Christmas and Other

This Christmas was good. We actually got to go home this year and really enjoyed it, but at the same time it was really hard. I had a lot of dreams about this Christmas when we started this process and they are all dashed. When I realized that Clay wouldn't be home for Christmas I started planning a Christmas party when he came home, but now knowing that he won't even be home for his First Birthday that just let me know that no one knows when he will be home. So the plan now on the basis we get out of PGN this time for good is we will come home and celebrate his First Birthday at home, too. If not out of PGN by first of February we will somehow find a way to go visit. If we are out of PGN then we will have to wait till pick up. We are required by our attorney to stay at one certain hotel for visit trips and in order to do that it requires a lot of money as it is a 5 star place that costs more than I have ever paid per night for a place to sleep. At the start of this process we planned on using our flight benefits to fly back and forth to Guatemala City but flying standby isnt working as there are no flights coming back and one way tickets are more expensive than roundtrip confirmed. So, we are working hard to save for another visit trip. The hardest part is leaving without Clay. So far, I have been able to pull myself together and is taking longer each time, but I just don't know if I can handle that again. It is like pulling the heart out stomping on it and then stuffing it back in with no pain killers or anything. It hurts REALLY bad. It takes a lot of tears, alot of praying, alot of everything to handle an international adoption. Right now, we are hanging on by a thread. We are still creeping to the top of this mountain. I mean major creeping the kind you get when you have the pedal to the metal and the transmission is staying into first gear and the hill is almost to the point of needing four a wheeler and the engine is grinding and creaking with like it is trying to pull a loaded semi that is way over weight up Donners Pass. We are sitting in this car hanging on to the security bar with all our might and white knuckled listening to the creak and grunts of the engine and transmission pulling with all its might to reach the top. Please be praying that is all you can do for us!!!!!!!! Please, do, we need it!!!!!!!

My friend Anna has had her DNA at the US Embassy since the 19th and still she has not received her Pink Slip. She really dont know what to do as most times you have it within a week after DNA is received at the Embassy and now that they send that through email they say not to contact them. This is so messed up. She is worried they have her email wrong and they are going to pass her by and she so wants her son home soon. Please, be praying it comes soon!!!!! He is legally her son and is waiting on the US Only!!!!!! They need to get her son home to her!! Please be praying!!!!!!!

Other than all this, life is continuing and we are trying to enjoy each others time as we know that soon we will be three, but it is really hard when all WE want is Clay home!!

We are back in!!

It was a really short kick out for which I am very thankful and now the official wait begins. We were re-submitted December 21,2008. Everyone please be praying we get signed out for good sooner than later. We are ok. we are both just hurting REALLY bad. On top of that my cold turned into bronchitis. Eight weeks is February 15,2008. Clay will be one year and one day and still a 4-6 week wait left to go. Please pray for a miracle that he could still be home before his 1st birthday. With God anything is possible.


The skies are gray
The city is covered in a thick fog
The colors are blended into one
The traffic continues
We stand still staring
Our hearts are bleeding
Hope is dwindling
Our arms ache
They are still empty
Our eyes run
Like a leaky faucet
Someday seems a million miles away
God is hurting with us and close by

Someday will come and hope will begin to grow
The skies will turn a brighter blue, slowly
The city will stand up straight and tall
The colors will begin to separate
Traffic will once again fly with rhythm
And we will begin to move forward again
Our hearts will remain broken for a time
Our arms will become full with the little one we hold dear
Our tears will become tears of joy and happiness
Someday will come in time
God is in control and will bring our son home

Someday will come and the heavens will shine as bright as the sunniest day
The city will ring its bells
Colors will pop
Time will go quickly
Our hearts will mend
Our arms will be overflowing
Our tears will dry and smile
God is answering our prayer in His time.

written by Carolyn

Well, our rollercoaster made it through a 6 week wait of corkscrews, freefalls and flips to come to a brief halt once again in the valley. It is repaired now and beginning a VERY slow, creaking climb to the top to begin once again towards home. Please be praying for a miracle that this ride towards home will come to a stop sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Venting after getting Bad News

Well, things aren't going as well as I wanted or thought they would. I came home Wednesday sick and wanting to hear good news as Tuesday is Christmas and yesterday I thought we got it. We called PGN and were told we were on the the third reviewer's desk awaiting final signature and so as to verify told our agency so she could check. We were on the third reviewer's desk, alright, but all we received was a big fat Kick Out. For a statement that says we are going to treat the child we adopt as we would our biological child. My word what do they think?? This whole process is hell and I wouldn't dare be going through it if it wasnt for a child of my own. Why is it so hard for people to believe that a person would actually raise another woman's biological child to be able to have a child to love, care for and nurture? Children are a gift from God and it doesn't matter whether biologically or born in the heart they are a gift and a gift needs to be cared for and loved. We will be re-submitted tomorrow with the correct statement and out around February 15. That is 8 weeks from tomorrow and the day after Clay's first birthday. Don't these people care that we want our son home. Instead they keep coming up with any reason just to do it and keep us in longer. I dont care if anyone thinks I am complaining. I don't care right now what anyone thinks. I am hurt. I was hoping and praying we were getting out of PGN and able to come home sooner than later. I was really believing would happen but it isnt to be. God opened this door and for some reason he is letting us go through more than I ever thought would happen. We have had delay after delay along each step and now we get in PGN and that continues. We have started this process by being delayed by USCIS and then before being approved just to adopt from another country I am put on the phone with a reviewer who interrogates me as to why I am adopting? Why I just dont have a baby? Why not domestic? Why not wait till back to GA? This has never been heard of before but it happens to me. Some of those questions were already addressed in the home study and that is where info is supposed to come. Then the next step was first DNA Authorization was delayed cause one person was paid to do a job and didnt do it and had to be redone by someone else. My birth certificate was lost in translation. My cousin died. Then Pre-Approval takes a long time and PGN kicks me out twice. I have been patient. I have waited and not complained. I have just tried to go with the waves but now I am tired. I am hurting. I was wanting my child home in my arms forever. I have went and seen him and taken care of him 100% twice and given him back when all I wanted to do was hold onto him forever. And each day that goes by and he isnt home he is growing more and more and now not even to be able to be home for his first birthday!!!! No one in my family understands they have kids they have had since the day they were delivered and came home or they came home so fast they have no clue what real life adoptions are. They dont know what it is like and yet for that short time always going on and on about how hard it is. Well it is my turn but I cant. All I know is this has taken my heart out stomped on it once more and returned it to say now take it and wait. We have you and you are at our mercy. Still no matter how this sounds it still doesn't come close to say how we feel!!!!!!! Nothing can!!!!
The only things I can find thankful about this process so far is that our son is safe with a family that loves him very much, we are getting re-submitted to PGN quickly and well, that is it!!! Please, God, bring Clay home soon!!!!!!!

Please be praying this is the hardest yet!!!!!!!

REALLY busy week!

