WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

So many of you asked "what happens now?" Also, many questions asking why it takes so long to get her home if she is legally ours? Here is what happens now:

Final Adoption Decree.

This Decree will be issued and then the birth mom will sign for the 4th and final time. After she signs, Natalie will legally be our daughter! This usually happens within a week of receiving a PGN OUT!

Getting New Birth Certificate. 




Once the Decree is signed and registered, our attorney will request a new birth certificate at the Civil Registry where Natalie was born. Unfortunately, Natalie was born in Mixco and the Registry there is reviewing files so it is taking forever (4-8 wks)! Recently, there has been some pressure for them to get moving, and I hope they do. The New birth certificate will have Natalie’s birth name and our last name.

Getting New Passport 


Once Natalie receives her new birth certificate, the attorney will apply to Guat Immigration to get her a passport in her birth name and our last name. This take around 48 hours.

US Embassy/ 2nd DNA Authorization AKA Getting ORANGE 

The whole file is then put together and translated back into English. It is submitted to the US Embassy in Guatemala City. Within 24 hours the Embassy issues the ORANGE slip, which is authorization for the second DNA test and Embassy Medical Exam (Natalie’s 1st DNA is being matched with the 2nd DNA to make sure she is the same baby from the beginning of the process). 


DNA Sample and Medical Exam


Natalie will be taken to the Embassy doctor for a check up and to give a second DNA sample. The DNA sample is sent to a laboratory in the U.S. The test results are sent to the US Embassy. This takes about 2 weeks from the time the sample is taken.

Embassy Visa Appointment AKA Getting PINK

Once the US Embassy receives the results of the 2nd DNA, they will issue a visa appointment. This is known as getting PINK (the appointment slip is pink)! We get this by email within 48 hours of the Embassy receiving the results - and it means time to travel! The appointment is usually 1-2 weeks out from being notified.

Visa Appointment 


On her appointment date, we will take Natalie to the US Embassy along with someone from our agency and she will be sworn in as a US citizen! The Embassy will issue her Visa the next day and then she can FLY HOME.

Summary:

1. Final Decree/Birth Mom sign
2. New Birth Certificate
3. New Passport
4. Orange
5. Dna Sample/Medical Exam
6. PINK
7. Travel to Guat
8. Embassy Appt
9. Visa issued
10. Fly HOME

January Social Visit Pics!

I'm so lucky to be swamped with baby today! Just received these pics from our agency from the January social visit on January 24.

6 Month Medical Update!

Received Natalie's 6 month medical update today - she went to Dr. M on January 24.

Here is what Dr. M had to say:

This morning I had the opportunity to review little Maria Jose, she has now reached 6 months of age and has been, the caregiver tells me, doing well in the time since she was seen for the last time here in my office she is now back to her normal self, from what I am told by the caregiver she appears to be progressing well both in the development and growth, she is alert, active and shows interest in what goes on around her, will turn to sound and to the sound of her name, is now able to roll over to either side and will try hard to sit up, attempts to grab things that are nearby and will put everything into her mouth, she will also on and off bear weight upon her legs. She has an easy smile and makes many vocal noises of her own she also laughs out loud. I ma told by the caregiver that she takes well her diet and is also receiving her ordered vitamin supplement. Upon exam today she appears in good health with no obvious physical or neurological abnormalities, her weight 16 lbs 15 oz (75%), length of 58.2 cms (22.9" 0%) and head circumference of 40.4 cms.

OUUUUUUUUUUUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our agency called at 4:15pm and told us Natalie is OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!!!! She is ours! I'll post more on what happens now, but basically she still won't be home until April (need US Visa, etc). But she is legally ours under Guat law!!!!!! I can barely breathe!

Update

Today, a family in our agency that went into PGN 3 days AFTER us got OUT today (and ironically, she has the same birthdate as Natalie)! Congrats A!! Hopefully, this means we are getting really really close. PGN is not consistent date wise, so you go more by weeks. So maybe we'll hear in the next week! Please God don't give us another PREVIO. Let our little girl OUT! Also, M, Natalie's foster sibling, is in the same week so hopefully he'll be OUT too this week!

HAPPY 6 MOS NATALIE!

Today my baby is 6 months old.  The time seems to have flown, yet take forever at the same time. Happy Birthday baby girl!  I'll see you on February 8th!  I hope it's the last time I have to give you back.

Today my friends C, R, J and I got OUT of PGN!  They had a rough ride in Family Court so I'm so glad to see them get through PGN without a KO.  WOO HOO!!  CONGRATS!! Sorry about your Packers last night!

Click below to see a slideshow (only 7 pics) of Natalie over the last 6 months...in order: 2 days old, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and now 6 months!

My Slideshow 1/21/08

Family Website

We started a Family website with blog and photo albums etc. on January 1. The boys are growing up so fast and I wanted to get it all down before I can't remember any of it! Enjoy our chaotic life!

http://web.mac.com/thenoreds

Surprise Visit!

Today we woke up with pics of Natalie in our inbox! She had a surprise visit on January 11. I'm so glad that she is feeling better! It is really too bad she is such an unhappy baby. How will I ever make her smile? :)

Life is Good!

