October - Ups and Downs and all Arounds

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.

First Birthday Celebration Pics!!!!

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!!!!

Sunday

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

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!

Everyone Ready......

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

REALLY busy week!

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


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