Our Rollercoaster Ride

Clay's Fourth Birthday Celebration!!!!

2011-02-15T21:10:00.001-08:00

My BIG Birthday Gift

2011-02-11T17:03:00.000-08:00

Clay's 4th birthday is Monday, February 14th and he got his gift from us early. School is keeping me busy and I really wanted to see him get his gift. We had been paying on this for a long time and waiting for this birthday. It was installed Thursday so would have it for the celebration of his birthday,which he has been telling me what he wanted. He wanted it at the place where the slide and swing was(where we bought this gift from) and he wanted a Thomas Cake and a pinata. Well, he got it all. We are having it at home with family and friends invited. He wants s'mores and Matt and I are going to either put it in the plans for tomorrow night or Sunday before all go home, over a bonfire. I am going to make and decorate the cake, get the pinata ready and then hoping Linda can still help us get the party set up!!! I will post more pics after the party and my Chem exam. After coming in from getting his big gift, Clay said, "I love my big ol' Gift!!!"

Clay's expression as he saw his playset for the first time!!!!

My "big ol' gift"

Various Photos from 2010

2011-02-11T16:55:00.001-08:00

Our Year

2010-12-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

Our year has been very, very difficult. On April 27th, circumstances occured that took me in to the pits of depression and fear and took a while to come out of it. God was good. He lifted me up and I was able to continue with the plans that had already began to be put in place. Then a little over a month ago it was cleared up.
June 2010, I started back to college. This time I am going for my BSN. I am hoping a praying to get in to the School of Nursing in August 2011.
October 28th, Clay pitched a temper tantrum in the bathroom at the Waffle House in Lagrange GA and the workers there called the police, who in turn called DFCS and they came out to investigate. The lies told that night to get DFCS and the police there were horrendous for someone they don't know. The social worker tried to be nice but she insulted us on many occasions. I dont know if it was just her being totally clueless about adoption or what but she really needs to be trained in how to word her questions. We were asked if our adoption was legal? and told she would need proof it was. She then asked if we had any kids? Kids, well I wanted so bad to ask her if we didn't have any kids she wouldn't be there and if Clay was a ghost. I didn't. I kept my cool!! Proof was simple I showed her his MO birth certificate. If she had wanted anything else I was going to give her our attorney's name in MO and she could talk to him. The question she meant with if we had any kids was if we had any biological children and I told the truth there. It is over of course nothing was found to indicate anything and his school attested to that also. Needless to say we will not sit foot in any Waffle House again.
Matt's back is not healing as fast we thought it would and he is still on a muscle relaxer and nerve medication. It is normal the doctor said because it could take up to two years for the nerves to heal and the muscles can take a long time to that was messed with during surgery. He is able to lift Clay for now, but as he keeps growing that will be curtailed to as eventually the weight limit will get to much. Other than Clay no bending, lifting, twisting again. Matt still suffers pain but so much less than before and he has the feeling back in his legs.
Clay is a Daddy's boy!!!! Daddy has to do everything for him Mommy wont work. I think the only time he really wants me is when I first get home from school and when he gets hurt or sick or wants something to eat. That is ok. He is learning from his Daddy how to be a man and how he is to treat Mommy and other girls.
On the fun side of things, Clay saw and played in the Atlantic Ocean in Florida in June for the first time. Later in the year we went to Savannah for a short trip and he enjoyed climbing the lighthouse on Tybee Island with his Daddy and playing in the ocean again before heading home. He even got to see the boats on the Riverwalk.
October we went Orlando for the 1st Annual Guatfest and had a blast. All he wanted to do was swim and play in the pool. At the pool party on the last night, He even tried to kiss a girl.
I have finished the year with one B in Microbiology and A's in statistics, chemistry 1, and lab. Thus having a 3.5 GPA. Nursing entrance exam was passed with an 89.57 overall.
Thanksgiving was spent at my parents house.
Last Saturday, December 11 we went to the parade and then to Westville. Clay's favorite part of that day was playing around a tree downtown and meeting Father Christmas at Westville and eating ginger bread and drinking apple cider.
December 12th we were back at my parents for Jacob's birthday party.
Yesterday was spent with a friend of Matt's we havent seen since leaving St Louis.
Our plans for this week is busy!!! I have to go grocery shopping for Christmas, a few last minute gifts and start getting things ready for Christmas lunch. Wednesday up to my parents to celebrate my neice Maggie's 1st birthday and then Thursday is cooking for our Christmas lunch here the stuff I can. Friday, back to my parents for Christmas Eve and then back here for Christmas Day. Our friends, Linda and Shaun, will be coming for lunch and then we are hoping to take Clay to Fantasy in Lights that evening.
New traditions will begin, continuation of some and hoping to have a great rest of the year. If you dont hear from me again till next Year have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Catch Up Time!!!!

2010-04-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!! Time has passed in a hurry. In September, we were still in Alabama and praying we could move home to Georgia or at least REALLY close to there. Anything would be better than being on call 24/7 365 days a year. It happened!! On October 15th, we moved to Georgia within an hour and half of our home. October 20th, Matt started as a contractor working at Robins Air Force Base. At this job we had some really awesome insurance including disability insurance. It was a provision of God as over the following months it has been an awesome benefit.

End of October we moved into a house which was located in an awesome neighborhood, big backyard and a great landlord. Halloween, we found out our neighborhood was the main area for trick or treaters. Instead of taking Clay trick or treating we went to the bowling alley and Clay loved it!!!!!

November was Thanksgiving and we were able to spend it with family in AL. Right after Thanksgiving, Clay began 2 year preschool twice a week and Clay was just great from day one. He loved his teachers and going to school.

December was spent in AL once again and it was a great day. Clay got Thomas Train laptop, Camera and some extra tracks for his train set. He thought it was the best and so did Matt and I watching him open his gifts and having fun with his cousins. Right before Christmas, Beverly, had a baby girl. She was six weeks early due to pre eclampsia causing seizures. Beverly was able to go home Christmas Day and Maggie was home a couple weeks later.

January was spent getting into a routine and making this area home. Matt's back pain was escalating with the new job and his legs were going numb. We scheduled Epidurals and other treatments as prescribed and nothing was helping.

February 5th, Matt was in so much pain he had to call out for the day and once home his back spasmed and sent him to the ground. Thank God it wasn't at work as he would have had a 70ft fall or gotten stuck in a fuel tank. Dr Easom took him out of work for time being and we were referred to a surgeon, Dr Daxes M. Banit.

During this time, Clay became very clingy to his Daddy and this became the forerunner of what is occuring now. March 11th, Clay was taken to my sisters where he stayed until surgery on Matt's back was over and he was off the walker and steady on his feet. Surgery was done March 15th. My parents came and stayed with me while he was in surgery and until he was brought to his room. I cannot go into details here as the emotions, stress and everything else associated with the surgery was more than anything ever gone through before. To back up, though. Disability insurance came thru end of February and March 8th, Matt was laid off due to the contract being lost. We had no choice, but to move home to survive as COBRA had to be gotten before surgery and Disability was not enough to pay rent and mortgage and live. So March 8th, we moved home permanently.

March 21st, Alice and Russell along with Beverly, Maggie and Emma brought Clay home as Matt was not quite ready to drive long distances. Beverly still has seizures and Maggie is so tiny. Emma has grown so much and more social, also. Since coming home to the restrictions Matt is under Clay is adjusting to them but whenever he gets angry or told no it is taken out on me. Nighttime as long Matt will sit down, hold him, and rock him he will go to bed. He still is not sleeping thru the night but at least he sleeps.

It is now over two weeks post op and Matt is doing well. During Pre - Op, the EKG found something and as of two weeks post - op, he has been scheduled an echocardiogram for Monday and Tuesday is first post-op visit with Dr Banit. Stitches will be removed and we will start scheduled physical therapy for a month or two, twice a week. In total recovery will take 6 months.

I don't know why God has done in such a short time what he has, but I dont need to know. We went to Macon and found doctors that listened to Matt and found out what was wrong. We had a surgeon that God used to fix Matt's back and then he sent us home permanently. We had a church we were going to every time we were in town and as of last Sunday we are going all the time. They stepped up after Matt's surgery and gave us support in so many ways, even though, they did not know us well and we are not members. I have never seen this type support in church before and so now we are in an awesome place. Right were God wants us!!!!!!!! We are home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, continue to pray as God works in our lives and leads us to what is coming next!!!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!

I will post pictures, soon!!!!!

A Day Out with Thomas 2009

2009-09-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Clay with Thomas after our train ride

Clay on the train ride

Clay as the train begins to move

Clay watching and waiting to board Thomas

Clay playing with Percy at the Imagination Station

Clay with Daddy after getting his Thomas tattoo

Clay's Thomas tattoo

Clay and Daddy before leaving for David's birthday and water fight

Clay and Daddy playing in cabinet. Clay begged Daddy to play so he did.

Clay taken at some point this week

Water Fight 2009

2009-09-21T10:43:00.001-07:00

WOW!!!

2009-09-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!!! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. August was just day after day of wondering if Matt would be home to spend any time with Clay and I. We have gotten to the point where days seem to disappear one in to the other here. His job has turned into our prison. This constantly being on call is for people that have no family or anyone in their lives. We never know when the phone will ring or if it will. We have to stay within a certain radius of the airport in case it rings. We can't go anywhere where we spend money to do anything like a movie or space center or anything else cause the phone could ring after we pay and before even half way through and then we just wasted alot of money cause a plane broke down. Our only outings unless Matt demands time off is out to eat and to the store. It isn't good for any of us. HOWEVER, God is working. We have a new job offer contingent on drug test and security background check. The drug test has been completed and fine which we knew and security should be, too. We have been told we should know something by tomorrow. HOME!!!!!!!!!!

I am still trusting John 16:33 and Romans 8:28.

Well, we had to go home for the weekend of my birthday so we could do some things and then on the 29th!!! We celebrated my 11 year old nephews birthday and we couldn't miss it. It was the day of the annual water fight!!! Yep, you got me right. Every year we can make it there is a water fight on David's birthday. This year, Clay took part. He did well. His Daddy accidentally got him and at first was about to get upset then just let it go and started trying to get everyone else. He is such a cutie. After the water fight, he started playing in the mud for the first time. Alice got those pics as I didn't get there in time. I will have to get them and post on here.

For the month of September, I got sick with the flu, from where I have no clue and then Matt got it. Just thank God Clay didn't. Even through all that Matt had to be on call. He only had one or two calls. After all the sickness was over we took off Saturday the 12th and took Clay the only place we have been able to take him all summer and that was to see his favorite, Thomas the Train. OMG! We got up early and he kept wanting to watch Thomas. I kept telling him we were going to see him but I dont think he really understood until we got to Nashville, TN and we were walking to the main gate and I pointed out Thomas as he was leaving to take kids on their ride. He saw him and from that point on he was only interested in Thomas. Since then there are two questions always asked. We go to pick Daddy up or take him to work sometime and he will see where and start asking "go plane again?" " Eventually, we will" the other, "go see Thomas" "We will next time he comes right now he is busy at Island of Sodor doing stuff for Sir Topham Hatt" so now whenever we aren't going to see Thomas he asks "Thomas at Sodor" "Yes" Needless, to say you now know what he is doing. Since then it is just work. We only took a few hours off that day. We get back to AL and he is back at work.

Please be praying that the news we hear this week is good!!! I will be posting water fight videos and Thomas pics soon. My pics with Thomas aren't great but only ones have till can order the really good ones.

Time has flown by and here goes..

