Our Adoption Journey

Friday, August 31, 2007

PA Countdown

It usually takes around 60 days from DNA notarization (12-13 weeks from DNA collection) to get Pre-Approval from the U.S. Embassy (pre-approval is the pre-approval of the U.S. Visa Natalie will need to enter the U.S.). This process used to take no time at all, but is now really slow as the U.S. is scrutinizing each application more closely to make sure nothing is amiss. We are hoping to have hers by Halloween and get into PGN before the holidays.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

It's a Match! Updated

DNA was taken from Natalie and her birthmom on August 18 and matched 99.99% on August 22. We didn't even know that it had been taken and we were really shocked when the results came in the mail today! The first hurdle has been cleared and about a million more to go.....

UPDATE: We received a report along with DNA pictures. The report is our agency interviewing the birthmother. It is very interesting and will be much appreciated by Natalie when she is older. I'm so very glad to have it. Below is a pic of Natalie getting her DNA taken.

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Friday, August 24, 2007

1 Month Medical Visit

Ok, an awesome agency I have...imagine my surprise as I sit her writing up my blog for our last day here and I'm so horribly sad...and then DING my email shows an email from FTC! Yep, the FM took Natalie straight over for her medical check-up and FTC already sent me the pics and report!

Dr. M reports:

Maria is doing well in the time since her last visit she is now much more interactive and I am told that she is now spending gradually more and more time awake and starts to notice her surroundings, shows active, symmetrical, purely reflex movement of arms and legs and will also move her head from side to side, when on her stomach she will very briefly lift her chin from the bed. I am told that she takes well her formula and is also receiving her ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found her in good health with no obvious physical or neurological abnormalities, her weight is 7 lbs 6 oz, length of 47.4 cms and head circumference of 33.4 cms

One of the 20 pics they sent!

Day 4 - The First Good-Bye

Today we had to hand Natalie back to her very loving FM. The First Good-Bye. The test to see if I could actually handle coming back and giving her back every month. It was hard, but our FM had it rougher as she had just handed baby "E" (Natalie's roomie) to her parents for good. I think it helped me to know how hard that was for her and that getting Natalie back tonight would help with the loss of E. I hope so. We did not stay for a long good-bye, a basic rush job hoping it would be easier. Then we went for the traditional retail therapy and bought a phone to use while down here. On the way back from the mall (yep, a real mall with even a Gap) and much to David's delight, they were opening a casino of sorts in our hotel (machine gaming and they were hauling in some blackjack tables)- I haven't seen David since. :)

As for the process, if anything has happened it's been in the background. I was kind of hoping they would come get Natalie for DNA while we were here, but it didn't happen. I believe she will be going in for her ~1 month check-up on Monday.

We have had a great time here, despite the political climate (and anti-adoption climate). The Westin has been nothing but polite and helpful. Guatemala is having elections here in a few weeks and things are, well, somewhat hostile. The current administration is actively against international adoption. UNICEF (who will no longer get a cent from me EVER) has offered $28 million dollars to build a public orphanage that does not do any type adoptions - believing that families should not put babies up for adoption and should keep them no matter what the circumstances. They believe if they are given up they are better off raised in an orphanage than being adopted out internationally. I don't even try to understand. You see lots of horrible stories about adoptions from here - babies switched, mothers coerced, etc. While I'm sure that there are a few instances of that, it is rare. You see the process we're going through - it's lengthy, it's intrusive and we get investigated by 2 different countries that are against it. And now not only do we have a DNA test done with baby and birthmom at the beginning of the process, but now the baby gets a 2nd DNA test at the end of the process to make sure it matches the first one. Don't see all that going on in domestic adoptions. OK, off my soap box. For now anyway.

It was fabulous meeting everyone we met here - good luck one and all!

Now for Day 4 pics of nuestra princesa:

Gotta Love Those Sleep Saks...