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.