emailed them to let them know our file is ready for pick up (at least we hope!).

TUESDAY

I called back and talked with Headquarters at PGN and they said call back Tuesday it would be signed then...still holding out hope that they sign and release it today!

1 month...who would have ever thought...

that so late in the game with no new adoptions our case would be stuck in PGN??? Of course I just got off the phone with them. System is still down. Then I talked with headquarters and understood very little...sounded as though the girl I talked to signs off on the files but the person who inputs them a "he" was not there so she asked that I call tomorrow morning...oh if it will only prove to be that easy to get our file to be one of the ones they sign off on and release tomorrow it will truly be a miracle! SO PLEASE PLEASE PRAY that we get OUT and they get that computer UP and running!

On a happy note we talked to Auri the other night and she was very talkative...not sure what she was saying other than mama and pappa and hello since the rest was in spanish! Still we love to talk with her. Oh ya she must have been telling us about Abner and Marcos too cause I made that out at the beginning of the conversation!

Well I may fly out to Guatemala in the morning....I know I say that a lot but we need to decide in the next few hours...however I am trying to get our agency to contact our attorney to see if he can go to PGN with me. Its a very expensive decision we need to make and if I go now and she can't make it home until a lot later I will be unable to return to visit...choices choices choices!

UPDATE: I am not flying out tomorrow. I am hoping PGN will give me some good news as I hear they are scheduled to release 15 files tomorrow...please let us be one of the 15!!!

WHY?

Why must our wait be so long? Why does PGN continue to tell us they have computer issues? I feel like they know they are out of a job soo so they say lets drag our feet as long as we can so we can continue to get paid. I am so angry! I should be happy Auri will come home sometime and she will bless us with so much but we want her here now! Does PGN not realize the impact on the child, the foster family, orphanages and waiting families...seriously they need to get it together and QUICK. Once again we toss around the idea of me flying out next Thursday to go to PGN in person to see what if anything I can get done. No we don't have the money, no its done a good financial decision, but yes in the end if we can get Auri home faster it will be worth it. I can't even function anymore I just want to know why why why and why us? Have we not been screwed enough in this or or first adoption process? I guess I will never understand but I am not about to HURRY UP AND WAIT!!!

Sorry i needed to vent and will delete this later!

About to hit rock bottom...

and then I open my email! After three weeks of waiting on a signature and broken databases this is what I needed! Our foster mom is wonderful...we will never be able to thank her enough!

Oh how she has grown...

These pictures are from a year ago when we first sent our little girl a care package. Notice they got a picture of her first glimpse of her mama! I really hope this process doesn't take much longer...we can't stand being away from her!

Time to eat chocolate...RENAP

Yes I just checked and we are part of the dreaded RENAP process for issuing our birth certificate. We were hoping we could make it out of PGN before Auri's municipality turned the process over to RENAP that way the estimated arrival of Auri to the US was about 4 -6 weeks later. Now it may take an additional 6-8 weeks and that may mean she won't make it home until 2009. okay insert SCREAM here!

small glimmer of HOPE...

just posted on guatadopt:

The news that the system is down is true, they have been without internet in the second floor for 20 days!!! Lightning struck and burned the internet antenna and they are waiting for the parts to get to Guate. They tried using another service and are in the process of seeing if they can transfer all the files through this service. It would probably take another few days to get it running...Sad.

HOWEVER...They have continued working on the physical files so the OUTS are ready (as well as the previos), so PAPs should expect an avalanche of news once the PGN internet system is up. The PGN secretary's words are that "the stacks of files are ready and people can find out their status in person but the system is not up so we cannot transfer the information downstairs".

New pics of Auri

Wow it is so hard to get a package to Guatemala these days! With less adoptions, there are less people traveling. Then trying to find a way to get your package to your foster family becomes the next challenge! Well thankfully Chris Wheeler had room when he went down to pick up his girls last week. Then Emily Armstrong is a spanish teacher back in the US so she was able to communicate with Marta since she only speaks spanish. Well Auri, Marta and her son Abner came out to pick up the goodies....and Emily snapped some pics for us...THANKS so much Emily!