2009-07-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Where did the time go? I really don't know. May went by in a hurry and we got to go to my parents once. It isn't easy being on call 24/7. We have to remain within 20 minutes of the airport and since July 4th Matt has been getting close to 60 hours a week and 40 of them before Wednesday. It isnt easy having Matt come home and turn around and leave for another 10 - 12 hours or more at times. When we came here we were told that we could work our own hours as along as 40 in and all Ground eqpt up and running, answer all calls for planes during the days and then one weekend a month because there are three people to cover nights and weekends besides Matt. That all changed when we got here. The people on call other than one decided they didn't want to do it any more and so Matt is now working 24/7 except when we force the issue which we have done the two weekends before this and will continue to do so. Matt and I had finally found a place away from our home that we could have made home. We can't do that here, though, because we have no freedom. I have no freedom. Matt can't stay and take care of Clay to give me time because he could get a call to leave and have to go and we can't afford to hire a babysitter to stay with them and it wouldn't be right to do so. We go some where we have to take two vehicles in case Matt has to leave. He can't get time to himself outside of work cause he wants time with us too and he can't have both being on call. Church is a time we just turn phone off and they can wait they dont like it, oh well. So are we happy here no!!! Could we have been, yes!! We have taken this to our manager and boss and he don't care he has basically made it clear he would rather have the ones doing nothing at work than the one doing all the work. Once again we are looking for a job and we have now learned that if people say your their friends it isn't always the case sometimes they are just keeping you as that to use you. You have to be careful what you tell people and get to know people REALLY well before trusting them. We have REAL friends but we have learned to be careful as to who they are.

We are trying to stay content and calm for Clay. He is ok here he enjoys the apartment and space and time in the pool. He has no fear of the pool or water which is good in ways but can make it dangerous at the same time so I have to be very vigilant. I am glad he isnt afraid of it as will be easier to teach him to swim and that is a necessity whether we have a pool or not. June was Father's Day and when Clay got his Bubble blowing lawn mower from Aunt Deborah (It was a present for Christmas and he found it plus Deborah didnt want to wait to give it to him). July we went and visited some friends I met on here that adopted their child from Guatemala as well. At this time we realized Clay loves to fly and keeps asking when we are going to do so again.

We are hoping to get to travel back to St Louis soon to see all our friends there!!!! I need to do some shopping for Clay for winter clothes while there as my favorite stores are there. We were hoping to be able to take some more of our vacation time and go to San Diego but it doesn't look like it will happen as the airplanes come first!!!! If an emergency occured while Matt was working on a plane he would have to quit to leave to come home and we know that from a minor incident. So praying nothing major ever occurs we need the job we have here until we can find another. That is the way things are here. They will get better. God said we will have troubles but He has overcome them (John 16:33) and we know that all will work out God promised that in Romans 8:28. We are going to be ok no matter what. Well I know that what everyone really wants to see is the pictures and videos so here ya go..........

Dentist Visits and Mother's Day!!

2009-05-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Weird title and combination, I know. Well alot has been going on since my last post. Matt and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary and it was amazing. We went to TGI Fridays and split their vanilla bean cheesecake which we both enjoy. We received word that we got the contract at Matt's job and we moved into a bigger apartment. Clay is having to re-adjust to his own room but is going well!!! Friday, May 8th, Clay had to have a filling and caps on his two front teeth. I followed the advice I received for dental visits and now wish I had taken him when he came home as this could have been avoided and two fillings instead, but is all ok. He was such a trooper. I explained everything I could to him so as not to be afraid and when he came out he was a little whiny but fine. He was back to 100% after his nap and would never know they haven't always been there. I am so proud of my boy!!!!!! He is growing up so quickly.

Mother's Day started out with a really great comment from Matt on my Myspace page and Clay telling me Happy Mother's Day (his Daddy having him repeat it) and that was really cool. We then went to my Mom and Dad's for a few hours. Her birthday is today!!!Oh yeah I got a raincheck for a nice dinner on payday! I get to choose. We haven't been to Red Lobster in awhile and I think that is where we will go not 100% sure yet though.

Today, I had to go to the dentist and underwent a root canal. Yikes, but no complaints as no pain. First time in almost a year, too.

Clay is something else. We have to watch him really close. He is tall enough and knows how to lock and unlock the dead bolt on the front door and here it has a lever handle so we had to buy a new type of lock. What a pain to install!!! The only thing I have to say there is Thank you Lord they exist. For now, he can't go out the front door without us being right there. The only time he gets cranky is when he is tired and then he will sometimes pitch a tantrum. Very rare is it when he has enough sleep. It does occur, though, but not to bad. He has started a love for motorcycles and the one for his train continues. He has a really big vocabulary, too. He can say Pterodactyl and when I am reading him that book he will point and tell me what it is and every other animal to. He has two favorite books right, now. Two runner ups, also. His favorites are "Cookies Week" by Cindy Ward and Tommy DePaola and "My Creation Bible" by Ken Ham. When I bought the Ken Ham book I thought at this age he would only love it for the pictures and I did because it is a board book, but I was wrong he likes to hear it read, too. That surprised me as I figured that would be something older kids would really like. The runner ups are Dr. Seuss ABC's and Elmo's favorite words or something like that. He loves to wear Daddy's shoes and walk in them. We have to look for Daddy's shoes when time to go somewhere. The only thing we are having to learn is how to deal with him hitting us for no reason with something as hard as he can in the head. Time Outs are the main thing right now and I was thinking was really working until he hit me in the head, today. Then not ten minutes later he comes over climbs in my arms gives me a kiss and a hug. What a sweetie we have. Yesterday had me really just thankful to God and Clay's birthmom and Veronica. Veronica was as much his mom that first year as anyone cause she is the one that cared for him that whole time and I know she misses him dearly. Please continue to pray for them.

The doctor continues to tell us that all we are doing with therapy is prolonging him being able to continue working in his present job. Once it is over that is going to start declining and sooner than later he will have no other choice to have another occupation. Needless to say, I am looking for a full-time permanent job making as much or more than he does right now. I am an accountant and until I stopped work and started taking care of my family had ten years experience. My employment gap is the only thing right now I can see that is keeping me from that position. Please pray I can find a job. If I cannot find a job making more than Matt then I need a job in GA so that we can get Matt back in school. The plan is for me to go back to work and Matt to stay home with Clay and go full time to school. He is going to go after a Civil Engineering degreee. Once he is finished with school then he will go back to work and I will stay home.

We are going to start researching our options for another child as soon as we can get to San Diego to talk to Carol. We would like to bring home a baby girl this time, Lord Willing. Only God knows. He will let us know when the time is right. I appreciate all your prayers and will keep you updated. Your prayers have brought us this far and will continue to carry us to the end of our journey here on earth. Praise The Lord for all of you that care about us and pray for us so diligently.

I will try to post pictures soon.

Video: The Sequel

2009-04-28T05:14:00.000-07:00

This is the sequel to the previous video in the back of Daddy's truck. This is Clay repeating the Pledge word for word after me. I made a mistake when saying it one word at a time and am sorry. When I get a chance I will correct. This is the only time to make this mistake as there is no print out to read it off of and it came directly from memory. so here it goes. The Pledge of Allegiance by a two year old who was getting near the end of wanting to work at learning time. Can't you tell, he is getting distracted. This was the last video for the day as I don't push since he is so young and I just want it to be fun not work.

Video

2009-04-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

I will post more later but this will do for now. Hope you enjoy it. This is Clay in the back of his Daddy's truck. He thinks it is fun to play there and will pitch a fit if can't. We even have to tell the truck goodnight sometimes to get him to go upstairs to bed. It is cute!!!

Let's Play Catch Up!!!!!!

2009-04-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

On April 9th, Mary and Jennifer met Clay and I at a mall here in Huntsville and we spent a few hours together. My schedule was a little off kilter and my camera got left at home so Mary has promised to post pictures soon. Once she does, I will see what I can do. Clay and Jennifer had fun playing in the fountain and even now I will hear him start calling for Jennifer.

April 10th, Matt and I on the way to WalMart found out we were under a tornado warning. Matt being a storm tracker in the past as we were driving into the parking lot said that a cloud looked like a wall cloud and said to hurry in the store once we parked. I was the last one in as small swimming pools went flying. Matt and Clay were in front of me. We spent the next few minutes with everyone in the store in the middle. We found out later that it hit 6 miles south of us. God once again watching out for us. We continued to shop and Matt bought Clay his first bicycle and a Thomas the Train helmet.

We spent the day before Easter in Gadsden with Becky getting Clay his Easter outfit and lunch. We then went to Oxford. Clay got to dye easter eggs with David, Katy and Jacob. We had a great Easter and Clay enjoyed hunting easter eggs with Daddy and the other kids.

Since then we have found out that Matt's job is permanent and the contract was signed. We have found us a bigger apartment and will be moving in very soon. I am looking forward to that.

Matt was told at his last therapy appointment for his back that treatment will not be able to work as long as he is doing the type job he has. With that news comes the fact that his work load is going to increase and with other things going on he could end up having to be working and on call combined 24/7 /365 which goes totally against what we were told when we were hired. Life is not what we thought it would be. May God intervene and not let this happen or Clay, Matt and I will be miserable. Family is the most important to us but living is a necessity and so the job has to be kept until I can find one and get him in school so that I can keep his back from completely going out!! It is hard for me to find a job. I applied for a job at home which I was totally, completely qualified for and was told I was the only one that applied that had those qualifications. I called to see about the status of the interview and was told that they had reopened the job and was then told they found someone else. I guess with an almost 5 year gap it will take a very long time for me to find a job if I ever do. If not, I do know this. God will provide and Jeremiah 29:11 will once again be proven in our life.

Tuesday will be our 5th Anniversary and I am so looking forward to that day. The three of us together for another special occasion. Well, this is all we have for now and now I will attempt to upload pictures and videos for y'all to enjoy.

Technical Difficulities

2009-04-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Due to technical difficulties I have not been able to update. Please hang in there and as soon as I can get more time at Books - A - Million, I will post an update for this month with pictures and hopefully at least one video. Sorry about the long delay.

Tennessee Aquarium

2009-03-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been pretty difficult here as every day the apartment here seems to grow smaller and the contract for our job here is never guaranteed making it more and more important to keep a place where we are month to month as the contract could end at any time. We have been under alot of stress here. In order to survive longer in this time we go home or take mini vacations on weekends. Matt works 4 ten hour shifts so we have three day weekends. The last weekend in February we went to the TN Aquarium and stayed a night with a really great friend from my church where I grew up. We got to meet her family and we loved it. Clay had a lot of fun playing with her nephews especially the youngest. For the first time I watched Clay really play with a child playing chase and just having fun instead of playing at something while the other child did too but not the same thing. There is nothing here like there is in Columbus. We miss My Gym where Clay was able to play with other kids. Please everyone that reads my blog be praying that we hear something about this job soon and whatever it is we have other options in place if we lose the contract. We also need prayers on how to get Matt back in school as we need something better for our family for different reason. Here are photos from our trip to Tennessee. We had fun watching the fish and sharks and all other fish and animals at the aquarium. Clay loved the turtles most and loved watching them. I let him try to pet a sting ray since the stinger was removed at the aquarium and I am the only one that got close enough. Clay had more fun watching them and playing in the water.

Oh yeah, Clay learned to unlock the deadbolt the other day and now can open the front door. Well, for now, I have it fixed so he can't by putting a door knob cover on it. Our child learns everything quickly and makes it known in the most unexpected and sometime heart stopping moments.

Clay's Second Birthday and more!!