I am not sure where to start but will start with the beginning I guess and hit all the highlights. Thursday, December 13, I flew to Alabama to spend time with Mom and Dad and meet a friend that is also using our agency to adopt her daughter. Well, anyways, I got to Atlanta airport to find out from Matt that we had gotten new pictures and except for Dad letting me lock up wouldn't have got to see them. He is now 19.5 lbs and 30.30 inches long and standing up some. He is growing so fast. Please, God, let him come home soon!!!! Friday, December 14, I met Elizabeth from our group in Douglasville and we had a blast talking and getting to know each other. I really enjoyed it!!! I got back to Mom and Dad's to find out that Anna's DNA had reached Labcorp in NC. YIPPEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Saturday, December 15, we had my baby shower and I got a lot of really cool stuff. A baby swing for Clay, the Diaper Genie II I wanted with a filter, some outfits, books, baby gate, babyproofing stuff, bath toys and tons of other things. It was a small gathering of my friends and family. My best friend, Becky, and my youngest sister, Deborah, hosted it. I had so much fun and is something I will never forget. After the shower we celebrated, my youngest nephew, Jacob's 5th birthday whose birthday was on the 13th. Sunday, Matt flew into Atlanta and Monday morning we went home to Georgia for a night. We had stuff to take care of there and then back to Mom and Dad's, after a flat tire adventure, in time to celebrate my Grandma Key's 90th birthday. I saw family for the first time in years and we had a good night and my grandmother seemed to, also, and in good spirits for the first time in a few days. Today we got back to St Louis after an uneventful flight, though, I can't say the same for getting to our gate in time. I arrived in St Louis, I am thinking with a cold but will be here until Sunday. Then home for Christmas and back sometime Wednesday because we have to drive as no way get on standby flight this time of year.


For those I told that PGN was being called I will give an update later as waiting for a verification on information. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! be praying the information is correct!!!!!!!!!! Kristi got into PGN on December 13th and just found out today. I am so happy for her. Oh yeah, before I forget, Anna verified that DNA results arrived at US Embassy in Guatemala, today. Praying for a very fast pink slip as that is what the US Embassy does with these results. That slip is the appt date for her Visa appt and pick up trip!!! Congratulations Kristi and Anna and Elizabeth as 2nd DNA was done today and being sent to Labcorp in NC!! I am now caught up on all the news I have to offer and please be praying!!!! All I want for Christmas is to be out of PGN and Clay legally our son!!!!! I am also posting new pictures.

Updates

On Friday, Anna had her 2nd DNA done and when calling to check to see if Labcorp had received the specimen she was told they didn't have it. Upon calling our agency she found out that the receipt saying been paid was lost and not found till today so today is when the specimen is being overnighted to Labcorp in NC. This has once again delayed their bringing their son home. Her son not just in her heart but legally, also. Please be praying this is a VERY short delay and that overnighting it is literally meaning overnight.

On Saturday, Kristi received her pre-approval and should be hearing she is in PGN any day now!! Thank you so much for all your prayers.

Today, Guatemalan Congress voted on the adoption law and approved it. Thank God it does include a grandfather clause that will allow all "in process" cases to continue under present system. We do not, however, know what "in process" is. This will not be known for a couple more weeks to come. We are hoping and praying it is what was considered "in process" when this same battle was fought in 2003 and that is a registered Power of Attorney (POA). Please continue to pray not just for those still in a state of not knowing but for Guatemala.

As of today, we are still on the second reviewers desk!! No news is good news. Please be praying we get signed out soon. We miss our little boy so VERY much!!!!

A True Story

The other night, Matt and I were able to meet with another adoptive parent from our agency and a friend of hers. They were staying in town overnight to be at the airport the next morning to leave for a visit trip. We had a really good time. We went out to eat and just spent the time talking and getting to know each other. All went really well, that is until we got ready to leave. I got up and I have this really bad habit of having a glass of tea or something wherever I am and as we left I was drinking my Dr Pepper when we were leaving. Everything was going great and I went to get into the car when I realized I still had my drink. How embarassing. I had to go return it. I have started to do that before, but Matt always seemed to realize it before we left the restaurant, until now that is. Oh well. We had fun even laughing about that.

Fast forward to today and Anna has had the 2nd DNA test done. The test should be to Labcorp on Monday and Results ready and overnighted to the Embassy on Thursday or so and the Pink Slip 24 hours later if all goes smoothly.

Kristi is in Guatemala visiting with her daughter and is waiting on Pre-Approval from the US Embassy please be praying she receives it soon so she can enter PGN as she has been out of Family Court for awhile now.

For those following our journey and praying for us come Tuesday, December 11, is the vote for the new law. I do know it includes a grandfather clause, but we don't have any clue what that grandfather clause will mean to the over 4000 cases in progress. There are alot rumors running rampant over what that means and at this time we have no clue if any are true. I am not posting anything I have read until I know facts because rumors just cause distress and I dont want that I just want to know what we are all facing. PLEASE continue praying as the rumors are scary for a lot of people. Please be praying that our case and any one else in PGN gets out and that the people waiting for PA receives there's soon. REALLY soon. Mostly just please be praying for us adoptive parents, the Guatemalan Government and ours that oversees this process that decisions will be made for the good of us, them and the kids this effects. Thank you for your continual prayers. Now, if you look after this you will see a picture from the other night. It is Matt and I and Kristi. Left to Right.

All I Want For Christmas IS.........

my two front teeth. No scratch that: I WANT our son signed out of PGN so we can bring him home. Well, for anyone interested that is what I want for Christmas. Will we get it? Possible. Likely? I have no clue anymore. There is no rhyme or reason to PGN. There is alot I could post here, but no words to express it, at least, in a way that avoid sounding like I am complaining so I will say nothing more about this process for us other than PLEASE be praying for us for strength to continue waiting!!

Now on to some good news. Anna got her Orange Slip (2nd DNA Authorization) from the US Embassy, today, and the DNA test will be taken tomorrow. Then on to waiting again. Waiting for Pink Slip from the embassy, which is their visa appointment today. While they wait for this the DNA test will be being overnighted to Labcorp here in the US and then tested and results overnighted to the Embassy where they will record the results and once confirmed a match will issue the Pink Slip. This will take 7-10 days at the longest, but please pray for shorter length of time. The appointment date is usally one week from Pink Slip date.

Last night we met another adoptive parent from our agency and enjoyed it. I will give more details later. Well, I hope you all have a good night. I will update more later.

She Got It!!!!!!!!!!

Anna got her baby's passport today!!!!!!!! Now to get 2nd DNA Authorization tomorrow!!!!!!!
I am excited for her. By the way, our friend, Jaimee also got her baby's passport today and will be submitted for 2nd DNA Authorization, tomorrow. Congratulations, you two.

A Hard Week!!

I will post more about us in awhile but right now if you read nothing else, please be praying for Mary and Phil. Today would have been there Embassy appt and instead of going for pick up they are greiving the unexpected death of their precious, precious daughter.

Update with Anna: She received the final signature of the birthmom and amended birth certificate. We are hoping she received her baby's passport today and will be submitted to the US Embassy tomorrow for 2nd DNA Authorization. We should know tomorrow whether or not she got the passport or not.

