Cintia is now ADOPTABLE!!!!! We retained custody and were granted adoptibility. Honestly, it was soooo hard and sooooo emotional. I wanted to throw up the entire time! I can't put in words what your mind and body experience when you know that you could lose your child in an instant...other than to say....I wanted this to be over and be safe at home with Cintia rather than nose to nose with strangers who carried our fate in their hands!!!! It is a long way from being over...actually we are now at a new beginning.
Please pray for the next step which will be the CNA (the folks in charge of all adoptions) to make the match between us and Cintia. Please pray that they accept us as her adoptive family and let us proceed with special needs status. International adoptions are still suspended. We hope to either be grouped in with some test cases that should proceed soon or as a special circumstance adoption in compliance with the Hague treaty. It is very complex but I will simplify it by saying that we will have to inch our way through the process not knowing what the next step will be until we take it. We also have no idea how long it will take. God does and we trust that He will walk us through it.
Gotta go catch my breath....I am physically and emotionally spent!!!
Blessings to all!
April
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Well...at least we would have been early!!!!
Since October, I have thought that our hearing is next Wednesday August 10th. My husband reminded me it is on the tenth... but that is next Tuesday. Sooooo, I changed our pre-plan of drivers, translator, and childcare to next Tuesday. Well guess what??? It is Wednesday the 11th! Thankfully, we would have been a day early! Having to be there by 8:30 a.m. means leaving our house by 7:00 a.m. because of traffic. So, we are really happy to only have to do it once on the right day!
We left our house today at 2:15 and arrived at the hotel at 3:15 (15 minutes early) because traffic was bad. Our attorney then showed up late because he forgot which hotel he told us and went to a different one. Thankfully he remembered and showed up a bit late. The meeting was very informative...specifically the date! He explained some things in detail of what we should expect next week and what we need to do to proceed after that. I will do my best to explain.
First and foremost, I was concerned that PGN would ask to delay the resolution again and ask for another hearing. They are notorious for delays so I sort of had that in the back of my mind. Our attorney reassured me that will not happen. He read our official court decree where the judge specifically stated that they had failed to do their job prior to the hearing in October when they were told to provide reports to the court regarding the search for the birth mother and family of Cintia. She put in the resolution that this hearing will be a final hearing, and if they don't provide the reports that she will file legal charges against them for contempt. On top of that, he spoke with them last week and the PGN apparently has done their job. They sent someone to each town mentioned on Cintia's birth certificate and no family has loooked for Cintia. There is also a registry that was started by the first lady (I believe...or some govn. entity) where orphanages register kids and where birth families can list their names when looking for a child. Again...Cintia's case was clear. Basically, the abandonment hearing should be a formality. Since our judge ruled in Cintia's favor in October, I don't expect that she will have changed her mind. She said that Cintia's rights have been violated and the only way to restore those rights is to enable Cintia to have a family through the process of adoption. The PGN attorney was the one who said no...not yet. Even if the judge rules in our favor and grants the adoptibility (which is the same as the legal abandonment), this does not start the adoption process. This court cannot do that. However, this is the court that determines custody which we fully expect to keep and they also grant adoptibility. Really good news was that once she is deemed adoptible (which means getting positive resolution in court on Wednesday) we have to wait 3 business days and the resolution will be completed. We can then submit it with our paperwork to the Central Authority or CNA (who does have control over the adoption). That will be when and where the adoption process can begin.
Back to court on Wednesday, we are suppose to present all of the specifics of Cintia's care to the court during the hearing in order to build a case. This will include a report from us and DVD to show some of the therapy and medical things Cintia has to do each day. This is not to convince them to let her be adopted by us but rather to impress upon the minds of PGN how important it is to support the adoption. Apparently, the CNA can ask PGN their opinion and it can help expedite the process for special needs or at least confirm the match of our family with Cintia. The CNA has to be the ones who match her with our family but they can ask for opinions from people involved in the case. Which brings me to how the process should move forward....we will be proceeding as a special needs case instead of a normal adoption under the new law. The new law is now published, but Cintia's case is too complex to really fit there. So for now, it looks like she will fall outside the new cases and outside the old cases as well (those are the ones that are being grandfathered in under the old law because they are adoptions started prior to Jan 1, 2008). International adoptions have not resumed although they were suppose to start around 40 test cases in July...yes last month. It did not happen...no surprise there. He said the laws that were just published were (by law) suppose to be published in 16 days and that was over 2 years ago ....they were just released. Ugh! Do you get the picture of how things run here????Sounds scary doesn't it? As a special needs case, Cintia will be considered as a special case adoption (something even the Hague treaty allows). This means that it will not be processed like an in country adoption or an international one. They require similar paperwork but the process is different as is the visa. His words to us today were that cases that medically don't compare to Cintia's have been approved as special needs, and for lack of a better way of saying it...this is a no-brainer in his eyes. He said not only would Cintia not have the financial and medical care she needs in Guatemala, but she would not have the love of our family who she has taken as her own. It would be cruel to take her at this point. He said the love we have for her is shown not only in how we have cared for her but our willingness to do whatever it takes to continue doing that. It is not going to be an easy process but it is one we can proceed with in faith....one step at a time.
In the same way we have walked through the last two and a half years, step by step we will move forward. Faith and patience.....that's all it will take! Faith to walk the path in front of us when we don't know the next step. Faith that Cintia will hang in there medically while we go through the process. Faith that God will guide the process and show us the way. We don't no how to do what has to be done....but God sure does and we are trusting Him to do it in His perfect timing!
Blessings!
April
We left our house today at 2:15 and arrived at the hotel at 3:15 (15 minutes early) because traffic was bad. Our attorney then showed up late because he forgot which hotel he told us and went to a different one. Thankfully he remembered and showed up a bit late. The meeting was very informative...specifically the date! He explained some things in detail of what we should expect next week and what we need to do to proceed after that. I will do my best to explain.
First and foremost, I was concerned that PGN would ask to delay the resolution again and ask for another hearing. They are notorious for delays so I sort of had that in the back of my mind. Our attorney reassured me that will not happen. He read our official court decree where the judge specifically stated that they had failed to do their job prior to the hearing in October when they were told to provide reports to the court regarding the search for the birth mother and family of Cintia. She put in the resolution that this hearing will be a final hearing, and if they don't provide the reports that she will file legal charges against them for contempt. On top of that, he spoke with them last week and the PGN apparently has done their job. They sent someone to each town mentioned on Cintia's birth certificate and no family has loooked for Cintia. There is also a registry that was started by the first lady (I believe...or some govn. entity) where orphanages register kids and where birth families can list their names when looking for a child. Again...Cintia's case was clear. Basically, the abandonment hearing should be a formality. Since our judge ruled in Cintia's favor in October, I don't expect that she will have changed her mind. She said that Cintia's rights have been violated and the only way to restore those rights is to enable Cintia to have a family through the process of adoption. The PGN attorney was the one who said no...not yet. Even if the judge rules in our favor and grants the adoptibility (which is the same as the legal abandonment), this does not start the adoption process. This court cannot do that. However, this is the court that determines custody which we fully expect to keep and they also grant adoptibility. Really good news was that once she is deemed adoptible (which means getting positive resolution in court on Wednesday) we have to wait 3 business days and the resolution will be completed. We can then submit it with our paperwork to the Central Authority or CNA (who does have control over the adoption). That will be when and where the adoption process can begin.
Back to court on Wednesday, we are suppose to present all of the specifics of Cintia's care to the court during the hearing in order to build a case. This will include a report from us and DVD to show some of the therapy and medical things Cintia has to do each day. This is not to convince them to let her be adopted by us but rather to impress upon the minds of PGN how important it is to support the adoption. Apparently, the CNA can ask PGN their opinion and it can help expedite the process for special needs or at least confirm the match of our family with Cintia. The CNA has to be the ones who match her with our family but they can ask for opinions from people involved in the case. Which brings me to how the process should move forward....we will be proceeding as a special needs case instead of a normal adoption under the new law. The new law is now published, but Cintia's case is too complex to really fit there. So for now, it looks like she will fall outside the new cases and outside the old cases as well (those are the ones that are being grandfathered in under the old law because they are adoptions started prior to Jan 1, 2008). International adoptions have not resumed although they were suppose to start around 40 test cases in July...yes last month. It did not happen...no surprise there. He said the laws that were just published were (by law) suppose to be published in 16 days and that was over 2 years ago ....they were just released. Ugh! Do you get the picture of how things run here????Sounds scary doesn't it? As a special needs case, Cintia will be considered as a special case adoption (something even the Hague treaty allows). This means that it will not be processed like an in country adoption or an international one. They require similar paperwork but the process is different as is the visa. His words to us today were that cases that medically don't compare to Cintia's have been approved as special needs, and for lack of a better way of saying it...this is a no-brainer in his eyes. He said not only would Cintia not have the financial and medical care she needs in Guatemala, but she would not have the love of our family who she has taken as her own. It would be cruel to take her at this point. He said the love we have for her is shown not only in how we have cared for her but our willingness to do whatever it takes to continue doing that. It is not going to be an easy process but it is one we can proceed with in faith....one step at a time.
