Am I dreaming . . .

. . . or are we really home? I keep asking myself that. It was so great to spend our first night at home as a family of four last night. La princesa is doing wonderfully. She's been a bit serious today, but is still overall a very happy girl. She is eating and sleeping even better than she did in Guatemala, and even slept all night in her bassinet (in our room) instead of in bed with us. She still takes a bottle during the night and I'm totally fine with that. Unless God has another plan, she'll be our last chance to spend those quiet moments with a snugglebunny at 3am, so I plan to savor every last second of those feedings. She's quite the entertainer too! She coos, babbles, and giggles alot, especially when big brother is being silly.

Speaking of big brother, he's adjusting really well too. I was so worried, and really the worry was a waste of time as it always is. He loves to kiss his sissy and be silly for her. Other than a bit of "Mommy, come play with me" right when I'm changing or feeding la princesa, and a few cold shoulders from jealousy, he's doing remarkably well. He was a real trooper on our trip, too. Travelling with 2 little ones, especially one who is a real wild man, is not for the faint of heart. But, we made it without anyone losing their mind.

I am truly in awe that this is our life now. It seems like much longer that we've waited for her, probably because she's been in my heart for a very long time. We are so incredibly blessed to bring our baby girl home at only 6 1/2 months old--the next youngest baby we saw at the embassy was 9 months old, and many were over one year. My heart goes out to those who waited so long to bring home their little ones. The end result is the same though, no matter how long it takes: FAMILY!

Here are some pics from our trip:

Brother and sister, together at last!

Forever family day!

Matthew playing a game at the handicraft market--he loved the shop owner, Patricia!

Embassy day--aren't we a good looking bunch?!

The little man, now an hermano, cheesin' for his hermanita

For those of you who know the story behind this dress, go ahead, just admit I was right!

The wild man's fav peeps in the hotel restaurant, Felipe, our waiter, and Gabriella, pancake maker extraordinaire

Home at last! Not a great pic of me, but the sun was in my eyes :)

As you can see, this was a very happy ending for this chapter of our lives. Now we move on to the fun stuff!

Embassy appointment . . . check!

Both kiddos did great at the embassy this morning. For such a big deal, it was really no big deal at all. A lot of waiting, alot of people, less than a minute in a "closet" to be asked when we first saw our daughter, waiting some more, then about 2 minutes at a window with a very nice lady who asked a few questions and told us to come back tomorrow to pick up la princesa's visa to come home.

We did get to meet a few forum friends from the adoption message boards I'm addicted to. It was great to put faces with names, well, screen names that is! Let me just say that Guatemala has no shortage of beautiful babies and people.

La princesa and the wild man are still doing pretty good. Wild man smashed his finger in the car door when we were leaving for the embassy, so he wasn't a happy camper for awhile, and it has taken him a long time to decide he needs a nap today, but otherwise he's good. La princesa has been a vision of beauty, as usual, and still hasn't cried much. I'm happy to report that she still seems very comfortable with us. We thank God for her easy transition so far.

Tomorrow it's off to Antigua for some sightseeing, then we'll get ready to head home. As much as I absolutely love it here, it will be great to be home on Thursday. Take care everyone!

We're here!

Let me just say that I'm already sad that we won't have a reason to come back to this beautiful country. We arrived late Saturday night with no problems. Easy flights (minus a screaming critterboy who liked to try to escape us at every opportunity!), luggage arrived, shuttle was waiting, and la princesa got here on time. We've been a forever family for about a day and a half now and it is amazing! The little man loves his baby sister so much, and she smiles when he talks to her. La princesa is doing wonderfully so far, although I've heard the first few days are the easiest, then it gets a bit harder. She's absolutely perfect! She only cries when she's sleepy or hungry (or when big bro touches her face!) and we're already figuring out what makes her tick. Being a family of four is wonderful!

