In PGN? I hope so!

Our case update today said that our attorney "was planning to enter" our file to PGN on Friday, 5/25. Now the REAL wait begins.....

Waiting for an update

I was waiting to post, because I was hoping that we'd find out that we were in PGN. We got our Pre-Approval on May 9 but we still don't have an update on our case yet. Sometimes, that's just how it works. It can be a little frustrating, not knowing what's going on....but we just have to have faith that the wheels are turning, even if we don't know it.

Have a great Memorial Day and hopefully we'll have an update later this week.

Visit Trip Recap

Sorry it took me so long to get the slideshow up. We took almost 700 pictures and it took me nearly all day yesterday to organize them and get pictures uploaded to publish in the slideshow. If I figure out how to do it, I'll upload a video as well.

So our trip was amazing...those kids are amazing. The foster mother and her two daughters brought them to us on Friday at 8:00 a.m. They were supposed to be there at 9:00 but were an hour early. Good thing we got up at 7:00! Once they left us alone with the kids, we just kind of looked at each other like "so what do we do with them now?" But it didn't take us long to figure it out.

I think everyone that visits says this, but I really felt like we bonded with them. We spent a lot of time holding them and Andi slept on me a lot during the day. We didn't plan it this way, but Neal ended up with Alex most of the time and I ended up with Andi. It just seemed easier on everyone that way. By the end of the trip, Alex would calm down quicker with Neal and Andi would calm down quicker with me. They already have such distinct personalities. Andi talks a lot and Alex laughs a lot. Well, Andi's not exactly saying words or anything, but she has lots to say.

They sleep in separate cribs and they went to sleep easily so that was definitely a plus. Our days started pretty much like this: we'd get up somewhere between 3:30 and 4:30 and feed and change them, go back to sleep for about an hour (we'd put them in bed with us then), get up and Alex would need changing again. I got the better end of that deal - I think Neal changed Alex about 20 times a day. He pees a LOT.

When the foster mom dropped them off, she told us that she fed them rice cereal but she didn't leave us any and didn't tell us how much or how and they seemed fine with the formula so that's what they got. She said they ate 5 oz every 3 hours, which was about right for Alex. He eats a lot more than Andi does - now I understand how he caught up to her. He also had more dirty diapers than she did - but my time is coming when they come home so Neal changed Alex's and I did Andi's.

So we'd play with them for a little bit, then they'd be ready to eat and sleep again. We pretty much repeated that pattern over and over for 4 days. It was easier in some ways than I thought it would be and harder in others. It was actually pretty easy (MOST of the time) to make them happy. They are generally very happy babies and smile a lot. They pretty much only cried to be fed, changed or they were tired. They do like to be held a lot, which I didn't mind. Not sure how that's going to work when we get them home since Neal is going to have to go back to work. But we'll figure it out.

We took carriers so we took them for a couple walks. They did great in them. Neal would take one or the other for a walk every once in a while while I stayed in the room with the other one, if they were sleeping or whatever. It was nice to be able to take them to the attached mall, so we didn't feel so trapped in the hotel. We got a few looks, but I never felt like there was any animosity. As for going on Sunday like I described a few days ago, I wouldn't know if I got any dirty looks because I just didn't look at anyone.

I have to admit, it was actually harder to give them back than I thought it would be. Anyone that knows me well knows that I'm really not much of a baby person. I mean, other people's babies are cute and all, but I just don't relate. It really is true that it's different with your own kids. I thought that after 4 1/2 days, and being utterly and completely exhausted, that I wouldn't mind so much giving them back. Boy was I wrong. I was OK up until I heard the knock on the door. We took them down to the lobby where the whole foster family was waiting for us. Mom, dad and two teenage daughters. They are a wonderful foster family for Alex and Andi. They obviously love them so much. That made it easier to give them back.

So that's the short version of our trip. We can't wait to go back and get them. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later!

We are home

Hi, we made it home just a little while ago. It's been a long couple of days and I haven't had a chance to do an update. I will post a recap of the visit tomorrow or Friday and will also post pictures. Adios!

Mother's Day in Guatemala

Happy Mother's Day! We have the babies to sleep now. We did their plaster handprints while they were asleep tonight. We bought two kits that are alike and so we labeled one "Alex" and one "Andi", thinking we wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Well, just like a boy, Alex made a mess out of his. There's NO mistaking which one is his.

We had another great day with them. They really seem to be bonding with us now and it's going to be hard to leave them. I hope they remember us when we come back.

Just a note to those of you that stay here during your visit and/or pick up trip - don't go to the mall on Sunday afternoon. Well, that is, unless you want to be stared at by virtually everyone and the place was packed. I don't think I have ever felt so conspicuous. I just tried not to look at anyone. And not to mention, there's the language barrier. That makes things even more difficult.