2009-02-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

I am going to start with Clay's second birthday and then I will play catch up.
Saturday, February 14, 2009, was Clay's second birthday. It is also the first actual birthday we were able to be with him and I wanted it special. We had it that way to as I planned it for Chuck E. Cheese. We had his party at 2 o clock and in attendance was Mommy and Daddy, MeMe and PawPaw, Aunt Alice and Uncle Russell with David, Katy and Jacob, Aunt Deborah, Aunt Becky(Mommy's friend since college), Shauna (Aunt Alice's best friend) and Phillip.e rere were more people we would have loved to come but because of short notice wasn't possible. I got my hair cut before my party and I was really good. I didn't cry very much at all, because mommy let me have a sucker and a plane. I looked so grown up after the hair cut mommy said I looked like a big boy and she was sad cause I was growing up so fast but happy to cause I was going to have a fun day. I had a Handy Manny birthday cake which did a good job traveling to Aunt Becky's in Douglasville, GA from Decatur, AL. I got to participate in a live show with Chuck E Cheese and for the first time I wasnt afraid of a character in costume, in fact I even kissed him on the nose. I had fun eating pizza and cake and opening presents which mommy had to help me with while Daddy took pictures and Aunt Becky videotaped it. I got some really cool stuff, though, mommy and daddy are waiting till we get in a place with a fence before getting me my big gift as with all the cool stuff I got I have taken over the whole living room where we are now. I got a Laugh and Learn Puppy, A Mega Blocks Piano and a cool Auburn Jersey and Thomas the Train Shirt, I got a choo choo train and Thomas the Train shirt and pants and a dyno truck(two of them), A Laugh and Learn Spin and Bounce Pony that interacts with the TV and Blocks and extra pieces to my GeoTrax Train set. I had fun playing on the rides too. What a busy Day I had now back to Mommy to talk about other stuff. Oh Yeah if I left anyone out about the stuff I got I am sorry I love it all!!!!!!

I am back now and running out of time cause I need to be back home before naptime is over. We have been in Huntsville since December 19th and we still haven't found anything out about the contract. The rumors coming from Atlanta aren't good. We are holding on to the hope it is just that rumors and not true. We do have options though that we hadn't had in December so that is good news. Me, I am getting really frustrated with our living arrangements but with rumors being what they are glad it is the decision we made cause we can go home if they are true and not have to be concerned with a lease. I am glad to have a job and we are grateful we have had one it is better than the alternative. We have alot of plans and hoping to get in two flights (if possible) before the contract ends if it does. If we are able to we will be going to San Diego to talk to Carol about our options for another adoption and see Mary and Anna. We wanted to go this weekend as Friday is our First GOTCHA Day. We however are still waiting on our flight benefits. Then back to St Louis to see Kim and Anne(a friend of ours that lived next door there). So there it is folks. Out loud we are going to start the research officially for another child. We want to bring home a little girl but whatever God blesses us with will be fine with us. Depending on our job will depend on when our research becomes action or if ever will. Well, I want to write more but my time has run out and I must go. Can you believe it has been almost a year since we arrived at the La Casa Grande in Guatemala City and our little boy was given to us for the final time. I am happy but I know that Saturday and then again Friday will be really tough days for Veronica and them as they miss him dearly. I am so hoping I can get some things to send to them soon. Special things. Please be praying I can as it will take a lot of computer work and getting information and stuff to do so. Be praying for them as I know they are hurting. Well, God Bless and take care until next time.

Christmas and the New Year!!

2009-01-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

Well folks it is now 2009 and our first year as a family is quickly ending and will begin to work on the second and the rest of our lives.

Christmas was bittersweet and almost perfect. In my dreams, we were at home in GA for Christmas but in reality we were in a new location beginning a new job and in a small place until can find something we like that is bigger. Other than that Christmas was perfect. We put our tree up the week before and due to Clay being amazed and so curious about a tree being inside it just included the lights. Christmas Eve we spent as a family. We ate out at Applebee's and then when we got home Clay got a bath and in his nightclothes and then it was time for the Christmas story, hot chocolate and putting the star on the tree. Once Clay was in bed, Matt and I began wrapping gifts and getting them under the tree. It took quite awhile. We were going to put Clay's Train Set together but decided that would wait till after Christmas as we were leaving to go to MeMe and PawPaws after opening presents. So santa brought Handy Manny and Elmo Live! Everything else was wrapped and under the tree. We then took Elmo, Handy Manny and his new truck when we had all our Christmas unwrapped and went to meme and pawpaws. I have Clay on video opening his gifts and seeing the tree for the first time but until we locate the video camera (it is either left at house in GA) or worst case scenario someone took it and then I will be really sad as this is my baby's first Christmas at home. So as soon as I locate it I will upload the video.

The Sunday after Christmas we put Clay's train together after taking the tree down and since then the train and Elmo have been the only toys to get his attention. I wouldn't be surprised as much as Clay loves trains that he would become and train engineer when older.

New Years was the three of us at the apartment here playing with him and just spending time together as a family. Now as long as all works out here our flight benefits begin next week and we are planning to spend our First Gotcha Day in San Diego, CA. There we are going to meet up with Carol and hand deliver our yearly update and talk options of a possible second adoption. We are in the research phase right now and we need to research options and figure things out. We will also be meeting up with Mary and Anna and possibly a day at Disney Land or so. If all works out this will occur the weekend after Clay's 2nd Birthday.

Now for what you have all been waiting for............

The following pictures were taken at MeMe and PawPaw's house. MeMe got all us boys and Auburn baseball cap like PawPaws and here is our picture with our caps and PawPaw. My cap is a really small replica of PawPaw's and I loved having the pictures taken. Left to right: My cousin Jacob, Me, My cousin David and of course in the middle PawPaw.

One Year Ago

2008-12-18T21:48:00.000-08:00

This time last year, Clay was still in Guatemala and Matt and I were at home celebrating my grandmother's 90th birthday. On February 8, 2008, my grandmother went to be with the Lord. There is no more sadness, pain, or tears there and I am glad. Once again she is able to do the things she did when she was young and once again she has regained her memory in full. I have created a video of when she was young and then again in the last couple years before she went Home. My grandmother was someone you would have loved to meet and someone I wanted my son to know, also. She was really special and I loved her dearly.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

How Time Flies.....

2008-12-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

Time has flown and I had not realized it has been quite some time since I posted anything at all. I am going to do an update now and as things get a bit more certain will post pictures. November flew by. Thanksgiving Day everyone was together for the first time since our family trip to Disney World. It was nice to see everyone. My oldest and youngest niece and oldest nephew. Emma is REALLY shy and it didn't help her not seeing any of us in 6 months. I am hoping when she and my sister come back in January for Alice's (another sister) wedding that maybe then she will get to know us better. Clay tried to get her to play with him but still no go. Maybe next time. Clay was extremely exhausted by evening so we went home earlier than planned but it was a great day. On the way home a deer decided that our car was a good place to head so he ran right into the side of us. The car nor the deer were hurt. Clay didn't even wake up when it happened.

On the way back to Albuquerque, my sister and her family were in a really bad accident in Wichita Falls, TX. It was a miracle no one was major, seriously hurt. They hit a semi and then a guard rail at 50-55 miles an hour. My sister was hurt worse with her femur really badly bruised and requiring 6 weeks of physical therapy. Everyone else except for Emma and her daddy had minor whiplash and one person a mild concussion. Thank God all were fine.

We learned last week we have a job in Huntsville, AL. Praise God!!!! Starting the next day after learning of the the job Matt came down with a stomach virus which by Friday he was getting better and I caught it. We are all better now. Clay has a cold but never came down with the virus as of yet so once again very thankful that Clay didn't get it.

We learned today that the package from HR to where the job is didn't come in on Friday as expected and that was the reason for hearing nothing about getting the drug test, background check, etc scheduled so we can start work soon. They were hoping to get it today and set the test up VERY soon. It would be extremely nice if we could have one pay check before Christmas!

I believe I have covered it all!!!! If not I will when I sign on again. With pictures too.

Clay has started doing a lot more. He is climbing on everything now. He tells us what he wants to drink instead of just drink and will even climb in his high chair and say eat when hungry. He is talking in 2-3 word sentences for certain things and is remembering things that he may have heard only once before and even a few days before. I dont know when alot of this happened. Like I can't just pinpoint a day it just started and then one day I noticed in the middle of a conversation. He tries hard to put his own clothes on and if got all the time in the world let him try. I know he needs to learn and he is a determined and somewhat independent little boy who wants to do it himself so when I can I let him. He is a Daddy's boy for sure and I love watching them together and then it is the sweetest thing when he wants his Daddy and his Daddy isnt in the room he will look at me and say "my Daddy?" Or run down the hall calling for him in the same way. Ok I will definitely sign off now and will update again soon.

October - Ups and Downs and all Arounds

2008-10-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

The weather here in GA has gone from warm to cold at night and really nice during the day. This month has been really busy. Matt is looking for a new job and we have a really good interview set up for Monday that I am hoping and so is Matt that we would get. It would pay well (what we made in St Louis when first moved) and the biggest benefit for us is it means we are allowed to stay home in GA.

Clay has begun to copy what we say more and pick up words clearly we didn't even know he could say. He has used quite a few two word sentences and I have heard a couple three word sentences. The first three word sentence came when we went to sign him up for classes at My Gym. He remembered it from the free trial class and when we left he wanted to stay and play and boy did our little one pitch a tantrum at leaving. The next time we went we got there to early (even for the workers) for free play so rode around a little before heading back to give them time to arrive and open. From the time we left till we got back it was "I wanna play" from the back seat loud and clear. We got back and went in for free play and he loved it. All the climbing and sliding and balls made his day. The hardest part is leaving!! He is getting better, though. His first class was the two days later and he had tons of fun there too. I even have some pics. The best is taken on his favorite thing at class time.

Clay loves going to MeMe and PawPaws. We have done that at least once a month since getting home and this month twice. Since he knows we can and will go regularly he is constantly every day asking for his MeMe and PawPaw and Aunt Deborah and Jacob!! The first time this month we went for Katy's birthday. Clay loved helping her get her gifts. The last time was, today. All this week he asked constantly and by that I mean numerous times throughout the day. Then well this morning that changed. We were getting ready to leave and we heard " I want PawPaw", " I want Deborah", "I want Jacob" and " I want MeMe". Can you tell who he wants to see?? His first Halloween and it was hectic. We got there and once Alice and the kids (Jacob included, of course) came in it was hectic. Jacob and Jacob's Friend, Philip, was dressed as Spiderman and Iron man respectively and came in with their masks on and when they came in Clay just sat there staring with eyes wide. Then Alice and Shauna (Phillips Mom) came in and they were dressed as witches and that did it Clay didn't like that at all. That and Jacob getting in his face to play in full dress and talk about scared. Since he couldnt get to me or Matt (they were in between us) he ran straight to his Aunt Deborah and held on for dear life. Now, once his Aunt Alice came over and talked to him and reassured him it was just her and she took him he calmed down and was fine. She didnt have any face paint or nothing just clothes an hair. We then got Clay ready in his outfit and off they went. Matt took Clay. They didnt stay long as Clay just didnt like being out in the dark and others in costumes and when he got fussy Matt brought him back and he just got more pics taken and had fun playing and eating candy. Yep, that is it. His new word. I let Deborah give him one but his PawPaw said you want some candy and gave it to him and well he now knows what it is. Except for a little chocolate bunny at Easter ( I let him have a little bit at a time) and Cotton Candy at Disney World, Clay hadnt been given candy and so now since he has found it he likes it an awful lot.

We did a photo shoot before bed one night earlier this month and I am going to include some pictures. I got a couple REALLY good ones but most are interesting ones.

Please be praying for Kim and Steve and Zack as they have found out that Zack has SOD. It is rare and it is not good. It will mean alot of possibilities, alot of meds and alot of learning for them all. It could be genetic, it could be something damaging happened during pregnancy or it could be a result of no medical care, neglect and malnutrition while he was in Guatemala (which in this case did occur). Please be praying for this family as they love their son so much and it hurts them to see him have to go through all this.

Please Pray for us that Matt finds a job soon. We want to stay here, but will go where God sends us. Thank you for your prayers.

I hope you enjoy the few pictures I have added and will try to update and add more again in the not to distant future. Stay Tuned and check back often cause things change and alot of things are coming up in November.

Recognition of Foreign Adoption

2008-09-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from September 23rd. Besides the judge in our picture we included our attorney as he did the paperwork for us and made things alot easier thus playing a big role in our getting Clay's name changed and everything set up for now and the future. The best we can any ways!!!

Catch Up!!!!!

