Photo Montage
Friday, August 31, 2007
The Love of Family and Friends
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Referral Acceptance Received
Monday, August 27, 2007
The Paperchase, Take 2 - Accepting My Referral!
The first obstacle was that I felt like the instructions took a rocket scientist to follow! For example, I had 4 of the same forms to sign – 2 had to be signed in blue ink, and 2 had to be signed in black ink. What did I do? I signed all 4 in blue ink, then read the directions, and then freaked out! I told my agency about my mistake and they had to prepare new forms for me so that the forms could be signed with the proper ink color!
The Power of Attorney form was my next big obstacle. My passport number on it was incorrect because I got a new passport number after I changed my last name. Once I had a corrected form I had to get it notarized, state certified in Boston and then country authenticated at the Consulate of Guatemala in Providence (which meant more time away from work!). I had to do this all today because if I didn’t, my packet would have missed my agency’s mailing to Guatemala tomorrow and I would have been delayed by a week – and God knows every single day is precious in this process.
I then had to figure out which of the forms had to be notarized and which did not have to be. Luckily, I have a co-worker who is a notary which has been a blessing through this process.
Finally, I FedEx’ed my completed package to my agency for delivery tomorrow morning – I was given instructions not to UPS it or send it via the US Postal Service – only FedEx!
I am praying that the finished packet was completed correctly! Gabriella is already giving me grey hair and she is not even a teenager yet! Of course this is a joke and I cannot wait until she is home!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Gabriella's First Care Package
I am disappointed that I can't get these items to Gabriella.
God's Plan
The first, most impactful realization, had to do with the name her birth mom and I chose for her. I chose the name Gabriella for my daughter. Gabriella is Hebrew in origin and means, "God is my strength." Gabriella’s birth mom chose Astrid as her name. Astrid is Scandinavian in origin and means, “God’s strength or diving strength.” I find it jaw-dropping that out of all of the possible names to choose, both her birth mom and I chose names for her with basically the same meaning. Also, with Gabriella Astrid as her name, my friend Danie pointed out, “she will have a double dose of God’s strength!”
The second is that my application was completed much quicker than normal based on my original estimates compared to typical timelines. Yet, without this fast pace, I probably would have missed the ability to adopt from Guatemala. When I contracted my homestudy agency, the social worker told me that my homestudy would be complete by the end of August; today is August 26, meaning I technically still should not have a completed application! She completed the homestudy over a month early allowing me to proceed quicker. I also had many problems getting my divorce finalized (causing delay in proceeding with the adoption), but somehow it was finalized much quicker than my attorney or I thought possible. When Hannah called with the referral she told me that my referral was one of the final ten that she would be making for quite a while because of the situation in Guatemala! I was not supposed to be ready for a referral by now, but had I not been, I would have completely missed the opportunity for a referral!
I am so thankful that Gabriella was in His plan for me!
What is a Referral?
A common question that people have been asking me is, "What is a Referral?"
Once an application is approved, a child “assignment” is made. This process is called a referral. A child referral is when the adoption agency matches what they know about the adoptive family with what they have learned about a child from the caregivers. The referral generally includes a physical description of the child, with some health and development information, and usually a photograph or photographs. Once a referral is accepted, the legal adoption proceedings begin. The referral typically throws the parent(s) into fits of panic, joy, and hyperventilation! A referral is like a sonogram of sorts, the first tangible and visible proof that there is a child at the end of the long path.
I, unfortunately, am expecting a long road before I can bring Gabriella home due to the problems in Guatemala - it may be between 6 to 9 months (or, God forbid, longer). I should have a better idea on timing after the elections in Guatemala which will be held on September 9th.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Video of Gabriella
Thursday, August 23, 2007
It's a Girl!
I got the call today while at work at 1:50 PM. I was expecting a call on my cell phone, but Hannah, the agency director, called my office line. Not knowing it was her of course, I was too busy to take the call, so I let it go to voicemail! But since I knew it was an outside call based on the double ring I immediately checked the message and nearly had a heart attack when I heard it was her! I called her back directly. She told me that she wanted to talk to me about the current situation in Guatemala and then if I wanted to proceed she had a referral for me!
