Waiting for DNA sample to arrive at the lab...

It was supposed to get there yesterday, but the nice lady at the lab emailed me today saying it's not there yet. Hopefully it got there this evening. She is going to let me know when it does. I think this means we will be traveling the week of the 20th instead of the 13th.

Video from Kya's foster family...

Just LOOK at my baby!!! She is so beautiful! And so not a baby anymore! I'm guessing this was taken behind their house. I think that is the back wall of the house in the background.

The DNA test is DONE!!! And on it's way to the lab!

That's it!!!! It's all over now! The DNA was the last part of the process that my agency/attorney had a hand in. The lab should get the specimen today or Monday, then it takes about 5 business days to process. The lab then overnights the result to the US embassy in Guatemala City, and they will email us (PINK!) day or two later telling us when to come pick Kya up!!! It looks like we will be traveling the week of October 13th!!!

COME ON PINK!!!!!!!!

No DNA yet...

Someone was sent out to pick up Kya and Magda (Kya's foster mother) yesterday, but Magda was sick and couldn't travel...:( So they are going to try to do the test today. I hope Magda is feeling better. I probably won't have any info until tomorrow.

So, I guess it's back to decorating. I'm gluing tiny jewels to something in Kya's room and they are getting EVERYWHERE. I keep sweeping, but they just roll away and I can't find them. Philip is going to love finding them stuck to the bottom of his feet when he gets home..LOL. I'm also making curtains and painting a few pictures for the living room. The paintings are very..."original"...haha.

We have DNA authorization!!!

It is possible that the test could be done today! Our agency is waiting on a receipt from the lab, then they can bring Kya to get the test done! I hope it happens today, every extra day feels SO LONG.

We are almost finished with Kya's room. We're also doing some work to the Kitchen and living room. Then after that, I'm moving to the bathroom. I can't stop! Once We get started on one room, it makes the others look bad.

I'll post plenty of pictures once we're done.

KYA HAS HER PASSPORT!!!

The attorney got Kya's passport today! That means there's only one more step left and that's the final DNA test. This test is required by the US to make sure no baby switching is done during the adoptions. Don't worry...We are sure Kya is the same baby we've seen on every visit. It may take a couple weeks to get the test done, but once the results are sent to the US embassy in Guatemala, we will get an email telling us to come for our appointment and bring her home!!! I'm guessing we will be flying out on October 20th! It could be even earlier! This feels so unreal to be almost finished with this long and emotional process. I can't even emagine what life will be like without this adoption being somewhere in my mind 24/7.

I post as soon as I find something out about the DNA test!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, GUATEMALA!

Today is guatemala's Independence day. Guatemala has a very intersting history. Here's a short version...

The first proof of human settlers in Guatemala goes back to 10,000 BC, although there is some evidence that put this date at 18,000 BC. For much of that time, the civilization that developed there flourished, with little to no contact with cultures from outside of Mesoamerica. The Maya civilization dominated the region for nearly 2000 years before the Spanish arrived in the early 16th century, although most of the Great Classic Maya cities of the Petén region of Guatemala's northern lowlands were abandoned by the year 1000 AD. The states of the central highlands, however, were still flourishing until the arrival of the Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado, who subjugated the native states, beginning in 1523.

Guatemala remained a Spanish colony for nearly 300 years, before gaining its independence in 1821. It was then a part of the Mexican Empire until becoming fully independent in the 1840s. Since then, Guatemala's history has been divided into periods of democratic rule and periods of civil war and military juntas. Most recently, Guatemala emerged from a 36-year civil war, reestablishing a representative government in 1996.

WE HAVE KYA"S BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kya officially has our last name!!! WOW...this is HUGE!!!

The attorney is getting her passport Tuesday and he should be scheduling her 2nd DNA test. I'm guessing we'll leave in 3 weeks! I have some serious work to do on her room.

Update...

The attorney sent someone out today to get the BC. Hopefully they can get it in one day. I've heard that once the paperwork is submitted, they have to go back the next day to get the birth certificate. So, I'm thinking it's still going to be a few days. At least we have RENAP approval!!! I'm glad to be finished with them!

Good news...I think...

Ok...I'm not going to get too excited yet. Not until we have the BC for sure, but we got word today that the BC has been approved by RENAP and the attorney is going to bring it to Jutiapa (Kya's city of birth) and get it tomorrow! I'll post when I find out for sure.

PICTURES!!!

It looks like she might be walking on her own now! My baby is growing up!

Still no BC...

We're still waiting. It seems like it's taking forever. The crazy thing is...I feel really good about everything. Either I'm handling this really well, or I've finally lost it. I couldn't tell you. When people go crazy, they usually don't know it right?...Haha!

Seriously though...every day we get a little closer to bringing her home. So I can't complain...