There is nothing new here. We are still on the 2nd reviewers desk and that in itself is good news. It means that we are still in PGN and waiting for Mr Barrios' signature to let us out. Please be praying we are out of PGN before the end of the year!!! I don't mean to sound selfish or anything but I just want to be able to bring our son home soon. We miss him so much.

I am going to now post a short video. I hope you enjoy. It is one I took on this last visit.

In this video, Clay and I had fallen asleep and Matt shot the video. I dont know when Matt fell asleep but I know Matt and I woke up about the same time and just talked and stuff till Clay woke up. It is going to be hard to not stay quiet and just go about with normal everyday things when he comes home. We have been told if we keep quiet he will be a light sleeper and we need to do everyday things so not an extremely light sleeper when he grows up. We found out later that not every noise did wake him and we could do some normal stuff and not be totally quiet.

Y'all have a good night and I will write more later. Please be praying for all of us adoptive parents and for our son's country and the results of the adoption law being voted on today or next Tuesday.

Anna is OUT of PGN!!!!!

If y'all remember in my last post I asked for y'all to pray for Anna to be out of PGN soon with Pablo as they had been in since May and................ YOUR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED. ANNA IS OUT!!!!!!! I was extremely happy for them as they have been waiting so very long. Now please be praying that she has a speedy process to her Pink Slip (US Embassy appt ) and the date they will be home forever with their son. She is on the home stretch. The next few steps are the birthmother's fourth and final signature, amended birth certificate, Guatemalan passport, DNA authorization from US Embassy to get 2nd DNA done, DNA results overnighted to Embassy and then the email notifying her of their Embassy appt. This time frame is usually 4-6 weeks and in some cases happen quicker but not often.



On our journey to Clay we are on the 2nd reviewers desk as of November 22nd. As long as their are no more previos (kick outs) we should be on his desk for approximately 6 weeks then on to the third reviewer, Mr. Barrios. Mr. Barrios is the one that give final signature and sign us out of PGN. We are entering the holiday season and during this time things slow down drastically. There is no telling when we will exit PGN and be able to post our OUT but I am sure everyone of y'all will hear that I am out before I post. We REALLY excited about being signed out and also a little leary that we could get another Kick out and have to begin all over once again. Please be praying for us as we continue what feels to be a VERY difficult time of waiting. In the last few weeks I have been working on painting letters for Clay's name and putting a puzzle together that is too big for the puzzle mat I have and needed to finish before he came home so wouldn't want to eat the puzzle pieces. I have finished them both and now on to working on Clay's lifebook, the Foster Mother's book and putting binding on a rug that I think I am goind to do as a hanging. So hopefully this help keeps me busy. Plus, I am having a baby shower on the 15th. That is going to be like really cool. I am going to put together a slideshow that can be played at the shower. That way those that dont check my blog that comes and those that haven't seen the pictures can see them, too. Then as soon as can get everything ready will post some pics of the Christmas Care Package I am sending. Well, please continue to pray. We need all the prayers people are willing to say as the wait is difficult. Below you will see the pics of the puzzle I completed and the finished letters.

We got Pictures!!!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon I checked my email and found updated pictures and medical!! Those of you sharing this journey to bring your own child home understands when I say it is a relief, ecstatic and calming day when this happens. PGN is a VERY hard wait and these pictures, when you can't be with your child in person, makes the time easier to deal with. This happened to me. He is now 18.5lbs and 29.5in tall. On our visit trip he had his bottom tooth and now that we got the new pics I think he has a top one, too. It looks like it in some of the pictures I have.

We have been watching him grow since we got our referral in June and have seen him twice and spent days with him each and felt the pain of saying goodbye. I am so looking forward to our pick up trip and bringing him home but hurting for his foster mother who has loved and cared for him since he came home from the hospital after being born and for his birthmother who is doing what she feel is right for her child. Please be praying for these women who loves this child, for this child who is going to miss them and finally for us his adoptive parents that we can raise him to know the part these women have in his life, to raise him to love and worship God, to raise him to respect and care about others and himself. Mostly to be able to raise him for the course that God has for him whether it is to stay here with us always, to search for his birthmother, or even go back for awhile to his birth country to help, but mainly to follow the path God has set out for his life in the years to come.

Thanks for your prayers for us and our son and all the people in his life that loves him. Thank you for the prayers that has given us strength on this long rollercoaster ride of emotions. I am also including a video I made of his first nine months. There are four pictures a month from 8 days old through our last pictures at 9 months old. I hope you enjoy watching him grow as much as I do!!

Wishing Everyone A Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving and Matt and I are thankful for a lot of things. In fact way to many to put here. We are making the best of this day and at the same time a big part of our hearts are missing and I am posting this video as our way of saying thank you for your prayers. Please continue to do so as we really are missing our son very much.

I hope you enjoy the video I created and will be adding more as time goes by.

I have a friend on here who has been waiting to get out of PGN with her son and was resubmitted on 10/5. Please be praying that she will hear soon that she is out of PGN and for a quick process to getting her pink slip (Visa appt date) so her son can come home. Her name is Anna.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Well...... Waiting for updates

The wait continues and this time for medical updates and pictures. The doctor won't be seeing Clay until next week as he has been on vacation. I have to admit I am glad this week is over and next Tuesday makes two weeks in PGN and just a few days until we get new pictures. The wait is hard and I am trying to stay busy. I am just praying that this time in PGN gets easier as it is a long hard wait.

I just have to figure out something to do that will keep me busy. That is all. I will and then the days will go by quicker and before we know it we will be out of PGN and waiting on the final steps to bringing our son home.

Well, that is all that is new for today. Next week will bring good news and Thanksgiving. I am so not ready for that. It is just the two of us for Thanksgiving and all up to me. We will see what happens. I am so looking for Sunday morning. Matt will be off work till Wednesday night and we can go to church Sunday morning. I just don't know what else we are going to do. Maybe on Thanksgiving we can go see "August Rush". I been wanting to see that and believe it will be a good movie. Well, I am going for now and will check back later. Please continue praying for some reason this week is really hard and I miss Clay so VERY much!!!!!!

