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.

Quick Updates!!

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!!

We are almost ready!!

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!!!!!!!!!

Christmas and Other

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

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

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

REALLY Good Day

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

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

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

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