In the same way we have walked through the last two and a half years, step by step we will move forward. Faith and patience.....that's all it will take! Faith to walk the path in front of us when we don't know the next step. Faith that Cintia will hang in there medically while we go through the process. Faith that God will guide the process and show us the way. We don't no how to do what has to be done....but God sure does and we are trusting Him to do it in His perfect timing!
Blessings!
April
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!
This morning I received an email by from my attorney, and praise God, I can tell it was actually him! They have closed their office, opening a new one, and don't have phones yet. They even closed their website. I still have no address, but I am assuming they have a very good reason for closing down a huge practice and making this move. Maybe safety????? Maybe financial reasons??? Don't know...but don't really care because we have our attorney!!!!! We are meeting tomorrow at 3:30 Guatemala time at a hotel in the city. Tons of traffic on a Friday evening but...we'll make it!
Today, we hope to go to a movie with the kids leaving Cintia here with Jessica for a trial time. We thought by inching her into the process of Jessica being with her most of the day without us, it will be easier when the time comes in a couple of weeks. I will update again tomorrow night with the results of our meeting.
Thanks for the prayers!
April
Today, we hope to go to a movie with the kids leaving Cintia here with Jessica for a trial time. We thought by inching her into the process of Jessica being with her most of the day without us, it will be easier when the time comes in a couple of weeks. I will update again tomorrow night with the results of our meeting.
Thanks for the prayers!
April
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Two weeks in Guatemala
Today is our two week mark. It seems that we have been here longer, but that is the way time is here. It just moves slower for some reason. The kids are doing great...just a little board because we have been staying busy getting the house together and getting Cintia situated. All the American kids are basically at home in the US for vacation. Everyone should start returning next week or the week after.
Cintia's new nanny started Monday. Jessica is beautiful inside and out, and Cintia really likes her. She has witnessed Cintia's temper (spitting included) and handles it very calmly. She knows what she is up against, and praise God she is eager to do her best with Cintia! Somedays we survive and other days we thrive....praying for smoother days ahead!
Now for the big news...drum roll please...we have hit a bump...not really a bump....more like a huge pot hole in road! We have a great attorney. Both he and his partner are completely ethical, Christian men. Having said that, suddenly I can't find them. Their website has been closed under construction. There email address is closed, our attorney's cell has been turned off, there is no one answering the phone at the only office number we have, ...shall I say "good grief" at this point? Last month, I finally got a response to an email. It came from an odd email address basically saying that many clients were not getting replies to their emails so a new email address was being used and the other would be closed. It was not signed by either attorney. I then got a personal response that was suppose to be from my attorney yet it wasn't signed with any name...and the spelling and grammar were not consistant with that of our attorney. I assumed he was having his legal secretary answer the email because he was busy. In the past, however, he would copy her and me and say she could help me with that information...and she would sign her emails. I know that the last time a friend of mine spoke with him (which was in June), he was traveling a lot inside of Guatemala working on cases. Since adoptions suspended at the end of 2007, many attorneys are struggling for work. Not struggling like the poor people of Guatemala, but struggling to keep their lifestyle. Without maintaining a higher level of lifestyle, I am sure they would not get to work with good clients....meaning those that pay and/or are safe to represent. I am honestly just guessing at "why" the above things are going on when honestly I have no idea exactly the circumstances we are facing.
I know that one week from yesterday we will show up at court with or without representation. I know that a friend of mine will drive to their old office address in the morning and see if they are there anymore. I know that I am choosing not to worry about all of this because I know that God has it all under control. I know that this is too big for me but not for Him. I know that by giving it to Him I can focus on what is happening today...like surviving life with a little girl who has bigger battles to face in her life than a court hearing next Tuesday. And those battles...well, they are the ones I can help her face today, tomorrow, and beyond. Why worry about tomorrow when today has enough worries of its own! Next week is huge for Cintia...it is the step that makes her adoptable and gives her a chance for a secure future....but we know who holds the future, right???? So no worries! He will WORK IT OUT!
Blessings to all!
April
Cintia's new nanny started Monday. Jessica is beautiful inside and out, and Cintia really likes her. She has witnessed Cintia's temper (spitting included) and handles it very calmly. She knows what she is up against, and praise God she is eager to do her best with Cintia! Somedays we survive and other days we thrive....praying for smoother days ahead!
Now for the big news...drum roll please...we have hit a bump...not really a bump....more like a huge pot hole in road! We have a great attorney. Both he and his partner are completely ethical, Christian men. Having said that, suddenly I can't find them. Their website has been closed under construction. There email address is closed, our attorney's cell has been turned off, there is no one answering the phone at the only office number we have, ...shall I say "good grief" at this point? Last month, I finally got a response to an email. It came from an odd email address basically saying that many clients were not getting replies to their emails so a new email address was being used and the other would be closed. It was not signed by either attorney. I then got a personal response that was suppose to be from my attorney yet it wasn't signed with any name...and the spelling and grammar were not consistant with that of our attorney. I assumed he was having his legal secretary answer the email because he was busy. In the past, however, he would copy her and me and say she could help me with that information...and she would sign her emails. I know that the last time a friend of mine spoke with him (which was in June), he was traveling a lot inside of Guatemala working on cases. Since adoptions suspended at the end of 2007, many attorneys are struggling for work. Not struggling like the poor people of Guatemala, but struggling to keep their lifestyle. Without maintaining a higher level of lifestyle, I am sure they would not get to work with good clients....meaning those that pay and/or are safe to represent. I am honestly just guessing at "why" the above things are going on when honestly I have no idea exactly the circumstances we are facing.
I know that one week from yesterday we will show up at court with or without representation. I know that a friend of mine will drive to their old office address in the morning and see if they are there anymore. I know that I am choosing not to worry about all of this because I know that God has it all under control. I know that this is too big for me but not for Him. I know that by giving it to Him I can focus on what is happening today...like surviving life with a little girl who has bigger battles to face in her life than a court hearing next Tuesday. And those battles...well, they are the ones I can help her face today, tomorrow, and beyond. Why worry about tomorrow when today has enough worries of its own! Next week is huge for Cintia...it is the step that makes her adoptable and gives her a chance for a secure future....but we know who holds the future, right???? So no worries! He will WORK IT OUT!
Blessings to all!
April
Monday, August 2, 2010
My apologies
Following a CRAZY week of moving in and much to do with little time, I have been a terrible blogger! We had no internet access this weekend nor the previous (besides a few seconds here and there) so we are looking to purchase a new router to eliminate the problem. Until then, we fall victim to technology once again. We are alive and well and I am planning a complete blog post tomorrow or Wednesday. Cintia's new nanny, Jessica, started today and tomorrow I will be teaching her how to do Cintia's therapy. In between I hope to have time to blog. Yesterday, I completed Cintia's medical report for the court...3 pages typed...and sent it to my friend to be translated before next week. Honestly, it had to come before blogging. We also have 5 more hours of an online class that we must complete (both Kenny and I separately) by next week so that our papers can be given to our attorney to submit (prayerfully) to the central authority as soon as possible. This is the next step for the adoption when the CNA (cental authority) approves a match between Cintia and us. We hope for that to be made in the coming months (yes grandparents...weeks would be better but I am trying to be logical here). Which brings me to the most important thing coming up....next week is Cintia's final abandonment hearing! Woo Hoo! We are ready for that...it means Cintia will be adoptable if everyone shows up having done everything they are suppose to. Any blip in the everyone and everything means going back into the book for another court date. This one took 10 months of waiting and it was the next available....so pray it goes off without a hitch!
Much more to come...gotta go feed the herd!
April
Much more to come...gotta go feed the herd!
April
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
We have arrived!!!!
After a host of goodbyes, we were Guatemala bound!!! It was very tough traveling with such a big crew, but honestly they couldn't have done better. Odie (our dog) immediately started wigging out at the airport so I brought out the acepromezine and gave him a half tablet that my awesome vet had precut for him. Within a half hour, he calmed down. Honestly, he was perfect! That says a lot for anyone who knows Odie. He is always calm and loving with us but completely neurotic when strange men are around. I am very proud to say that both he and Cintia did great. She was Sassy Sally this morning after having little sleep. She told us to put her back to bed 'cause she wasn't going. Needless to say, she changed her mind.
We are absolutely beyond exhausted after less than an hour sleep for me and the big boys and barely more for Kenny and the other kids. We can't even think now. We are going to bed!
I have to voice our frustrations with Delta. I am writing a letter to whoever you write letters to and I have never done that before. There is family friendly and there is Delta....we were appalled by their rudeness and lack of accomodations not only for us but other families. It was almost as rediculous as the price of our tickets!
More later!
Blessings to all!
April
We are absolutely beyond exhausted after less than an hour sleep for me and the big boys and barely more for Kenny and the other kids. We can't even think now. We are going to bed!
I have to voice our frustrations with Delta. I am writing a letter to whoever you write letters to and I have never done that before. There is family friendly and there is Delta....we were appalled by their rudeness and lack of accomodations not only for us but other families. It was almost as rediculous as the price of our tickets!
More later!
Blessings to all!
April
Monday, July 19, 2010
Whew....all done for now!