2008-09-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

It has happened!!! Anna had her embassy appt on Jan. 22. Matt and I had ours on Feb 22. Mary had her embassy appt on Sept 22. They are now home forever!!!!! Kim and Zack are home forever as of Friday, Sept 19th. Praise God!!!

It isnt over y'all there are still families waiting to bring their children home to their forever families. Please continue to pray them home it is a hard journey!!

Matt and Clay and I went before the judge in St Louis County on September 23rd. Clay is no longer a nickname it is his legal name. John Clayton is official!!! We moved home right after that. We are home!!!!!!!!! On September 24th, Anna and her family went to court for the readoption of Pablo. Please be praying for Pablo as he is pretty sick right now!! He has pneumonia and possibly the chicken pox. Please be praying for Anna and them as they take care of him too.

There are a ton of pictures taken, yet I have found a few I really like and placing here. Not many as this time I am going to add some videos soon!! The pictures are from a trip to MeMe and PawPaws and going with Aunt Deborah to walk around Oxford Lake. Clay went down the slide mostly alone but Aunt Deborah went once on a double slide and then as we walked around the lake, the lake and the ducks!! Finally pictures taken at court!! Enjoy!!!

Oxford Lake

OH!! How he grows!!

2008-09-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

We are back home!!! We moved in and while still trying to get everything righted and sorted so could live we noticed something. Clay has grown since coming home. Well, I knew he had but not so much as on this night. We were eating. Clay was in his high chair in the kitchen (at this time table not righted from getting everything in the day before) and we were watching him when Matt said, "do you notice it?" "no" I replied. He said, "just look what do you not see?" Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. You couldnt see the giraffes any more on the seat of his high chair. Here it is y'all the difference between shortly after coming home forever and then just a few days ago!!!

February 2008

September 2008

Catch up (Pictures will follow when can do so)

2008-09-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Mary is out of PGN and waiting on Pink!!!!! Kim and Zack is waiting on DNA to be completed and sent to USE so they can be waiting on Pink. They will be coming home soon!!!!! Cory has pick up date of Sept 17th!! I think that gets everyone I know home but there are many more waiting to bring their little ones home so, PLEASE, continue to pray!!!!!!I will let you know when Mary and Kim are Pink!!

September 23rd is a big day for us. We will be going to court for the recognition of our child. From that day own he will officially, legally be John Clayton Aldridge, forever more!!!!! We are so excited and cannot wait. Our attorney said we should have paperwork that will allow us to get his social security card, also. Then we will just be waiting on his Missouri birth certificate and then on to a US Passport to prove citizenship until we can get his Certificate of Citizenship changed to his then legal name also!!!!!

Clay's Favorite people now are his Daddy(first and foremost), his PawPaw and then his cousin Jacob. I am, too, but these are the ones that he is constantly asking for other than me.
His Favorite food right now is Mandarin Oranges.
His Favorite TV characters are Winnie the Pooh and Elmo.
His Favorite Music is Imagination Movers, Choo Choo Soul, and Wiggles.
His New Skill is opening doors!!! Believe me that was not a fun one when we realized that he knew how to do that. He opened the door to the front of our apartment carrying a plunger he got out of the bath when I was cleaning it and lets just say I got him maybe one second before he started down the stairs of our apartment complex. If he would go down on his rear it wouldnt have been so scary but he insists on walking down and if I hadnt got him I know what would have happened and my mind could see it like it was. Thank God I saw that door open immediately. The only thing showed from his mishap was a scratched nose from the plunger handle when I grabbed him. I didnt care if he dropped it or not and didnt think it would hurt him. Needless to say I got out another door knob cover and used it on the front door now. Thank the Good Lord come the end of the month we will be back in Georgia for good.

That is it for now!!!!!! I will post pictures as soon as I can get them uploaded as it has been a hectic summer here!!

PRAISE and PRAY like there is no TOMORROW

2008-07-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

PLEASE everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise God for Kim and Steve getting out of PGN and Zack being their's forever!!!!! The medical issues that need cared for need to occur sooner than later and now we need to PRAY that everyone else will follow suit and get this baby home like PGN has just done when instead of issuing a Kick Out they signed Zack out!!!!!!!!!!

PRAY hard for Mary and Phil!!!!! They have had their birthmother interview and PGN has issued a kick out which has been fixed and been resubmitted to PGN the resubmission was done two weeks ago as of tomorrow!!!! Please,Pray that tomorrow or REALLY soon is the day they get word they are out of PGN. This Kick Out is doing to them I am sure what the last one we received did to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is time their baby girl came home. We have prayed and God has answered so here we go again!!!!!! God is going to do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will keep you all updated!!!! Goodnight and thank you all for praying!!

On this day

2008-07-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

a year ago we had to say goodbye to our baby and head home to wait out a long, emotional process and as I recall the pain that we went through when it came time for our visit to end I am thankful we no longer have to go through that with our little boy. At the same time, I know that Sammy, Veronica and their family are still grieving as they miss him much so please be praying for them!!!!

Today we went and got Clay a haircut. He didn't like it so much until he got outside and realized it was cooler to his head in this Georgia heat!! Heading back to St. Louis, Saturday. Just for awhile as August will end soon and we can come home for good!!!

One Year Ago today

2008-07-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

is but a memory. It was a dream come true. A prayer in the process of being answered. The culmination of daydreams never voiced. That day will never be forgotten. I packed days before we left. Checked, double checked and even triple checked to make sure we had everything. We boarded a plane (Matt and I) on that day in the early morning hours that was delayed. We ran through the Houston airport hoping we were in time to catch our connecting flight. Landed in a foreign country, speaking nary a word of the language to catch a shuttle to a hotel, check in and wait. What was supposed to have been hours was actually a few minutes and the front desk called to ay we had visitors. We were excited, nervous, emotional and every other feeling imaginable. For what seemed like ages we had seen pictures and today the picture became reality.

We walked out of the elevator and saw him. Those big brown eyes and dark brown hair I kept watching for. For the first time in months I held and saw my baby for the very first time. The thrill of holding him, rocking him, playing with him, and seeing his Daddy with him. Our baby was no longer a picture of what our dreams were heading towards but realizing a dream and waiting for it to be official.

Today, our baby is home forever. He is no longer a baby but our precious little boy. He walks and runs. Says alot of different words. Loves music and Winnie the Pooh. Feeds himself and has no fear of the slide. Uses a straw and sleeps thru the night!!! A dream for a brown eyed baby boy with dark brown hair has come true forever and a year later he is a toddler for whom our love knows no end!!

To Clay:

We love you baby boy, for you will always be our baby, thanks to God, a birthmother who loved you first and wanted more for you, a loving family who cared for you when Mommy and Daddy couldn't and a woman with a love for children and the people she worked with for bringing you home to us.

We love you, John Clayton!!!

Signed: Your Mommy and Daddy

Note Note Note Note: Here is the difference in one years time

First Fourth of July

2008-07-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

For July 4th, we went to Mom and Dad's for the day. Clay got to play with his cousins and be spoiled by his MeMe and PawPaw and almost all his Aunts. We got to go out for about two hours while Clay stayed and played with his cousins and decided to head home instead of fireworks when Clay fell asleep after a long, no nap, and all day play day. I have posted a few pics of him. One is with his Great Aunt Rachel and the other just playing with Daddy a few minutes in his Fourth of July outfit. We would have had more pics from MeMe and PawPaw's but the batteries died in the camera.

I want to go outside with Daddy and help him grill with Paw Paw

This is me with Great Aunt Rachel

Music

2008-06-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

Veronica has told us that from the beginning Clay has loved music and so I try to encourage that with toy instruments and music. Well, I thought I would share some of Clay's favorites and this video is one that our son could watch all day and never tire of and when I found it on You Tube I had to post it. It is called ABC Gospel with Choo Choo Soul.
NOTE: Pause music on player to right to listen to videos.

This is another favorite and that is the Hot Dog song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

His all time favorite by Imagination Movers is Numbers in my Bag but I couldnt find that one so here is one he likes also. It is called I Want My Mommy.

Disney World, Sea World and Georgia

2008-06-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

It is only the 25th and about 2 weeks since getting back from FL. Florida was major hot!!!!!!! The comfort tracker on the stroller taking in humidity, pavement etc marked the heat at 132 as highest at times. It felt it to!!! We had a good time!! On the 6th we went to AL for my oldest nephews 12th birthday and brought Katy (9yo neice) to spend the night then Katy, Clay and Matt and I drove from GA to Tifton where we met everyone else. We then had 3 vehicles all the way to Orlando. We stopped for lunch at a rest area and after getting to the rental house we swam and relaxed till bed time. The next two days were spent at Magical Kingdom. The heat was something else and made for a slow day (it slowed me and Matt down and we were showing our age). Clay loved the people mostly. He loves to watch them. He had cotton candy for the first time while there and loved the lady with the bubbles before the parade. Needless to say naps and schedules were not kept and at times Clay was cranky but not too much. He was too excited to be. Between family and the parks this little boy was wore out every night.

The third day was spent at Animal Kingdom where Clay got ride a few rides and see alot of animals. He also fed himself ice cream for the first time. He met a character from Lion King and was a little more comfortable with him than the Easter Bunny. He and Emma met Pocahontas together. There was one moment where Clay was pointing one way and Emma the other until Clay turned around to look and Pocahontas is pointing another. It was really cute.

This was also the point where it started a thundershower and had to head back to the main part of the park. To see the characters we were at Ritikis Planet and had to take a train to Africa then through Asia and Dino Land to the main gate. So we got back to the train station after I narrowly missed being hit by lightning and made the train and while on it was in and out of signal so bad my Dad when called to see where in park was had a hard time hearing so to keep it short and stuff simply said " We are on the train going back to Africa". I think my Dad thought he was hearing things and made me repeat it!!! Well, the two ladies in front of me started laughing and then when hung up one looked at me and said I never thought I would hear that in my entire life and she said "Only in Disney" So ended our stay at the Animal Kingdom. The fourth day we spent the morning at Downtown Disney where I bought Clay 2 CD's: Imagination Movers "Juice Box Heroes" and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse CD. They didnt have the Choo Choo Soul CD music he loves so will have to get offline. I also bought an album and paper at the scrapbook store (it will hold more than one trip too). We plan to go back when Clay is older and can enjoy more of it. The rest of the day was spent at Epcot Center. We made an easy day of it and Clay loved the fire truck there. We didnt get there in time to get pics with Mickey and Minnie, etc but the others did and also the line was so long and Clay didnt like lines so for the best this time. When older and understand more who they are will be a different story. Clay's absolute best time was at Sea World where he saw and loved watching the baby dolphins in the dolphin nursery and his most favorite was Shamu!!!! Oh my word you should have seen him!!!! He was the first to clap when needed to and couldnt take his eyes off him. I overdid it at the parks and wore myself and my body out!!!!!! But so worth it. The way home was really hard on Clay. His Aunt Beverly bought Clay a small Shamu and it has had to be added to his bedtime collage of favorites!!!! Since then we have been in GA. Clay and I are staying to get some things done for when coming back permanently and over the last weekend got sick so Matt and I had to take him to the Dr. He has a tonsil infection and ear infection and as of today is feeling almost 100%. We are so glad for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is even getting back on schedule now. This is just briefly everything so far and gets everyone up to date. We have had a busy, exciting and good month so far except for Clay getting sick. I am also posting some pictures.

Praise God, Sonia and Cory are out of PGN and Mary should be getting out at any time. Kim had their Birth Mother interview today after a really hard time doing so and will see what happens now. Please continue to pray!!!!!

The three of us in front of Cinderella's Castle

Clay having cotton candy for the first time

Katy watching Clay feed himself ice cream

Daddy and Clay and Ratiki(?)

Emma and Clay with Pocahontas

Daddy and Clay in front of the Fire Truck

Clay impatiently getting pic with Mommy he wants to continue playing with buttons

Baby Dolphin at Dolphin Nursery

Clay at home in GA (He loves playing with stuff from a box of camping stuff)

Let's play catch up!!

