Here's some video from my May visit trip in Guatemala...

One Year Ago Today...

We accepted the referral of a tiny little baby girl! I can't believe it's been a year! I remember the day so well...we had just lost our 1st referral the day before, our agency called and told us we needed to be matched with another baby before the new Guatemala adoption laws began. We looked through the available children list, and there she was! She was the only available baby on the list, so we new she was meant to be ours. The last two years have been such an emotional roller coaster! One day getting disappointing news, then the next being excited about planning a visit...One day being upset over a kick out, the next forgetting all the bad things while in Guatemala seeing her for the 1st time...one day leaving her with a complete stranger and getting on a plane not knowing when we'd see her again, then finding out that she's finally coming home! Wow...I can't even put it into words. I know many of you reading this know the feeling all too well. This has been such an amazing experience for us, and I can't believe we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!


Here is a picture of Kya the first time we saw her face...Check out the "double chin"!

I just received an email from our agency. The attorney says he is hoping the birth certificate will be ready this week! I hope he's right. If we get the BC this week, we might be picking Kya up next month!!! If it doesn't come this week...next week will be nice too. This sounds much better than the 4+ weeks I thought it would be taking!

Some news...

The paperwork to get Kya's birth certificate was submitted on June 18th. I was thinking it would take 4 weeks to get. But today I got an email from our agency saying that the attorney may need some more paperwork. If I had to guess...this means he might have to resubmit it again and...another 3 or 4 weeks. Yep...I thought all the resubmitting would be over once we were out of PGN, but here we go again. We are just so overjoyed that she is ours and we've decided we can handle a few extra weeks:) But if I dissapear for a few days...you can find me at La Casa Grande in Guatemala City...JK. I wish! So for now, just like we have for the past 2 years, we wait... We are so close!!!


Here are a couple new pictures of Kya. I got them this week! I love the new "comb over". When I got these, I couldn't stop giggling. She's such a sweetie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYA ALEJANDRA!!!

I can't believe you are a year old baby girl! We are so excited to be bringing you home in a couple months! I wish we could spend this special day with you.


Here are some pictures and a video from the early birthday party we had for Kya a few weeks ago. I made the dress and bow. And yes...they spelled her name wrong on the cake. Enjoy!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!

It's definately a happy one here! Now that I have time, let me tell you about our week.

I called PGN Tuesday expecting to hear that we were still with the 2nd reviewer. The lady who answered said, "The case is finished review." I asked her if we were approved or had a Previo (kick out). She said, "Yes, a previo." I was very disappointed, but like I have said before, we know she will come home in God's timming, NOT ours. I emailed our agency to confirm the news. They said not to be supprised if we are because the majority of cases are getting kick outs. Then while I was working Thursday morning, I got a call from our agency. My heart dropped when I saw the caller ID. I knew they wouldn't call to tell me about a KO (they normally email me) I ran to the back of the building and answered the phone. She said that our attorney went to PGN to pick up our "rejected" file, but instead it said APPROVED!!! I was basically yelling in her ear "WHAT...WHAT...ARE YOU SURE? DID YOU SAY APPROVED?!!!" I must have asked her 5 times before it sunk in. I waited untill I was off work, picked up a fathers day card, and wrote inside, "We are OUT of PGN!!! KYA IS COMMING HOME!!!". Then I went to Philip's work and gave him the card. (he was outside with some of his co-workers.) He opened it up, looked at me and said, "No...are you sure?" I said yes and he literally got on his knees. I think everyone who was there thought something bad happened.

We are both so shocked right now. We thought we would be waiting another 8-10 months for Kya to come home. I know that God is doing this for Kya. She needs medical attention and the conditions she's living in are not helping. Now we are waiting for her birth certificate. It could take 4-6 weeks to get. Then we will bring her home about 2-4 weeks after that. So 6-10 weeks!!!! I cannot believe I actually know she will be home in 6-10 weeks!!!