We just left the nephrologist where Cintia's blood pressure was 135/98....yes that's high. It came down a bit before we left but we need to watch it in the coming year. Her blood creatine is a bit high for her age. That is also an indication of renal disease. It wasn't horrible but not perfect. Her ultrasound obviously indicated renal disease. She has a urological problem called reflux that causes the urine in her bladder to go backwards when she pees before finally draining out....which can damage the kidneys causing kidney damage. This was the cause of Kenny's kidney failure in childhood. He ended up with a transplant at age 16. His kidney was given by one of my favorite people on the planet...his daddy. We all know that Cintia was abandoned and will not have access to a family member so we pray she will never get there. Anyway, back to the reflux. Treatment for most is prophylactic antibiotics. The nephrologist feels like we can skip that until she has her first UTI at which point it is an immediate necessity. Any fever at all....antibiotics, check her urine, and culture it. She is suppose to limit sodium, drink alot, pee alot, take no ibuprofen, and stay completely decompressed in her intestines. Thanks to our stay in Cincinnati she is good now since she is on total bowel management...prior to Cincinnati, it was just about as bad as you can get and unfortunately had been for the first 3 3/4 years of her life....which is not so good. We can't look back and have to look forward. Anatomically, she has bad intestines (words can't describe what her contrast studies look like). She is still not perfect in that arena but she is as good as she can get. Apparently, constipation causes physical obstruction to the kidneys which is added on top of the reflux she already has compounding the problem. I am sure that is a huge part of this picture.
What do we do now? We were given the go to leave for Guatemala. The sooner she is adopted the better. Everything we have done in the last few weeks is to be repeated if possible in Guatemala in 6 months and for sure next summer here (prayerfully with insurance to cover it). With insurance, the hypertension will be worked up unless resolved before then. Apparently....that is super involved and super expensive for the uninsured...but what isn't, right? If her reflux is still there, she will probably need surgery to correct it. If her blood values look worse, well.....it will be a lifetime of watching kidneys and decreasing damage the best we can. If her blood sugar truly is high and not just a fluke....well, let's just say her daddy said that it will not be a pretty picture for her to have kidney disease and diabetes.
All of this to say that everything is pointing towards renal disease of some sort. It doesn't mean she will lose all kidney function and need a transplant. It just means that we need to watch it. As my Granny would say, "It is what it is." Burying our heads in the sand will not help Cintia but adopting her and giving her full access to the best medical care in the world will. It also is a good indicator that she needs to take care of her body if it is going to take care of her. All of her medical problems traveling into adulthood will not paint a pretty picture....with early intervention, her life will be as good as it can be. None of us have perfect bodies. Kids with congenital birth defects have their own variety of "not perfect." They tend to have "syndromes" meaning that normally if one thing is drastically wrong that other things tend to go along for the ride. For Cintia that is what is happening. All of her problems are related to her time in her mom's tummy between 5 & 7 weeks gestation. Something went wrong and produced abnormal anatomy in several areas. Even her spinal cord lipoma developed during that time....which is the first thing we need to take care of when her adoption completes. It not only impacts her balance and motor development but has massive potential to produce urological problems. One step at a time.....and we will get her to where she needs to be.
Next blog should be from Guatemala on Wednesday!
Blessings to you all!
April
What do we do now? We were given the go to leave for Guatemala. The sooner she is adopted the better. Everything we have done in the last few weeks is to be repeated if possible in Guatemala in 6 months and for sure next summer here (prayerfully with insurance to cover it). With insurance, the hypertension will be worked up unless resolved before then. Apparently....that is super involved and super expensive for the uninsured...but what isn't, right? If her reflux is still there, she will probably need surgery to correct it. If her blood values look worse, well.....it will be a lifetime of watching kidneys and decreasing damage the best we can. If her blood sugar truly is high and not just a fluke....well, let's just say her daddy said that it will not be a pretty picture for her to have kidney disease and diabetes.
All of this to say that everything is pointing towards renal disease of some sort. It doesn't mean she will lose all kidney function and need a transplant. It just means that we need to watch it. As my Granny would say, "It is what it is." Burying our heads in the sand will not help Cintia but adopting her and giving her full access to the best medical care in the world will. It also is a good indicator that she needs to take care of her body if it is going to take care of her. All of her medical problems traveling into adulthood will not paint a pretty picture....with early intervention, her life will be as good as it can be. None of us have perfect bodies. Kids with congenital birth defects have their own variety of "not perfect." They tend to have "syndromes" meaning that normally if one thing is drastically wrong that other things tend to go along for the ride. For Cintia that is what is happening. All of her problems are related to her time in her mom's tummy between 5 & 7 weeks gestation. Something went wrong and produced abnormal anatomy in several areas. Even her spinal cord lipoma developed during that time....which is the first thing we need to take care of when her adoption completes. It not only impacts her balance and motor development but has massive potential to produce urological problems. One step at a time.....and we will get her to where she needs to be.
Next blog should be from Guatemala on Wednesday!
Blessings to you all!
April
Friday, July 16, 2010
Results are in...sort of
Cintia does have reflux into one of her ureters. It looks like grade 1 which is not horrible but it refluxed all the way up. Before our trip to Cincinnati, I am sure it was much worse. With the abnormal ultrasound, it may mean she has damaged her kidneys but I will know more once we see her doctor. We now get to see the nephrologist again on Monday. He wants us to come in...dang it...and that was to be a home all day packing day. This is obviously more important so it will come first and packing will happen all night long....Mama's gonna be tired! Her lab looked okay but her glucose was high....what's up with that? Don't want to add diabetes into the picture. Hopefully it is something we can just recheck down the road and it will be okay too. Her urine culture was positive but they think it might have been contaminated. They threw out the urine from the cath today so now we get to try again to get a clean catch...next to impossible for her but we will give it a go. We didn't recheck her blood pressure because it would have definitely been high today because she was in a good bit of pain. It took about 6 times to get her cath in...several catheters later, the urologist came down and got it in on his second attempt...yes even he missed the first time. Anatomically, it was a huge challenge but in the end...he got it. She was peeing blood when it was over but at least it was over! Bless her heart, she just has the toughest time it seems. If it's not one thing, it's another.
I will update again on Monday once we have confirmation about where we go from here. I am assuming she will require prophylactic antibiotics. Reflux before age 6 causes most of the damage to the kidneys...which is permanent damage. So if he says antibiotics, we'll give them. I think we will still be good to go for a year but we'll have to wait to make sure on Monday.
Thanks for checking on Cintia!
Blessings to all!
April
I will update again on Monday once we have confirmation about where we go from here. I am assuming she will require prophylactic antibiotics. Reflux before age 6 causes most of the damage to the kidneys...which is permanent damage. So if he says antibiotics, we'll give them. I think we will still be good to go for a year but we'll have to wait to make sure on Monday.
Thanks for checking on Cintia!
Blessings to all!
April
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Long and Short of it is....
We get to have more tests! The nephrologist was not overwhelmed with the ultrasound report if everything else checks out....if it does, we are good for a year at which time we will redo the ultrasound and labs. Her blood pressure was high today but he thinks it is may be rebounding from some medication she is taking. She has already been without it for 2 days and he wants her off a few more to see if it comes down. Blood pressure and renal function go together. Bad kidneys produce high blood pressure and high blood pressure damages kidneys. So we will follow that. If it is the same or still a little high, we will probably still be able to watch it for another year. God gives us just what we need....a year ought to do it!
Today she had a list of blood work...everything you want to know about kidney health...and a urine culture. She is scheduled for a VCG (voiding cystourethrogram) on Friday which will check for reflux into the kidneys. If she passes the tests, we are good for the year. If she fails any of the above, I don't know what we will have to do. We will cross that bridge when we get there. If she has mild reflux, she will probably do prophylactic antibiotics until she doesn't have it anymore. If she has significant reflux, she will probably require surgery to correct it....prayerfully waiting until next summer. He definitely thinks the spinal cord issue needs to be taken care of. One more confirmation of "Neurosurgery...here we come and we need to come soon!" It is probably contributing to many issues. He was very happy to know she had lost somewhere between 4 and 6 pounds in the last month. She was down to 34 pounds which he says is still above her height on the growth chart so she could still lose a little and be okay.
He agrees that she needs to keep her weight down...it would not help her blood pressure or kidneys...or anything else for that matter. He saw the huge dilemma we are facing with absolutely no family history. Abandoned kids don't have access to that unfortunately...and she never will. Many of her issues are much easier to diagnose with a family history but we will just have to feel our way through it.
Tomorrow she has 3 medical appointments and a final one on Friday. Prayerfully, that will wrap it up US side of things. I will update again on Friday after her test and blood pressure check. Her labs ought to be back too so we should have answers at that time.
Blessings!
April
Today she had a list of blood work...everything you want to know about kidney health...and a urine culture. She is scheduled for a VCG (voiding cystourethrogram) on Friday which will check for reflux into the kidneys. If she passes the tests, we are good for the year. If she fails any of the above, I don't know what we will have to do. We will cross that bridge when we get there. If she has mild reflux, she will probably do prophylactic antibiotics until she doesn't have it anymore. If she has significant reflux, she will probably require surgery to correct it....prayerfully waiting until next summer. He definitely thinks the spinal cord issue needs to be taken care of. One more confirmation of "Neurosurgery...here we come and we need to come soon!" It is probably contributing to many issues. He was very happy to know she had lost somewhere between 4 and 6 pounds in the last month. She was down to 34 pounds which he says is still above her height on the growth chart so she could still lose a little and be okay.