Early tomorrow morning we will go to the US Embassy to have our visa interview and have everything approved on the US side one final time. Wednesday morning we're going to Antigua with our facilitator's brother, then we'll pick up la princesa's visa packet that afternoon. The hard part is the 4:00am shuttle to the airport Thursday morning with two sleepyhead parents and two sleepyhead kids. Yikes! But, in just 3 days from now, we'll be home forever. It is truly hard to believe we're here with our baby girl and we never have to give her back again. Words can't describe it.

We'll post again if we get a chance--now back to chasing the critterboy!

We're on our way!

In less than 12 hours we'll be in Guatemala. In less than 24 hours we'll have our princesa with us forever. What a feeling. I've hardly slowed down long enough to enjoy it, but wow, it's a great feeling to know that we have almost completed this journey to our baby girl. Someday I'll have to share what all of this means to me.

We'll be home forever on Thursday. I'm so anxious to get her here and get started with our life as a family of four. Right now the critterboy is running down the hall pushing his dump truck making daddy chase him. His giggles are contagious! In a few months he'll be chasing his baby sister as she crawls down the hall. Or maybe she'll chase him. Either way, it will be just what we always dreamed our family would be. Fun, loud, and never a dull moment. We thank God many times a day for the blessing of family. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travel and an easy transition for la princesa. Thank you all for your support--we look forward to introducing you to our baby girl soon!

We're PINK!!!

What a day. When we went to bed last night, we were plotting our attack for today. We decided that if we didn't hear anything about our appointment early in the day, DH would call the embassy to check. Well, he did, and guess what? As luck would have it, they sent the email to the wrong email address and we were actually pink last Wednesday! Our appointment is next Tuesday, 5/27 at 7:15am. We'll have our princesa in our arms forever on Sunday, do some sightseeing Monday, Embassy on Tuesday, pick up her visa on Wednesday, then fly home on Thursday. Sounds like a lot, and it is, but there will be plenty of down time too.

We are just beside ourselves with excitement. In a matter of an hour or so we had our flights booked and paid for (eeek!) and friends and family notified. We've now booked our hotel as well, so other than packing and cleaning the house--we can't come home to this trash pit!--we're ready to go. Part of my heart has been in Guatemala for the last year and a half, and a tiny piece will forever be there, remembering la princesa's birthmom and the wonderful gift she has given us. It's almost surreal to think that we've made it to the finish line of this crazy ride. If I could settle down, I'd have myself a good cry. We did it. We'll be a family of four. What a blessed mama I am.

Thanks for the prayers and support, yet again. We look forward to la princesa being home and getting to know all of the wonderful people in our lives.

Happy Birthday critterboy!

I decided to post this tonight while I have a few minutes and my head is fairly clear. Our critterboy turns 3 tomorrow. I can hardly believe how fast time has gone.

Three years ago time stood still as we dreamed of our baby boy. It had been a long week--I had just changed departments at work and didn't even really get to start before I started having strange pains that doctors wrote off as heart burn. It wasn't heart burn though, it was my body rejecting our little guy.

Early in the morning on May 20, 2005 I had decided I'd had enough of being dismissed by doctors and nurses. After one last call to the OB that got nowhere, I called DH and told him that I was going to go to labor and delivery and demand that someone give me answers. I remember waiting for him on the steps outside the hospital. When he got there I kept apologizing for wasting his day at work with my worries. When we got to the labor and delivery floor, the nurses took one look at me and put me in a room. It was about 10:30am. My blood pressure was through the roof and I was still having really bad pain in my side. I was frustrated and scared. One of the nurses came in and said, "You know, today is a good date to have a baby 5-20-05." I answered, "Yeah, for somebody, but not me. I'm just 30 weeks pregnant." The on call OB, one of the others in my OB's practice, came in soon after. He explained what was happening and that they would need to do a c-section very soon. The rest of the day was a blur. They had us filling out birth certificate paperwork and release forms. I was on IV's, pain medication, etc. and couldn't really process what was happening.