2008-06-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been almost a whole month since I last posted anything. We have been extremely busy and I have a few pictures but not tons. Clay is walking everywhere now.
He is even running at times, though he isn't so steady doing that. He has more teeth and I don't know when they came in with everything going in. He is going through a stage where every time he gets frustrated or mad or just bored he will start to head butt anyone or anything in sight. I asked the doctor about that one and she said that was normal. Clay got really sick on Memorial Day and wouldn't eat for about a week, but is now back to normal. In fact the only time that he really rested the first few nights was when he finally wore Matt and I both out crying and then he would fall asleep in what turned out to be his favorite place of all:

He is now 24.5 lbs and 33.5 inches tall. There is a ton of other stuff going on to.
We are going on vacation to Disney World leaving tomorrow and will be gone a week. I will post pictures and more once we get back home.
Please be praying for Kim and Steve as their birthmother interview is today and dont even know if she will be there. Things are looking up in some areas and down in others. Well, Please be praying for all waiting and I will even update there later. Have a blessed week.

The Zoo and A model in one week???

2008-05-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

We have had a busy week. Matt's three days off began Sunday morning (May 4th) and we went to church. We haven't gotten to the point of leaving Clay with anyone besides my parents for a little while and so we took Clay into church with us. He was great until the sermon began then Matt took him out as he was getting too loud. It felt good for a change for Matt to get off in a reasonable time and be able to go!!

Monday, Matt took Clay to meet his co-workers as alot have been wondering when this little guy was going to get home. Then to McDonald's. Can you believe it Clay ate all the pancakes? I was shocked he usually dont eat a lot at breakfast and today he did, maybe a growing spurt? Then to the zoo. We saw the turtles and snakes, the monkeys and lemurs, sea otter, bears, penguins and puffins then the rest of the time on the train and in the childrens zoo. Clay didnt quite understand the reason for Mommy and Daddy pointing so much until we went into the monkey's building and he saw the monkey playing. Then he realized in a hurry something was up in everything. He enjoyed the train alot and I have a few pics of just his face on the train as I couldnt get a good shot but he loved the choo choo sounds as it came into each station!! He also like the penguins and puffins but the puffins best as he was in front of the display case when a puffin comes right out of the water in front of him and splashed him and he just watched amazed!! After 5 hours we still hadnt seen it all and will be going back when the carousel is running. After the zoo we were all tuckered out and went home. Clay to bed and a couple hours later Mommy and Daddy.

Tuesday, Clay has started taking his glasses off constantly. He has not done this since getting them and I have yet to figure it out. I know he does it when he dont get his way, when they are dirty and Mommy needs to clean them, when he is sleepy and then all the other times I have no clue why. I am so glad he is good about bringing them to me instead of just leaving them somewhere or something. Plus, Clay started walking everywhere and only occasionally crawling now. He is growing up so fast!!!!

Wednesday we went to the mall and while there I found a really cute outfit for Clay that I got an amazing deal on. We left the store and was walking past Kiddie Kandids when the lady told me if I would let him be a model for her she would give us a free 8X10. Needless to say I couldnt turn that down at all!!!! He was so cute in his new outfit and smiled galore. We will be ordering more as soon as we can but have to get the ones that already ordered before surgery first. So I am posting pics from the zoo and from the photo shoot.

Please be praying for all those still in PGN and waiting on their children. PGN is now interviewing birth mothers and then the word is cases will be signed out!! We have yet to see that but hoping and praying is so!!!! Please continue to pray for Kim and Steve and Zack!!! They need your prayers!!!

Thanks for your continued prayers and support!!

Mostly have a Happy Mother's Day!! Being a mother is loving and caring for a child unconditionally and not the way they come into your life SO, ALL you Mom's out there Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, please, be praying for our children's birthmothers as they are Mom's too and so are the foster mothers that cared for our children that are at home and those that are now caring for these children when their parents can't be there.

Our Little Cowboy!!!!!!!

2008-04-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

The other day when we went to get Clay's glasses I bought him this outfit that I fell in love with and well today was the day we had our photoshoot!!!!!!!!!!! He is such a cutie (if I say so myself)!!!! It is still so hard to believe that God has blessed us with such a wonderful child. I am so thankful God has rewarded us with him. We love our little boy very much and every heart ache and delay that is mentioned and described here has been worth it!!!! Thank you, Lord, for our son and the people that loved him first and for his birthmom wherever she is that you will bless her too!!!! Amen.

PLEASE, be praying for everyone as adoptions are on hold right now in PGN. Please be praying they will all bring their children home, soon, and then for Guatemala and their children as adoptions are not taking place and that solutions will be made. All children need a forever family!!!

Dreaming.....

2008-04-29T21:28:00.001-07:00

We are dreaming once again. We are dreaming of the day that comes and there are no more social workers and we can go home. I love going home. Right now, after being away our house needs some TLC and the yard needs some landscaping, but when I see it it is the way I will always see it. We dont have a big house. It isnt a new house, but I love the ranch style it is and having enough land to one day build on. Not a lot mind you. A craft room, Ham Radio room, Hot tub off our bedroom and even a play room that will grow with our child(ren) as time goes by. When I see it now. I see it at different times during the day. I see it really early in the morning, you know when the day is beginning to show light and the sun hasnt yet started its daily ascent into the heavens. I am waking up and out of my window in our back yard there is a mama deer and little ones quietly chewing on the leaves at the edge of the woods. Every once in awhile you will see the mama deer stop lift her head and quietly listen, listening for danger. They stay there eating until they decide they have had enough and back towards the back creek they run. The cows from our next door neighbors can be heard on the wind as it blows gently, and there I stand at the bedroom window amazed at what God has created. If it is time to get up and Matt to be off to work it is now time for my day to begin. If not and I just got up for nothing I would head back to bed. Later in the day and morning chores are done I head toward the back deck and look out towards the back and just soak up the peace and quiet and look at the green trees and blue sky and clouds all as clear and bright as can be outside my home. Sometimes I go out front and set on the steps and watch the road thru the trees and just take in the peace that comes. Yes, our road can get busy out there but far enough from the road it isnt noisy. Inside my house is cozy and warm it allows plenty of sun and I can open the windows and let the fresh air in. Even though, going to town means driving 20-30 minutes away I love it for it isnt so far away that it is a major ordeal but far enough away that I can enjoy the country (not so much anymore but still with 17 acres enough to make it so) and the city. All my friends are at home. They care about us in a way that my online friends cant do. They are there at a moments notice and I can be in turn. Our family is only 1.5-2 hours away and near enough that if need be can be there pretty quickly. Sometimes, I stay in town window shopping until Matt gets of work and I follow him home. It is usually getting dusky and you have to be careful and watch for bambi as you drive home so as not to hit him. Bambi loves crossing our roads at this time as they can blend in to the day and if going to fast hit them before you even see them. Then as you turn into our drive, it is covered over in trees like a canopy and go towards the house look again for you never know what is running across the drive. I love being home at night. The lights shining thru the windows and then after all is done taking a blanket laying it across the back deck and the two of us laying down and just gazing at the night sky full of stars and it is so pretty. It is like black velvet with small patches of white and it endless. This is the way it was. NOW, I dream of adding a german shepherd puppy, a large swingset, as Clay grows watching Matt and him choosing the perfect tree to build a Treehouse. Maybe if we ever have a little girl a play house in the perfect spot. In the house I can hear little feet running down the hallway screaming," Mommy, come see". Or chasing him down the hall saying the tickle monster is going to get you while he runs or crawls really fast laughing and getting to the end of the hall and just sitting there waiting on you only to try to craw really fast to avoid you as you get really near. All this and more is constantly running thru my head as things change where we are now. The leasing office dont listen when you complain cause the a/c isnt working right. The sounds at night when Matt is at work has changed. Our building is louder and people come and go and very few are the same. It is small and there is no room to put stuff. Everything has to stay locked up for fear someone will rob you blind or maybe they will ram you as they come thru the roads cause the speed limit signs are ignored and they dont watch. There is no quiet. You hear sirens and cars and trucks as plain as day thru the windows as they go along the highway and loud music playing in cars throughout the night. It is never dark enough to see the stars or what color the sky is. You smell smog instead of fresh air and I am homesick.

I don't know why I am writing this except it helps. We are praying so hard for a job that pays what we make here at home. We dont like wandering how much are they just not going to pay today and yet we have to stick it out till all post placements are done. Being told one thing and paying another. Yet, a job is needed for just a few more months here till it is all done and reporting what isnt right will just get you fired. I have learned that transportation industry no matter what aspect of it is all the same they tell you what you want to hear to get you hired then they do what they want, when they want and either take it or leave it. What I feel right now, I want to take our son home, I want him to be a little boy as long as he can and having room to run and play and have fun as children should do and even though I know what the first thing he is going to do is bring me a lizard to see I will be fine cause that is what boys do. I want him to grow up around cousins and family and know what that is. I want him to grow up loving God to the fullest and completely. I want him to grow up to be like his Daddy.

This is my prayer, to go home with our son completely 100% ours not having to be concerned with social workers. For Matt to have a good job where he is home with his son and I every night, But mostly just to make thru this time until we can go home!!! Tonight, I am homesick!!!!!!!!! Please, be praying.

New Pictures!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

I love to sleep with Mr Monkey!!! In fact, I do it every night, too.

Me and Daddy in our boots!! Do you like my sweater? I do it keeps me warm!!!

Playing in Mommy's clean laundry can sure wear a little fellow out. One of the reasons Mommy calls me her "Little Munchkin"

Me sporting my new glasses, taken today!!!!!

We are coming back from a really good dinner at Outback.
We went there to celebrate Mommy and Daddy's 4th anniversary!!
I love people and made a lot of people smile telling them bye bye or hello on our way out.

While in the process of downloading pics and videos I found the videos will have to wait till I can take the time to go thru them. I have 76 from 12-15-2007 until 03-04-08 and I have to find one or two only to upload and share. Hope the pictures are enough for now. O yeah, one last thing this smile stays on my face now except when I really want out of my crib or I get cranky from being tired. Mommy about has it all figured out and I dont get cranky too often. Now all we do is wait till August to see what the eye doctor says about my eyes. Hoping we are one of the three or four that dont have to have a second surgery. Is this enough for now until I can get more pictures and upload the video or two???????

Another quick update!

2008-04-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Clay, I was REALLY glad he was doing so well

Clay right after waking up

Clay working on second cup of juice

Things are going really good here. Clay had surgery on Monday the 21st and he did great. He slept all day Monday except for a little while at the hospital and then for 2.5 hours that evening. I was a very stressed mama. Mom and Dad met us here at our apartment and followed us to the hospital. We had to take Clay's Mr Monkey as he sleeps with it all the time. BY the way, it is still a tiny bit taller than he is but not by much. We got there early leaving in plenty of time in case of an accident on the way or anything in way of construction on 270. Since we arrived earlier we were allowed to have everything done earlier cause the child before us was canceled. I did well holding up while waiting and didnt really cry at all. I did a little after them taking my baby back to surgery. That was scary. He hasnt been home that long at and we are all just getting really adjusted to everything and here they were taking him away again!! I was so relieved when we got back from getting something to eat and the doctor walked in about 5 minutes later saying everything was fine and he was in recovery. At ten they brought him back and he was so little in that bed and the IV running out of his hand. He got a little fussy and I picked him up and as soon as I did he fell asleep on my shoulder and slept till they said to wake him and see if would take fluids etc. He was one thirsty little boy. He drank two sippy cups of apple juice!! Thank you all for praying for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I broke down that night. I mean really broke down. For the first time since this whole thing started, I was crying for nothing and just a mess. I knew everything was ok. I knew he was ok and even though Matt was getting really sick and I was just then getting better it was really nothing to cry over. I was talking to Kim and well I am glad I needed someone to talk to. The only thing I could think of to explain it all is just needing to cry to let it all out. The whole process to get him home. The stress of having to let him go if even for a small length of time and finally in relief that he was really, really home and he was ok.