He agrees that she needs to keep her weight down...it would not help her blood pressure or kidneys...or anything else for that matter. He saw the huge dilemma we are facing with absolutely no family history. Abandoned kids don't have access to that unfortunately...and she never will. Many of her issues are much easier to diagnose with a family history but we will just have to feel our way through it.
Tomorrow she has 3 medical appointments and a final one on Friday. Prayerfully, that will wrap it up US side of things. I will update again on Friday after her test and blood pressure check. Her labs ought to be back too so we should have answers at that time.
Blessings!
April
One week to go!
In one week from today, we will arrive as a family in Guatemala. The kids are excited. Cintia and Odie (our dog) are stressed beyond measure with all the changes. Kenny and I are taking it minute by minute.
My friend Stanley flew in from Guatemala last week and left on Friday with our mini-van loaded with therapy equipment for Cintia and a few other things we fit in. He left on Friday and was at the border of Texas and Mexico last night. Prayerfully, he will cross the border this morning and be on his way so that he will arrive in Guatemala in time to pick us up at the airport. Please pray for his safety. It is a very dangerous trip...one that he takes often, bu nevertheless very dangerous. He means much more to me than the car although it would be nice for my car to arrive safely too. He has two borders to cross and has to deal with taxes so please pray for mercy and that the folks holding their hand out for money are reasonable. Many times they are not. So please pray for Stanley as he travels.
Cintia had a perfect dental checkup yesterday. Praise God! A baby who drank chocolate milk in a bottle and juices too numerous to count, probably didn't have her teeth brushed prior to my "gotcha" day with her, and still drinks no milk....has absolutely perfect teeth! Yeah!!!!
We have hit a major bump for Cintia. In order to save time because I have less than zero minutes to spare and 4 medical visits in the next two days plus the potential for many more after today's visit, I will simply cut and past from an email to Granny Hayman regarding Cintia's new health issue (not really new but we just found out about it).
"Not to worry you, but Cintia had a renal ultrasound done on Wednesday. I learned a lot in Cincinnati and one thing was in regards to renal function. Many of these kids end up in renal failure needing transplants and never know it until their teens. Her doc had requested the ultrasound and we thought she was fine having had a normal ultrasound 2 yrs prior. After the trip and having witnessed several families of little ones get bad news on their kids regarding kidney health, we decided to get an ultrasound. We were going to do it in Guatemala and send it back but due to a day where she screamed and couldn't pee (probably a spasm) we took her in. The pediatrician said he would like to do the scan here and have Dr. Burton read it (....the best radiologist around for reading peds US). Well, the long and short of it is she looks to have renal disease. Not severe at this point but not what we wanted to hear. Soooo, we are seeing a peds nephrologist next week. I will call you with the results of that visit. We don't expect to have to do much now unless it is medication. We may just need to keep an eye on it. Good news is that there are good nephrologists in Guate (some US trained) and they even do transplants...although we would never consider doing that there nor is she in need of one. I'm just saying that this is something we can follow there with good doctors and get on with her adoption rather than wait..... because this baby needs insurance and she needs to be a US citizen ASAP! I am also going to ask her judge to write another letter to the embassy to keep her health visa open in case we need to bring her out should things change for her medically. Even if it requires putting the adoption on hold for a few weeks, it will give us the peace of mind to know we could get her out should she get sick. I think it is something that everyone including her judge will agree on. "
That's sort of it in a nutshell. We know nothing except she has kidneys that appear abnormal...both of them indicating some kind of intrinsic renal disease. We see the nephrologist today and will get the "where do we go from here" talk and hopefully walk out reassured once more that God has revealed this in His perfect timing and life will move forward. We also got a call from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. My pediatrician called every major hospital within 150 miles (I do believe) because getting a consult with a specialists with a 1 1/2 week time span seemed undoable. He explained the crisis and we were able to get into a pediatric nephrologist here in Chattanooga. Vanderbilt also agreed to work her in. They were super on the phone and said if Dr. Subterli needs to refer her on to them (meaning it is something severe that can't be managed in Chattanooga) that they will work her in. God is good!
Gotta go...but I will post the results of the visit today. It will probably be a cut and paste from an email to grandparents who are eagerly awaiting the results...but at least I will post something. Because after today and tomorrows medical visits and 2 full days and evenings of swim meets, the Haymans are in mad packing mode. Computers, electronic devices, and phones will shut off in order to pack for our move and trying to plan for what we will need in the coming year.
One last request...please pray for our parents and my grandmother. This is super tough on them and I can't stay strong when people are sad...particularly when there are tears. We have more to do than can get done and need to focus on the task of getting to Guatemala next week and can't stop long enough to love on our family and friends as much as we want too. (In the middle of typing this, Kenny called and said Payton needs 2 fillings and they wanted to do them next Tuesday. I said no. Today or tomorrow or we must wait.....they are not decay just crevices that can cause decay if they are not filled.) Oh boy...one more thing....oh one more thing....oh one more thing....that keeps happening! Pray that we start working our way down to one less thing....one less thing. That would be great! (Excuse all rambling and errors in grammar...no time to edit today!)
Blessings!
April
My friend Stanley flew in from Guatemala last week and left on Friday with our mini-van loaded with therapy equipment for Cintia and a few other things we fit in. He left on Friday and was at the border of Texas and Mexico last night. Prayerfully, he will cross the border this morning and be on his way so that he will arrive in Guatemala in time to pick us up at the airport. Please pray for his safety. It is a very dangerous trip...one that he takes often, bu nevertheless very dangerous. He means much more to me than the car although it would be nice for my car to arrive safely too. He has two borders to cross and has to deal with taxes so please pray for mercy and that the folks holding their hand out for money are reasonable. Many times they are not. So please pray for Stanley as he travels.
Cintia had a perfect dental checkup yesterday. Praise God! A baby who drank chocolate milk in a bottle and juices too numerous to count, probably didn't have her teeth brushed prior to my "gotcha" day with her, and still drinks no milk....has absolutely perfect teeth! Yeah!!!!
We have hit a major bump for Cintia. In order to save time because I have less than zero minutes to spare and 4 medical visits in the next two days plus the potential for many more after today's visit, I will simply cut and past from an email to Granny Hayman regarding Cintia's new health issue (not really new but we just found out about it).
"Not to worry you, but Cintia had a renal ultrasound done on Wednesday. I learned a lot in Cincinnati and one thing was in regards to renal function. Many of these kids end up in renal failure needing transplants and never know it until their teens. Her doc had requested the ultrasound and we thought she was fine having had a normal ultrasound 2 yrs prior. After the trip and having witnessed several families of little ones get bad news on their kids regarding kidney health, we decided to get an ultrasound. We were going to do it in Guatemala and send it back but due to a day where she screamed and couldn't pee (probably a spasm) we took her in. The pediatrician said he would like to do the scan here and have Dr. Burton read it (....the best radiologist around for reading peds US). Well, the long and short of it is she looks to have renal disease. Not severe at this point but not what we wanted to hear. Soooo, we are seeing a peds nephrologist next week. I will call you with the results of that visit. We don't expect to have to do much now unless it is medication. We may just need to keep an eye on it. Good news is that there are good nephrologists in Guate (some US trained) and they even do transplants...although we would never consider doing that there nor is she in need of one. I'm just saying that this is something we can follow there with good doctors and get on with her adoption rather than wait..... because this baby needs insurance and she needs to be a US citizen ASAP! I am also going to ask her judge to write another letter to the embassy to keep her health visa open in case we need to bring her out should things change for her medically. Even if it requires putting the adoption on hold for a few weeks, it will give us the peace of mind to know we could get her out should she get sick. I think it is something that everyone including her judge will agree on. "
That's sort of it in a nutshell. We know nothing except she has kidneys that appear abnormal...both of them indicating some kind of intrinsic renal disease. We see the nephrologist today and will get the "where do we go from here" talk and hopefully walk out reassured once more that God has revealed this in His perfect timing and life will move forward. We also got a call from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. My pediatrician called every major hospital within 150 miles (I do believe) because getting a consult with a specialists with a 1 1/2 week time span seemed undoable. He explained the crisis and we were able to get into a pediatric nephrologist here in Chattanooga. Vanderbilt also agreed to work her in. They were super on the phone and said if Dr. Subterli needs to refer her on to them (meaning it is something severe that can't be managed in Chattanooga) that they will work her in. God is good!
Gotta go...but I will post the results of the visit today. It will probably be a cut and paste from an email to grandparents who are eagerly awaiting the results...but at least I will post something. Because after today and tomorrows medical visits and 2 full days and evenings of swim meets, the Haymans are in mad packing mode. Computers, electronic devices, and phones will shut off in order to pack for our move and trying to plan for what we will need in the coming year.
One last request...please pray for our parents and my grandmother. This is super tough on them and I can't stay strong when people are sad...particularly when there are tears. We have more to do than can get done and need to focus on the task of getting to Guatemala next week and can't stop long enough to love on our family and friends as much as we want too. (In the middle of typing this, Kenny called and said Payton needs 2 fillings and they wanted to do them next Tuesday. I said no. Today or tomorrow or we must wait.....they are not decay just crevices that can cause decay if they are not filled.) Oh boy...one more thing....oh one more thing....oh one more thing....that keeps happening! Pray that we start working our way down to one less thing....one less thing. That would be great! (Excuse all rambling and errors in grammar...no time to edit today!)