Today 4 people in our agency got OUT of PGN!! I'm soooo excited, we are getting closer and closer! Two of my great agency buds, E and T are OUT and I just want to dance dance dance for them!

Also, today we learned our agency received the forms to register our files under the new process so those should be completed and filed next week! It's been a great day!

7 weeks in PGN....

President Colom

The Guatemalan inauguration was this past Monday on January 14. It seems as if the President and his wife are questioning whether the people who were sworn in to the CA under President Berger have their own agenda and are not looking out for the best interest of the child. Woo Hoo! Apparently, they are looking further into this and may suspend the new law or revamp or assign new people or something! I'm not sure how much that will matter to our case personally, BUT it may be a very positive move for the future of many Guatemalan children.

Here are some pics the FM sent me:

No News

No News is good news I guess - 6 weeks (9 total) in PGN. Probably another 3 to go if we don't get another previo. We know PGN is still moving because they are issuing both Previos and OUTS! I was so afraid it would come to a stand still, but it hasn't yet. It was a hard week because the people who were submitted on our original submit date of 11/8 all got out this past week. I'm happy for them but it's hard to know we could have been OUT.

The Central Authority (CA) will be the new body that governs adoptions in Guatemala - we are grandfathered in but all grandfathered cases must be registered with the CA. We've now learned the CA finally has a real office and that the personnel were all sworn in on Friday. We are hoping that this Monday, with the new Guatemalan President etc taking office that we will finally hear how we can register Natalie's file.

I am trying to make plans to go back for another visit in February. I so hope that will be my last visit before our pick-up trip.

A special congrats to a fellow FTCr who got OUT this past week after 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AND 12 DAYS IN PGN!!! I don't think I've been this excited to see an OUT ever! CONGRATS C, G and E!!!!

Natalie is Sick...

We got an email yesterday from our agency that Natalie had to see Dr. M. Looks to be a nasty respiratory tract infection and she has started antibiotics. I'm thankful it's not rotovirus or rsv, but still....poor baby.

One Year Ago Today...

we signed with our agency and began the process of adopting Natalie. I thought we were ready for a bumpy ride, but I really didn't have a clue, did I?

I hope next Jan 6 I am no longer posting on this blog because Natalie will be home chasing her brothers. I can dream can't I?

Westin Day 6 - Goodbye Again

We just dropped Natalie off once again with her FM (10 minutes early nonetheless WUWT?) Anyway, it was more sad than usual as ALL of us who were here for New Year's Eve (except the PINKS) dropped off at the same 10am time - so that would be something like 10 adults, 4 kids, and 5 babies. Boooohoooohoooo. :(

Here are some last minute pics...

WHAT I SAW WHEN I WOKE UP THIS AM..


A NOTE FROM BROTHER...




PRETTY GIRL...

Westin Day 5-New Year's Day!

Happy New Year!

We did the usual hang out at the Westin, then realized it was our last whole day and we better get some pictures in outfits! Natalie loves to play dress up (not)! Oh well, we got a couple of good shots. At the moment I am packing while David is hard at work in the casino.

We give Natalie back at 10am tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to come back for a long weekend over Valentine's Day - we'll see. I'm hoping that will be the last trip before final pick-up! Tomorrow everything is open and I so hope I don't hear that we received another previo.

PRETTY PRINCESS




"MI PRIMO" SAYING GOOD-BYE AS SHE WAS CHECKING OUT


I RULE (OUTFIT FROM GRANDMA BARB)




HAPPY VALENTINES DAY










DADDY'S GIRL


MOMMY'S GIRL


SILLY SMILEY GIRL

Westin Day 4 - New Year's Eve!

Obviously, I didn't make this one before midnight either - we party hard here at the Westin! We had an FTCr picnic with Domino's pizza in the Family Room and had a great time. The fireworks were literally all the way around the hotel - the big Xmas tree did not catch on fire like it has in past years. That's the reason most of us stayed up to midnight (this group barely made watching Times Square at 11pm). Oh well, it was worth it to see the fireworks (even kids shooting bottle rockets out of their cars as they drive by). We tried the local champagne (and the Westin gave mini champagne bottles and grapes in each of the rooms) and it was a little sweet but not to bad. We, of course, didn't get ours because David put up the Do Not Disturb during nap time. UGH.

Pictures...

PASSED OUT AFTER A PACHITA...


"MI PRIMO": A LOCAL LITTLE GIRL STAYING AT THE HOTEL FOR THE FESTIVITIES RAN AROUND ANNOUNCING THIS OVER AND OVER (MEANS "MY COUSIN"). SHE IS DYING FOR A "REAL" BABY SISTER AS SHE HAS TWIN OLDER BROTHERS...SO CUTE


HOLDING "PACHITA" ON HER OWN...


OUR SNOW ANGEL






PICNIC PARTY...












FTC GROUP (WITH 4 ADULTS AND 2 BABIES MISSING)...


BABY NEW YEAR




THE PARTY IS SOOOO OVER...