NOW let me do some real updating here: Mary is out of Family Court and in PGN, YIPPEEE!!!!! Praise God for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jenny, Alex, and Annette are all back home and with their babies. Sonia is still in PGN and for all of you that only keep up with my blog PGN is on a hold again from what I am hearing. It is still all politics and (I am confused as I havent kept up with that as much since we have been home and having to learn, adjust to a new life and enjoy each other and getting well) something to do with CA which I thought was just to register with so that cases in process could continue under old law. Well, those of you that understand if want please post the actuality of what is going on in the comments so that readers here can understand and pray for you all as another bump in the road is occuring. We havent heard from Cory so I am guessing she is still in PGN waiting also. Kim is going to visit Zack over Mothers Day and please be praying they find all is well with him!! Clay since the surgery is doing more than ever. He has started taking steps un assisted between the coffee table and couch and short distances when Matt or I was in the floor playing with him, but today he began in earnest walking between us and ended up walking the entire width of the living room to us with only turning around and going back. It is not going to be long now till he is totally walking. He is no longer afraid to sit down from a standing position, before he would do so only if holding onto something. The dr says it probably has to do with he had no depth perception before and now he does. We went and got his new glasses Friday. They are so much lighter, the lens are thinner, and there are no nose pieces as they used what they called a saddle for the nose piece and he is wearing them all the time and today Matt caught him trying to take them off twice but that was it and he didnt do it again.

Matt went to the doctor on Wed and was told to stay home from work to let the antibiotics take effect as she couldnt tell if it was severe case of bronchitis or pneumonia. He is off for a few days beginning today and not have to go back to work till Wed. Please be praying as he is sick and pushing himself hard. He returned to work on Friday night even though still major tired and not feeling good at all. He is feeling somewhat better today. Please pray they give him his sick time this time!!!!

Tomorrow is our 4th Anniversary and as of now we dont know how we are going to spend it. As I am feeling better and Matt is beginning to feel better I am going to update with Pictures soon. I have to download the new ones from my video camera and will post. I have to find my manual and charger in order to do so but I will soon. I know that you want pictures. I will post the few I have from the hospital after surgery. They arent that great but will work until I can upload the others and I will also try to upload the video of him right after bringing him home!! Thank you for reading my post and I will be posting pictures soon. Thank you for your prayers they are greatly needed!!!!

Quick Updates!!

2008-04-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry it has been this long since I updated my blog. I had every intention of posting some pictures and giving updates, but life took over and I am just trying to get something in here so no one thinks I forgot about them.

April 6-9th we went to see family. Beginning Sunday April 13th I got really sick and have been since then. In fact, REALLY sick with bronchitis and this is the first time felt like doing anything on here.

March 31st, Joanna found out here baby is perfectly fine and nothing is wrong. Praise God!!!!
In the last couple of weeks Annette has her Visa appt in the morning, Jennie has her Visa appt Monday morning and Alex got word Tuesday that her Visa appt is Wed morning. All three will be home next week with their babies.

Please be praying Mary receives word soon that she is out of Family Court and is resubmitted to PGN. I dont know where Sonia and Cory are in process other than in PGN last I heard and please be praying out soon. Kim is back in PGN since the 7th or so of April and please be praying that Zack comes home soon!!!!! Thank you all for your continued prayer support for my friends.

NOTE: Please be praying for Clay, Matt and I. Clay is scheduled for surgery to correct his eyes on Monday and just please pray for him to stay well and for everything to go great!!!! For Matt and I for strength for during and after this. Thank you all for your prayers!!

What a Week!!!

2008-03-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Joanna is home with her baby and they really need your prayers as they have found something wrong. They have seen a cyst on her lungs and are waiting to see what is going on. Please be praying for Myla and for Joanna and her family as we wait to see what the doctors determine what needs to be done. Joanna I am praying for a miracle here!!!!!!! I know that God can do a miracle without anything but sometimes he uses doctors too!!! Please be praying for them this week and every week till we all know what is going on!!!!

Easter Sunday: We had such plans, but Mommy uses me as her alarm clock and well first thing I do is change the wake up time. Yep, I did that. Instead of getting up like normal at 730am I get up at 830 am only 15 minutes before Daddy gets home from work and church starts at 930. Needless to say we didn't make it to church. Second, I decided to take an extra long nap, today.
See, I usually sleep 1130-130 but today I slept from 1130 to 230. We did get one thing done we planned and went to lunch at Golden Corral in St Charles. Then home to get the things from my Easter Basket. I loved my bunny but Mommy is only letting me have a little at a time. Mommy and Daddy also found out that I dont like storms!!!

The rest of our week is pretty good and we decide to go home for a few days. We want to show Clay our house in GA and let our friends meet him. Well, this week Mommy and Daddy heard me say some more words. I can kinda say "Thank you" now. I said "Upsy Daisy" once and am now saying "no" and shaking my head alot. My favorite word so far though is "Peze" everytime I want something. I love to throw things down and watch Mommy and Daddy get it, too!!! There have only been a few times to hear the word no in response to that mostly when I want something I shouldnt have. Oh yeah, Clay has basically stopped biting now except when starts to put something in mouth doesnt go there and I have to go getting it. I think my finger will be nothing but bone by the time he gets past putting everything in his mouth. Clay, doesnt like it there and clamps down until I can get him to let go.

Our plans to go home was cancelled. Clay got really sick Friday night and Saturday morning got a fever. It stayed around 101.8 except when Tylenol was working until this afternoon when it was completely gone. We will probably call the doctor in the morning just to check in and see if she thinks he needs to be seen. OK, Y'all, my son does have an off button BUT I DO NOT like the off button. It is only when he is sick and does nothing but lay in our arms or asleep. I would rather have my little munchkin being the energizer bunny all day long except for naps and bed time.

Jennie is still waiting on Pink. Angela is in Guatemala, there embassy appt is in the morning and home on Wed. Annette should have her Birth Certificate soon. Mary is in Family Court and the BM(Birth Mother) has her Social Worker interview on Tuesday. Please be praying that all is well and give the BM strength and comfort cause it is really hard on her and for Mary and her husband cause even knowing it is ok there is always a little concern. Annie, Cory and Sonia have been in PGN since like February 18th or so and is hoping to be out soon!!!!! Teresa is still waiting on her little boy from Vietnam. Please be praying that all these little ones can come home soon. Please also continue praying for Kim. They are hoping to be back in PGN this week but as that goes they hope for it each week.

Thank you so much to all our friends that has helped us out with some pretty amazing gifts for our baby. Thank you, Laurie and Paula, for making it possible for us to get Clay the Vtech VSmile Baby and Bailey Bear that goes with it. Thank you, Kim, for the dresser. Clay likes to play with Bailey and the vsmile baby game board without the tv right now but when a little older he is going to love watching the animals and people come alive with each shape and button he pushes!!!!! Clay likes the dresser alot, too. He loves opening and closing the drawers, but I like it the best as it is a really great place for all of Clay's sleepers and clothes. Thank you all!!!!!!!!!!! There is one thing I have learned throughout the journey to bringing our son home and eveyone out there still going thru this will learn it too and that is we learn who our real friends are. They are the ones that pray us through the hard times and help with support however they can. They are the ones that give us a shoulder to lean on and put themselves after us so that we have a shoulder to cry on when needed. Then they are the ones that celebrate the hardest with us when the good news and good times come. Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a REALLY awesome ending to the journey that just begins a lifetime journey!!!!!!! It is well worth the wait and it will happen!!!!!!! I am praying that all these babies and more come home soon. I have met alot of people on this journey. and I am so glad I have. They have been the ones that can understand when noone else can and the ones we turn to most!!! Thank you, Lord, for all my friends the ones going thru and have gone thru the same journey as us and the ones that have learned alot by watching our journey and for my friends who havent gone thru it but have been there thru it all!!!!!!!! God Bless You!!!!!!!!!!!

More Pictures!!!

2008-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

Daddy and I playing making noises

Daddy making noises and me watching

I give Daddy a big hug!!! I love doing that!!

Mommy's clean sweater snuck from the clean clothes hamper turns me into a really good purple monster!! Oh yeah did I mention I got caught sneaking the shirt and had to get Daddy to hide me!!!

Me being really still for a second. What Mommy doesn't realize is I am just trying to decide which direction to go (the kitchen or the TV).

Easter Pictures

2008-03-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

My Easter Basket

Me checking my basket out

I got some more Vsmile Cartridges

Watching my Praise Baby DVD and what else?

I am standing without holding onto anything!!
and checking out the back cover.

We went to the Park!!!!

2008-03-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today was a really gorgeous spring day after alot of rain and we went to the park. Clay loves the outdoors and to go bye bye. As you can see he really enjoyed the swing. We had fun pushing him and watching him laugh and smile and watch us. Matt also took him on the slide of which he wasn't quite sure of. The thing is, though, he and Matt were only going to slide the one time and when we let Clay walk back to the car, holding our hands of course cause not doing it by himself yet, he turned us around and went right back to the slide so Matt took him down once more before we headed back home. Tonight is a work night for Matt so couldnt stay out long but we plan on going back in a few days when Matt has time off. We are also talking of maybe a trip to the zoo. He is waking once a night and that isnt bad at all. I am in the process of reading a book called "Health Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, M.D. and Matt and I are seriously considering once I finish to put it to use and implement it to get Clay to sleeping through the night. We will still have to see because we will both have to be on board for it and Matt isnt so sure. Well, that is all for right now. Please be praying for Teresa also as she is waiting on word to go pick up her son from Vietnam.

Easter Bunny Picture

2008-03-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

We are adjusting!!

2008-03-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

Matt started back to work the Wednesday after we arrived home and the first week was something else. This second week has gotten better. We began the week with night time being really tough. We didn't sleep and while Matt was at work I didnt sleep. So when he got home he would watch Clay and feed him while I slept for about one to two hours before he got me up and went to bed. This continued until about Thursday night when for the first time Clay slept. He got up the last time about 12:30am then slept till about 6:30. It felt so good. Then on Friday, Clay took an afternoon nap and it has continued.

Clay loves the walker we bought him, but it has added times when he will start to whine cause he will drop something and not be able to get it so I started something else which Matt jumped right on board with me about. We began telling Clay to say please if he wanted something other than to whine and cry for it and then when we gave it to him we said thank you. Well, when Matt got home would you believe Matt picks the toy up says "Say Please" and Clay says"Peze" and it was just the cutest thing so now when he drops something or throws it on occasion and needs help he will say "Peze" and we pick it up even when he does it over and over to let him know he can trust us to do what he asks. We still say Thank you to teach him to say it when we give it to him but he hasnt got that far yet. I was surprised with "Peze" so it will happen in time. Can't really believe he started saying please so quickly but we are thrilled and so is he.

Yes, things are getting better but we still have some adjusting and learning to do. When Clay doesnt get what he wants he will bite you and I was not expecting this so soon, but we are dealing with it. There isnt much we can do but say No and put him down for a minute and not allow back up for that time or Say no that hurts and give him something safe to bite like a toy, right now, but in time he will learn.

We went to the Mall, yesterday to get pictures of Clay with the Easter Bunny. He was fine with that while in line waiting and the bunny was playing peek-a-boo with him and waving at him but once we went to get his picture with him he was having nothing to do with that bunny so Matt and Clay both got their picture with the Easter Bunny. He didnt smile, but he didnt cry either so I am also posting that picture along with others.