Blessings!
April
Monday, June 21, 2010
Oh my word!
So much has happened since my last post! My trip to Guatemala got delayed a couple of days due to nothing less than a volcanic eruption! Ash covered the city and airplanes couldn't land nor take off. Following the eruption were several small earthquakes, a tropical storm that took out much of the infrastructure of the country, and yet another eruption by Volcan Pacaya! I hiked that volcano once with Trey...didn't like it then and definitely don't like it now!
I arrived late and behind schedule to a house covered by black ash and filth. The outside had been semi-cleaned but the inside was unbelievably filthy! I soon discovered a 3 ft by 2 ft. metal door in my basement/garage floor that leads to nothing other than....get this and definitely hold your breath... an underground cistern.... yes that is an underground or rather under my floor well!!!! Yes a water well under the garage with a freely opening hinged door that any 2 yr old could open.....and I have Cintia....a child who ignores all boundaries! I honestly had my melt-down "What the heck am I doing" moment about that time. Overwhelmed and not dealing well with 2 days of no sleep, I finally found sheets to cover up with and crawled into a bed. I literally left it all with the Lord that night...telling Him that He promises that joy will come in the morning and I was counting on it! Sure enough, in the morning I began to deal with the house as I have with everything else concerning the last two years...one baby step at a time. By the end of my stay, my horrible "how can I live here" house became my home. It truly will be in one month from today because that is when our family will arrive there. Home is where your heart is and my heart belongs to a special 6-pack (ages 3 to 16) and a special husband of 19 yrs. Grandparents and parents hold the remaining piece so my home is to be spread out for the next year. (Needless to say, blogging during that trip was not an option. I never stopped moving long enough to type!)
Now our house is furnished and our tickets are purchased for July 21 (for all 8 of us and the dog). It looks like we will not get to visit home for the coming year. It is just too expensive. Tickets were almost $900 a piece and since the return trip can be extended until the middle of June 2011, we will wait and return then with the kids. I will have to go back to Guatemala and close down house (assuming we are ready to come home). If we still need to stay in Guatemala longer, we will make a visit home then and purchase new tickets to return. One of us will be going off to college so would not need a return ticket either way. Can't believe my oldest baby will graduate next May! Soooooo.....Christmas will be celebrated in Guatemala for 2010. I am sure it will be great!
That brings us up to where we are now..... currently in Cincinnati (Cintia, McKenna, and myself) and we are at the place our girl needs to be....Cincinnati Children's Hospital! Having said that, it has been an unbelievably difficult and hard to face part of this journey for each of us. Cintia has had a rough go and honestly it has been equally as rough for me. Our week and a half stay is probably going to be extended because we are offered an unusual treatment option by Dr. Pena who is the ultimate specialist in his field. I think he realizes the implications of Cintia not being able to return for some time and is letting us move on to phase two after a quick phase one...knowing that if we fail with phase two, we can fall back to phase one immediately. Normally, it is mandatory to have a minimum of 6 months in phase one before progressing. Don't get me wrong, both phases are brutal but phase two seems better for Cintia. It was time to move forward and one phase or the other is necessary if that is going to happen. God doesn't promise that life willl be easy but He does promise to go through each and every step with us. Good news of the week is that we were given encouraging reports for Cintia's longterm prognosis and were told she has a perfect surgical repair! We knew that already...Dr. Angel is the best...but isn't it encouraging to hear a world renowned expert confirm that. I can't wait to see Dr. A and tell him. We were also advised that little missy needs a small surgical procedure before we leave for Guatemala. We are going to confirm with another specialist before we leave Cincinnati but it is something Dr. Angel can do for Cintia in Knoxville.
Well, that's it for now. I will try to do better with blogging.....I've said that before, haven't I?
Blessings!
April
I arrived late and behind schedule to a house covered by black ash and filth. The outside had been semi-cleaned but the inside was unbelievably filthy! I soon discovered a 3 ft by 2 ft. metal door in my basement/garage floor that leads to nothing other than....get this and definitely hold your breath... an underground cistern.... yes that is an underground or rather under my floor well!!!! Yes a water well under the garage with a freely opening hinged door that any 2 yr old could open.....and I have Cintia....a child who ignores all boundaries! I honestly had my melt-down "What the heck am I doing" moment about that time. Overwhelmed and not dealing well with 2 days of no sleep, I finally found sheets to cover up with and crawled into a bed. I literally left it all with the Lord that night...telling Him that He promises that joy will come in the morning and I was counting on it! Sure enough, in the morning I began to deal with the house as I have with everything else concerning the last two years...one baby step at a time. By the end of my stay, my horrible "how can I live here" house became my home. It truly will be in one month from today because that is when our family will arrive there. Home is where your heart is and my heart belongs to a special 6-pack (ages 3 to 16) and a special husband of 19 yrs. Grandparents and parents hold the remaining piece so my home is to be spread out for the next year. (Needless to say, blogging during that trip was not an option. I never stopped moving long enough to type!)
Now our house is furnished and our tickets are purchased for July 21 (for all 8 of us and the dog). It looks like we will not get to visit home for the coming year. It is just too expensive. Tickets were almost $900 a piece and since the return trip can be extended until the middle of June 2011, we will wait and return then with the kids. I will have to go back to Guatemala and close down house (assuming we are ready to come home). If we still need to stay in Guatemala longer, we will make a visit home then and purchase new tickets to return. One of us will be going off to college so would not need a return ticket either way. Can't believe my oldest baby will graduate next May! Soooooo.....Christmas will be celebrated in Guatemala for 2010. I am sure it will be great!
That brings us up to where we are now..... currently in Cincinnati (Cintia, McKenna, and myself) and we are at the place our girl needs to be....Cincinnati Children's Hospital! Having said that, it has been an unbelievably difficult and hard to face part of this journey for each of us. Cintia has had a rough go and honestly it has been equally as rough for me. Our week and a half stay is probably going to be extended because we are offered an unusual treatment option by Dr. Pena who is the ultimate specialist in his field. I think he realizes the implications of Cintia not being able to return for some time and is letting us move on to phase two after a quick phase one...knowing that if we fail with phase two, we can fall back to phase one immediately. Normally, it is mandatory to have a minimum of 6 months in phase one before progressing. Don't get me wrong, both phases are brutal but phase two seems better for Cintia. It was time to move forward and one phase or the other is necessary if that is going to happen. God doesn't promise that life willl be easy but He does promise to go through each and every step with us. Good news of the week is that we were given encouraging reports for Cintia's longterm prognosis and were told she has a perfect surgical repair! We knew that already...Dr. Angel is the best...but isn't it encouraging to hear a world renowned expert confirm that. I can't wait to see Dr. A and tell him. We were also advised that little missy needs a small surgical procedure before we leave for Guatemala. We are going to confirm with another specialist before we leave Cincinnati but it is something Dr. Angel can do for Cintia in Knoxville.
Well, that's it for now. I will try to do better with blogging.....I've said that before, haven't I?
Blessings!
April
Friday, May 7, 2010
I'm back!
I am getting ready for a trip to Guatemala in 3 weeks to move in our new home! I have to furnish said house (see above picture) including purchasing appliances, sheets, blankets, towels, eating utensils, and on and on.....) in preparation to bring the kids in July for the Big Move! I am very excited yet a little concerned....not worried...about how it will all get done. We have had a busy month and June will be busier with me in Guatemala the first part and in Cincinnatti through the end of the month. Cintia is going to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for their total bowel management program...they are experts in cases like Cintia's. She has several procedures scheduled when we arrive then daily clinic for 8 days. This will let us know more about what we are dealing with in the long term and how we can manage it now. It will not be a fun trip for any of us but we will make the most of it.
My next post will be longer and hopefully will occur within the week (but don't hold your breath)! Once in Guatemala on June 2, I will post daily if I have internet....and I should have it. I will be traveling alone and staying in our new home alone (well, technically God is there as He always is) so prayers for safety would be appreciated.
Blessings!
April
PS If you are still there reading this, could you leave a quick "still here" comment so I can see who is still checking? I may need to email friends and family to let them know I am back on the blog. Many things coming up that we can sure use prayers for!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
We're home!
It's Sunday morning...1:25 a.m. and I'm beat! After a couple hours sleep, it has has been a long day. I traveled with the wild child and McKenna...excuse me, I mean "my sweet Cintia" and McKenna. Exhausting! McKenna is a trooper! She tolerates the meanness very well (not that it would change anything if she didn't tolerate it). Eventually, we will get a hold on the hitting and pinching...eventually the spitting...and the sassy mouth...well that one will take a while!
Our visa is a one year multi-entry visa expiring mid October 2010 (that was our ticket out of Guatemala). Her visa entry stamp (her ticket for how long she can stay in the country without filing an extension or leaving the country and re-entering for a new date stamp took a little work. The guy at immigration could only give 6 months...his supervisor could only give 6 months...and dang it...I did not want to have to file upteen thousand pages of paperwork and pay $300 for an extension. Soooooo...I was given the option of doing an appeal to the higher ups. So the girls and I went in the room with other folks who either didn't keep their immigration record clean or were begging for something like us. The guy who got our paperwork asked anther guy who said it had to go higher up. Finally, a very nice older gentleman said, "She's only 3 years old...no problem....give her 12 months. If you need longer, file an extension. " Apparently if she had been school age, it might have been different. Anyway....all went well.
