Sofia is 14 Months Old Today!

Sofia is 14 months old today. In our wildest dreams, we never would have thought that Sofia would not be home. It is mind boggling. Since there is nothing we can do to hurry the situation we have 2 choices. We can either complain about it or have faith and believe that there must be some higher reason that she is not with us yet. I choose to go with the latter. I have decided to start learning some Spanish since Sofia will have so much more language when she gets home than we originally thought. I am excited about this. I have all summer to study!!! We'll see how it goes.

Adios, (hey, i think i got this Spanish thing already!)

My Blog Got A Facelift!!!

I finally buckled and had Nikki at Blogs for a Cause redesign my blog. I know, you are all thinking ....Doesn't she have anything better to do with her time? Anyhow, this is our new look. And a new song per our neighbor Dan's request. He was getting sick of the other song that plays when you sign on. No new Sofia news yet except that I am avidly searching for a good deal on tickets to go back to visit Sofia at the end of June. Talk to everyone soon!
Les

If waiting for that darned BC to get fixed is not enough, wait until you see what I have to look forward to when I get back into PGN. Now, we have been aware for about 1 month that the PGN has decided to interview each birth mother personally. Ok, not thrilled about the birthmother having to see Sofia again, but it's going to happen so I have to accept it. This is the part that is freaking me out. Read on............. This is unbelievable, but it is REALLY happening. What I am about to post here was originally posted by a friend on the adoption forum that I am on pretty much 24/7.

Birth Mother Interview went horribly wrong!! My daughter was abducted!!
On 5/20/08, the attorney appeared before the PGN with our daughter, her birth mother and foster mother. The PGN officials refused to allow the attorney the represent the birthmother, or to enter the interview, and threatened to take custody of my daughter if the attorney insisted.The birth mother was interviewed, without legal representation. She was badgered, verbally abused and bribed and threatened.

The PGN offered to:
1) Build her a new house
2) Provide her with a monthly stipend until my daughter turns 18 years of age
3) Provide medical coverage
4) Provide Education until my daughter turns 18 years of age

When this bribe was not successful, the birthmother was then threatened by the PGN interviewers with life imprisonment. She is fearful and has become a victim for wanting more for her child.(The birthmother, along with her legal representative intends to distribute a written statement of the course of events during the interview.) The PGN proceeded to take the baby into custody and her whereabouts continues to be unknown to all parties involved including her birth mother.

We are begging and are at the mercy of anyone who will:
1) Help us to learn the whereabouts of our daughter
2) Launch an investigation into the intimidation and bribery techniques being used during birth mother interviews.

Our child is one of 6 children, that we are aware of, that have been abducted by the PGN.
Mary & Scott

Yep. That is all I have to say for today.
Les

My Visit Was As Fabulous As Always!!

Before I blab about my visit with Sofia here is the link for the pics from my trip.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AatmLZm4ZtWLDrA

We had a wonderful time together. She totally knows I am her mama. Of course this is all because Mayra is amazing and she tells Sofia that I am her mama all the time. She had no problems coming to me and loving me up everyday we were together. I could go on and on about how I love her so much it is unbelievable and how she is the prettiest and sweetest little creature I ever laid my eyes on and how she is sensitive and a little spitfire all at the same time and how she shares her very special lovey with me and how she fits perfectly in my arms when she sleeps and how I can't stand being away from her, well............ you get the idea, right?

Anyhow, we had many friends still at La Casa Grande that were there when I was visiting in March. They are living there waiting for their babies to be able to go home. That part was fun because Sofia had friends to play with. I did a lot of research while I was in Guatemala on moving to Antigua for a month in the summer. I spoke to a few women that have lived there recently, but have since left because it is not safe for American's to be there fostering their babies because the PGN keep raiding the city looking for babies that are being adopted, all just to cause trouble. One woman in particular came to our hotel with her 2 babies she is adopting and she was so upset. She has just rented a house in Antigua for 3 months and her attorney for the adoption told her to get out of Antigua and to go to Guatemala City with her babies. Antigua has become a focal point for fostering parents in the eyes of the very evil PGN and I can't risk being anywhere that could put this adoption in more jeopardy than it already is. With that being said, although we won't be going there for the summer, I am already planning my next trip for late June/early July.

Sofia in the Pool and other info....

Mayra sent me these pictures today. And let me tell you, I really needed to see her. We got pretty bad news as it pertains to bringing Sofia home anytime soon. The document that we have been waiting for is another birth certificate for Sofia because something was wrong on it. We have been waiting 11 weeks for it now and just found out that it could be up to another 5 months before we receive it. Yes, you read that right, up to another 5 months. The reason is that the BC has to be rectified, not just reissued. Don't ask. This is just the way it is in Guatemala.

I do leave in 3 days to visit and I cannot wait! Be ready for a new batch of pictures to be posted as soon as I get back. I am actually meeting another woman in Ft. Lauderdale that is also adopting and we are flying to Guatemala together to visit our babies. With that being said, I am seriously considering moving to Guatemala for 1 month to foster Sofia with the boys in mid to late June. I had thought about this before, but figured she'd be home soon and it wasn't necessary. (And besides, my mother was having a fit!!) Now, it really may happen. I am searching for apartments in Antigua, which is a very large adoption friendly/fostering community. I am taking the boys to get passports tomorrow after school. Just trying to be prepared if in fact, this really happens. My life! Who would have thought?!?!?! Anyhow, my agency has to check out some things dealing with the legality of it all, but I should have an answer from them somtime next week. Hate to break it to you all, but they can't tell me what to do - she's my baby!