GO STEELERS...(did we win?!?!?!)

Auri talked to her papa today and boy was she happy! She was laughing and laughing! We always thought when we called her Abner and Marcos were trying to make her laugh but it seems it is just papa!

Katie and Lisa gave Auri a new coloring book and crayons...check out how she lays to color!!!

Of course we have to have a McDonalds pic complete with her licking her lips!

Auri did start crying when she decided to hold the barbecue container

to her mouth and lick the sauce out.

Then we stopped to ride a little horse...and she hated it!

I think there is more I need to tell you but I can't remember!!!

BREAKING NEWS: We went number 2!

So I asked Auri if she had to potty...she said yes..and then she went! Sorry no picture...this one was (almost) on video! I got the video right after!!!

Morning pictures.

A snack before breakfast.

Happy Thanksgiving a few days late!!! This was at breakfast.

There were a lot of little kids in the lobby...Auri was checking them out in this pic.

Laughing as usual!

Number 1

Don't I get a prize for doing this?

Okay so Auri is going to be so embarrassed when she gets older and reads this but she farted really loud to signal she just pooped! So I hurried up and put her on the potty and she sat there for a while and then went number 1!!! I was so proud of her! Notice the excitement on her face! Good luck Abbie on the potty training when she comes home!!! Doesn't look like she will be before she comes home!

Right now Auri is taking a nap! We watched Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Merry Christmas in Spanish, and mama rubbed her tummy and out she went! So far she has been knocked out for about an hour! We hear there is a Steeler game on today and I think Big Ben sent her a jersey so Auri will be cheering for the team all the way in Guatemala!

delays delays and more delays!

Yes I am putting my red shoes on with my pajamas!

All smiles...I just ate...I am always in a good mood after I eat!

The morning started off good. My parents picked me up at 3 am and we headed off to the airport. I am not one for breakfast but I was actually hungry and looking forward to a bagel...however everything except for McDonalds was closed. So I decide I only have a short one and a half hour flight to Atlanta...I can eat there because I have a 2 1/2 hour layover.

Well we get all settled into our seats and we are...I am sure you can see out your windows the wings are covered in ice...so we need to go to the de-icing pad. Okay no problem....well I guess everyone needed to go! So an hour later we get through the de-icing and they come on the PA...well Atlanta is experiencing bad weather so it is going to be another 25 minute wait before we can head out...WHAT?!?!

I start to freak. I call my mom...ask her to check on Lisa's flight since I forgot to add her cell to my phone...ontime. Okay they said outbound may be delayed..my mom checks - nope on time!

I don't remember what time it was when we finally took off but we landed about 9:15 and as I am running to terminal E from terminal B Lisa calls to let me know they are boarding...but wait I am hungry and I have to pee!

So I run into the bathroom...thank goodness, two dozen Guatemalans forget to get Visa's to re-enter the country..so I made it to the bathroom. Then I can't remember if the delay to get onto the runway due to weather came next or if it was the delay for the water pressure which forced us to taxi back into the gate. So two hours later we finally take off. And I am starving! So I end up buying a $2 bag of peanut M&Ms...of course I then get a headache due to sugar shock!

Well once we get to the airport we encounter the longest immagration line I have ever seen! There was no reason or logic to it and the way people were standing in line. Of course then we spend another 20 minutes trying to find where they threw our luggage...turns out they did just that some how as we went back and forth from the 3 little conveyor belts they tossed the delta bags out into the middle of the floor!

Wait it does not end yet...we then have a 30 minute detour to the hotel due to a road closure!!! Our poor kiddos were waiting about 2 1/2 to 3 hours for us!!!

But all is good...we are here and safe! Auri of course has the poops...she always does when I get her...not sure what they feed her...quite gross if you ask me!

Well I am exhausted...please ignore my typos I will fix them tomorrow.

Love Deanna and Auri

exhausted...

One more day until Auri time!

I am so exhausted! I think it makes it worse that every time we traveled it was around a holiday, first visit Christmas, second visit Easter, third visit to foster - 4th of July, back home from fostering, Labor day and now a Thanksgiving visit! I do not like packing! I really can't even tell you if I have a complete outfit for Auri...I just throw everything in! I know I don't have enough hair things as I sit her and think about it...so I guess I better run and find some! Keep a watch out for a new pic tomorrow evening!

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!