While I was on the office phone with her, I texted my sister, dad, cousin Trisha, and friend Danie from my cell phone to let them know I was getting my referral. Hannah gave me information about the baby; she was born Astrid Mariela in a large suburb of Guatemala City. She is living with a foster mother who has two teenage children of her own and who is a friend of my attorney in Guatemala. I learned of her birth mother's name, age, occupation, and location. Baby and birth mom tested negative to various diseases. I was told that I would receive photos within the hour and an information package via Fed Ex tomorrow with a DVD of her!
I could hardly contain myself and lit up the phone lines after I hung up with Hannah. I had to complete a phone interview and a meeting at work before I could leave. I could hardly concentrate but as soon as I was done, I checked my e-mail and the photos of my little angel were waiting. I left work early and celebrated with my parents and sister over Chinese food while staring at the photos! I later saw my cousin Stephanie and her two boys, Vincent and Andrew, who greeted me with a doll for Gabriella, a very touching card, and hugs of congratulations. Andrew's first question was, "where is Gabriella." I told him she'd be home soon...!
Ignore the date on the photos, the camera was set incorrectly. These photos were taken on August 14, 2007 when she was 10 days old.
Still No News...AND The Situation is Worsening in Guatemala
Also, it appears that the situation regarding adoptions in Guatemala is worsening. The Marriott in Guatemala City (and I believe other hotels there too) is on lockdown due to protesting in the streets about adoptions. They have restricted all adoptive families to their rooms or the hospitality suites of the hotels. The Guatemala citizens feel that the relinquishment process is illegal because the surrender is not signed off in front of a judge. All relinquishment adoptions are done via the notorial process. All abandonments are done via a court order signed by a judge. Therefore, the Guatemalan Government is stating that all babies who are in custody of a foster mom or a hogar that do not have a judges order (an abandonment) are an illegal adoption. Apparently the Embassy is being "swarmed" as well. Rumor has it that UNICEF just gave Guatemala a huge financial sum to open orphanages and do away with foster mothers.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
No Referral Yet
To make matters worse, the climate for adoptions in Guatemala is getting worse. On Saturday, August 12, forty-six children, believed abducted or coerced from their parents, were taken from Casa Quivira children's home, an orphanage/adoption home, in Antigua. The officials are trying to determine whether the children were stolen or obtained from their mothers under coercion. It was said that most of the children lacked the proper documents to be in the custody of someone other than their birth parents.
The travel situation in Guatemala is also getting worse for adoptive parents. With the raid on Casa Quivira and the inflammation of the people of Guatemala over it, it's not not only unsafe for the adoptive parents traveling, but also for the foster mothers coming to the hotel to take the child for their visits. The climate has gotten more tense in Guatemala. A hotel staff member warned another adoptive family about the situation and shared a story about a Guatemalan man running after an adoptive father with a machete yelling "American baby stealers...go home." The subject was arrested and hauled off the street, but it wasn't before the adoptive father was significantly shaken up by the situation.
I will definitely go to Guatemala to visit Gabriella and go on my pick up trip, I just will have to make sure that I adhere to my agency's recommendations and just use good "street smarts" when going to the embassy. I will not risk my or my my daughter's safety by venturing out on my own because of my curiosity or boredom. Sitting in a hotel room holding my daughter is just fine for me! Safe and sound...until the day she comes home!
Monday, August 6, 2007
2nd DNA Test Now Required for Guatemalan Adoptions
"August 2, 2007
U.S. Embassy Uses DNA Testing to Protect Children Adopted in Guatemala
Effective August 6, 2007, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala will require a second DNA test, to verify that the adopted child for whom an immigrant visa is being requested is the same child matched at the beginning of the adoption process with the birth parent. The Embassy is taking this step in response to concerns about the unregulated adoption process in that country. The Embassy already requires one DNA match between a relinquishing parent and prospective adoptive child as part of the immigrant visa process for Guatemalan children adopted by American citizens. This new procedure will apply to adoption cases finalized by Guatemalan authorities and submitted to the Embassy on or after August 6th."