Only in Guatemala do you go backwards in a process...

2 weeks ago I was waiting on a signature with the person who kicks you out or approves you. Last week I was with the 2nd review... todays email:

the file is at 1st review with Lawyer Azurdia.


AMAZING...or would that be GNIZAMA (in the backwards world of Guatemala!)

This is not the information I wanted to hear!

Edited: Some offices in PGN back up and running!

Well just learned only some computers are back up and running. I re-sent my email. Hoping hoping hoping for good news!!!

No update but lots of Auri in the mail!

We didn't receive any updates yesterday but have someone checking on our file today.

Yesterday when I got home from work there were lots of packages on the porch...of course filled with pictures of Auri! I also got the cutest little stickers of Auri made. Not sure exactly what I will do with them other than put them on our work key tags and use them to seal the tissue paper in packages. We also made our weekly call to Auri. My computer hung up on her twice. It is getting harder and harder to talk with her. I think she gets annoyed with hearing us and not being able to see us. As for making a trip this weekend I think we may hold off. Brent did say however if I wanted I could go and visit. I really want to but I want him to be able to go too but he can't take the time off work because he needs at least 4 days for when we go for her pick up trip. So unless we feel the need to go to PGN we are going to hold off until she comes home or Thanksgiving rolls around...whichever comes first!

Hope you all are shopping for those super cute Halloween costumes...my favorite holiday! Of course I will be down at the parade in Freeport in a few weeks watching all the kiddos parading around for that free Hershey bar and hoping to win a prize!

Praying...

This is our week!!! We will keep you posted!

Hoping Auri is home for the holidays

Well we set Auri's baptism up for the Sunday before Christmas...and her dress for the big day just came. Now all we need is Auri. I get a bit freaked out when I read posts on guatadopt.com saying their agencies told them to expect 3-4 months from the OUT of PGN to pick up. That just will not work for us! (Our agency has not told us that though...so we are still holding out hope!)

I am trying to hold of until Monday to call PGN again. I have decided if our case is not OUT next week I am flying down the following weekend to see what I can do. I know it is a pricey little trip but in the end if we can get her home sooner...it will all be worth it.

Our agency said they call as well as our attorney and his secretary every few days so I am hoping they are getting bothered enough and will say okay okay come and pick the file up! Of course she said the system is still down so we are hoping they get it all fixed for Monday!

And then there was all but one left...

Dear God,

Please see the picture above. I'm Auri the one in my mama's hands on the left. All the other babies are home with the mommies and I want to go home too. I have been very good and prayed very hard...please please ask PGN to let us OUT!

XOXOXO~Auri

PS~ THE WHEELER'S ARE FINALLY FLYING HOME TODAY!!!

(Lindsey and Eliana are second from the right!)

Tonight she cried...

We just talked with Auri and she was not happy. We called earlier than normal so we may have been disrupting dinner or playtime. She cried into the phone at least...boy we miss her! Well Emily and Lee Ann the girls that our with our agency and live in the same community we did are going to either take Auri her package or have Auri come to them sometime soon...so one way or another we will get some new pics of her! I can't wait!

Hoping some money falls from the sky soon so I can afford to go and visit Auri...isn't that wishful thinking?!?!?!

Rumor has it, PGNs Database is DOWN!

And of course they know me by name there! I called today and they can't log the info in. Another girl on one of the boards said her facilitator said they couldn't submit cases b/c of the system being down....just lovely!

That poor chicken costume is going to be cooped up another year without seeing Halloween...and by that time Auri will be voicing her opinion that she wants to dress up like a princess or something...ugh...diva maybe...princess...no...(sorry my niece Sidney wore me out with all of her years of being a beautiful Disney princess!).

And big congrats to the Whitworth's (Erick) and the Embrey's (Caterin) as their cases have been approved by PGN. They are both with our agency. The Embrey's are adopting sisters and were on their pick up trip for Cindy. PGN issued Caterin's case a previo when Cindy's case made it through with the same info ...so after a little pleading with PGN the other day...they are out! As for us ... I just got an email that our file is still with the review and next week it may be at the window for pick up...please let that be true!!!