I am going to bed. Kenny should be here in another hour. I have lots to share from the last couple of days with some great pictures but it will have to wait until later.
Blessings to you all!
April
Our visa is a one year multi-entry visa expiring mid October 2010 (that was our ticket out of Guatemala). Her visa entry stamp (her ticket for how long she can stay in the country without filing an extension or leaving the country and re-entering for a new date stamp took a little work. The guy at immigration could only give 6 months...his supervisor could only give 6 months...and dang it...I did not want to have to file upteen thousand pages of paperwork and pay $300 for an extension. Soooooo...I was given the option of doing an appeal to the higher ups. So the girls and I went in the room with other folks who either didn't keep their immigration record clean or were begging for something like us. The guy who got our paperwork asked anther guy who said it had to go higher up. Finally, a very nice older gentleman said, "She's only 3 years old...no problem....give her 12 months. If you need longer, file an extension. " Apparently if she had been school age, it might have been different. Anyway....all went well.
I am going to bed. Kenny should be here in another hour. I have lots to share from the last couple of days with some great pictures but it will have to wait until later.
Blessings to you all!
April
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
We are coming home Saturday!
We have been approved for a visa! Thanks to good paperwork and working completely within the legal system of Guatemala, we were approved without any problems. We know that God took care of this just like He has everything else. He is the one that provided the paperwork! We pick it up on Friday at 11:00! God is never late, rarely early, but always on time!
Today's visit with McKenna's family was wonderful. Unfortunately, her half brother found work for a few days and took it because they needed the money so he did not get to come. But we did see Norma, Veronica, and baby Bertita! The baby was absolutely adorable and muy gordita! That means chubby. We spent several hours together, and then they left to head back to their town. Veronica, McKenna's half sister, began to cry as they left and went to kiss McKenna on the cheek. She was always stand-offish and sort of angry before. Her personality was always very different...as if she didn't trust us. Today things were different. I am sure her tears were happiness for McKenna and sadness of not being with her more...of sadness that their life is so much harder than ours and that she wishes Berta would have that kind of life...but mostly I think she was touched to know we care so much about them. When you suffer the hardships that they must endure to just survive, knowing someone loves you and cares about you changes your life completely. I have watched this family transform through these years. We have helped them along the way (not so much as to ruin their lives by too much interference and help) but by providing medical care and small amounts of money to just help them survive. We now sponsor them through Asofamilia (a charity to help birth families) so that they have nutritional support, healthcare, education, 4 visits a year from staff, and a way to communicate with us. Well today, full circle 7 years later, we sat and swooned over this beautiful baby who carries nothing genetic in our family nor anything that would tie her to us other than the precious gift that was given to us 7 years ago in our precious McKenna. Now we love this baby like she is part of our family....it is an amazing God given gift of adoption! I know some people like to keep adoptions closed but I cannot imagine not loving this precious family that is part of us now!
By the way, Norma (McKenna's birthmom) loved on McKenna the entire time...just like I do, stroking her hair and pampering her. McKenna had burned her hand earlier (every finger has blisters) so she had ice bags for pain relief. Norma would keep ice in them for her even emptying her glass into the bag. And the hair....oh my goodness...anyone who knows McKenna knows that she loves her long hair and refuses to cut it (even a trim sets her into a crying fit). Norma took her hair clip out and there it was hanging to her waist....long, beautiful black hair. Again, look what we would be missing if they weren't a part of our lives! Norma is very intelligent and is an incredible mother and grandmother. She would swoop her grandaughter onto her back, tie her on, and in minutes the baby was sleeping. She is really an amazing woman. My worry for Cintia is that she doesn't have this same legacy. I pray God gives her something equally as special so that she doesn't feel jealous of McKenna for this gift in her life.
Enjoy the pictures...Cintia posed for the cross-eyed picture when I asked her to do what she did for her visa photo session. Of course, she obliged! I couldn't resist sharing it. I told Kenny that we should have taken one like that to the embassy so she would look like there was something really wrong with her instead of picture perfect like she is! What a hoot! The other picture is obviously Berta (or Bertita as her Abuela (grandma Norma) calls her). She was named after McKenna's maternal grandmother who died before McKenna was born.
We offer many prayers of thanksgiving (especially after Kenny almost hit another motorcycle today...but thankfully his backseat driver yelled out in time!) and for everyone who has prayed for us along this journey!
Many Blessings to you all!
April
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A laugh to remember!
I haven’t laughed that much in a very long time! Honestly, I almost wet my pants (although I can’t believe I just put that on this blog). Tears were streaming from almost every person in the Quick Photo of downtown Antigua! One picture was all we needed and every time the lady tried to snap the picture, Cintia went “Cheeeeeeeeeze!!!” with her eyes squinted shut and held the “pose” for longer than we could keep a straight face. She would frame her face with her hands then do something equally silly like pucker her lips while squinting her eyes. Then we would say, “Cintia, you have to open your eyes!” So she would cross her eyes on purpose at which point no one could keep from laughing which reverted her to “Cheeeeeeeeeze!” again. We then tried to tell her not to smile at all….so she would cross her eyes and stick her tongue out. Oh my goodness…it took at least 10 minutes and 2 different cameras (why the lady thought that would help I’ll never know) to get one little visa picture. We could have won America’s Funniest Home Videos had we caught it on film…that is unless we were disqualified for being in Guatemala…not quite sure how that works. Unfortunately, we did not have the video camera. The little Mayan family sitting there waiting for their pictures were cracking up just like us! Cintia is a stinker!
On the visa front, we never got the call or email about our appointment time tomorrow. Sooooooo, we are showing up. I'll update tomorrow with the news of who is making it home on Saturday...all of us or just Kenny. We shall see! We have a full day planned with a visit from McKenna's birth family. She is very excited! We will take pictures of her with her brand new niece and post them soon.
Keep those prayers going!
Blessings to you all!
April
On the visa front, we never got the call or email about our appointment time tomorrow. Sooooooo, we are showing up. I'll update tomorrow with the news of who is making it home on Saturday...all of us or just Kenny. We shall see! We have a full day planned with a visit from McKenna's birth family. She is very excited! We will take pictures of her with her brand new niece and post them soon.
Keep those prayers going!
Blessings to you all!
April
Monday, October 12, 2009
To market, to market.....to buy a?????
Cintia sang this all through the streets of Antigua today. We went to the local mercado of Antigua and spent some dineros on some "stuffo!" We had a much needed day out and about.
Our favorite pediatrician and friend faxed our letter to the embassy this morning. We have our "Let our baby go!" letter to the embassy from Cintia's former pediatrician in Guatemala who saw her last Thursday. We have our letter saying we will pay for everything involving Cintia. And last but not least...honestly the most important piece of the puzzle...twe have the legal resolution from Cintia's judge or letter in this case...to the consulate...saying "Let these people take Cintia and go home!" We shot off a long detailed email to the embassy....to the one in charge of "Letting our baby go!" and hopefully will hear from him tomorrow with a time for our visa appointment on Wednesday. If we get one after he reads every little tidbit of the truth of the ENTIRE situation...we held nothing back here....we should get to "Take our baby home!" He knows it all...our wishes to go home until August...our intentions including the future adoption of our baby....our desire to sponsor Cintia ourselves without any organization involved...and our desire to do everything within the legal system of Guatemala and the US so that when all is said and done, Cintia's future is secure. Pray! Pray! Pray! I know this mountain is one that God can move. I really believe He already has....
Please pray for safe travels for McKenna's birthfamily tomorrow as they travel to the city with a new baby in tow. Pray for protection of the many sweet families here in Guatemala. When you see a motorcycle with 3 people...mom & dad with newborn baby sandwiched in between with no helmets for any of them....you get a new perspective for the dangers people here encounter. Truly I witnessed the above...while I was sitting outside a hospital where Kenny had just taken a 26 yr. old (who looked 16) that had colided with our vehicle (which Kenny was driving) only minutes earlier. This is the "incident" I mentioned earlier, and to say the least, it was unnerving for Kenny. Yet, in the end, the only damage done was fixable...a little damage to the car door and a few contusions for Minor who was a nice little guy who chooses to drive by the traffic laws of Guatemala (whoever gets there first or passes without getting hit wins!). Kenny was stopped & giving a left signal and was just starting to turn when Minor decided to pass on the inside (yes...they do that here whether it is legal or not), and he ran smack dab into the drivers door and spilled onto the cobblestone street. He hurt his leg and was in quite a bit of pain...but thankfully did not break any bones. The police did not haul Kenny off since they were not called. People here seldom call the police especially in something like this. We took him in our car to a hospital...thankfully, I remembered a private hospital that was decent and close by. He said it cost too much & he would go somewhere less expensive. We said no...we will pay. Three x-rays, bandages, pain medicine, and prescriptions for $100.....not bad, huh? Kenny did read the x-rays himself to make sure nothing was broken. Praise God, nothing was! When I saw the newborn baby sandwiched between 2 people on a motorcycle a few minutes later, I was so thankful this accident was so minor for Minor! A baby...holy cow...wouldn't have survived the fall on the cobblestone! Never take for granted the traffic laws we have in the US and the fact that they are enforced....they are there to protect us!