Well, we are waiting on room service so I am out for the day.

P.S. I tried to post a couple pictures, but I couldn't get them loaded. I'll try again tomorrow!

Day 2 - Neal's View!!!!

What did we get ourselves into????? It is day two and we are EXHAUSTED!! What I want to know is how do people with one child do it? There are no breaks and you are a constant performer, song writer, dancer and funny face maker. I have made some cooing sounds the last few days that I never knew existed (Marcy got a few on video). Just when Andi settles down, Alex is in an uproar. I try to hand off Alex to Marcy and she just hands me Andi. No really... It is more than I could ever imagine but they are soooooo worth it! I don't know how we are going to get through the first few years, but we will figure it out. I changed my first DIAPER yesterday morning!! Today, I am a pro! No, really I am! I can change a diaper quicker than Marcy. Alex and I tricked mommy into changing one of Alex's VERY NASTY ones (hehe). They are really a great pair... If they are upset, it is for only one of three things; hungry, sleepy or need changing (Marcy wanted me to add a fourth one, wants to be held). I have learned more in the past two days about children than in my whole life and I know that I (we) have only scratched the surface. OUR DAY BEGINS at 4:00AM (I mean 2:00AM) for a changing and rocking back to sleep (we sleep when they sleep). The feeding starts at 6:00AM and repeat the above steps 7 or 8 times every three hours and that's our day. We managed lunch between feedings and sleeping and live off caffeine. Room service is KEY in a country where almost no one outside the hotel speaks English (Que means "what" in Spanish - not the thing you open a door with). We MUST learn Spanish! Anyway... Alex and Andi are GREAT and we can't wait to get them home. They will be in our lives from now on and I wouldn't have it any other way. When everyone told me that they would (will) change your life... I understand how now and I have the utmost respect for anyone caring for or raising a child. Keep all of us in your prayers and may God bless ALL of the little children! - Neal, Marcy, Alex & Andi

Our first day with Alex and Andi

They are AMAZING! We're having so much fun just learning about them. Alex cries when he's wet or wants to be held. Which is a lot :) Take care of one of those two things and he is set. Andi is a bit more independent and even tries to hold her own bottle. She also wants to be held a lot too. I think we've totally screwed up their schedule already though. The foster mom said that Andi takes 3 naps and Alex takes 2 naps. Well, they've each already cat napped a few times today. We haven't yet ventured out of our room with them yet, but will hopefully this afternoon. Neal said he's seen a few people out with babies and talked to one couple that was on their pick up trip.

For those of you reading that are also adopting, I would definitely recommend Grand Tikal. Our driver, Benjamin, had a sign for us at the airport last night and was extremely helpful to us. We've had no trouble getting everything that we needed here as well. We have one crib and one pack and play. They don't sleep together so we needed two cribs. The foster mother said that they don't sleep together because when they do they both start moving around too much and hitting each other :) I have to admit, though, that the language barrier is a small issue. We definitely need to learn some Spanish before we come back. You should have seen us ordering at McDonalds last night...it was quite entertaining.

We are very blessed that Alex and Andi are being so well taken care of. It is obvious how much they enjoy them. The foster mother was there with her two daughters and they were all so nice. I asked if they wanted to get Andi's ears pierced (that is a sign of love here in Guatemala). I didn't see it but her girls were telling her yes, so I am glad I asked.

We've already taken a ton of pictures, but the internet here is really slow so I can only post so many at a time. I'll post more tomorrow.

We made it!

We are here in Guatemala. It has been a looooong day. We were in the Ft. Lauderdale airport for 8 hours today (we had to get our luggage and recheck it so we couldn't really leave) and we are just now settled in and have everything unpacked. We are getting the babies at 9 in the morning. I'll post an update sometime tomorrow. Good night!

And just when I thought my day couldn't get any better.....

We got another medical update and pictures today! How great is that? They are both doing extremely well and appear to be developmentally right on target!

Pre-Approval and Visit Trip

I haven't even finished my first cup of java yet but this has been a great day already! We got our Pre-Approval notices from the Embassy this morning. Yay!! One more step down. Now we are waiting for the social worker in Family Court to release their report so we can be entered into PGN.

We are leaving for our visit trip tomorrow. We are soooooo excited! I talked to our agency this morning - and the birth mother wants to meet us. WOW! That is huge - it doesn't usually happen. I am beyond thrilled that we get to meet her. But a little nervous too. I hope she likes us and I hope we give her a good feeling that we'll be great parents for her babies.

We are taking the laptop so check back over the next several days, I'm going to try to update this daily while we are there.