How Guatemala changes you...

I now barricade myself around the mac or ATM as you Southern gals call it so no one can see what I am doing or getting.

I hold onto my purse for dear life so no one steals it even when no one is around.

I was to be at a birthday party at noon and it is 12:15 and I just got out of the shower.

Last night it rained at our family reunion which was a wiener roast and normally I would have been grumpy or not even have went...last night a few of us mostly the men (dad brother husband cousins and I) sat around the fire in our chairs holding an umbrella!

I cried for the man at the end of town with his hungry and homeless sign at the end of town...I just stared at his sad face while I sat at the stop light and then it just hit me and I cried. So as soon as we have some extra cash I am going to by him a Giant Eagle card to get some food.

Its amazing how only 2 months...really not even 2 months can impact you so much!

Okay PGN....please let Auri, Erick, Otoniel, Flor, Katie and Caterin OUT of PGN this week...fingers crossed everyone. A lot of us are waiting on a "SIGNATURE" good or bad we do not know!

PS- if I missed anyone let me know!

No news.

Well we were hoping for a miracle to get OUT of PGN but of course it didn't happen this week. It is a bit soon after our re-submit and our file is with a reviewer so hopefully in the next week or two we will hear something. I will be emailing PGN on Tuesday to get another update. I am sure they are quite sick of me! It doesn't seem like PGN is releasing many files right now...I guess since they may all be out of jobs once our adoptions finish up they are trying to hold onto them as long as possible! Bummer!

We are back in PGN!

Just received an email we are back in PGN as of Monday...please please be kind to us PGN and let us OUT!!! We can't take another holiday without our sweet Auri!

ello ELLO!!!

Tonight Auri kept saying hello to us really loud! No giggles tonight except when she talked with Abbie and she asked her where her belly was...interesting little game they played over skype! We stayed on the phone with her for quite a while...every time we were about to say goodbye she would start talking again.

Since my old housemate Lindsey thinks I am a paranoid Mama...I have to tell her tonight I bought her this Little Tikes Nursery Rhyme toy meant to look like an MP3 player...well as we were driving home I was like Brent I can't give her that she will strangle herself with the cord for the headphones and the cord that you put around your neck that holds the mp3 player...so I cut the one cord off and will not be sending the headphones down in her package (in case you all are wondering what that annoying thing is in the package ---but hey the batteries might die by then I can't figure out how to get it to STOP)!

Heavy rains and the gift of life...

I just found this info on Guatadopt.com:

GT WEATHER ALERT
Heavy rains causing flooding, building collapses and displaces families due to a series of tropical rains hitting the country until the weekend.Affected areas:La 16 calle 15-52 zona 1Rio Los Esclavos, la aldea Las Pozas en ChiquimulillaLa aldea MatamorosLandslides on the road km 314.5 ruta Interamericana, from Huehuetenango a la Mesilla, along the border with Mexico;The rivers, Rios Motagua en Gualan Zacapa; Polochic en Panzos, Alta Verapaz; La Paz en ciudad Pedro de Alvarado en Jutiapa, y la Pasion en la Libertad, Peten.

Please pray for the people of Guatemala and especially Auri's birth family as they are from one of the areas being hit hard. I don't think I have mentioned much about Auri's birthmom but we are so grateful for the gift of life she has given Auri as well as Brent and I. She made a very hard decision after trying to care for this sweet girl for a year. I know Auri will have questions for us in the future and it will be difficult because there are no pictures of Auri for the first 12 months of her life, no stories, no memories. We hope to be able to meet with her birth mother sometime whether it be on our pick up trip, next year or 5 years down the road to kind of fill in the missing pieces of the timeline. I had the opportunity while in Guatemala to go and meet her but I think she needed that closure without me present since this was the first time in over a year and maybe the last time she would see Auri. We will be placing the photograph of Auri and her Birthmother from their first DNA in her bedroom - I know some of you think this is very weird but she is very much a part of Auri's life and we will forever thank her for the gift she has given us.