Please be praying Mary that they will be getting out of Family Court and into PGN soon, Sonia will get re-entered into PGN and that Cory and Annie and Alex will get out of PGN soon. These are out of order of entry but in order my brain is working in, right now. We have a couple of praises, though. Joanna, Cheryl and Kristi are home with their babies and Kristi and her whole family including Elli are sick so please be praying for them and for all for the adjustments going on in transition right now. Jennie is now Orange and waiting for her Pink Slip. Angela is Pink and her appt. is on March 31st and Annette who has been in PGN with 3 KO's got out!!!! Praise God the kids are coming home. Please continue praying for Kim that they will find out they are in PGN and will be getting out soon so they can bring their son home. Thank you for continuing to pray for us all.

Our First Week Home!!

2008-03-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

It has been a really tough week. We all came home with colds. On top of that Clay was getting up alot and I mean alot the first part of the week till I figured out if I could get to him while not completely awake and give him his bottle (he lost it in the bed) he was fine and would stay asleep. But 10xs a night at first was extremely hard. We were sick, no sleep and then our little one would wake up in great spirits and play hard all day. He has no off button. He don't even have a slow down button he remains on fast forward all day long. The weather changed drastically on Sunday it was in the 70s. Monday cold and snowing. Tuesday we had 11 inches of snow. Wednesday, we had the Doctors appt and it was ok. We really like our doctor and she had a good grasp of all that was needed and where we needed to be. We had three shots to get and bloodwork was tried but not able so scheduled to go to lab the next day. Well, needless to say Clay had a hard time with the shots and Matt and I both were almost crying our eyes out when he had to get stuck. We stayed calm, though. As soon as it was all over everything was fine. Well, we were supposed to do the lab work at the lab after the eye doctor thursday but poor fellow the eye drops made him so upset and stuff we decided to wait till Monday. He needed a break. We found out at the eye doctor that Clay has strabismus with a combination of two types of esotropia and was really bad far sighted. So we have to have surgery on his eyes so that he will be able to have some form of depth perception ( he has none now) and to correct the crossing as it is bad enough he will not outgrow it. He will always be in glasses for far sightedness and we are going to get new glasses this week. His need to be refit, but also because the ear piece is about non existant on one side now due to constantly removing them. Hopefully these will stay on better. We shall see. Friday was our first Post Placement visit and it went really well. I am glad it did. I was really nervous about it and have been about everything, but it went great and now I feel better about everything.

Matt went back to work Wednesday and was there every night. He had to call out Friday night though cause got a fever and was just to sick to go in. He had no voice and boy was it a hard night. Matt sick with a fever, me sick and not able to stop coughing and Clay maybe getting over his not sure. We have just had a tough week. Matt was back at work Saturday night and is glad to get the next few days off to rest and hopefully get over this cold so we can all start sleeping and maybe be more than zombies during the day. We havent taken many pictures in fact just a few due to being sick, tired and trying to all learn to adjust. Here are the few I have.

Me playing with my toys (well some of them)

Smiling at Daddy after eating spaghetti for dinner

"Ok I have had enough pictures, now get me outta here"

First Birthday Celebration Pics!!!!

2008-03-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of David and Clay. David made Clay some REALLY good drawings for his birthday just from him and I have them put up for Clay. For now why he is to young to understand I am going to scan them and print on cardstock, mat and hang as pictures on his wall. The originals will go in his album so he will always have them. David, thank you for giving of yourself. I put this picture here cause I love it and the way you have waited with us so patiently for Clay to come home. You are a VERY Special young man.

This Katy with Clay. She and David actually just met Clay here on the day we celebrated his First birthday cause of homework the night before and were really excited. They have waited patiently so long. Katy helped out so much and so wanted to hold him. So here is her time. Katy you are such a sweet young lady and I am so glad you love Clay so much. Katy has asked alot over the last year to hold our little man and finally she got her chance.

Jacob is standing on my right. He was spending the night with his Paw Paw the night we got off the plane and met Clay when he woke up the next morning. In fact he didnt have to go to pre-school that day as his Aunt Beverly let him stay with her. He was really hyper about being with him when David and Katy couldnt and had to be in school. In fact, Jacob wanted so badly to have something for Clay that he picked something of his out for Clay and gave it to him. It was a really big teddy bear and Clay really likes it. He was so EXCITED over giving him something just from him!!!!!!

Here is Emma and Clay as you can tell they both dislike staying still. Emma is walking and is always on the go. Clay tries to be but being a little younger hasnt exactly started walking yet. I like this picture of them together and is one of only a couple I have. Deborah took alot of pictures and has promised me a CD of them. She hasnt done so yet and that is where a lot of my pictures will come from. Emma is 16 months and Clay just turned one on Valentines Day.

Daniel had a fit over Clay and Clay just took up with him from the start. Most of my pictures of the two of them will come from everyone else. In fact Clay took up with everyone and had a ball around everyone. I am just talking his cousins here as they are the ones that just kept him going all the time. I will post pics with some of the adults on another post. Here Clay is trying to pull the bib I put on him off. It was a 1st birthday bib I got to match the decorations.

All the following Pictures are of Clay's Birthday before getting into the cakes and then afterwards:

Here I am all finished with my little cake!!! See I am wearing more of it than I ate, but boy did I have fun putting it on!!!!

We are home!!!!!

2008-03-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

I thought about posting more than one post but decided to do one. I will have to post pictures later as we are exhausted. Clay is sleeping ok just his routine since got here in the States is messed up. Tuesday night, it was REALLY cold getting off the plane in Atlanta and didnt like the thick coat or hat and looked like I was crazy putting something like that on him until we stepped outside and he was trying to sink further in it. At the point we put his coat on him a gentleman came and helped us with our baggage. I told him we had no cash and only quetzales and that we couldnt accept the help. Well, he was being nice and we felt bad leaving him with nothing after helping us out ALOT!!!!!!! We asked him if there was a currency exchange somewhere in the airport and he said yes so Matt gave him 25 quetzales as a tip and depending on what the days exchange rate it was about 3 dollars but is all we could give him as we needed the rest for Clay's life book.

Just for anyone curious, it didnt take us long at all to go thru immigration with Clay. 5-10 minutes maybe. That was really good!!

We got to my parents house late and Clay really took to my Dad. Took him awhile to take to mom but that is ok. He loved the attention and ate it up. Emma didnt know what to think at first but they were really sweet together. Emma is 4 months older than Clay and a doll. She is quiet and reserved but a sweetie and friendly once getst to know you. She is very independent also. Clay is outgoing and friendly and loves attention. Let me tell you, though, he got sleepy or frustrated or anything he knew where to go. If he couldnt see Matt or I and we didnt come running right that second he would let it know that we were the only ones he wanted.

Thursday we had a big birthday celebration for him and he loved it!!!!!!!!!!! He knew it was all about him, too. I will post some pics and stuff later. I made the bear cakes but didnt really have enough time to decorate them properly in just a day so when realized going to take longer Mom decorated Clay's mini cake and Becky finished the big one. Matt and I just spent time with Clay. You should have seen him with the cake. He was sticking his finger in the icing playing with it until someone showed him he could eat it then he tried some and then someone broke off some when he wouldnt and after that he just made a really big mess. I am not even sure he ate any just played in it. That is ok, though. He loved the toys. We got things he needed for sure, also but as long as he was thrilled and happy that is all that mattered.

By the time I had checked the flight we were listed for the flights were full back to St Louis and the one that wasnt we were just too exhausted to catch so came home today. Got home paid rent and spent time together. I had to get some things as Clay is teething and has a cold. He is sleeping now and since it is something he needs I really hope the sleep helps. I havent got pictures today just memories. That is all that matters though. I will start taking more pictures once I can get past being so tired. He is soooooo active and sooooo awake. HOPING to sleep tonight!! Ok y'all I have to get to bed now but as soon as I can get the pics I need I will post and will also try to add another video or at least a link soon!!!!!!!

We have our Visa!!!!

2008-02-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

Today has been quiet and peaceful. No pics to post. Clay got up around 630a still cranky and wanting sleep but took awhile and when finally got to sleep slept til 9a. I am learning to tell when my child is getting sleepy, hungry, etc. It is a nice feeling being able to. He kept throwing his bottle down so I have him on a sippy some times throughout the day and he likes it but still really attached to his bottle. Once we get home to St Louis and everything I will start making transitions to full time sippy cup, full milk, etc but until then we will keep everything we can status quo as the environmental changes and everything will be big enough right now. Well, I have to get Clay a bath and ready for bed. Then to finish packing the diaper bag and other bags as well. I will try to post again soon.
As far as the big things goes, Miriam and Christian brought our visa to us at 4p and then we went to the La Estancia steak house for dinner. Wow!!! Was it ever good and right next door to the Embassy too. Well, good night and post more later. I will try to post once in Atlanta.

Sunday

2008-02-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

Today, has been a really good day. Clay went to bed really well last night and only woke up once. He was up even before we had to be for our day out. We got up early and went to the ATM, store, Zoo and saw the City from the top of a hill and the Palace. We learned alot today. The people moving from outlying towns to the City will gather at Central Park for the day in order to visit and get to know people as they usually don't know anyone.

Clay fell asleep in the car this morning and so after lunch did not want a nap at what his usual time lately has been. In fact, he decided he wanted a nap at 4 when usually he is waking up so I let him sleep an hour before awaking him ( he didnt like it) so that he could get dinner and get to sleep and sleep all night so as not to be up all night with him.

Tomorrow we are hoping to go to the Kacao Restaurant and then back here around 3 to wait on Miriam to bring us our Visa. Clay seems to be doing well with us here. I guess the real part of this begins when we are home. Well, I am posting pictures (may be sideways, if so will fix when get home) from the zoo, today.

I will try and post tomorrow some time and that will have to be the last post for awhile, but I will again soon.

Family Picture at the zoo

Saturday

2008-02-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

Last night was a really difficult night sleep wise. The embassy appt had Clay up three hours early cause he is such a light sleeper and it made for a difficult night. I am thinking some of it was my fault as I let him sleep for a nap till woke up instead of waking him up after about two hours yesterday afternoon. He was up like 4 times and not wanting to go to bed. To get him to go to bed we had to take a push toy they have here and push it back and forth across the floor of our room till would calm down and let us hold him to get him to bed.

He woke up this morning as happy as a bug in a rug and since I got up (not just waking up) Matt let me sleep another hour or so and took Clay out to the patio and stuff to play with the other kids. I really love this hotel. The open feel. The not needing heat or air and the set up and the personalization of the staff. I would highly reccomend this place to anyone.

He got his bath this morning as we were at the embassy yesterday at regular time and I got splashed. He loved the rubber duck, I have to make sure that the water isnt to hot. Needless to say we are having a great time.

We are planning on a trip to the zoo and store tomorrow and the Kacao, Monday. Clay has been sleeping from two to four or longer if I would let him every day so far.

Please be praying for Pablo as he is REALLY sick and in the hospital and for Anna and her family too as they go through this. I have pictures but will have to add later as I have not had time to upload them to the flash drive, today.

Me and Mommy after my bath

Me laughing after my bath

Mommy trying to get my shoes so she can put them on me

I love the walker and boy can I move!!!!

Mommy feeding me black beans and they make me messy!

Embassy Day

2008-02-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today was a really great day. Clay has been such a trooper, too. He is such a light sleeper (a really good one too). He is almost walking but only as long as someone has his hand or something. He can stand holding on but will forget and reach for something with both hands and next thing you know sitting down and crying. Poor baby!! He will learn, though. We were met here by Miriam and walked to the embassy where there are a ton of people. The comparison to the DMV is accurate, though something to dress up and be comfortable for as it is an important part of getting him home. Above you will see a picture of the three of us after the Embassy and lunch. I tried to put some other photos on but my laptop shut off in the middle of saving them to the flash drive so this will have to be it for now. We are hoping to possibly do the Zoo tomorrow and maybe the market. Kacao on Sunday and possibly, not sure yet, Antigua on Monday. Either way we are just enjoying this time together before getting back to the real world as there are a lot of changes and transitions to make for us all.

