Friday, February 29, 2008

No Appointment Yet : (

I'm kinda bummed.  We didn't get an appt issued today, even though they are typically issued 48 hours after they receive the DNA results.  There are a group of about 10-15 of us whose DNA results were delivered on the same day.  About 1/3 of those got PINK (or pickup appts today).  So they are working on them!  I really think it will come Monday, so Monday for me can't come soon enough!

Appointments given out today were scheduled for Thurs, March 13th.  I am thinking we are going to get an appointment yet for that day or either Friday, March 14th or Monday, March 17th.

So how else can a girl pass the time while waiting for PINK...... one word - SHOPPING!  Are you ready Patty?  I am SO glad we are going tomorrow!

Monday afternoon is Moms-n-Muffins day at Cameron's school.  It is also Dr. Suess birthday.  His pre-school class will come dressed in pajamas and make a special breakfast in the room of Green Eggs and Ham!  They have special events planned for all day - and then the moms come in the afternoon for Muffins!  He is pretty excited, and so am I to be honest. 

I'll continue stalking my email and hoping that we maybe get an appt issued over the weekend.  I doubt it, but maybe?  After all, my pre-approval back in July came on a Saturday Morning!
Posted by John and Karla at 17:57:27 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Touchdown!

Our DNA was delivered at the US Embassy in Guatemala yesterday afternoon at 3:30pm!  Yippie!  We are officially waiting for PINK.  Pink is the term used in "our adoption world" for the Pink Slip we are issued with our pickup appointment.  They are scheduling out 2 weeks right now.  We are hoping to be leaving in about 10 days or so.  I can't believe it!

I've already emailed the US Embassy this afternoon to confirm they received the DNA and that our paperwork is in order.  I got an email back about an hour later (in record time) confirming everything is a GO!  Our appt should be issued within 2 days.

I'll keep you all posted!

Karla
Posted by John and Karla at 16:18:22 | Permanent Link | Comments (2) |

Monday, February 25, 2008

The DNA is on it's WAY!

I received an email from Libby at Labcorp (where the DNA tests are performed).  The testing is complete, the results left today for the US Embassy in Guatemala City!  The excitement is building and my anxiety levels are skyrocketing!  This means that the results should be at the Embassy tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest.  They will enter them in, and issue us our pickup appointment within 2-4 days!  By Monday or Tuesday of next week (or maybe sooner), we will know when we are traveling to get our boy!

There are lots of other families out there whose blogs I read - and many forums that I also visit.  I'm trying to get the best guess at when our appointment might be based on them, but right now I'm thinking March 17-19 (leading up to Easter weekend).  The Embassy will be closed Thurs and Fri, March 20th and 21st.  As long as we can be back before John's brother's wedding (the last weekend in March) we'll be fine!

I now need to kick my rear in gear and get Rylan's bedroom ready!  I've saved it for last, and anyone who has seen it recently just cringes and walks out.  I'm not kidding when I say it looks like there was an explosion in there!  I've got the nesting syndrome going on.  I've cleaned and cleaned all the areas of the house that desperately needed it.  Closets have been put in order, bathroom drawers cleaned and organized, laundry caught up, I'm going to scrub the floors thoroughly this weekend and clean those hard to reach places (under furniture)!  Lots to do!!!  I can't leave without my house being spotless!  I'm not normally that way, but I can't stand coming back from somewhere to house that needs attention!

I also wanted to mention that I am receiving the comments left for us on this site!  I LOVE them, thank you!  I follow each of your blogs too!  I feel like I know your families, as I think about you and your children daily!  So keep them coming... ; )
Posted by John and Karla at 19:21:09 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

Friday, February 22, 2008

The Good News Keeps Coming!