Legacy of Two Mothers

Once there were two women who never knew each other.

One, my darling, is your birthmom and the other is your mother.

Two different lives, shaped to make yours one.

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

The first gave you life, and the second taught you to live it

The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give it.

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

One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions; the other calmed your fears.

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

One chose adoption. It was all that she could do.

The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,

The age-old question through the years.

Heredity or environment, which are you the product of?

Neither, my darling, neither.

Just two different kinds of love

-Unknown author

Modeling: It may not be Gap but it's a start!

I am catching up on blogs, on our sweet roomie Kelsey made Auri a star...check out her blog and the other sweet babies...http://esperandoenguatemala.blogspot.com/

(I had to add Kelsey's wording too as my title...just too perfect!!! --miss you Kelsey!)

Finally a mattress for Auri's bed!

We wait till the last minute to do everything! Well since the holidays are just around the corner and that is likely the time Auri will be coming home we thought we should step it up a bit! Today my mom and I set out to get a Baptism gown for Auri but didn't end up finding anything we liked. It's really hard to find gowns for 2 year olds that don't look like a flower girls dress. Strausburg Children is having a 50% off sale online but we wanted to head out to a store to check out some of our favorites before buying one...of course they didn't have any of the ones we were looking for in the store! So we managed to spend our money adding to her fall wardrobe (as well as a few summer items) and my parents bought Auri's crib mattress. My mom was having a good time testing them out! Really how do you tell what is good for a crib? Brent and I had picked out a more expensive one online after reading buyer reviews but after my mom (and then myself) tried them out...we opted for a slightly cheaper Simmons Slumber Time.

Today Brent also finished up his Masters (in something to do with teaching!) at Gannon University by presenting his portfolio to some professor (in case you thought it was a group of people). So I am glad he will have all that behind him and soon he will no longer need to work that extra job so he can spends Sundays in church with the rest of the family.

NO PA = KO

It's official. We were kicked out of PGN for no PA. We have PA now but the attorney is still working on getting it in our file. So hopefully Monday we will be back in PGN for round 2.

Such a bummer I was hoping I was going to have reason to celebrate this weekend. It will be almost a year since we started this journey. We never expected it to last this long. We thought it would have been completed between March - June.

Long weekends...

Wow I just realized that with my new work schedule I will have long weekends...maybe I can fit a quick trip to Guatemala in...even if its 24 hours with my sweet Auri it would so be worth it!

No news yet from our agency. I hate this waiting. I just wish I knew where we were at. I don't want to become the annoying PGN emailer but if thats the only way to get answers it may have to do.

Crackers, Corn Flakes, Bananas and Apples

We have been calling Auri once a week. We talked to her last night and of course she just listened and giggled. I guess when we call her she recognizes who we are and asks for the treats I normally give her...so sweet! So we are trying to get a little care package together so my friends in Guatemala can deliver it to her!

Little bits of news...

Brent called PGN and was told the reviewer on our case was at lunch, call later. So guess that means we aren't kicked out yet! No need for us to call back :-(

In regards to our failed adoption, we just received an email about our lawsuit with AIP and yes his wife Christen Brown is on the hook and has to continue with the case! Whoo Hoo!!!

Update:

I emailed PGN this afternoon and they mailed me back stating we are missing some info and check with our attorney. They also provided the screen printout and it appears we were kicked on September 10th...so we will see. I forwarded the email onto my agency! Pray this was the kickout and has already been addressed and ready to be dropped off at PGN again!

GAP Casting Call

Oh I was just checking out the status of my purchase and noticed the casting call! You know I am itching to enter Auri but I am not her legal guardian yet! I have till October 22nd to become her momma officially so that means I will be calling PGN tomorrow to let them know!!!

You all may want to check it out and submit all those pics of the Gorgeous Guatemala Babies, Tots, Kids and Tweens! I know my GAP (Guatemalan American Princess) Girl will be entered every year!

Next steps...