PGN Wait

We have been continuously waiting for word about what is happening with adoptions in Guatemala come January 1st and today we hear from Guatemala Congress that adoptions will not be discussed until next session. I have heard that could be next Tuesday and Wednesday and I am glad it is sooner than later. It is a VERY hard wait. Having seen our child, held our child, spent days alone with our child and falling in love with him even more after our second visit this wait is hard anticipating the day we are out of PGN and he is legally ours not just the child in our hearts. I have had since this process started being very supportive and then as soon as the Hague was passed and the question of in process cases continue or not had someone tell me that it is my fault along with everyone else cause of our views on immigration issues. I have been told that I am continuously complaining and yet I have not said a word about how long it is taking. Yes my adoption is taking the normal length of time and going through all of the normal wait times and my sister had a two month process from referral to home but that is nothing to do with mine. I love my neice and I am glad she is home and my sister didnt have to go through all this, but each journey is different and I have no complaints. I have a great agency, a great attorney working for us and doing things the way they should be done and quickly. I have a VERY great God who will bring our son home when it is the right time. Things get hard and my emotions follow a roller coaster but it happens to all women whether they are pregnant or going through adoption. I have never been pregnant but I know my sisters and friends when they are pregnant and the emotions and mood swings they have and I know mine. I experience them more since our journey began than ever. When these emotions hit and I want to cry or just talk it is not me complaining it is me talking. It is me and my husband wanting for the hole in our hearts to come home for good, not being left in Guatemala needing a forever family. I have learned that friends come and go in this process and some that maybe not there all the time are stronger friends than ones you see often. Am I mad at the person who blamed me for being the one to cause the new changes and uncertainty? No. Was I? Yes. Why not mad now? I guess the main thing is cause for the first time I stood up and let the person know it hurt me. I am learning that I can wait even if it is hard and their are days I just want Clay home, but I can get up and go on and do what I have to even if I am sad. I am not falling apart, totally. Do I fall apart on these days? Yes. Today, I am trying to patiently wait for the updated opthalmologist report and medical update and new pictures. I am sad today. I wanted to know what is going to happen come the first of the year when our case will still be in PGN and wondering since that is the case if we will be home before middle of next year or what? I miss the way Clay feels in my arms cuddled up against me, I miss hearing him looking for Matt when he leaves the room and saying "da da", I miss him only wanting me when time to bed cause he knows that Daddy is the one he wants when time to play. We learned that one quick. It was the last night we had with Clay on the last visit and I was exhausted and he was sleepy but didn't want to be put to bed. He would go to sleep and I would try to lay him down and he would wake right up screaming. So after two hours Matt tried. Well as soon as I handed him to Matt and Matt wouldn't play with him he started screaming again. He expected Matt to play with him. So back to me he came. I finally after about another 2-3 hours was able to lay him down in the crib for awhile. I guess I got about an hours sleep when he was crying again. I was too tired at that point so he just went in the bed with us. He slept till 8am at that point and since I couldnt pack his stuff the night before had to feed him, dress him, let Matt play with him while I packed his stuff and then a few photos before the call from downstairs came saying his Foster Mother was there to pick him up. That was the hardest thing I ever did and I can't do that again. This is the wait. A normal wait day. We have been back in PGN a little over a week and have 7 or more to go give or take one or two weeks.

Today is ok, though. I am waiting for pictures and update and planning his first Christmas and the care package for the actual Christmas day. He will have two Christmas Days but that is ok. One with his foster family and then one with us when he comes home. If he isnt home till after his First Birthday we will have two of those too. It is ok to do that!!!!! It gives us something to plan and look forward to and to keep us busy during the Holidays when we will be apart. Please continue to pray for Guatemala, for our adoption journey and the other families waiting, too. We need it.

Here we go again!!!!!

Well, I was reading up on the new possibility of the extension to the hague and learned that the DOS is pushing for the extension not to be passed and the January 1, 2008 date to stand. For more information on both of what I have been talking about in the last two posts. http://www.guatadopt.com/archives/000747.html http://www.guatadopt.com/archives/000748.html The extended date would be good for more than us it would be the best for the children remaining that need homes and love and for Guatemala time to put everything into place with training and setting up of a central authority. To do it fast leaves no time for training or setting up a way to keep the childrens best interest first. Please be praying that the children are the main focus of everyone and that all of us waiting on children to come home bring them home soon!!!!!

Good News

We found out last night that we are back in PGN!!!! I am so VERY glad. This whole time of knowing that our case was having to just sit there and nothing happening was extremely hard and the relief of being back in is tremendous. Once again we start the eight week countdown and from what I can figure eight weeks will be December 31, 2007. I was hoping so much for no kick out and to bring him home before the first of the year. We are figuring with the last things to be done to have his visa we will be home with him end of January, First of February as long as no more Kick outs occur. We are praying so much that no more will occur. We know that a miracle can still occur cause with God anything is possible. Is it likely? NO!!! Praise God we are back in and our process will go forward!!!! Guatemalan Congress has put the possibility of a new law to extend the Hague to begin April 1, 2008 instead of January 1, 2008 and work on getting more of the program set up as to protect and allow care for all kids left behind. This is good news!! Will be voted on next week. What a relief!!!!!! Please continue to pray for Guatemala, the children in process and the children that will be effected by the adoptions continuing and the birth families that dont know what to do. Prayers are what is keeping everyone going through this process. Thanks for all your prayers and support in our journey to bringing our son home!!!!!!

Bad News and Update

On 10/30 a friend of ours called PGN to see where we were at in process as this would be our half way point to being out. What she found out is that on 10/23 we had been issued a previo and for what did not know or if our attorney had even picked it up yet. Knowing that this could have been a mistake we waited confirmation from our agency. Carol confirmed that we did have a previo and our attorney had picked it up on the 24th. The reason for not knowing was our attorney's email has not been working properly and was not sent to Carol. It is a simple fix. There was some transposition of numbers on the birthmother's passport by the American Consulate in Guatemala and our attorney said should have it fixed Tuesday and us back in PGN. The reason for not getting it done sooner was PGN and American Consulate was closed Thursday and Friday for All Saints Day and Monday for elections which are going on today.

This sounds like I am way calm and for the most part I am. It really really hurt to be kicked out of PGN and knowing that once we get back in we have another 8 week wait to see if we are approved and signed out or the possibility of another kick out. All I know is God will bring Clay home in His time. The main thing is the uncertainty of since no way being out by the first of the year now what is going to happen in terms of timeline till he comes home or what the Guatemalan Congress is going to do. We know there is an amendment on the books to allow in process cases to continue but we dont know when or if that is going to be voted into law until sometime this month. I have heard two dates mentioned. Please be praying hard this month as it is so important to so many children waiting. The dates I have heard mentioned are Nov 6th and 14th.

PGN so far is the most difficult part of our roller coaster ride to date. Alot of people say that their are adoption hormones just like there are pregnancy hormones and I believe them. I am usually not a very emotional person around just anyone, the only ones I used to let see them were people I am close to, but now they come and go and it is not easy. The hard part is the waiting on our son to come home. Our visit to our son this time has sent those hormones raging and I miss him so MUCH more. There are going to be issues with sleeping at night for quite awhile after Clay comes home if our last visit was an indicator and even though things won't be easy it is ok. He will be grieving and hurting just like we do when we lose someone we love so much.

We are planning on staying in contact with his foster family best we can through out Clay's life cause I look at it this way. Clay has a mother that chose to give him life and when finding out she couldnt provide everything he has needed put him in foster care and turned over to our attorney for a loving family. Clay also has his other mom whom he has known since the day he left the hospital and I want her to remain in his life in some fashion as I see that as an important bond. Then there is Matt and I, his forever family. We will love him unconditionally and provide everything he needs and alot of what he wants. In the next week or so I hope to be adding something to our blog here. I have been trying to find the program needed to do it and it is going to be a special video that I want to create.