Where do I start today?  Yesterday was a great day filled with a couple pieces of information.  First off, we resolved the I-72 we were issued from the DHS section of the US Embassy.  It wasn't easy, but I got it done.  If there is anyone out there that I can help with a situation like this, please let me know!  It is really important that no matter what you verify the the State Dept and DHS inside the US Embassy has your I-171H Approval to Adopt!  If they don't, you will have issues and the last thing you want is to have them when your waiting for Pre-Approval or you Pickup Date!  I learned a lot through this experience!  I've had a few people email me or leave comments asking me to contact them... and I will do that tomorrow.  This week has been so busy!

Second of all, OUR DNA IS AT THE LAB!  It was taken on Friday but didn't get sent out in one of the batches from that day (of course).  So then with Monday being President's Day, it didn't get Fed Ex'd until Tuesday.  Labcorp confirmed they had it yesterday and that testing began today!

I've pretty much got all our paperwork done for the pickup trip (and the binder weighs 4lbs!) and now I'm working on trying to get Rylan's room done and organized (I know, what have I been doing for the last 17 months, right?).  I'm tempted to start packing my bags soon too!  Right now, I'm thinking we'll be leaving in about 2 weeks or so.  I do hope that next week we'll get our pickup appointment!  For now, we just wait... but not much longer : )

For those of you not familar with the process, once Labcorp gets done processing the DNA (maybe Mon or Tues) they send the results back to Guatemala Overnight Express.  Once they are received at the US Embassy, they are entered in the computer and within a couple days..... we get our pickup date!  Home Stretch!!!

Have a good weekend everyone.... I'll post more news as I have it!
Posted by John and Karla at 17:59:41 | Permanent Link | Comments (2) |

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Confirmed... DNA is COMPLETE!

We have confirmation from Corelli (foster mom) that DNA is complete!  She gave me the play by play details of the entire day (courtesy of Joyce who translates for us)!

She left her house at 6am Friday morning, arriving in Guatemala City early enough to meet the attorney for some paperwork.  The first went to the lab where they used swabbed Rylan's cheek for a DNA sample.  After that they had a 10am doctors appointment for his Final Medical Exam!  She said his is very healthy and the doctor was very impressed with is weight and height... he is 25lbs now at 19 months old.  Small by our standards as I think our first son Cameron weighed that at 10 months old - he was such a butterball!  Once the medical appointment was done Corelli had to swear to someone at the Embassy that this was the same child she has been taking care of since he was a month old.  She had to sign some papers and show her Cedula (Id Card).  Everything went perfect!

Of course as is the trend with us, nothing goes off without a hitch.  Remember when I said we had to renew our fingerprints because they are expiring the end of this month?  Well, we did them on 1/31/08.  We received our updated Approval to Adoption (I-171h) on 2/8/08, the same day our attorney got our DNA Authorization.  Well, the Embassy in Guatemala issued an I-72 the very next day saying they needed updated fingerprints from us because they are expiring.  I figured all this crossed in the cyber world of email somewhere....

So, I emailed right away to both parts of the Embassy in Guatemala - the State Dept and the Homeland Security.  The State Dept emailed back that YES, they had the extended fingerprints.  Whew.... that was a relief.  Not so easy with the Homeland Security.  The requested a bunch of information, of which I still am not totally clear on.  I sent them on Friday what I had and hoped it is what they needed.  I am waiting for their reply.  I've already contacted our State Senator to get involved because there is no way I will accept one more delay!  Let's also recap that I asked for a fingerprint appt in Nov 2007 - 3 months before the prints expired but they misplaced our paperwork, thus not giving us an appt until the end of Jan - thus causing this delay!

Urggg....  So, this week will be spent trying to sort everything out and to make sure we are free and clear with the fingerprints.  The DNA should at the lab on Tuesday.  Then it will get tested sometime on Wed, Thurs, or Fri.  The results sent back to Guatemala on Monday - and we should be issued our pickup appointment!!!  Yeah!!!!  If I don't get this issued with the I-72 worked out, they will not issue our pickup appt.  So it is very important I do whatever I need too in this situation!

