It has been a while

I know i haven't posted in a while... My little girl keeps me pretty busy. Hard to beleive that we have been home for only a little more than a month. It actually feels like I have had her for longer. I can't imagine my life without her. I have uplaoded some new pictures onto my Flickr account.. and will add more soon. Here are a couple of my favorites...

She's Home!!!

MOLLY UPDATE

Well, Thanksgiving is going to be really special this year!! Why??? Because that is the day that Mom & I will be flying home with Molly!! We are leaving for Guatemala VERY VERY early Friday morning (A 5:40AM flight). Molly will be brought to us on Sunday, so we will have Friday afternoon and Saturday to see a little bit of the country (for safety reasons, we are advised not leave the hotel with her). Molly and I have our Embassy appointment on Monday morning ans Tuesday afternoon I will go back to the embassy to pick up her visa. We could fly home on Wednesday.. But traveling the day before Thanksgiving.... No Thanks!!! So we will wait one more Day & Fly home Thursday. We are scheduled to arrive in Boston around 6:00PM..... Just in time to stop by my Aunt's for some Thanksgiving dessert : )

SHE's COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got the wonderful news..... I am finally out of PGN!!!!!!! I should be bringing Molly home in about 4-6 weeks YIPEE!!!!! Here are a couple of the new pictures of her that were emailed to me yesterday. The next time I post pictures, They will be ones i have taken myself!

Some New Pictures

Not what I wanted... But I suppose it is better than nothing...........

On A Lighter Note.............

I bought myself a new "toy" yesterday.... A Sandisk Cruzer Micro 2.0GB USB Flash Drive. Staples had them on sale this week for 50% off, so it was under $50.00. Why did I purchase this? Just because : ) No.. really.. I got it because a friend of mine recently lost everything on her hard drive.. now most of what I have is replaceable.. no big deal.. but then there are the pictures.. and since I am no longer using my old point & shoot 35mm camera (sold it at a yard sale actually) and I am only using my digital cameras... All of my pictures are stored in my computer.... I don't want to lose them.. So I have copied them all onto the flash drive.
(gee, I sure hope i don't lose it.. it's so small) Anyway.. I realized also posted to my blog alot to complain about the waiting back in January. I posted twice on 1/19 and then again on 1/25... then got the referral (what I was waiting for) on 1/26. Call me superstitious... or just plain crazy, but it can't hurt to try : )

Here are some of Molly's "7 month" pictures.......


GOTTA LOVE THAT SMILE!!!!!!!!

It's Been A While....................

I know... I know, I haven't posted in ages... almost three months actually. Well, not much has been happening... So I just didn't have much to write about. I didn't even post new Molly pics when I got them, mostly because after holding her the new pictures are just not as exciting anymore... And the ones I took when I was with her are WAY better.
(Here is one of her "6 month" pictures)

Molly turned 8 months old yesterday, When I got my referral (231 days ago, 1/26/06) I never ever imagined that come September I wouldn't have her home with me.. I beleive that my prediction at that time was somewhere between late June and mid July... Then there were some unforseen delays due to the birthmother beeing born in Honduras.. But even then I was thinking it would be late August at the latest ... Now here we are in the middle of September and I am only hoping that I have her home mid to late October.

(here is another "6 month" picture)

At least I am in the last of the major steps in the process. It is known as PGN, and there is no rhyme or reason to it as far as most people can tell. I have been "in" the PGN step for 8 weeks as of yesterday, the hardest part about is is that I know I could get "out" at anytime.. so every day I wake up & think this could be the day.. & every day consists of waiting, checking email (way too often) and then the realization that today is not the day. PGN is kinda hard to explain... someone in a group that I am in explained it well.. so I wil post the explination to make it easier for those who have no idea what I am referring to:
"PGN stands for Procuradoria General de la Nacion. It's a Governmental body that officially reviews your case at the end of the adoption process. It's the equivelanet to our Attorney General's office. The length of time a case stays in PGN can vary greatly. Some families have been getting out in 3 to 6 weeks , while others are still waiting after 2 to 4 months. It's possible to get a previo (what we call a "kickout" or "KO") from PGN. It's when PGN finds something they don't like.....a mispelled word, illegible document, missing document, etc...... and they temporarily remove your case from PGN until the problem is fixed. Once you get OUT of PGN, you are very close to the end! "
As far as I know I have had no Previo's.... So I really should be getting out one of these days : )

I am back..........

