Could it be???

Well, after speaking with an attorney from Adoption Supervisors, he said that our file has basically just been sitting there and has not been looked at for 6 weeks!!! I was in shock. The guy at the civil registery wouldn't tell him why it hasn't been looked at. Again, I was in shock. So they said they would start working on it today, and for the attorney from AS to call back on Monday. Ok, great. They are starting to sound like our agency. Then......we get an email from our agency. It said that the registrar actually called our facilitator and said it's been approved by the mayor. He was just waiting to get the file back so he could make up the new birth certificate. This all sounds wonderful, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up because I've been crushed so many times with this issue. So on Monday, we will see if we have it. Then we can start moving forward again, get submitted to the Embassy, and start working towards coming home. Oh, that sounds so great. Thanks for the prayers. They are so appreciated!!!! And most importantly, THANK YOU GOD!!!!!

One month ago today

I arrived in Guatemala and picked up my beautiful baby girl from her foster mom knowing that I never had to give her back. Thinking back on that day, I never imagined that one month later I would be in Antigua with still no birth certificate. I am happy to say that at least I am able to still be here with her. She is an amazing child, and I feel like God has blessed me to allow me to be her Mommy. Izzie and I have gone through a lot trying to get adjusted to each other, but I feel like we are getting closer. She is such a sweet baby. Thank you, God, for letting me be her Mommy. Now, can we please, please, pretty please come home?????

Pray for today

I finally did it and made the call to Adoption Supervisors. For those that don't know who they are, it's a group of attorneys here in Guatemala that will help if you have problems with your adoption. I spoke with an attorney yesterday. He is supposed to send someone to Chinautla (the village where Izzie was born) and check on the status of the birth certificate. At that point he will know if he can help us any further. He will call me back today to let me know. Please, please pray that it is good news. I would love for them to be able to help us or tell us a way that we may get it faster. Izzie and I are so ready to come home!!! I also wanted to say that we had very minimal effects from Hurricane Dean. I think the only real thing was it was cloudy and colder here than usual. We got no rain or anything, which is even unusual because this is rainy season here. Thanks for all your prayers and support. I'll let you know what happens today!!!

Brandon is home, and we are ok

Brandon made it home yesterday, all in one piece. After he left yesterday, Izzie and I did a tour of some of the historical sites of Antigua. We learned all kinds of things. Izzie did great on the tour, except at the beginning. She wanted to talk while our guide, Elizabeth Bell, was talking. I had to take her out of the stroller and walk around with her. Since Brandon's been gone, she's looked for him. She's been really clingy to me again, I guess making sure I'm not going anywhere. We've just kind of hung around today. We went to eat at Pollo Campero for lunch. Izzie had a great time throwing bread. I've also been emailing the doctor at the International Adoption Clinic at UAB regarding her formula. I'm worried since she's not on a true formula she might not be getting all of the nutrients she needs. The doctor said that we are doing good by feeding her more solid food and made some recommendations as far as formula goes. For those of you who read this and are in the Birmingham and surrounding area, I really recommend them. The doctor is so helpful. Well, I'm going to try to post some pics from the past week. Enjoy!!!!

Look, Mommy. I unpacked my suitcase right after you packed it!!!
How many suitcases does one Izzie take?
Bye bye Guatemala City.
Mommy and me.
We got blankie, so we can leave now.
Hanging out at our new hotel Thursday morning with the dogs.
I'm in the stroller enjoying breakfast.
I'm eating/playing with my bread for lunch.

I'll try to post some of the pictures from yesterday later after I get them uploaded. Have a great day!!!

Brandon is heading home

Well, Brandon is leaving today to head back home. Please pray that he gets home safely. I'm going to miss him so much, but he really needs to get back to the kids. Just letting everyone know!!! We miss you, Daddy!!!!

Still no news

As frustrated as I should be, amazingly I'm not. We're really doing ok. It's going to be tough when Brandon leaves, but he needs to head home for awhile. We are both missing the kids terribly. I can't wait to see them again. It feels like it's been forever. It's getting more and more natural to answer questions in Spanish than in English. I may not remember English when I get home. Hopefully it will be soon. We miss everyone, and I can't wait for everyone to meet Izzie. She's so great. We put her in the Snugli and went walking today. She had the best time. She just sang and laughed. It was great. I've got tons of pictures to post, but I have a hard time on the internet here. I will post them as soon as I can. We'll keep you posted as best we can. Thanks for all the prayers!!!

The volcano erupted

No big deal, right? You see it a lot in Antigua. Volcano erupts, take a tour to the magma river, fun, fun. Well last night we watched it. Apparently the eruption was bigger than normal because CNN had an article about it today. Here are the pics from the eruption. Brandon took these on the terrace at our hotel. Enjoy.

