First tooth!

I received an email from J in Guatemala today. I had sent them an email when I found out that the case was out of PGN. I debated on whether to tell them or not but just the way this case has gone I figured the attorney might not tell them until a couple of days before they had to bring her to me. They have been so good to Evvy and me by sending me pictures and updates that I felt like they deserved to know sooner rather than later so that they could prepare themselves.

J told me how hard it will be for them to not have Evvy with them anymore but that it is better that she goes sooner rather than later because it gets harder for the children and the families as the children get older. I told her that we would definitely keep in touch. I might have to get a webcam so they can talk to each other. I think it is somewhat comforting to them to know that we will stay in touch. They have been caring for Evvy since she was two weeks old and she is now 8 1/2 months old. She will have been with them almost 9 months when she comes home. I can't imagine how difficult that will be for them. What a bitter sweet job.

Anyway, here are two pictures that J sent me showing Evvy's first tooth coming in. Her hair is coming in too! Maybe I will be able to put a clippy in it. My friend Brenda bought her some headbands today so she will have something on her almost bald head :)

Enjoy!

Susan

OUT of PGN!!!!!

I got the call from my social worker today after lunch that we are finally one step closer to bringing baby Evvy home. We have been released from PGN which is the final Guatemalan court. We did not receive any "Kick Outs" which occur when the reviewers don't like some piece of paperwork in your dossier/case file. They are very picky and have kicked people out for as little as a missing accent mark.

When my social worker told me the news (in her very calm, emotionless voice) my eyes just filled with tears (as they have many times since then). A sense of relief flowed through my soul. This has been an agonizing process. I know that the wait will be so worth it to have my daughter home with me forever. I just pray that I can be worthy to be her mother every day for the rest of our lives together.

I also received an email from J today who tells me that Evvy is 18# and is cutting her first tooth. She will stand if they make her but she doesn't like it. They put her in a walker but she doesn't like it very much. She doesn't like sweet foods (fruits) but likes most other foods. They took some very cute pictures of her with some crates of baby chicks. Very sweet! I will attach them at the end of this post.

So what is next? They tell me to expect to travel to bring her home in 3-6 weeks. The lawyer has to get her birth certificate reissued with her new last name. Then they have to get her passport issued. Then all of the Guatemalan court documents have to be translated into English so that they can be sumbitted to the US Embassy. The US Embassy then reviews everything and issue what is referred to as the "pink slip" which is a pink piece of paper that has your Embassy appointment listed on it. Usually from the time the pink slip is issued until the appointment is about one week. Once the pink slip is issued, I will book airline tickets for me, mom (abuela) and dad (abuelo). We will then fly down to pick up our beautiful little girl and bring her home forever!!

My mind is flooded with thoughts and emotions. I will write more later when I settle down!

Susan

Los pollitos dicen, Pio, Pio, Pio; Cuando tienen hambre; Cuando tienen frio.

La gallina busca el maiz y trigo; les da comida; y les presta abrigo.

Bajo sus dos alas acurrucaditos, hasta el otro dia, duermen los pollitos

(Spanish nursery rhyme "the chicks")

What a Happy Baby Girl

I got a surprise email the other night from J. These were taken last Sunday Feb 4 (my mom's birthday). It is like she is reaching out and saying be happy everyone! Just what I needed. The waiting is so hard. I have really closed myself off somewhat just to avoid having people ask me the question, "have you heard anything yet." I keep assuring them that they will definitely know when I have heard the good news that my little girl is coming home. I will be smiling from ear to ear and probably bouncing off the walls.

The cases that have been coming out this week seem to be from the week of 12/11. Hopefully he (director Barrios) will finish signing out that week this coming week and I will hear good news. I don't know what I will do if I find out that my case is kicked out to be "fixed." This happens for various random not usually logical reasons depending on which reviewer has looked over your file. I just hope this doesn't happen. I can't even think about it. If that were to happen, after the problem was corrected, it could take another 6 weeks to get final signoff again. This is such a frustrating process.

Anyway, here are the pictures of my happy baby girl....

New Pictures!

I had despaired of receiving an update or pictures this week. J had emailed me last weekend saying that they had taken Evvy for pictures at the agency so I really thought I would get them this week. I waited to send an email back to J to see if I would get them. Well, I finally gave up and sent an email tonight. No sooner had I sent it and returned to my inbox, my dear social worker had sent me an email with the pictures. There are 37 of them! She is wearing a dress that I sent down last month when my friend Julie went to pickup her son. She is so beautiful and full of personality. She is sitting up (sort of) on her own now. It looks like she likes her feet and is just happy as can be. The blanket is the one that I sent down in her first care package. So much prettier than the standard white sheet background that I usually get from the agency pictures. I just can't wait to bring her home. The wait is getting sooo hard.

Good news is that two families from my agency who went into PGN around the same time (within two weeks) as me, got the call that they are out! It looks like the cases that I have seen come out on the forum this week have been around Dec 11. We went in Dec 15 so it just has to be any day. Please pray that they don't find anything wrong with our paperwork. I don't know if I could take it. Please let us have good news by Valentine's Day! I was hoping for news today so I could give mom a great birthday present!

I will post a couple of pictures on the blog but the others will be on my picture site (click on the link to the left).

She is getting more hair! Really she is!

Happy birthday Mom/Grandma!
Susan & Evvy