Posted by John and Karla at 12:59:55 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

Friday, February 15, 2008

Bittersweet Valentine's Day

Happy belated Anniversary to my parents yesterday on Valentine's Day!  It would also have been my grandparents Anniversary as well.... not to mention that John and I were engaged on Valentine's Day.  We didn't do much in the way of celebrating though.
Yesterday after work we took Cameron up to visit John's grandma.  He fell asleep on the way there and was completely zonked out!  We got there around 5:15 or so and he finally awoke around 6:45.  He lightened up the room a bit with his laughter as John's mom and two aunts were there also.  We had a nice visit with everyone.  Very peacefully and without much of a sound at all, John's grandmother passed away just after 7pm.  We noticed her breathing had changed a bit, and with her last few breaths she raised her head slightly, and that was it... she was gone.  Because I wasn't sure what to do as everyone gathered at her bedside, I took Cameron and left the room.  He looked a bit startled and scared so I tried to explain to him as best I could what happened.  He asked me a few more questions when we got home about great-grandma's body and spirit.  For a 4yr old, he understands much more than we give him credit for.
John's grandmother Marjorie was never alone during these last few weeks, or really her entire life!  Various family members came through her room on a daily basis, each getting to talk to her to say what they needed.  Her children (John's mother and her sister Kathy) had not left her side since the middle of last week when her health started to fail.  John siblings were there as much as us, along with their cousins, and all our kids (the great-grandchildren) who lit up her life! 
Marjorie had always had a strong mind and strong heart, but for years struggled with a weak body.  Rarely, and I mean very rarely, ever complaining about it.  We will miss her. 
We were glad to be able to tell her that DNA was scheduled this morning on Rylan, and yes, we confirmed it with Corelli (foster mom)!  She was to have Rylan at the Embassy at 10am.  We are waiting to get that final confirmation that it did happen, but I feel pretty confident it is done.
I'll post more on that later....
Posted by John and Karla at 17:10:53 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Someone, relight the fire please!

My attorney in Guatemala has fizzled out on me this week. He was doing things in record time for once that I really thought we'd make it all the way to the end without a hitch! I won't call this a major glitch, just more like a small speed bump really. We've had our Orange Slip for DNA a week tomorrow, yet no test has been done. I'm a little bummed out, but not crazed out of my mind yet. I completely understand that he has been busy. The new "Central Authority" in Guatemala reopened the end of last week and worked very long and extended hours right through the weekend to get in-process cases registered. They had to be registered by this past Tuesday - or the adoptions would be void! It is my understanding that around 3000 cases were processed by a staff of around 10-15 people. That was an incredible undertaking for everyone! Personally, I know my attorney has probably about 100-200 cases. He and his staff I am sure were working very hard, standing in long lines, and fixing errors that were requested of them. In no way would I be in any position to be demanding I come first. I have several close friends with children needing to be registered.... and I fully comprend the urgency of needing that done! Adrian did email me today. The DNA didn't happen Monday as he planned because of the above. However, it is scheduled for this Friday morning! The DNA and the Final Medical Exam at the US Embassy will take place (which is a requirement for finalization). Keep your fingers, toes, and anything else crossed that you possibly can for us! I am hoping that our foster mom will confirm this information tomorrow - or better yet - on Friday after it happens. We are SO close! Now that my friends are seeing progress again with their adoptions, I am really excited!!! On a differnt note, John's grandma is not doing well. She is in hospice care at the nursing home now. Her daughters (John's mom and aunt) continue to stay with her 24/7. We've visited nearly everyday, as has all her other family members. She has a huge amount of support around her right now. John really hopes that we can at least share the news that Rylan's DNA test is done and all we have to do is go get him! His grandma is laying asleep most of the time - not talking all all and just briefly once in awhile opening her eyes, but the hospice nurses tell us that hearing is the last to go. That she can hear most everything we say, drifting from this world to the next until she crosses over. So we all continue to talk to her as if she can hear us. It is obvious as time she can by her facial expressions.
Posted by John and Karla at 20:04:57 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

Saturday, February 09, 2008

We are ORANGE!

