Monday, March 31, 2008

DNA has left the building

Our DNA is on it's way to the US Embassy in Guatemala. It's scheduled to arrive tomorrow at 6:00pm, however the embassy doesn't except packages after 3:30/4:00 pm. So it will have to be re-delivered on Wednesday. The embassy is now taking approximately a week to a week and a half to issue PINKS. So with any luck we will have our embassy appointment date sometime next week.

I can't believe that our baby is coming home. I imagined that things will be calmer at our house when the baby arrives, but now that it's all happening, what am I crazy (don't answer that). I'm going to have four kids. How can anyone put four kids and the word calm together. None-the-less, my family will be complete. Thank you Lord.

Not to much longer baby, Mommy is coming to get you

Sunday, March 30, 2008

What an amazing day.





So I woke this morning with plans to spend the day with my Mom and sister. The kids were off with there perspective grandparents and my husband was at a golf tournament. We had planned spa treatments at the Four Seasons and then my mother had some surprise for my sister and I, something that involved food. The spa treatment was amazing and very much needed. As we were leaving I was told I had to be blindfolded for the surprise. My mother was in her car and my sister and I were in my sisters car. I was a little pissed off that I had to be blindfolded for a surprise that was for both my sister and I. As we were driving to our destination my mind started spinning. Besides feeling car sick I realized my sister was in on the surprise and I couldn't figure out what was going on. She keep on telling me we were going to Brunch. I insisted they have Eggs Benedict where ever we were going or I'm going to be really pissed. As we arrived at our destination I realized it wasn't a restaurant, but my front door.

My husband over the last two/three weeks had been planning the most amazing baby shower a mother could ever dream of. All my family and friends were there, some from out of state.

For anyone who is not familiar with "Junk Posse", they make adoption jewelry. I had purchased a necklace that read in Spanish "I would go to the end of the earth for you". My husband made T-shirts for me and the kids with a picture of Faith and the saying, "I would go to the end of the world for you". He bought a beautifully delicious cake with her initials on it, and had the embroidered Mayan calender that I bought on our visit trip framed. I received more clothes than I know what to do with and bathing suits that will last all summer. My sister put togeether an adoption word scrabble, all but one person got "dossier" incorrect. It was a beautiful, incredibly thoughtful, amazing shower.

My husband felt that with the lack of support I've received through this process he thought I could use a pick me up. I am still tearing up thinking about it. My husband is absolutely amazing. I love you so, so ,so much. Faith is so lucky to have you as a Daddy.

And to my dear friend Suzette, I missed you at the shower, but you have a good reason for not attending. Kiss that darling baby boy of yours for me.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Suggestions

Our pick up trip is approaching fast, who ever thought I'd be using the word FAST and this process together, none-the-less, we'll be leaving soon to get our daughter. My bio daughter will have a sister and that warms my heart so very much. Having a twin sister myself, and knowing how dear she is to me, I can't wait for my daughter to have a sister and hopefully a new best friend.. Therefore, I wanted to get both my girls a gift that will represent their union as sisters. I wanted to buy them something they could enjoy now and as adults. I was thinking jewelry. Can anyone give me some suggestions.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Sample has arrived

After a bit of delay due to Holy week(Easter) in Guatemala, Faiths DNA sample has made it to the lab. I was told it could take 7-10 days at labcorp, then off to USE. We are one step closer to bringing Faith home. I've been busy making plans for our pick up trip. The hubby will not be traveling for pick up. He is going to remain home and watch over the boys. My sister, my daughter and now my Mom will be traveling with me. I'M SO EXCITED. It's a girls trip.

On another note, we spent Easter weekend camping with my sister, her family and some of their friends at the Kern river. Rex's 2nd birthday was on Easter this year so we had a small celebration during our trip. Faith also turned 10 months on Easter as well. Shes growing so fast. Easter day was spent driving home from our trip. It was an uneventful day, but very nice. What day celebrating the LORD isn't nice.

Hoping to be PINK real soon.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Did somebody say ORANGE

That's right folks, we are ORANGE. I spoke with our agency this morning and they told us that we received 2nd DNA authorization on 3/13. Which is a very nice surprise since I didn't even know we had a birth certificate yet. Once the DNA sample reaches the lab, our agency will notify us. The results are then sent to the US embassy in Guatemala. The embassy will then issue us a pink slip(email) that gives us our embassy appointment. Which hopefully will be around mid-April. Then we bring her home. We are so, so, so close to having our family complete. Thank you so much for everyones prayers. I can't wait to share my completed family with everyone.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

No News

The worst part of this process is waiting. Waiting for PA, waiting for Family court, waiting to enter PGN, waiting to exit PGN, so on and so forth. We are currently waiting for our daughter new birth certificate. Our agency said 2-2 1/2 weeks and we are now fastly approaching 2 weeks and nothing yet. It's painful to wait when I see others who have exited PGN at the same time as us and already have 2nd DNA authorization. So to ease the pain, I've been shopping. Gymboree, Baby Gap, Old Navy, Nordstroms and a little Babies R Us. It's so great to see little girl clothes hanging in the closet. My oldest daughter is seven so it's been awhile for baby girl clothes. I 'm hoping the Birth Cetrificate comes soon or I might be buying stock in any of these companies. Everytime the phone rings I'm hoping it's our agency, no such luck yet.



I also wanted to give a shout out to all those who have made it one more step further in this process, CONGRATULATIONS.

And to all those who feel like they are going backwards, my prayers and thoughts are with you. Stay strong, the lord will deliver.

Monday, March 10, 2008

It's Offical

She's ours. I sopke with our agency last week and Faiths birthmother has signed off on the adoption the fourth and final time, making her officially ours. She is now a Riggio.

The next steps in bringing her home are:

1. Birth certificate
2. Passport
3. 2nd DNA test
4. Pick up trip (visa appt.), sometime around the end of April

Our family is almost complete.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

For fun

How many five year olds could you take on in a fight. I could take on 14. See link below.

http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/fight5

What's for lunch?




Nothing like some Chocolate pudding on my Peanut Butter and Jelly.