October Social Visit Pics

The October social visit was on October 16 - I was so happy to see Natalie sitting in her Bumbo (yes, I know they were recalled - but there are 4 adults standing around her). Also, I love seeing how well she is holding and moving her head!

3 Month Medical Visit

I received Natalie's 3 month medical visit today. Dr. M does know she is only 3 mos, it was just a typo. Freaked me out there for a minute though! She went on October 25. Here is what he says:

This afternoon I have just finished seeing little Maria Jose who is now aged
4 months and has been, I am told by the caregiver, been doing really well in
the time since she was seen for the last time one month ago, she is a very
alert little girl who shows a steady growth and is also, from what I am
told, developing nicely, she is very alert and shows interest in what goes
on around her, will listen when spoken to and makes cooing noises of her own
both to call attention to herself and to reply, she will also laugh out loud
and vocalizes her eagerness, she shows good control of her neck muscles and
will keep the head straight in the midline when pulled to the sitting
position as well as lifts her head clear form the bed when lying on her
stomach, she attempt to grab whatever is nearby with swiping movements and
she will also kicks an push with her feet. The caregiver shares with me
that this little eon takes well her formula and is also receiving her
ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found her in good
health with a normal physical and neurological exam, her weight today is 12
lbs 2 oz, length of 52.5 cms and head circumference of 36.4 cms.

Family Court Update

Well, not the news we were hoping for...but not really "bad" news either. Our agency emailed us today saying that they received an update from our attorney that our case had a notation "proxima semana" on it. That means we will get out of Family Court next week (I believe that would be THIS week since they were updated late last week). Of course that is in "Guatemalan" time. :) They will then try to get our file into PGN asap. Our agency is hoping to have us EXIT Family Court and get IN PGN in the next 10 days. If it is really 10 days then we will only have 7 weeks to get through PGN by year end. If we're IN this week then we'll have 8 weeks before year end. This means there is only a VERY SLIM chance we will be OUT by year end. Even one easy previo (kick out) will end any chance whatsoever of finishing in time. And you ususally get one previo. Even the people with no previos thus far are at 7 weeks 4 days etc. I'm trying to be hopeful, but it's an unrealistic hope I'm afraid. I guess we just keep marching on and keep hoping that we get grandfathered under the old system.

For those confused, getting OUT of PGN means Natalie is legally ours under Guatemalan law (though she will not be allowed in the U.S. until her Guat birth certificate, Guat Passport get issued, and the U.S. Embassy meets with us and issues her Visa).

Surprise Visit!

Still no news on Family Court, unfortunately...but did receive some pictures from Natalie's surprise visit on October 18. She's doing really well it says...but we knew that since David visited after these were taken. :) Surprise visit pics are never really that great...since the babies are "surprised". :)

Look at my new blanket...


Ahh man, what's with this?


Where's my hair going????

3rd Visit!

David and his mom went to Guatemala to visit baby Natalie on October 21 and returned on October 25. They met a lot of people from our agency down there and had a great time! I still have not received an update on our case. I was really hoping to have heard we were out of Family Court and had entered PGN. Very disappointed household here as our agency was given updates and we didn't get one. Also, for some reason, we haven't received our monthly social visit pictures that we usually have by now along with Natalie's medical update and pictures (which she just had on Thursday so it's probably too soon).

I'm sure you guys just want to see pics so here we go:

My favorite picture of the trip...



Cutie little earrings...



Sleeping Sweetie...



Happy Halloween!



Daddy's Little Girl...



I'm SO sick of Halloween!



Daddy Dressed Me!



My friend Maria sent this dress...



Gramma Barb's favorite outfit thus far...



Meeting Gramma Myrna...



Checking out the Westin's pool...



Natalie's bud Nora...



Dinner at the Westin...



Natalie, Isabella and Nora...



Amy & Nora (ERAmy), Rachel & Isabella (chrisrachel), and Myrna with Natalie...



Ok Nora, Wassup with this??



Chris w/ Isabella & Jacob, Jim w/ Nora, David w/ Natalie...



Sweet Baby at 3 mos old...

Quote for the Day

A Friend just emailed this to me:

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.

Thomas Jefferson

OPEN BLOG

I've reopened our blog to the public for now as I feel I can get more info re Guatemala out right now this way. Hoping to get it more updated by this weekend.

Please check out www.5000orphans.com for updated info and links on how you can help bring our baby home.

ORTEGA LAW PASSES

Well, yesterday we received the sad news that the Ortega Law passed in Guatemala yesterday. This is not good news and as far as we can tell at this point, there is no grandfathering clause in the Bill for those of us still "in process" on January 1. We've been bombarding the Department of State and our US Senators and US Reps to ask them for help. Apparently there is another reading on Tuesday of this Bill and hopefully Amendments will be added. Ugh, we are trying very hard not to freak out. Please pray for us, and especially for the babies in process whose birth moms have already given up their rights and now their adoptive parents may not get to bring them home. What happens to them?

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) left me a message today asking for me to talk with him about this - I am shocked to get to actually talk to a Senator instead of his staff. I hope I don't sound like an idiot. :)