Please continue to pray for our adoption but today and whenever else also please pray for Guatemala as a country and for what happens after they become Hague Compliant. Please be praying for their elections that are taking place today Nov 4th. Thank you so much for your support and prayers on our journey to bringing home our son.

More Details to Summary

We will have been gone from Guatemala a week tomorrow and I am trying to be so very patient waiting for PGN to be completed but each day gets harder and harder. Please continue to pray we get out without a kickout.



As you have seen our son is wearing glasses and he is supposed to wear them every day. We did that the best we could. There are quite a few pictures that he is not wearing them but it wasnt long periods. We had a constant struggle keeping them on. We won't know until November if the glases are helping so we shall have to see.



Our son was a hit at dinner each time we went to the restaurant to eat. He enjoyed the attention too.!!! He even got mashed potatoes one night and he loved them. I also let him try Peach cobbler for the first time. He seemed to like it.



The nights were not easy as he was missing his foster mom the first night and after that I dont know why. He wanted me when sleepy and Matt when he wanted to play. Some nights he thought it was time to play when woke up and at times when I was just so exhausted and Matt tried to put him to bed he would get frustrated cause he wasnt playing with him so bedtime was my job every night. I miss that time with him a lot. I miss the feel of him in my arms laying up against me and when I moved or went to put him in the crib the first thing he did was start to scream!! Interesting nights.



Here is the funniest thing that happened: At the time it wasn't funny but now it is.

On this trip I took a halloween costume to dress the baby in for a few minutes. Well I dressed him up the last night and he looked so cute!!!!!! We were there at the same time as another couple on pick up with our agency and so we thought we would just to show Clay off and stuff go trick or treat on their door and since not leaving the floor didnt bother with shoes and just went in our sock feet being sure to grab the camera and the key to our room. We got to their door and no one was there so we went back to our room and slid the card into the door and it wouldnt unlock. After a few tries we figured it out that it wouldnt work any more and one of us had to go get it fixed. There was a few exchanges of no you. See our hotel downstairs is fancy and barefooted. Oh my word. Matt finally went down stairs and Clay and I waited patiently on him to come back up with the fixed key. In a few minutes he did. He had to go back down with his ID. Good thing they went ahead and fixed the key without it or we would have been in trouble. Can you imagine him being down there in sock feet and them saying we cant get key fixed till ID and ID was in room and stuff. Oh, I am so glad it worked out.

Everytime you think of our journey and us please be praying. PGN is a very hard wait and we really want our little one home. We are hoping and Praying for a Christmas miracle. I will post more pictures later. Talk soon. Thank you all for praying and supporting us in this journey.

Visit Trip Day # 2 - 4

I really enjoyed our time in Guateamala. During the day, Clay was really playful and happy. Sunday night he stayed basically on schedule and took 1.5 hours to get him to bed every night. We spent alot of time playing with the toys we brought him. We also gave him something to eat. I took peach cobbler and he really liked it. Monica and Clay got on great together just like Elianna and Clay did also. It was really cute when Elianna said she was going to marry Clay when she got older. Nights were something else on this trip. I am made for bedtime and Matt for playtime. We found this out really fast too. The second night, Clay was up every two hours. This time he was really missing him foster mom but at the same time bonded quickly and easily with us. We will only be going back on pick up now as I dont want to ever give him back and leave him again. Wednesday night it took so long to get him to sleep each time cause he didnt want me to put him down that come the time he woke up at 3:30am and still up at 5:00am he went to bed with us and slept till 8am. So no time for breakfast for matt and I but I did make sure Clay was fed and packed for his time to go back and she came early. There was no interpreter so we did the best we could. Last time Clay wanted them as soon as he saw them and really happy but this time he was happy to see her but at same time didnt just go to her it was like I like seeing you but I want to stay here and so I had to hand him over. He was happy with her but as I saw them walking out I lost it. I made it, though. Our standby plans changed in a hurry and we didnt want to take the chance of not getting back home. I love being there with our son but to be stuck for the next flight on Sat and not having our son cause we would have had to stay somewhere else anbe that close would have been harder at least with so many miles between us there is a reason for us not being together. I would love to be able to put more about what I felt down during the whole stay and even planned on it, but that wasn't possible as my computer would rarely allow me to stay on for even 5-10 minutes without dying. Dad is going to see if he can get his computer guy to fix it so next time we can stay in contact with pictures and everything. Do I regret this trip? NNNNEEEVVERRR!!!! The only thing I wish is that I hadnt had to give him back to his foster mother and we had more time. I am so looking forward to pick up and praying it is REALLY soon as I miss him VERY much!!!! Please be praying he comes home SOON!!!!

Day 1 of Visit Trip #2

Yesterday was great. We got to the airport in plenty of time and met Deb and her whole family. That was really great. Eliana loved the monkey I bought for Clay. We left Charlotte about 30 minutes late and arrived in Guatemala the same. We had a very uneventful trip to the Westin and as Matt entered he got a really big hug and about the time he said that I saw Clay and our Foster Mother. She gave me a big hug to and we tried to talk while Matt checked in. Clay has his two bottom teeth!! Soon after Miriam (interpreter) and Clay's Foster Father came in. It felt good to get here and see familiar faces and wanted. I was wondering when they would be here and to get here before us felt amazing!! We talked for quite awhile before they went home and I am going to be able to get Clay's first haircut. I learned where Clay's birth name came from and told them the meaning of Clay's name to us and how it was special.

Clay loved the monkey from the start and last night I was really glad to have brought it. It even had its own seat on the flight to Guatemala. We had a really rough night as Clay really missed his foster family (parents for right now). I finally got him to sleep around 11 and he slept till this morning. He is doing really well today. I missed him so much and being back with him is GREAT (A Blessing) even if the first night or next few aren't easy. It will be the last time we are able to come before pick up.

They are going to pick Clay up Thurs morning at 9 am.

Here are a few pictures from our time with Clay so far!!!

Visit Trip #2 - Begins Tomorrow!!!!!!

Today was a good day. We got to the airport around 10:00 and it took awhile to check in luggage and get tickets to get through security. We ate lunch and then was a short time before boarding. We were on US Airways Express so our priority was higher than even US Airways and that was good. We had plenty of seats, though. The monkey and I were assigned 9D and Matt had 8C. The monkey and I waited and waited for someone to come and sit with us and when noone came I buckled monkey in and prepared him for flight. He was really cute sitting there too. Well, as soon as that was done, he realized his seat was taken and he had to share my seat. Poor Monkey!! He wasnt too disappointed, the lady sitting with us was nice and he just wanted to see Clay. Well, We are in Charlotte. We have been here for a couple hours now and we are about to go to bed to get some rest. We have a big day, tomorrow. We are flying to Guatemala and will be seeing Clay. I can't wait but know I need my rest in order to enjoy our time with Clay. Well, y'all, the way things look we are on!!!!!!!!!! 31 seats available and 7 flying non rev. We will be in Guatemala with Clay this time tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!!! Yippeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Visit Trip #2 *Not Long Now*

Today started out with just a little to pack, but I remembered three items needed at Babies R Us and well my three turned into 5 and one of them is posted here. I love to look and I found a costume so can get early Halloween Pics and then I found the stuffed animals and I remember Mom always telling me that I had a favorite monkey for my first Christmas and figured when I saw it my son had to have a monkey so I bought it. That is all good and dandy, but it wont fit in a suitcase so one of our carry-ons is now his monkey. Other than that we are now packed except for printing a few things out. Now, here is the plan. I am going to post a picture of the monkey. Why?? Cause I was thinking that maybe I could dress Clay like the monkey and switch them using a monkey costume, but the monkey's arms and legs are too long and someone would notice so VERY SAD to say I have to wait for Mr. Barrios to let me out of PGN to come home. Now the monkey and Clay are going to have their pic taken on this trip together then I am going to post my pic with my first monkey and him with his. What do you think? Well ok enough talking. Posting the pic. Then to printing out record locator for flights and getting some sleep so I can start the journey to see my son tomorrow for a little while. Here ya Go!!!!!!

