A Great Day!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was wonderful. I woke up to a day to meet friends from our agency and to having our 2nd DNA taken!!! We are now officially waiting for the DNA to be tested and sent to US Embassy and Pink!! As I type I am trying to think of a REALLY cool way to announce our Pink Slip as I want to be different. I have even already gone and bought some Sparkling Grape Juice for celebrating with. Needless to say I am so glad Matt has tomorrow and the next few days off so we can do some decorating and stuff.



Matt and I went to Bandana's yesterday and met up with Kristi and her Aunt Pam and Mary. We had so much fun. We sat at the restaurant for three hours and would have longer if not things for everyone still to do. I think we all talked about everything!!! It was amazing. I have met a number of people from our agency so far. We met Barb on our first visit trip; Cheryl, Jaime, Cheri and Laurie at a get together last year; then Kristi on her way through St Louis to go visit Elli; and then Mary yesterday.

L to R: Me, Kristi, Mary and Kristi's Aunt Pam (if wrong I will correct)

Oh yeah, if you want to see one of the many videos we took on our visit trip in October check out the video listed at the bottom of the page.

I was missing my baby so much and still am and each part of this end process seems like so much longer. I am guessing cause I now know he is legally ours and it seems to be taking forever. I am doing good, though. Anyways, I am going to do some other things and will talk more later on here. Please be praying Angela this weekend as she is waiting Barrios' signature and so hoping it is final signature!!! Please pray for Kim as they are having a hard time dealing with no info from agency. Joanna has been in PGN 7 wks and Kristi as she has been in 6wks!!! I know there are more coming up but dont want to bombard everyone at once. I appreciate the prayers and know they do too!!

Congratulations, Anna, on getting home with Pablo!!!!!!!!!!

We are ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Orange means that we got 2nd DNA authorization today and the DNA test will be done tomorrow. This also gives our attorney authorization for Clay to go to the Embassy Doctor for the physical required to get his visa. The time line currently is seven days from DNA Test to DNA back at US Embassy. Which puts us at February 1st. From DNA at Embassy to Pink (Visa Appt date) is seven days which puts us at February 8th. Then appt at 2 weeks or a little more which puts us at the 22nd or later for pick up. It could be earlier if our Government starts moving quicker but since the new law took effect they have been moving slower.

Either way it doesnt matter. He is coming home and sooner the better, but I will hang on with both hands really tight to remain patient for the last few weeks of this process. I will update more once I get it!!!!!! Please continue to pray for all adoptive parents!!!!!!!! We all need it no matter what part of the process we are in!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Passport!!!!!

We received Clay's passport, yesterday!!!!! We are almost there y'all. It wont be long now. Based on info I have seen the last few days I am figuring we will have Orange tomorrow and DNA taken Friday. Then one week for processing and getting back to US Embassy in Guatemala and one more week to Pink. I am guessing Pink on February 8th and Embassy appt on the 22nd meaning a weekend in Guatemala picking up visa on Monday and the 25th and coming home and in Atlanta on the 26th.

I was hoping for pink around Clay's birthday but any time as fine. He is coming home and it will be soon!!!!!!! I will let you know when or if these estimates are reached on, before or after what I have listed here.

I have also posted pictures as promised. Check below for those:




Dress shoes and work boots to match Daddy's.


Clay's Stroller.


New bodysuits to match other clothing for winter.


My new sweaters.


Mommy bought me some jeans, too.

We have our Birth Certificate!!!!!!!

The last few days have been really cool. We have gotten our stroller and a few more outfits for winter and shoes for embassy appt and also just some really cool ones we found on sale and were just really cute! They look almost exactly like our hiking boots. After shopping today (it was Matt's idea for the shopping trip) I got home to find out that Anna, my friend on pick up trip right now, is having a small crisis. Please be praying that all things go smoothly, tomorrow at the Embassy as they accidentally opened a sealed envelope they weren't supposed to.

During all this, we received word that we have our amended Guatemala City Birth Certificate!!! This is two days sooner than expected!!!!! His birth name is now the same as ours. YIPPEEE!!!!!!
I am so excited!!! It isn't going to be long now!!!!!!!!!! I will post pictures of a sample of what we have purchased in the next day or so.

Please be praying for, Joanna, that she will be getting out soon, she is on the 2nd reviewers desk still as of this morning.