Molly is PERFECT!! It was amazing to be able to hold her & play with her. I didn't get to have her with me for 24hours like I was expecting though....... I got to have her with me for 41 1/2 hours instead!!!!! She is a very healthy & very happy baby. She weighs about 15 lbs. She is absolutley BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! I am having problems uploading pictures to Blogger.. that is why it has taken me so long to post..... But I did upload a few of them onto my Flickr site last night http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahb_/ So you can see them there for now.

Hola from Guatemala

Well, we are here. They bring Molly to us this afternoon. The hotel is very nice, it is small but very helpful. We have met other adoptive families who are very nice & the babies are so so so cute! I will write more when I get home..... & there will be LOTS of pictures!

I AM GOING TO VISIT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Monday I got word that the DNA results were in & it was a positive match!! YEAH!!! This means that I can go visit her now. So I am doing just that! Mom & I are getting on a plane in the morning & going to Guatemala. On Thursday at 4:30pm they will bring her to me for our visit. I am going to hold my baby girl!!!! I will only have her for 24 hours, & I know giving her back to the foster family will be so so so hard to do.. But I am sure that I will treasure the time I am able to spend with her. I will take tons of pictures & post when I get home. Here are a couple of the pics that I recv'd this afternoon.

Little Miss Curly Q

I just got these new pictures today. Just look at those big brown eyes... & what am I going to do with all that curly hair!!! I just love it!! : )

Updates...

Good news!!! Last week I was informed that the Honduran documents we have been waiting for have made it to Guatemala. The agency relayed the message from my lawyer in Guatemala that he hope to get authorization from the US Embassy to do the DNA testing. My paperwork has also FINALLY been submitted to the Guatemalan Family Court. The usual time in this court system is approximately 8-12 weeks. That is just the first of the major Guatemalan legal steps in the process....But at least things are moving forward now, after 3 months of standing still.

Just Look At My Big Girl!!!

I got new pictures today. I can't get over how big she is getting. 3 months old already!!

I Got New Pictures!!!!!!

I got these new pictures today. She is getting so big. Just look at all that hair....... She has such big eyes......& those cheeks!! I just can't wait to kiss them!






See the blue shoes she is wearing.. I sent her those!!!!!! (along with a blanket, 2 outfits, 2 disposable cameras, 5 pairs of socks, a plush rattle & a Boston Red Sox bib.. would have sent more, but had to fit it all in a 1 gallon size zip lock baggie) I am so glad to see that the package made it to her.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY

Seeing as it is St Patrick's Day.. And I have nothing really to write about.. But I haven't posted anything in almost a month... I decided to post some pictures I took when I was in Ireland (5 years ago.. almost exactly.. I arrived there on 3/26/01) There are more pics posted on my Flickr page (& a few pics from my dad's surprise 60th b-day party as well)

Here is another one...

I think this is my favorite picture of the bunch (so far anyway). Well..She is 6 weeks old today.... I have not heard anything new, So I don't really have much to say

NEW MOLLY PICTURES

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Your Candy Heart Says "First Kiss"

You're a true romantic who brings an innocent hope to each new relationship. You see the good in every person you date, and you relish each step of falling in love. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a romantic dinner your sweetie cooks for you Your flirting style: friendly and sweet What turns you off: cynics who don't believe in romance Why you're hot: you always keep the romance alive

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

What Color Should Your Blog Be??

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere. You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant. From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

The Check is in the Mail.....