Blessings to you all!
April
Our favorite pediatrician and friend faxed our letter to the embassy this morning. We have our "Let our baby go!" letter to the embassy from Cintia's former pediatrician in Guatemala who saw her last Thursday. We have our letter saying we will pay for everything involving Cintia. And last but not least...honestly the most important piece of the puzzle...twe have the legal resolution from Cintia's judge or letter in this case...to the consulate...saying "Let these people take Cintia and go home!" We shot off a long detailed email to the embassy....to the one in charge of "Letting our baby go!" and hopefully will hear from him tomorrow with a time for our visa appointment on Wednesday. If we get one after he reads every little tidbit of the truth of the ENTIRE situation...we held nothing back here....we should get to "Take our baby home!" He knows it all...our wishes to go home until August...our intentions including the future adoption of our baby....our desire to sponsor Cintia ourselves without any organization involved...and our desire to do everything within the legal system of Guatemala and the US so that when all is said and done, Cintia's future is secure. Pray! Pray! Pray! I know this mountain is one that God can move. I really believe He already has....
Please pray for safe travels for McKenna's birthfamily tomorrow as they travel to the city with a new baby in tow. Pray for protection of the many sweet families here in Guatemala. When you see a motorcycle with 3 people...mom & dad with newborn baby sandwiched in between with no helmets for any of them....you get a new perspective for the dangers people here encounter. Truly I witnessed the above...while I was sitting outside a hospital where Kenny had just taken a 26 yr. old (who looked 16) that had colided with our vehicle (which Kenny was driving) only minutes earlier. This is the "incident" I mentioned earlier, and to say the least, it was unnerving for Kenny. Yet, in the end, the only damage done was fixable...a little damage to the car door and a few contusions for Minor who was a nice little guy who chooses to drive by the traffic laws of Guatemala (whoever gets there first or passes without getting hit wins!). Kenny was stopped & giving a left signal and was just starting to turn when Minor decided to pass on the inside (yes...they do that here whether it is legal or not), and he ran smack dab into the drivers door and spilled onto the cobblestone street. He hurt his leg and was in quite a bit of pain...but thankfully did not break any bones. The police did not haul Kenny off since they were not called. People here seldom call the police especially in something like this. We took him in our car to a hospital...thankfully, I remembered a private hospital that was decent and close by. He said it cost too much & he would go somewhere less expensive. We said no...we will pay. Three x-rays, bandages, pain medicine, and prescriptions for $100.....not bad, huh? Kenny did read the x-rays himself to make sure nothing was broken. Praise God, nothing was! When I saw the newborn baby sandwiched between 2 people on a motorcycle a few minutes later, I was so thankful this accident was so minor for Minor! A baby...holy cow...wouldn't have survived the fall on the cobblestone! Never take for granted the traffic laws we have in the US and the fact that they are enforced....they are there to protect us!
Blessings to you all!
April
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Life is an adventure!
Unless you have spent lots of time in a 3rd world country, you may never know how much of an adventure daily life can be. I have soooooo many stories from when we lived here before, but truthfully thought we would make it out pretty easily this time. That was not to be the case!
This time, Kenny got to first hand have "ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS" where you just want to blink your eyes or tap your heels together 3 times and be back home in an instant. "Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!!!" I have to let him recover before posting it...mentally recover that is....but boy is it a good story! God is good all the time so I will give you this much...it could have been much worse and everything that happened is fixable. It is just a reminder that things happen and God is there protecting us as we go. Kenny said this, "I know things always happen for a reason, but I'm gonna have to wait for God to show me why this happened...because I just can't see it yet."
One thing is for sure, being out of the city reminds us that we are not in Kansas anymore (or in our case Tennessee) and we have a lot of preparing to do before next August. This country is full of beautiful, intelligent people who have so much to teach us...but we have yo learn to communicate better or we will be missing out! Being in a hotel in the city does not show you Guatemala...it spoils you to being pampered and appreciated. Step out on your own and it is a whole new world! We have so much to relearn and even more to learn brand new!
Cintia & McKenna just went swimming in the "kiddy cat pool" as Cintia called it. She is now waiting for a "pee pee & J" sandwich so I better go fix her one. I picked up Peter Pan peanut butter (I was too cheap to spend the extra for my favorite...Jif) and I bought some local brand fresa jam...strawberry....Yummy! I also went to a bakery for fresh bread so we are gonna eat in our room without the room service that Princessa McKenna has grown to love like her Mama. Kenny thinks it is hilarious but we both love to have room service....staying in and eating in comfort. Kenny likes to go out...he is definitely a go out kind of guy...since birth I think his mom told me. But today, we eat in for a lot less money and will enjoy it just as much.
More later!
Blessings to you all!
April
This time, Kenny got to first hand have "ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS" where you just want to blink your eyes or tap your heels together 3 times and be back home in an instant. "Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!!!" I have to let him recover before posting it...mentally recover that is....but boy is it a good story! God is good all the time so I will give you this much...it could have been much worse and everything that happened is fixable. It is just a reminder that things happen and God is there protecting us as we go. Kenny said this, "I know things always happen for a reason, but I'm gonna have to wait for God to show me why this happened...because I just can't see it yet."
One thing is for sure, being out of the city reminds us that we are not in Kansas anymore (or in our case Tennessee) and we have a lot of preparing to do before next August. This country is full of beautiful, intelligent people who have so much to teach us...but we have yo learn to communicate better or we will be missing out! Being in a hotel in the city does not show you Guatemala...it spoils you to being pampered and appreciated. Step out on your own and it is a whole new world! We have so much to relearn and even more to learn brand new!
Cintia & McKenna just went swimming in the "kiddy cat pool" as Cintia called it. She is now waiting for a "pee pee & J" sandwich so I better go fix her one. I picked up Peter Pan peanut butter (I was too cheap to spend the extra for my favorite...Jif) and I bought some local brand fresa jam...strawberry....Yummy! I also went to a bakery for fresh bread so we are gonna eat in our room without the room service that Princessa McKenna has grown to love like her Mama. Kenny thinks it is hilarious but we both love to have room service....staying in and eating in comfort. Kenny likes to go out...he is definitely a go out kind of guy...since birth I think his mom told me. But today, we eat in for a lot less money and will enjoy it just as much.
More later!
Blessings to you all!
April
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Update...visa????
Well, we bought the phone card (yes, that is what you have to do) and called the number on the card. Kenny made the call because truthfully he has more clout than me and has to return to work...in the middle of a pandemic in the US, surely it increased our chances of a quick appointment. We are all scheduled to fly home next Saturday because my initial guesstimation when asked what the absolute earliest possible date could be, I said with miracles at every step the soonest would be Friday or Saturday. Friday, the embassy is only open a half day but it is still a half day so we decided to have a return scheduled for Saturday.
The call went like this: "Kenny: blah, blah, blah (all of Cintia's passport & visa info) Immigration folks: Oct. 29 Kenny: Ugh! We really need an earlier appointment because...." Immigration: Okay, the earliest we have is Oct. 22. So...Kenny called the embassy directly and talked with the person in charge, explaining everything briefly. We were given a date of this Wed. at a time to be given on Tuesday after they review an email from us with more details. (Monday is Columbus Day and the embassy is closed.) So....we should get an interview Wednesday and a visa (if approved) by Thursday...but more than likely it will be ready on Friday. Just in time! God is always on time, never late, and rarely early! None of this guarentees a visa but we will lay it all down there truthfully, openly, and honestly with our intentions known and God will provide a visa if He intends for us to have one. Right now, it looks like our chances are good.
I've gotta go pack...we leave for Antigua in 5 hours and we haven't done anything to get ready to go. I may have trouble updating from Antigua but will do my best. We are excited to leave the city and get back into the culture of Guatemala.
One more thing....Great news for McKenna! Her birthmother, half-sister, half-brother, and brand new niece are coming to the city on Tuesday for a visit with us. McKenna has never met her half-brother (and has only met her birthmother and sister once). She of course has never met her 2 month old niece. She can't wait and neither can we! They arrive late on Tuesday (takes around 9 hours to get here by bus) so we will see them on Wednesday.
Blessings to you all!
April
The call went like this: "Kenny: blah, blah, blah (all of Cintia's passport & visa info) Immigration folks: Oct. 29 Kenny: Ugh! We really need an earlier appointment because...." Immigration: Okay, the earliest we have is Oct. 22. So...Kenny called the embassy directly and talked with the person in charge, explaining everything briefly. We were given a date of this Wed. at a time to be given on Tuesday after they review an email from us with more details. (Monday is Columbus Day and the embassy is closed.) So....we should get an interview Wednesday and a visa (if approved) by Thursday...but more than likely it will be ready on Friday. Just in time! God is always on time, never late, and rarely early! None of this guarentees a visa but we will lay it all down there truthfully, openly, and honestly with our intentions known and God will provide a visa if He intends for us to have one. Right now, it looks like our chances are good.
