Guatemalan Adoptions

We have received word that when the New Hague (International Adoption Law which UNICEF is dangling money at the current Guatemalan President for their own hidden agenda...It's a whole different story) is implemented in Guatemala, Adoptive Parents who are in process and have received their referrals no matter where they are in the process will not be grandfathered in. This means at least 3000 children will remain in Guatemala and not be united with their forever families in the US. What does this mean for the children. There will be no money for the Foster Mothers to take care of them during this time. When Vietnam became Hague compliant it took them three years so please remember the Adoptive Parents and the children in your prayers. I look at Christina while I writing this and am so thankful she is home with us but my heart aches for those who are in Limbo right now not knowing for sure what is going to happen. There is a petition going around for people to sign. If you feel in your heart to sign it that would be great. Here is the link: http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html

Sorry for such a late update!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Christina got sick after Maria's Birthday so I was living on very little sleep for a couple weeks. She developed hives on her face, arms and legs. She then developed a fever the next day and difficulty breathing due to her choking, coughing, gagging. Joe became so worried he decided we needed to take her in on Sunday night at 8PM and for Joe to want to bring someone to the Dr. you know it's time to worry. Well needless to say the Dr. at the ER was hopeless. First thing he said was that it was a heat rash from being outside, too much. For all of those reading, you know that we don't take her outside for a long period of time and now not at all. And second if she had a heat rash wouldn't it be where she is covered with clothing...which she didn't....not the parts that aren't covered...which is where the rash was. So we just nodded and said this to each other this was a waste of time. We then went to her regular Dr. and he said it was due to her allergies and not to take her outside until it snows. He ran all kinds of blood work which Christina great with and they all came back normal. With the fall harvest the allergens are horrible. We have noticed that when Joe holds her after being outside she gets runny eyes and starts coughing right away and now it's really bad for her. So we are staying inside and split shifting church. There is always someone staying home with Christina unless we know we will be inside with air conditioning and windows shut.

Here is a picture of her playing with her toys....we pile them in and she takes them out one by one... over and over again.

Here is a picture of our princessa's feet when she is drinking her bottle. She always has them crossed.

She decided her favorite place to be lately is in the back pack. She loves looking over our shoulder at everything we are doing:)

Happy 8th Birthday Maria

Yesterday was Maria's 8th Birthday. She is growing up so fast and is a second Mother to Christina. She is always there to help dust, clean, sort or take care of Christina. She had a busy birthday.

We first went to my Uncle Leon and Mavis' 50th Anniversary Party. Mavis and Leon are like my second parents. Their daughter Peggy and I were only 6 months apart in age so we are very close and were together alot. I remember spending a week every summer at their home. I had so much fun eventhough I was only 10 miles from home.

Mavis and Leon at their 50th Anniversary

When we got home Maria was able to open her presents. She got a sewing machine. She was so excited. She wants to patch everything in the house. The sewing definitely doesn't come from me. It comes from her Dad. Yes, Joe sews....or patches. He has a difficult time throwing things away so he patches everything. Maria also got two braclet kits. She has already made a list of people to make them for.

She also got a surprise when she went to bed. When she looked out her window she saw fireworks. Minneota was having their Boxelder Bug days and they were shooting off fireworks. We told her not many little girls get fireworks for their birthday.

Every child gets to pick out the cake flavor they like and then get to decorate it on their birthday. Maria was so proud that she was able to frost it herself and decorate it with very little help this year. Here is a picture.

One year Ago Today

One year ago today we got the phone call that would change our family forever. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. "Jean, this is Julie (EAC). I have a baby girl for you." At this point I went numb. I tried to find a piece of paper and a pen and write down what she said but poor Julie had to keep repeating it because I was shaking so bad. "Her name is Maria Fernanada(which she had to spell three times...yes my brain was working). She is three days old in the picture and weighs 6 lbs and is 18 inches long." "Would you like to see pictures." I said "Yes!!!". She then hung up to e-mail me pictures. Here is the first site of our beautiful daughter.

Here she is a year later. We are so in love:) Thank you Jesus for this beautiful blessing!!!