I will write more later, but for now I have more people to tell and baby-proofing and re-arranging, also. Please continue to pray as all adoptive parents need it, right now!!

Updates!!!

This week has been a really good week. We have gotten word that we should have our New Birth Certificate next week. I am so glad cause once you get that things seem to move quicker for awhile to bringing them home. Well, until waiting for 2nd DNA and Pink Slip!! LOL.



Update: Cheryl got out of PGN on friday, January 11th!! Thank you all for praying. I have two more friends should be getting out soon. Please be praying that they do as their time is getting closer. Joanna and Annette. Thank you for praying as we all appreciate it. I am trying to keep this based on date so if forgotten someone please just let me know and I will update.



Last night, Matt and I got a high chair and outfit for Clay. Today, we got more babyproofing stuff and put the letters I made and showed in an earlier post up today in his room. I am going to add a picture of some sort in front of the name and will post that once I decide. I have had fun getting ready for him to come home and even though got a lot left I am getting there. Now I am adding pictures of my favorite outfits, high chair, the letters now on the wall and a picture of the outfits that I would love for you to vote on. The poll is on the right side of the screen and will post the pic of the outfits beneath it for you. The poll ends on the 23rd at 5:30 PM. Please, DO NOT vote more than once as I cant choose and need your help!!!!



Thank you all for your prayers and help with choice of outfits.

Everyone Ready......

Needless to say we have had a great, excellent, amazing couple of days as you can see from yesterday's post. Now, I am going to do some updating, explaining and adding something we have been waiting for.

Update: This is for anyone that hasn't been able to guess what the hidden message in my blog post from yesterday is. We are OUT of PGN!!!!!!!! The good kind. Clay is now officially, legally and in every which way ours!!!! I keep repeating to myself he is coming home next month and I do it over and over and still riding high on Cloud 1 Million!!! Also, yesterday, Anna received her pink slip her appt is January 22nd. Praise God for both answered Prayers!!!!!! What a day for miracles, yesterday!! Today, Elizabeth, another friend got her pink slip and her appt is for the same day as Anna's!!!

Explanation: Explanation of what? Explanation of what comes next. After exiting PGN, our attorney will call the birth mother and get the fourth and final signature. I am guessing this has been done since we are waiting on birth certificate. After the last signature, out attorney goes to the Civil Registrars office of the city our son was born in and pays for and waits for our new Birth Certificate that will have us listed as Clay's parents (will be in birth name till after name change done here). Once we have our Birth Certificate she will get his Guatemalan Passport which he will come home to the United States on. Finally, she will take the necessary documents to the US Embassy who will give us an orange slip authorizing the 2nd DNA to be done and the Embassy Dr appt for Clay. The DNA once taken is sent to Labcorp in North Carolina and once that has been done the results will be overnighted to the US Embassy in Guatemala. Usually within 24 hours of receiving the 2nd DNA a pink slip (used to be pink and mailed , but is now an email) will be emailed to US with our appt date and time on it. Which is on average 1-2 weeks from date of email. That date is the day we go with Clay to the US Embassy for a interview with the person responsible for issuing Visas and then the next afternoon will go back to the Embassy and pick up Clay's passport and sealed paperwork that will be handed to Customs Officer upon going through customs here in the US making Clay a US Citizen. This time frame from out of PGN to Visa Appt is usually 4-6 weeks which is in February!!!! Y'all we are on the homeward stretch of this rollercoaster ride.

NOTE: I was told by a friend today that they couldn't leave a comment and wanted to so I went in and fixed the problem. You no longer have to register for a google account to leave a comment. So, if you were a friend that wanted to post please do!!!

Additional Info: We received an updated medical report this afternoon. He is a doll and grown so much!! He is still 19.5 pounds, but has gotten taller. He is now 30.70 inches tall!!! He is such a cutie if I say so myself and I am now posting those pictures!!That is my additional info.

Excellent News: There is now a Central Authority and an address. Please be praying there has been no info on the registering process or when will resume so everyone can continue there adoption that was begun before Dec 31, 2007!!!!! PRAISE the LORD!!!!!!!!

Prayer Request: I have a two friends that have been waiting on word from PGN for getting out and I would ask that you be praying for them that they receive the news soon!! Cheryl was resubmitted 11/13 or 14 and Annie 11/6. All of your prayers for us are being answered please let it continue.