Well actually.. It should have been delivered today by 3:00................... I have had a busy few days.. Lots of paperwork. Thursday afternoon I signed my POA letter & had it notarized. Friday morning I was off the the Secretary of the Commonwealth office to have the POA & my homestudy verified.. then off to the post office.. had to send those two documents to NY to the Guatemalan Consulate for authentication (along with a postage paid, pre-addressed express mail envelope for the consulate to then forward the documents to the adoption agency in Oklahoma) Saturday morning I was up bright & early.. off to the bank to get a cashiers check for a big hunk of cash.. then off to have more paperwork notarized, including 3 copies of the "adoption agreement" or contract. Then it was off to the post office again to express mail this packet of paperwork to Oklahoma.. They should have that now & they should have the documents that had to go to NY by the end of the week. It has only been a few days since I got the email.. But already it feels like forever ago.

Today Was a VERY Good Day!!!!!

Today I got the email that I have been waiting 13 weeks for!! A beautiful baby girl has been referred to me! Her name is Linda Azucena R. L. (soon to be Molly Elizabeth Harrold).
She was born on January 13, 2006 at 2:25AM in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces. She was delivered by a midwife.. Her birthmother is 29 years old & was born in Honduras. On January 24th she had a physical exam and at that time she weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces, was 50 centimeters tall with a head circumference of 35.5 centimeters. She tested negative for HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis. She was found to be in good health.

Adoptions in Guatemala take anywhere from 4-7 months to complete.. So I do not know when I will be able to bring here home.. I just hope is is closer to the 4 months.

Let the "real" waiting begin!

Moving Up

Last friday I emailed the agency to see if I had moved up on the list. I wasn't going to ask.. But my friend is away on vacation this week.. & she just had to know where I was on the list before she left.. She wasn't going to take no for an answer.. So I did it. Anyway.. The whole point of this post is that when I asked on Friday(1/20) I was in the #2 spot!!!!! YEAH.. getting closer!

Wendy's Blog

A Small Window Into My Mind

Let's see if she actually writes in it... she doesn't even return emails!!!

Song Lyrics

an exerpt from "The Waiting" Written & Recorded by Tom Petty

the waiting is the hardest part
every day you get one more yard
you take it on faith,
you take it to the heart
the waiting is the hardest part

oh don't let it kill you baby, don't let it get to you
don't let it kill you baby, don't let it get to you

The song itself has nothing to do with my situation.. But it has always been a favorite of mine.... And right now, for me.. THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART!

WAITING

12 long weeks....
That is how long I have been waiting for the referral of a healthy baby girl from Guatemala. 12 weeks.. Really not a very long time in reality, but it sure feels long at this moment. The waiting is easier than it was last month.. Mostly because the original information I got was that my approximate wait time would be 3-6 weeks from the time the adoption agency received my completed paperwork. (They got it on 10/28) So naturally I was hoping to have a referral by Thanksgiving... Or my birthday at the very latest. This of course had me slowly going insane due the the CONSTANT (like every 5 minutes) checking of my email. Then the week after Christmas I get an email from the adoption agency.. update: the wait time for referrals of infant girls is 3-4 months..UGH! Of course my first & most important question at that point was.. 3-4 months from today (it may have been 12/28.. not sure the exact date..but that is the week) OR 3-4 months from the date they received my paperwork????? As usual.. I got an immediate response from the agency to my question ..PHEW.. 3-4 months from the date they got the paperwork.. So at least I was already 1/2 there. I even went as far as to ask where I was on the list of people waiting for girls.. I was #4. I haven't asked again, so I do not know if I have moved up on the list.. It's probably better that way. I am just hoping I only have the expected 1-5 more weeks of waiting...and that I can keep myself from checking my email every 5 minutes next month.. it can be quite a distraction at work and makes long days even longer. Now consider this a fair warning.. the waiting does not end here.. this is just the beginning of the waiting.. Once I actually accept a referral I have to wait & wait, & wait some more while my case goes through the family court in Guatemala & other legal stuff that not only do I have absolutely NO control over.. But I will also be assigning power of attorney to some lawyer in Guatemala City to act on my behalf.. A complete stranger whom in the end I will be eternally grateful to.

S-