Before changing, Clay, out of his outfit I was watching Matt and Clay playing and just enjoying it. Clay is loving the attention, I tell you. Well, probably tons more I could write but right now I just need to do what I need to and get off so can go spend more time with my hubby and son. Thank you, Mary for the socks!! AS you can tell they are being used in really special ways. They match his outfit perfectly. Oh yeah, Clay kept having one of his shoes fall off (same size as tennis shoes and stuf guess just cause dress shoes) so we ended up leaving the Embassy in his sock feet cause I didn't want to lose them.

Please be praying for Pablo, Anna's little one, as he is REALLY sick!!!!

Will try to post more tomorrow.

A Family of Three

2008-02-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, they got here last night around 545pm and it took awhile for him to come to us but he did and we had a good meal. I hurt so bad for the foster family, but at same time I am so happy for me. Last night wasnt bad and Clay slept all night long except for wanting a bottle once around 11. He has been so happy today and I am still not under complete belief that he is actually forever ours. Maybe, once we are on the plane it will really hit home that it is real and not just me dreaming. I cant explain everything we are feeling right now. I am not going to even attempt that. Right now, just whoever reads this please stop a minute and pray for Sammy, Veronica, Levni and Karen and the rest of the family that is missing my son and a part of their family. They need the prayers!!!!!!!! Pray for Clay also as he misses them, also. I am posting one picture from last night and then a few from this morning before breakfast. I will post more as time goes by until we go home but limited until home due to how the internet access works. We get it free just on public computers and pictures are being uploaded from a flash drive. Enjoy the pictures and I will post more as our time here continues. We love the hotel and it is right next door to the embassy. Talk soon.

Levni, Clay, Veronica and I right before the translator arrived

Clay and Daddy this morning before breakfast

Clay and I before breakfast

Clay getting his picture taken by Daddy

We are here and waiting.........

2008-02-20T14:16:00.000-08:00

I am trying to be patient in my wait but they are still not here and 4pm is over and gone. Do they know we aren't at the Westin.. Is it they are sad and putting it off.. Are they caught in traffic.. I figure if I do this they will come sooner with me not watching.

I really like the hotel. It is gorgeous and comfortable. I will say more later but now I am going to check email and stay busy to make the time go faster..

We are waiting on plane

2008-02-20T04:31:00.001-08:00

We are at the airport waiting on our flight!!! We have been here since 6am Eastern. We ended up being able to get on an earlier flight yesterday which worked out really well. We got everything done and I actually got a few hours sleep. Our flight leaves at 10:08 and we arrive in Guatemala at 12:50. Needless to say, my excitement is mounting!!!!! I don't mind this wait so much. My mind is going a million miles an hour and the closer it gets to getting my baby the more excited I am. As the time get closer to the rest of my life Veronica and Sammy and Levni are going to be hurting. Please be praying for them as they are going to miss our son tremendously. I am closing for now as we head to the gate to wait out the rest of our time here in Atlanta. Please, continue to pray all goes smoothly as I am nervous about the unknown as well as excited!!!!!

The journey to the rest of our lives..

2008-02-19T05:19:00.001-08:00

is upon us. Yes, you read that correctly. Am I 100% ready? Oh yeah!!!!!! I have been waiting for this day for a long time and I am so glad it is finally happening. Our apartment still needs a few things done but nothing major just the crib lowered (gotta find the instruction manual) and re-vacuum (I am paranoid I missed something)

I have been up since 4am finishing up packing and making sure I didn't forget anything. Right now, we are going to finish getting ready, then Matt has to log in his vacation time and stuff so can get paid and then to get b'fast and the airport. Becky is picking us up in Atlanta when we land at 3pm or there abouts. We gotta get some last minute things at Wal-Mart as will have a little more luggage guidelines once there.

Here we go and stay tuned. My goal is to post every day while in Guatemala but that also depends on how much time I have but that is the goal. Please be praying all goes smoothly and I havent forgotten anything.

We are almost ready!!

2008-02-15T23:53:00.000-08:00

The last week has been major tough. Yesterday was Clay's first birthday and thinking I wasn't there with him was really hard. It was also Valentine's Day and Matt's first day after starting back to work for the week and has to sleep during the day so nothing special. I handled the day the best I could by planning the party we are having from him once we get home and rearranging. We took the computer out of the living room and put in our room so printer and computer buttons and lights didnt get pushed alot. (((SMILE))) We figure he is possibly walking or will be soon and definitely crawling and curious about everything. In the computers place is going the swing my Mom and Dad got for him for our baby shower and Matt's Moms rocker. Left in the living room is to hang pictures not yet hung, bind the rug and hang in Clay's room. Place outlet covers in plugs not being used. Buying and placing cord tighteners on cords. Cleaning off bar area and vacuuming.
In our bedroom I have to vacuum, change bedding on our room and making sure everything is in place.
Catch up on laundry again so can pack for our trip on Monday.
In Clay's room, hang the rug, lower the bed, wash sheets and find a place for everything in the bed at this time. Vacuum.
The goal: To be finished with above by Monday along with scrubbing the kitchen, bath and fridge.
Monday for packing and last minute stuff only.
Tuesday fly to Atlanta and Wednesday to Guatemala. We will be back in Atlanta on the 26th and celebrate first birthday on 28th and home forever on the 29th.
For his birthday, I am doing a stand up mini bear cake and a big stand up bear cake(holding balloons) Teddy Bear pull pinata, Teddy bear favors and cups to keep. I am hoping it goes as planned cause I want it to be special!!!

It is so close and I can't wait!!!! We have our tickets and hotel. Becky is picking us up from the airport Tuesday and taking us back on Wed morning before she goes to work. I have alot to do still and only two days to do it in but it will be done.

We went and bought a car seat today!!! We have to clean the car out and get it installed, too.

Please be praying that everything needed gets accomplished and for our journey in Guatemala to bringing our son home.

Praise God that my friends Angela, Alex and Kim have gotten back into PGN!!!!!

Please be praying for Kristi cause her 2nd DNA has to be redone (they put wrong Date of birth on test), Annette, Annie, Cory, and Jennie to get back into PGN and for Mary that Family Court and PA will be completed soon and re-entered into PGN and out without any Kick Outs(we really want to see her come home with her baby in record time). Finally, I have a friend her name is Melanie that received word tonight that as they are waiting on Pink slip for one child they for some reason are not able to complete their adoption for another son. She needs all the prayers she can for her and her family right now!!!! Their hearts are breaking!!

Their are a few big items we still lack for Clay's nursery and they are going to have be waited on as time is running out. Please be praying that everything is in place for our first post placement visit on the 7th of March here at our house and that the Pediatrician visit on the 5th and opthalmologist visit on the 6th goes well.

Thank you all for your prayers!!!!!!!!!

In Memory of: My Grandmother

2008-02-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Alice H. Key (1917-2008)

Today my grandmother went to be with her FATHER!! I dont have much to say except be praying for all of us that loved her as we are having a hard time dealing with this. I know that she is in no more pain and happy but I miss her and right now am hurting badly. All I can ask is please be in prayer as we go thru this weekend. I am not sure but the funeral will either be Sunday or Monday. We are thinking it is going to be Sunday as my sister in New Mexico can not be here.

All of you have over the course of our journey been really faithful in praying and I really appreciate that now. I don't have anything else to post right now but will again later. Thanks for your prayers.

Get Set, Ready,GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Well, this whole week has been something else. We have been having a REALLY topsy turvy week. We went to Mom and Dads for a few days and my grandmother is not well at all. She is 90 years old and hardly remembers anyone. Please be praying for my whole family as she may be going HOME sooner than later. I really hope, God will take her home as she wanted. She told me one time she wanted to go to sleep and wake up in Heaven with Jesus!! Please be praying for us all. That is the low point of this week and what makes it so topsy turvy right now. BECAUSE there are alot of highs to!!!!!!

Beginning on Monday of this year, we have had alot of prayers answered!! Kristi is now signed out of PGN along with Angela with no Kick Outs. Joanna has Orange and even Kristi has learned she has her new BC and Passport and possibly even Orange this week.

Now for my BIG news and what has put us on top of the world!!! We are PINK!!!!!!!! Clay will be home forever in the Good Ole US on 2/26/08!! Yes, we got our embassy appt, in fact, we got our embassy appointment the same day or DNA was actually delivered to the embassy!! Our DNA got to the Embassy yesterday 2/6/08. Our Embassy appointment is on February 22, 2008 at 7:15 am and we are number 18 on the list. We will be able to pick up our visa on February 25, 2008 at 3:30 pm.

I am getting really nervous, now. I am ecstatic and everything. I am trying to get everything ready and there is still alot that is needed but except for one thing it will all have to wait till after we get back home. It will all get done and I have tons to do. Please, be praying, that all we still need is gotten and that we have everything that we need to start with that maybe I haven't even thought of and dont know I need. I never thought I would be this nervous and happy and everything all at once. It is a relief to know when and now I just can't wait!!!!!

I am sooo losing it!!!!

2008-02-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

Our DNA sample got to Labcorp on Wednesday the 30th (my mom and dad's 38th anniversary) and I was really excited and forgot their anniversary. Sorry, Mom and Dad. Since then and until the DNA got to Labcorp I have been watching my email like it is going out of style. I just want it there. He is legally our son and I just want him home with me and the US Embassy hasn't even issued any pink slips since Monday and this one day a week emails is so not good. I have been so politically polite and now I am just upset. I want my son home. We started this whole process almost one year ago and it seems like every time we get anywhere and step is over OUR governement slows us down. They have now viewed our file so many times and even now after having 2 dna tests they still do more. What is this? Issuing these once a week so far isnt right. Some people end up waiting a whole week to get an appointment and others get it in 48 hours. I just want my baby home!!!!! Oh yeah, I know there are some out there that will tell me dont do that, you shouldnt feel that way. No reason, too. To those: Have you gone through this? Do you know what it feels like to be in my shoes? If the answer is no then don't tell me that. Yes, God is in control and Clay will come home at the right time. I know that. I believe that, but right now I just want OUR Baby home!!!! He is mine and I should be able to go get him sooner than in a few weeks or two months. OK, I am finished venting!!

We have a praise for one of our prayers, Joanna is OUT of PGN and already has her Birth Certificate and Passport.

Angela has been sitting on Barrios' desk for a week or so now and is really wanting to know what it is for since Barrios has to sign off on everything. Kristi has been in PGN a little over 7 weeks now and doesn't know where she is in the waiting list but is wondering if she is getting out or not!!! Kim is still worrying somewhat as her agency has told her nothing!! Please be praying for all these women and their families as this weekend and next week goes through. Also, please be praying for Annette as she really needs the strength to get thru getting back in PGN and out after her third Kick Out. Please be praying for all my friends listed here and for Mary as she is waiting out the process for their child. This second time is SO Hard on both her and her husband and need all the prayers they can get. Anna needs prayers to as Pablo is now realizing this is a permanent change and nights aren't easy. Pablo needs prayers as it is hard on him also. Thank you for your prayers.

Last night we got alot of snow and when Matt got home from work he took a few pictures that I will be posting here. This type weather really makes us want to go home. It is way to cold for us Southerners, here.

A Great Day!!!!!!!!

2008-01-26T16:28:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-01-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!

2008-01-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!!

2008-01-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2008-01-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

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......

2008-01-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

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??

2008-01-08T13:35:00.001-08:00

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???

2008-01-07T19:30:00.001-08:00

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!!!

2008-01-03T21:14:00.000-08:00

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.

Christmas and Other

2007-12-28T20:26:00.000-08:00

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!!

2007-12-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-12-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-11T21:11:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

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.........

2007-12-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!!!!!

2007-12-04T21:20:00.001-08:00

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!!

2007-12-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!

2007-12-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!!

2007-11-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T13:25:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!

2007-11-09T11:36:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

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!!!!!!

2007-10-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-10-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2007-09-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

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??????

2007-09-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

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................

2007-09-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-27T17:22:00.001-07:00

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-08-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

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.