What is a miracle??

I have been doing alot of soul searching lately as each day goes by and nothing has been heard. Some of that is "What is a miracle?"

"A true miracle is an event in the External world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38)". In answer to my question I found this definition at Christian Answers.net. Then I staRted thinking about miraclEs that God performed in the Bible and then in our every day lives and realized that maybe just maybe he has given us our miracle and it could be just the simple fact that we have a son and not in the timing of coming home. God is great and he is good!! He is wOrthy to be praised and I am doing so even now as I have been doing. Please pray with us all to bring our children home. And for those of yoU reading this and wondering why I would put this here it is for a few reasons. It is one to share something with you That is hidden in this message, to give hope, to remind everyone that people are praying for us all and finally to just Praise God!!!!!

What will tomorrow bring???

Yesterday, was an awesome day. Matt once again had to work late and we didn't get to church, but we did go out on a date for the first time in a long time. We went to Applebees and then to Babies R Us to do some shopping off the clearance racks for next winter and I bought on outfit for this summer. After shopping, we went to see National Treasure:Book of Secrets and really liked it. Finally, before heading home, we stopped at Steak N Shake near the mall for something to drink and got really good service for the first time at a Steak N Shake since coming to St Louis. We had a great time shopping for Clay and spending time just the two of us and dreaming and planning all the things we want to do with Clay when he comes home.
Today, Anna tried calling the USE (U.S. Embassy) back and seeing about her pink appt. Well, all we know is her second 2nd DNA test was delivered to the USE and hopefully and prayerfully, will get her Visa appt for pick up tomorrow.
Anna, during all that was nice enough to call PGN for us. We found out we are out. BUT we don't know if that is for a Kick Out our third or out for good. Carol called later and said that Maria will check with PGN tomorrow and see what is up. Considering we have only been back in 2 weeks this is more than likely a kick out. At the same time God is still in the business of making miracle and we could really be signed out for good. Well, as you can imagine I am really on edge of my seat. I want to be out and believe Laura SOOOOOOOOO badly that we are but scared to death she has made a mistake and we are kicked out and it will be a long time before re-entered. Please, God, let this be our OUT!!!!!!!
Well, y'all we will know tomorrow and until then my mind and body and soul are going haywire and waiting is not easy!!!! Please let this roller coaster be nearing it's home base and be over. Well, that is all for tonight. Please be praying for us all.

Please be praying for all adoptive parents we need it!!!

So much is going on. I am working to rearrange our apartment and getting everything ready for the nursery and bringing our baby home. Our baby is going to be crawling and pulling up on everything. He may even be walking and I am trying to make sure the apartment is baby-proofed. Tomorrow, I gotta go get some ink for the printer to print photos and thank you cards.
We are really struggling here but we are positive.

Anna found out today that the US Embassy has lost her 2nd DNA and they told her until it is resent they cannot issue a pink slip. After some phone calls her DNA test is on its way back to the US Embassy, again. It should be there Tuesday. Please be praying that the US Embassy finds the first test results and Pink is issued. Waiting a month for Pink is ridiculuos. She is hurting so bad. Please praying for her and her family as her son should be coming home this week instead of everything going wrong and coming at a later day. She needs your prayers!!!! Please do so.

Matt and I met another couple on our first visit trip that are adopting their second child from Guatemala and received word today they are out of PGN. Their birth certificate is coming from Mixco and alot of families are experiencing difficulties getting the amended certificate. Please be praying theirs comes sooner than later.

I read a lot of message boards and today things went crazy. The new laws took effect January 1st and no one knows what is going on. Then as cases started to be re-submitted and files going into PGN for the first time attornies were turned away saying that until the cases are registered with the Central Authority they can't accept them. At this time, there is no central authority and there is only thirty days to register cases. Please be praying that everything works out cause all in process cases have to be registered in order to be in process. Our case is in PGN and has been since December 21st and I am so thankful becuase for those cases in PGN they will be processed like always right now. Please pray that we get out this time and for everyone having to wait on the Guatemalan government to get the Central Authority up and running. Everyone needs our prayers along with the country and their children.

I am hoping I will have an update on our case soon and as soon as I do I will be posting here. Please stay tuned for further details.