Ok. I have several pictures of Izzie to post, but I'm on Brandon's laptop so I'll have to wait. Apparently I don't get a good wireless signal in our room, so we have to come sit out in the little square area. Izzie is enjoying herself, except for her schedule is terribly off. But she's not as board as she was in the other hotel because we can get out and see a lot of sights.

And a side note here. My grandmother told me she wanted pictures where Izzie and I are standing in front of whatever it is that Brandon is taking a picture of. I just want to say sorry, we were not standing in front of the volcano while Brandon was taking pictures:) I'll keep everyone posted as soon as we hear something about the birth certificate, and I'll try to post more pictures soon!!!!

Signing off for now

Ok, we're officially signing off for now. The next time you hear from us, we'll be in Antigua, Guatemala, one of the oldest and most historical cities in Central America. We'll let you know how we're doing after we get settled in!!!

Sorry to confuse...

Apparently my post was a little confusing. Brandon made sure I knew it. Let me clarify about the paperwork. The protocolo is the final adoption decree stating she's ours. We got the original copy of it yesterday so that we can leave the hotel. We have to have proof that she's ours so we don't get accused of kidnapping a child. Plus if we have to take her to the doctor or something, we have to have proof that we are her legal parents. Now, we are STILL waiting on the birth certificate. Our lawyer and facilitator went there Monday and was told to come back Wednesday. It's been the same game for almost 4 weeks. It's crazy. They still go everyday just to check on it. Our agency is full of apologies. They tell us that we got caught up in this at the wrong time. I, however, know that all of this is God's plan. Although I don't know what His plan is yet, I'm waiting to find out. I'm keeping an eye out for someone to share about Jesus with, or whatever the situation maybe. We thank you for your prayers. It's amazing the sense of peace that I have. I know where it comes from. Izzie is amazing. I will not be posting more pictures until tomorrow night or Thursday morning because I have packed the cord to upload the pictures. We'll tell you all about our new place when we get there. Thanks again, and until next time....

No more jailbirds!!!

We finally gained our freedom yesterday. We got the original of the Protocolo, which is the final adoption decree saying she is ours, and no one can take her away. We also got a copy of our PGN receipt where we exited PGN. It was great to see the papers that we've waited so long to get. We walked around in the mall. I bought Izzie a pair of white shoes to go with her white dress Pepper got her. Izzie was happy to get out. As we pushed her around the mall, she just sat there and watched everyone. I think she's going to be happier in Antigua where we can get out and do stuff. As far as that goes, tomorrow is the big day. They are coming to pick us up at noon tomorrow, 1:00 Alabama time, 2:00 Georgia time. It should take us about an hour to get there. We are also supposed to have breakfast with the foster mom and our translator in the morning, too. That will be the last time she sees Izzie, so pray that goes well. Alright, on with the pictures!!!

This is a picture of a final adoption decree. This is just the heading, and we took the number off just for security purposes.
Playing hard as she tries to keep herself awake.
Here is a picture from the other day. She was having a snack in her stroller.

There are all the pics I have for this morning. Stay tuned, and I'll be posting more as they come available. Have a great day!!!

I know, I know, FINALLY a new update

Hi, everyone! Sorry I having been "blogging" much. I was hoping that the next time I posted an update it would contain good news. Well, this does contain good news, but not about our birth certificate. We are still clueless as far as our birth certificate goes. There is no guess as to when it will be signed off on. We have met some really wonderful people on this journey that have tried to help us. So, on Wednesday we will be moving to Antigua. We found a little hotel that is owned by a guy from Tennessee. He has been extremely helpful. Antigua isn't too far outside of Guatemala City, and there a lot of adoptive families that foster there. I've already been getting advice from people who live in Antigua about where to eat and shop for things. It's also a very old, historical city so we'll get to learn some while we are there, too. I've been gone for 2 weeks, and it's really hard being away from the kids, family, our house, and just America in general. I really think God has put me in this place just so that I don't take the things He gives me for granted. It's just like going to Honduras. You come back a changed person. I'm definitely going to be like that. I already am like that. The only difference is, we have Izzie. She is such a gift, even with her temper. Yes, this girl has a temper. She does not like to hear no no at all. But she is so much fun, and I think the kids are going to love her at the stage she's at. So, on with the pictures.

See me crawl?
You can see my teeth really good in this one.
I still sleep funny.
I have a friend. We're playing with my shoes!
Please, please, please, Mommy? Don't make me pitch a fit.
Daddy's here!!!
Look! I got a cell phone before Mackenzie! Hey, Caitlin, I haven't broken mine yet!
Look at my outfit Grammy!
I'm swimming!

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures!!! I'll get more on here when we get a chance!!! Thanks for everyone's prayers!!!