What does that mean to those of you who don't know? It means that we received the Authorization for the 2nd DNA Test to be done! Yippie! Our attorney took our file to the US Embassy in Guatemala and presented it to request the test. Once everything was found in order, they gave him an "orange" slip authorizing the test to be done. Adrian got it on Wed, Feb 6th in the afternoon. He faxed it to me Thurs morning, Feb 7th and within 30 minutues I sent it onto the lab here in the US, paid for it, they stamped it paid, sent it back to me, then I got it back to Adrian. I was hoping the test might be done Friday, but it wasn't. Adrian did tell me it is scheduled for Monday afternoon though. A phone call to Corelli (foster mom), confirmed that! This is everyone! This is the last big step before getting our pickup date! Here is what we in the adoption community call a "fantasy timeline" or my "best guess" at when pickup will be. If DNA is done Monday, it will get back to the lab here in the US by Wednesday. They'll process it maybe getting it done Friday, then send the results back to Guatemala getting there Monday. The Embassy will log us into their system Tuesday, and issue us our PINK SLIP (or pickup appt) on Wednesday. So that is allowing a full 9 days for the process until we get our appointment. So.... based on the fact appointments are scheduled out about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks after they get the DNA results, I will guess travel at the first week in March. More specifically MAYBE having our Embassy Appointment on March 4th or so! What do you all think? Do you think this is possible or what is your best guess?
Posted by John and Karla at 17:35:07 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

We have a VISA!

I received an email from Joyce (the lady who talks to our foster mom for us) and she said Corelli called her last night and told her they did Rylan's Visa yesterday!  Yea!!!!!  Corelli said she got to go with them and saw it for herself!  I am so excited to have yet one more step completed.  I still can't believe this IS happening!  This IS real! 

So, onto the next step.  Corelli was told to have Rylan ready on Friday to go to the US Embassy to do DNA!  Now, I haven't received the DNA Authorization (or Orange Slip yet) authorizing that test to take place.  I've been stalking my email and fax machine today hoping the attorney got it, because I have to pay for the test before it can be done.

Either the attorney got it today or he will have to get it tomorrow in order for the test to happen Friday!  So, we wait and see once again.  He told me last week it would be today..... but I never hold my breath!  Although I must say, Adrian has smoke rolling off his shoes right now!  I never, ever expected him to be moving this fast to finalize the adoption.  Someone is definately watching over us! 

More to come as I learn it everyone!
Posted by John and Karla at 16:42:48 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Visa Day!

It sounds as if Adrian is holding true to his word so far - Rylan will be getting his VISA tomorrow!  Corelli called Friday very excited.  She has an appt to have Rylan ready so they can go to get his picture take for the Visa.  It was scheduled for 8am tomorrow, but then changed to 3pm.  Regardless... it will get done!

Once the Visa is done (which you get within 30 minutes of having the picture taken), all the documents are translated and presented to the US Embassy.  I would expect this to happen on Wedneday maybe.  We'll then get issued our "Orange" slip which is authorization for the 2nd DNA Test to be done.  The test can be performed within a day of receiving authorization.  So, if all goes well.... we could have the VISA and DNA done this week! 

I can't believe we have made it this far.  Truly, 16 months of this and I just can't get over that the end is in sight.  Incredible!

I've been following closely the registering of in-process cases with the Central Authority.  To those of you waiting, it WILL happen.  I believe that Guatemala and the new President wants what is in the best interest of the children.  Those that had Power of Attorney's filed before 12/31/07... your children will come home.  I believe that with my entire heart.  With transition there is always some bumps that need to be worked out.  The laws of adoption in Guatemala have been in transition for quite some time.... and we've been through a lot of those bumps!  Hang in there everyone, you have huge supporters out there who will not leave you behind.  Even though my journey is coming to an end, I will fight tooth and nail to help you all!  These children need forever families.... and I know several families who need their children.  Find support where you can, scream when you have to, cry if you need it, and most of all have faith! 
Posted by John and Karla at 16:19:29 | Permanent Link | Comments (4) |