4 Days to Visit Trip #2

Time seems to be going so slow. I know it isnt and will be here before long. Tonight, I am going to pack our bag and the last few things that I am taking for Clay. The flight is looking good. It could change and Matt and I will make up our minds if we are going to try and switch to a confirmed ticket or continue on flying standby. We are trying to find out if we have a definite date for signing the refi paperwork for our house. If we get that and know it is happening without doubt we will switch to confirmed so make it to see our son for sure. Please, continue praying about everything. In the last few months, I have been working on Clay's lifebook. I still have alot to scrapbook about Guatemala and other information. I have finished the first 5 months of medical updates and taken pictures of my favorites. I thought I would post some of them here. Well, I am going to post those and then on to finishing up packing for our trip and other stuff so that when Clay comes home the house and his room is ready for him!!!

5 Days to Visit Trip #2

Saturday, Matt and I are flying to Charlotte NC to make our flight on Sunday morning to Guatemala City to spend four great days with our son. I have been getting everything for him ready since Friday after finding out we were in PGN and tonight I have finished packing his bag. Well, all of it is packed except for some baby food to last until we can get to the store and get some things and the toys we are taking for him. At that point I just have to pack for Matt and I. Our flight is looking good so far. Please continue to pray that the seats remain open so we can get there!!! I am so excited!! Can't you tell by these pictures. There is one of half the clothes I have bought for him since the last visit and the last ones are those of his suitcase open and closed. Enjoy!!!!!!!!

We Are IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is right, everyone, we are in PGN!!! We have been in PGN since Friday, October 5, 2007.
We had received word that we were going to be going into PGN that Monday and for the first time since this whole process started we were getting impatient. I think we ended up calling Carol everyday to see if we were in and Friday when she called me back and said we were in it was great!!!!! I guess the part that made it so hard to wait is the fact that about the same time we needed to get into PGN the Ortega Law was passed stating that in process cases would not be "grandfathered" in. BUT LISTEN, Your prayers and support with the petitions and letters is paying off we are making a difference. As of this weekend, there has been an amendment added and passed two of three steps to being included and passed into law. In addition to that UNICEF has changed it's wording and our actions are being heard!!!!! This whole new update can be read under the www.jcics.org site and go to most recent news links for Guatemala 5000. Thank you all so much for helping us in this journey to bringing our son home. I will be updating the call to action with more information in a few days as the fight for these children isnt over yet.

Please, continue praying for this whole process. We are in PGN and noone knows whether they will get a kick out for any reason and we will not know it until it happens. With no kick outs we will be out of PGN within 8-10 weeks. Eight weeks will be Nov. 30th!!!!!! It could take that long also to know that we had a kick out. We are praying for no Kickouts, but trying to prepare in case we get kicked out. It is possible to be home by Christmas. Is it likely? NO. It would be a miracle to be home for Christmas!!!! After PGN, the birthmother signs over and terminates rights to this child for the 4th and final time, an amended birth certificate is issued with us listed as parents, Passport is obtained and the file goes to the US Embassy in Guatemala where they issue the second DNA authorization, DNA is taken and sent to Labcorp where it will be processed and overnighted to the US Embassy in Guatemala, and then the pink slip (Visa appt) will be sent to us. We will then book our planes and once we get there foster mother will bring us OUR son. The next day or whenever the appt is the three of us (unless my parents come with us for pick up) then the five of us would go for the appt and the next day pick up Clay's visa. Depending on the flight and airline we could be flying back home that night or the next day. This last and final step is taking about a month at this time. The end is in sight.

A Call To Action!!!!

We need your help!

***NOT asking for $$ and
kind of long, but PLEASE READ***

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, Matt and I have been pursuing adoption of a little boy from Guatemala. His name is John Clayton and he is 7 months old now. We started this process In February 2007, going through considerable hoops, such as an extensive homestudy, police and FBI background checks and fingerprints, much, much paperwork, lots of documents that had to be notarized, certified at the State level and authenticated at the Guatemalan consulate in Chicago and Atlanta. I don't want to make this too long, because even if I did, it wouldn't convey in writing how long and how many requirements on our part it took to even qualify as adopting parents. The whole process has been long, very stressful and right now is very painful.

We got a referral for a 4 month old baby boy on June 27, 2007. We fell in love instantly, and from that day he was "our son".

We sent a Power of Attorney to Guatemala for an attorney to work on our behalf. Because Guatemala has NO INFRASTRUCTURE to take care of unwanted children, the mothers who chose an adoption relinquish their children to the attorney, who places the child in a private foster care (in most cases excellent care) or private orphanages (also very well run). The attorney then refers the child to an agency in the U.S. who works with prospective adoptive parents (PAPs), like us, and refers the child to them. From then on the foster or orphanage care for the child is paid by the PAPs who accepted their referral until the adoption is finalized.

The process takes many steps: U.S. Embassy issues DNA authorization - the birthmother (birthmom) and the baby have to meet at the Dr's office for a DNA test. A picture of the two of them is taken at that time (remember, this is several months after the birthmom relinquished the baby). The mother is also interviewed at that time by a Guatemalan Family Court social worker who then writes and submits a report concerning whether her relinquishment of her baby is voluntary and not coerced. The test sample is sent to a lab in the U.S. Results are sent back to the Embassy. If DNA testing shows a match, the U.S. Embassy issues a Pre-approval (PA). They took 43 days to issue it for us. Then the case goes to the Guatemala Attorney General's Office (PGN) for their approval of the case. According to Guatemala law, this is supposed to take 3 days. No case has been out of PGN in less than 2 months, some have been stuck there for 6-12 months. They scrutinize everything, and if there is a typo, they kick the file out, it has to get fixed and run through their mill again. Another 2, 3, or 4 months. Right now we are waiting on the social workers report and to enter into PGN and praying we don't get a kick out.




After out of PGN, a new birth certificate with our names as parents has to be issued by the Civil Registry in the place the child was born. Recently, the wait in "our" municipality ranges from 1 week to 4 weeks. Then the baby's passport is issued. U.S. Embassy authorizes a 2nd DNA test on the baby alone (ensuring no baby switching took place), and if the match is positive, visa appointment is scheduled and PAPs can bring their child to the U.S.
Throughout the process, the birthmom has to sign-off the adoption 4 times (the final time is after out of PGN). Some birthmom have changed their mind during that time and taken their children back.