I know for those of you that are not adopting you are completely lost by this adoption process. Well since we were put into PGN before we had PA (pre-approval) we have to now get kicked out in order to add the PA to our file. We were put into PGN before we were ready because PGN created an August 31 deadline for have the final birth mother interviews complete...so that is how we got in this step. It has been 3 weeks since our BMI and we are hoping we get kicked out Tuesday ( Monday is their Independence Day). So pray pray pray for that kick out (or previo) so we can add the PA and be submitted again and hope the next out we get is FOREVER!!!

Of course since there is hope Auri could be home for Thanksgiving...I had to go out and add to her wardrobe!!! She always needs the perfect outfit!

We have PA!!!

Watch out PGN...Auri is in a hurry to get home!!!

Getting closer...

I just received an update that they have the last document that is needed for PA. It just needs translated and submitted. We are still in PGN and have not had a kick out which could be a good thing. We hope they find all the errors so after we get kicked out we can just add the PA and then we can be re-submitted and get OUT OUT OUT!!!

My agency mentioned being in RENAP but I didn't think our town was in there yet. So hopefully we will stay out of RENAP and Auri will be home soon!

Brent picked out Auri's car seat for his car and I just picked mine up tonight...so we are getting ready. Well still need some odds and ends like a mattress, sippy cups, night light, etc etc but we are getting there.

Yesterday we also picked up a Little Tykes Log Cabin for the back yard...of course it was off Craigslist...there is no way we can afford one of those new! But it looks great and I am sure Auri will love it!

I may be going to a 4 day work week at the end of the month. This will be nice because it will save Auri from going to the sitter (my mom and Brent's mom) on either Friday or Mondays. We were actually going to send Auri to another person on Fridays to give the families a break so this will save us from having to pay another person plus I am sure I will enjoy my day hanging out with my little girl!

Guess who we talked to tonight???

Auri!!! And she just giggled! I think Abner and Marcos may have been tickling her to get her to say anything but it was so nice to hear her! Hopefully we can get some skype time in soon so we can see her!

Sweet Sweet Auri...more candy for your eyes!!!

In PGN with FC socioeconomic report...BUT...

NO PA YET!!! The attorney said they attempted to locate the midwife once to get the missing documentation but she was not there! For those of you that don't know...the midwife really isn't a midwife so the US Embassy will not grant us Pre-Approval without a copy of her Cedula (and I think something else). So hopefully this week they will get it!

We need to get this into PGN so they can let us OUT and we can get AURI home! Have a told you she has a chicken costume to wear for Halloween?!?!? HAHA...we know there is very little chance she will make it home before then but we can still be hopeful right?

I checked the RENAP site tonight and we are still not in it...but they added 4 new cities in the last two weeks so I am scared we will be in RENAP before we get out...please pray this DOES NOT HAPPEN!

HOME SWEET HOME

Well I made it home. I was terrified to fly with all the recent plane crashes. I was freaking out when we sat on the runway in Houston for 30 minutes...all I could think are mechanical problems and this plane is going down!!! But I made it!

Brent picked me up and we headed to the mall where we picked up a very cute bikini for Auri at Janie and Jack. Then it was off to Red Lobster! Oh was it good! Better than I could have ever remembered! Then we headed home --- to see my sweet pets, Chloe and Peppy and boy did they miss me!

Today I got up at 9:30 and headed out to my girlfriends to get my hair cut and colored...believe me I needed it! I could have slept all day...I have no idea how I am going to get up for work tomorrow! Then Brent and I headed out to WalMart to pick up some necessities and of course make up since Continental's Guatemalan bag checkers confiscated my make up!!! Guess they don't understand the 2 oz and under policy! While in Guatemala I lost about 15-20 lbs eating McDonald's and Burger King...so Brent decided we shouldn't break that diet so we of course ate at the McDonald's inside WalMart...but I opted for the Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch salad instead of the usual Chicken Nuggets!

Well there is lots to do before tomorrow morning such as filing the layers and layers of dead skin off my feet!!! I am so embarrassed for anyone to see them!!!