I've gotta go pack...we leave for Antigua in 5 hours and we haven't done anything to get ready to go. I may have trouble updating from Antigua but will do my best. We are excited to leave the city and get back into the culture of Guatemala.
One more thing....Great news for McKenna! Her birthmother, half-sister, half-brother, and brand new niece are coming to the city on Tuesday for a visit with us. McKenna has never met her half-brother (and has only met her birthmother and sister once). She of course has never met her 2 month old niece. She can't wait and neither can we! They arrive late on Tuesday (takes around 9 hours to get here by bus) so we will see them on Wednesday.
Blessings to you all!
April
Friday, October 9, 2009
The day after...
Today will be a full day of getting paperwork and application fees and phone cards to call for a visa appointment. Our biggest hump will be getting an expedited appointment. It could take weeks, months, ????? so we may have to pull some strings to get an expedited appointment. It should be doable considering the pandemic at home and a doctor abroad (to which the US has a massive shortage of). Anyway, we are tackling the paperwork knowing God will work this out too.
After talking to Kenny who had the privilege of hearing the resolution from the judge (since I was busy comforting Cintia who woke up just at the right moment), we were one step from moving the kids to Guatemala in 2 weeks to start the adoption now. That is what the judge wanted to give us (which was a huge gift to be offered). She said it was the law that Cintia be here during the process. We know that God's timing is perfect and we do not second guess the delay we now face in the process. That delay gives us 10 months to prepare, for the kids to finish school & sports for the year, for us to gather adoption documents and residency documents, for us to find a place to live, and actually move at the best possible time (after school is out and summer swim is over...which means a lot to our kids). Kenny has high hopes of completing some big tasks at work and adding staff which may allow him to spend more time with us Guatemala. A big thing for me is that a dear friend who is on furlow (whom I will LOVE spending time with and who will help me with getting settled in (buying appliances, furniture, decorating...) will be back in Guatemala in June. She and her husband, Bob, and daughter, Bethany, are AMG missionaries who have already been here for 5 years. It is just a huge relief to know they will be here. She will fill a big whole in my life when I leave my sister, Deborah (although we share no family blood...we are spiritual sisters), in Tennessee. God supplies all of our needs and I feel so relieved to know I will have Robin here when we arrive. I have many Guatemalan friends that are here too & I cherish every single one of them. Kenny is getting to know them too and they will provide a good bridge from Tennessee to Guatemala for our family.
The first picture above was yesterday morning as we left for court. Both girls looked beautiful and cheerful. Little Miss Sunshine had on a dress that she picked out herself last Spring. She saw it and said, "Oh Mommy it's gor-gu-wus!" Needless to say, I bought it. It really makes her look like sunshine to me. The second picture is of Cintia and "Lela." Cintia wanted nothing to do with Lela until hours after she arrived...then I coaxed her into some pictures. She said, "Mommy, I don't know her." She was young when Lela had her so it is understandable...but it was sad nevertheless. Lela did not mind and was very happy for Cintia's new life. Her husband came too and was equally excited to see Cintia. It was obvious how much love they both have for her. They took many pictures.
Many blessings!
April
After talking to Kenny who had the privilege of hearing the resolution from the judge (since I was busy comforting Cintia who woke up just at the right moment), we were one step from moving the kids to Guatemala in 2 weeks to start the adoption now. That is what the judge wanted to give us (which was a huge gift to be offered). She said it was the law that Cintia be here during the process. We know that God's timing is perfect and we do not second guess the delay we now face in the process. That delay gives us 10 months to prepare, for the kids to finish school & sports for the year, for us to gather adoption documents and residency documents, for us to find a place to live, and actually move at the best possible time (after school is out and summer swim is over...which means a lot to our kids). Kenny has high hopes of completing some big tasks at work and adding staff which may allow him to spend more time with us Guatemala. A big thing for me is that a dear friend who is on furlow (whom I will LOVE spending time with and who will help me with getting settled in (buying appliances, furniture, decorating...) will be back in Guatemala in June. She and her husband, Bob, and daughter, Bethany, are AMG missionaries who have already been here for 5 years. It is just a huge relief to know they will be here. She will fill a big whole in my life when I leave my sister, Deborah (although we share no family blood...we are spiritual sisters), in Tennessee. God supplies all of our needs and I feel so relieved to know I will have Robin here when we arrive. I have many Guatemalan friends that are here too & I cherish every single one of them. Kenny is getting to know them too and they will provide a good bridge from Tennessee to Guatemala for our family.
The first picture above was yesterday morning as we left for court. Both girls looked beautiful and cheerful. Little Miss Sunshine had on a dress that she picked out herself last Spring. She saw it and said, "Oh Mommy it's gor-gu-wus!" Needless to say, I bought it. It really makes her look like sunshine to me. The second picture is of Cintia and "Lela." Cintia wanted nothing to do with Lela until hours after she arrived...then I coaxed her into some pictures. She said, "Mommy, I don't know her." She was young when Lela had her so it is understandable...but it was sad nevertheless. Lela did not mind and was very happy for Cintia's new life. Her husband came too and was equally excited to see Cintia. It was obvious how much love they both have for her. They took many pictures.
Many blessings!
April
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Praise God!
Sorry this has taken a while...but we just got in from a very busy day of court. The judge truly gave us everything we asked for, until we hit a little snag....adoptibility. The PGN attorney would not give on doing an investigation into the birthmother's whereabouts. The judge wanted to declare her adoptable, send her case to the Central Authority, allow us to foster her in Guatemala, and begin the adoption process now with the Central Authority's approval. That was not to be.
This is what she was able to do: First of all, we have custody of Cintia. We have been given permission to bring her back to the US for medical treatment. We are to return with her on August 10, 2010 for her final abandonment hearing. Unless the birth family shows up, we will have the certificate of adoptibility and our case will be presented to the Central Authority. They should after all of the time we have had Cintia (at that point it will have been 2 and a half years) should not want to disrupt her life and would allow us to be matched with Cintia. At that point, the adoption will begin. Right now, it cannot because she is still unadoptable in the eyes of the law. This is probably a technicality and we expect to be granted adoptibility on Aug. 10, 2010.
We will have to move to Guatemala with Cintia for the adoption to start. Next Aug., the Hayman family will move to Guatemala. The good news is that we have plenty of time to prepare. It will also be for a more definite time period. The adoption will still take (once we are registered in Aug. or Sept.) at least 6 months.
We are praising God for what He has done for us and Cintia. Today was the hardest day that I can remember. I sat there and cried just like Lela (Cintia's foster mother) did at the last hearing. Queitly, the tears streamed. I tried so hard to hold them in but they simply would not stop. I cried tears of fear...then tears of joy knowing my baby girl was safe and sound in my arms and would remain there.
By the way, the social worker was in total support of all petitions and shook her head yes and smiled as the judge read her resolution. When the PGN attorney chimed in with her problem with adoptibility, the social work shook her head no and frowned. Our judge did all that she could....even my attorney thinks highly of her now. She had every intention when we walked into court to give Cintia her chance at happiness. She did....it may take longer than any of us anticipated...but we are still together as a family. The kids can finish school this year. We can plan for the move......under one condition.....we need a visa!
We are working hard to get everything together for her visa application. We must call in some favors and prepare some documents but prayerfully, we can do it quickly. Pray for mercy at the embassy!
Words cannot express our gratitude for all your prayers and support!
Blessed beyond measure,
April
This is what she was able to do: First of all, we have custody of Cintia. We have been given permission to bring her back to the US for medical treatment. We are to return with her on August 10, 2010 for her final abandonment hearing. Unless the birth family shows up, we will have the certificate of adoptibility and our case will be presented to the Central Authority. They should after all of the time we have had Cintia (at that point it will have been 2 and a half years) should not want to disrupt her life and would allow us to be matched with Cintia. At that point, the adoption will begin. Right now, it cannot because she is still unadoptable in the eyes of the law. This is probably a technicality and we expect to be granted adoptibility on Aug. 10, 2010.
We will have to move to Guatemala with Cintia for the adoption to start. Next Aug., the Hayman family will move to Guatemala. The good news is that we have plenty of time to prepare. It will also be for a more definite time period. The adoption will still take (once we are registered in Aug. or Sept.) at least 6 months.
We are praising God for what He has done for us and Cintia. Today was the hardest day that I can remember. I sat there and cried just like Lela (Cintia's foster mother) did at the last hearing. Queitly, the tears streamed. I tried so hard to hold them in but they simply would not stop. I cried tears of fear...then tears of joy knowing my baby girl was safe and sound in my arms and would remain there.
By the way, the social worker was in total support of all petitions and shook her head yes and smiled as the judge read her resolution. When the PGN attorney chimed in with her problem with adoptibility, the social work shook her head no and frowned. Our judge did all that she could....even my attorney thinks highly of her now. She had every intention when we walked into court to give Cintia her chance at happiness. She did....it may take longer than any of us anticipated...but we are still together as a family. The kids can finish school this year. We can plan for the move......under one condition.....we need a visa!
We are working hard to get everything together for her visa application. We must call in some favors and prepare some documents but prayerfully, we can do it quickly. Pray for mercy at the embassy!
Words cannot express our gratitude for all your prayers and support!
Blessed beyond measure,
April
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