Actually, NOW it gets WORSE.
The situation is very complicated for me to explain in detail here, but you can gain insight by reading the links below.
There are huge political battles within Guatemala. To boil it down - Guatemala wants to shut down Intercountry adoptions. UNICEF is dangling several millions of $$ in front of the lame duck President Berger. He gets the money, if Guatemala gets "Hague compliant", which will effectively shut down adoptions. The President said few days ago, that not even cases in process (like ours) would be grandfathered in after January 1st 2008. So, if we don't get out of PGN very, very soon, we won't make it! Remember, there is NO WELFARE SYSTEM, NO INFRASTRUCTURE in Guatemala today. So what is going to happen to these children? The President didn't say. (More explanation is in the included links below)

We have visited our baby once and will be going for another visit Oct 14-18. The thought of not being able to bring Clay home is more than devastating. It is absolutely unbearable.
I am including a few pictures, so that you can "put his beautiful face to this".

So here is how you can help. Please sign the online petitions and follow the instruction of the Guatemala5000 initiative (http://jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm )
We need to put pressure on the politicians. The Guatemala government is always asking U.S. for money, and the U.S. government should be able to put some pressure on them at least to let in-process cases finish! There is strength in numbers.
I understand, you might feel you don't know enough to put your name on this. I am including links, where you can read more to understand it better.
Also, please don't let the bad media reports influence you. All they do is put out sensationalistic stories that will give them good ratings. Last week's NPR story had a UNICEF rep say that there are no requirements to adopt a baby from Guatemala other than having $25K-$40K. As you can tell from our experience above, he is LYING!!!!!


here are the links to the petitions:

http://www.petitiononline.com/41203gm/petition.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html


Link to the Joint Council on International Children Services with "how you can help" THIS IS THE IMPORTANT ONE TO DO!!!!!!
http://jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm


LInks to "Families without borders" with explanation of UNICEF's stance (very good, especially the second link to the sponsor letter, where it is very well explained why UNICEF is being so harmful):

http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/

http://www.familieswithoutborders.com/FinalCampaignLetter.htm

READ THIS ONE, EXCELLENT INFO!!!!!!!!
Please help us and thousands of others in the same boat to bring our children home! Our children have nowhere else to go, but get stuck in a non-existing welfare system by a dysfunctional and corrupt government!


Thank you for your help. This is the only thing we can do.



Matt and Carolyn













This is not to scare anyone. We are going by faith that we will bring our child home and the actions that President Berger is saying has not been acted on. This is something that can happen and by responding to our call for help you can help us keep this from happening. These are only a few things being put into action. Our agency has asked us to take special consideration of responding to the Guatemala 5000 project if no other. Please help us bring our child home. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable helping us in this manner please pray (even if you do help in this manner) continuously on the days of the Guatemala 5000 and October 1st and January 1st as not everyone and that could be us will have their adoption completed. Thank you for your prayers and support of our journey to bring our son home.

We have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do we have??? We have PA!!!!!!!!!!

Well, y'all, I have been checking for PA everyday this week and while we were at lunch, yes at lunch and nowhere near the computer we got it!! How did we know, you ask? Our agency gets the same email from the US Embassy in Guatemala as we and our attorney does and when I didnt respond right back to her email, Carol called. Matt was sitting next to me and needless to say we were ecstatic, cloud one million and started calling everyone we could think of. When we got home first thing we did was look for the email from the US Embassy that stated we had it and when we found it it was just a simple statement we had it. So simple for something so fantastic and exciting. Now what, you ask? When do you bring your baby home? Well, first we haven't heard we are out of Family Court(FC), yet. Usually you get out of FC before getting PA (well not all the time but sometime) and until we have that we cant enter into PGN. What is FC? FC is the birthmother's homestudy and the report that her social worker will send out and is one of the necessary documents necessary to enter PGN. Next, when will we bring our baby home? Well, we are ALOT closer. We have to go through and get signed out of PGN before we can give any idea of when we will bring our baby home. PGN is affectionately termed the "black hole" of PGN as we never know when we will get out once we get in. Depends on if there are any previos (kick outs or KO). So still the answer to when we dont know when. We are praying and hoping!!!

Please continue to pray that we will be out of PGN by December 31, 2008. We are praying for our miracle and this would be our miracle.

I told that to a co-worker of Matt's today and she said that we should be praying for a miracle of being out of PGN by December 1,2008. That would be so awesome!!!! I really wish that could be the case. Do I dare ask for that miracle? I dont know if I can. I would be heartbroken if God said not yet, or no to that date and then my mind takes over and says it isnt possible. Remember, all those delays in the beginning. Well, I am still not sure if I want to ask that, but when I can spend some time with HIM in that decision I will post here. It would take all of you praying with us for that to happen as alot of things are happening politically in and between Guatemala and the US Govt pertaining to adoptions now in process which includes us. So, please in the next week or less please be praying about the decision to help us bring our son home. Not just our son but everyone's child home that is now in the process and there are thousands.

For all my friends and family and everyone reading this site please be praying about helping us all and we need the prayers for strength to get through it all, the wait, the ups and downs of PGN and everything else.

We go to visit our son again on October 14-18th and in order to afford this we need to fly standby. Matt's benefits will allow us to fly standby and visit once again. Flying standby means that we get a ticket without an assigned seat and then after everyone else has boarded if there are seats available the agent will clear standby passengers in order of priority. Matt works for US Airways Express and we are flying US Airways so all US Airways employees and family will have priority ahead of us. I miss my son terribly and looking forward to it. Please pray that we will have a seat on the trip there as well as trip back as US Airways flies only on Sundays, Tues, and Thurs to Guatemala and if not on the first flight we wont be going. For the trip back we need to be on it as Matt needs to be at work the next night. God is in control and He knows best so please pray with us.

Today is a great day!!!! Now, to get out of FC and into PGN. Thank you all.

What's Happening??????

Alot of people have been waiting on PA including us and last time I wrote they were at a standstill, but as of Monday they have been coming in pretty quickly, well from what I can see on the message boards. We have seen some PA's come in at 35 days and I am hoping it could be us also. Well, that is just a little of what we are hoping for. The sooner the better as we see it. Please continue praying for our miracle being we will exit PGN by Dec 31, 2008, Lord Willing.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Also, Please be praying for all other families as we continue on this rollercoaster ride to bringing our children home.

Matt's Birthday and this................

What is this you ask??? It is the 7 month updates for our son. Inside this update we learned that he is now 17lbs and 28.7 inches long. He isn't wearing his glasses, but since my Dad has told me what he will do for my Birthday present and Matt's, too, we will be able to see our son and visit him once again and at that time we will be able to see him with his glasses and get pictures to post. My Dad is going to pay for the hotel stay in Guatemala. So we have planned to go Oct 14-18.

Now back to Clay. He gave his daddy a really special birthday gift in his pictures. As of his updated pictures he is now............ Sitting up on his own!!!!!!!!! Next month we will see what happens, but for now we are hanging on to the pictures and getting ready for our visit trip.

Eye Specialist Update

We found out today that Clay saw the specialist. This is what was said about the results of that visit. Here is the report from the doctor, he has a desviation of one eye that will be corrected with eyeglass that he is already wearing, he will have another examination in two months to see how he is correcting it. Along with this report we have the actual reports to take to a doctor here to review. I will do this as soon as can get back home as I am in GA for a few weeks. I wish I could see pictures of him in his glasses. It is ok, though, we will probably have those on our next update. As much as he liked my glasses on last visit trip it must be really hard to keep them om him when they are so close. (((SMILE))) I will find out soon enough.

Update

Last Wednesday, Carol returned from Guatemala with updated pictures and and medical plus some pictures that she got herself. They were really cool pics and it felt so good to see our son again. He sure is growing. At 6 months of age he 16lbs 12oz and 28.30 inches long. She did however tell us that she was having him sent to a specialist to check his vision as she is concerned he has a lazy eye or crossed eyes. I never thought that before but is ok. It is nothing major and can be corrected. We will just be glad to get our son home.

We are still waiting on PA. It wouldnt be so bad but there have been no PA's issued in over a week and none today either. I know alot of people waiting so long now and there are fears that PA time will increase another 30 days. I am praying,though, that it remains a rumor and we will have our PA on or before Oct 25th. We are still praying for a miracle and that it could occur sooner as we would really like to be out of PGN by the end of December. Please be praying,not only for us but for all adoptive parents adopting from Guatemala, the foster families and orphanages in Guatemala that have children being adopted in them, elections that will be taking place soon as the whole process of adoptions and whether they continue depends on it all. If you want to learn more about everything going in Guatemala and adoptions please go to www.guatadopt.com for more information. Remember God is in control and miracles do still happen. Thank you for the prayers.

In order to understand what come next it is this. Once we have PA,our attorney will review everything in our dossier(paperwork about us and our ability to be able to care for an infant) and then submit us to PGN. PGN (lovingly called the "Black Hole")is the process that takes place in the Guatemalan court system that will approve our adoption and make our son legally ours. In this process, We will be going thru 2 reviewers and each one can issue a KO (Kick Out)which is basically they find something they dont like about our paperwork and will send to the third review that has to sign the authorization to kick it out and then our attorney will have to get fixed or us if on our side and then when corrected will resubmit and then we start all over again. Once it has been signed off by both reviewers it will once again go to the third reviewer and if he finds nothing wrong will sign paperwork of and we will be considered out of PGN!!!!! This process is taking on average 8 weeks at a time whether it is for a kick out or sign out. We are praying for no KO's. This rarely happens cause sometimes PGN issues a KO just to do it and free up some room on their desk but as we know God is in Control and Clay will come home in HIS timing.

A miracle here would be to get PA before Oct 25th(even a week)and exit PGN before December 31, 2007.

And for what everyone has been waiting for:

We have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a DNA match. Carol emailed us this morning with the results. 99.99%!!!!!! Which is the max result there is. We are REALLY excited. And the day before my birthday, too.

The next step in this process is Pre-Approval (PA). This comes from our government giving us permission to adopt this child and bring him home. Normally, this countdown would begin in just a few days, but the part of the US Embassy in Guatemala has closed the PA office (to anything coming in) until August the 27th which is the day we will begin our countdown to PA. It is a 60 day countdown at this time and day 60 will be October 25th. Based on timelines recently that 60 is more likely going to be a week longer than 60, but since closing to do some catch up work we could be pleasantly surprised. Lord Willing, I would really like the pleasant surprise to occur. Based on our timeline and an avg of everyone elses at this time we are looking at Clay being home in February 2008.

We are at the top of a steep journey to our child and we can see the end but it is still a long ways off. The plans for this wait: to enjoy each other, work on Clay's room, going to see him again in mid-September and go see parts of the country we haven't ever seen and for me to finish the latch hook rug I am working on and to get Clay's life book up to date. Oh yeah, I have also volunteered to act as activities director for our apartment complex.

Well, that is all I have for now and will update occasionally in this process to PA and home forever.

Waiting on DNA Match

Well, things are really going well here. I know that the wait for DNA could be as little as a week and possibly as much as two but am hoping that an email or something will be received on Friday. I know silly and may not happen but just thinking after all the delays it would be a wonderful birthday gift. In the meantime of waiting we are trying to survive the heat (it gets 80 in the apt and wont go down till midnight or later when temp is over 100) and I am working on finishing a Precious Moments Latch Hook Rug for the for the baby's room. I dont know how or where to put it as my plans for decorating the baby's room changed as I let Matt pick out the bedding. That is ok, though. Not everything has to match or I could do a small area that is Precious Moments.

Clay turns 6 months old tomorrow. I have a care package almost ready for him. I will finish it tomorrow and get it in the mail to Carol so she can get it to Clay.

Another thing, as of DNA Match Carol said she will see about getting the foster mother to start calling Clay, Clay as that is not his birth name. He will always know his birth name as I am making it a point of putting it in his Life Book. He will have two special names and will know about them all. He will know the name his birth mom gave him and then he will have the name we are giving him.

Well, that is about all for now. I will write more and as I finish the rug I am working on I may even post it. I dont know yet. Well, Talk later.

Jacob and Emma

Emma soon after coming home


Jacob - This is an older picture but the best one I have downloaded right now.

REALLY Good Day

Our day started out pretty normal for when Matt is at work. I usually stay up till his lunch break at 2am and then go to bed till he gets home sometime between 8:45 and 9:00 am. He stays up for awhile to unwind and when he goes to bed I lay down with him for a couple hours. It is a good way to spend time with him that I wouldn't otherwise get and know once our son comes home will change, so I am relishing these last few months and enjoying him as I know things are going to change.

At 11:11 this morning, the phone rang and it was Carol. We had DNA Authorization and needed payment information. WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! I was so excited I woke Matt up trying to get the info for her. I asked when the DNA Test was to be taken and guess what?? It is tomorrow. Tomorrow we will have DNA. Then waiting till results are to us and to the US Embassy in Guatemala for countdown to Pre-Approval to begin. A great day that no one will forget. Today, would have been my Grandma Holden's b'day today and now also the day we got DNA Authorization for our son. Well, we have been on cloud nine all day, no doubt!!!!!!

While we have been on cloud nine my sister was at the hospital or Dr with Emma her 10 month old child having a CT Scan run and possibly planning surgery to correct the craniostynosis. Please be praying for this really sweet, precious, baby and my sister and her family.

Then on top of that to learn that my youngest nephew had to have two staples in his head last night. He got out of his bath, slipped, fell and busted his head open on the bath tub. He was a very brave from what I have heard. Monday or Tuesday he should get the staples out and on Monday he starts preschool. He is growing up so fast. Well I am going to post both pics and please be praying for both these special little ones.

Our Son at 5 Months

Isn't he a cutie!!!!!