Our little man was born at 2:12pm weighing 2 lbs. 11 oz. Daddy wasn't allowed in the OR until a few minutes after he was born, but he said he came out screaming. Tiny and screaming. The next time he saw him they had put him on the ventilator. I spent nearly 3 days without seeing my sweet boy. When I finally got to see him, I wasn't sure he was even mine! He was this perfect little being, so quiet and so tiny. We held him for the first time when he was 2 weeks old. He spent six long weeks in the NICU. Those were some of the longest days of our lives. I would go visit him twice per day, staying as long as I could each time. Looking back, I still get emotional about that time. No mother should be separated from her child this way. But now I know this was all part of the plan for our lives. It's playing out perfectly, just as God planned it to be. There is so much more to his story, our story, but I've found that details aren't as important anymore. The details are etched in my heart forever, reminding me how precious life really is.

The critterboy is absolutely perfect now. Other than being a smidge small and having tiny white scars on the tops of his hands and feet from all of the needles and IV's, you'd never know he was born too soon. He is the first of our miracles, and is the strongest little man I know. He is so lovey and cuddly, yet independent and stubborn. He is smart, funny, adorable, and just the most amazing little guy.

Little man, on the night before you turn 3, know that your mommy and daddy love you more than you could ever know. Everyday we have with you is a complete blessing and I can't wait to watch you grow up. You have changed me in ways you'll never understand. You're a wonderful son and you'll be such a great big brother very soon! I love you buddy!

The little man's 3rd birthday party

What a day we had yesterday! The critterboy had his birthday party at Mickey D's with a neighborhood friend and two school friends, along with G-ma and G-pa. It was a great time! This was his first party held anywhere other than home. If you know me well, you know that for the first two birthdays I had every detail planned out months in advance, all the way down to sketches of the cake design and the table lay out. Lame, I know, but I can't apologize--it's just the way I am! Needless to say, this year has been a bit different. Not knowing when we might travel to pick up la princesa has put a crimp in my "let's plan it all!" style. We decided to do the party at McD's last Saturday--one week in advance. And you know what? It was fine. Absolutely fine. Add to that not having to clean the house both before and after the party, saving money on decorations and pricey pre-planned cakes and I'm one happy mama! Seriously, who'd a thunk it??!!

Back to the party--I had been thinking about a VeggieTales party for the little guy for awhile, but since he is a HUGE hockey fan (I think he's going to be a goalie someday--that or a centerman--he likes to control the puck!) he insisted on a hockey party. Now, again, for those of you who know me, you know that my first thought was "Note to self: mommy can only pick the first two parties, so make them what you want them.", but I decided to look for some matchy matchy hockey decorations for the big event. Then I decided ahh, who cares, he's going to be 3 and no one cares what the party is. I settled for some multi-sport Dollar Tree napkins and black plates (pucks!). Then I started to think about the cake. Sorry kid, no more cakes planned months in advance! Last Sunday we got on Ebay and ordered a goalie figurine to put on top of the cake. Then on Thursday, yes, only 2 days before the party, I remembered to actually order the cake. Get this--you can get a perfectly awesome and delicious, made just the way you want it cake (a huge 1/2 sheet at that!) at Sam's for only $15.00. Geez, if I'd have cared so little the last 2 years we could have saved a bundle! hee hee

He LOVES to sing Happy Birthday, but loves even more to be the one blowing out the candles. He got all three on one breath! Great job buddy!

Everything was great--no stress for anyone, which is a blessing for all. Lots of adorable pics and memories of his first "friend" party.

Now comes the after party . . . at the party the critterboy consumed a piece of cake (a corner that he had stuck his finger in before the party, and all he ate was the icing--yikes!), his happy meal, 2 miniature Hershey bars, 2 dum dum suckers, and some sprite. Yeah, no nap was happening at our house! We gave up trying. Aunt L and Uncle C came over later in the afternoon and played and played and played. We had a blast, and the little man wore them out! He was still going strong though. He finally succombed to the sleepy and fell asleep after being awake for 13 hours. Just look at this little party animal, so sweet and quiet and amazing.

If I haven't already said it, it was a great day. We were all in good moods, even the little prince, all day. And we've decided that parties at McD's are the BEST and we'll probably do it every year. Although I admit I'm already planning next years party at Chuck E Cheese . . . I wonder what he'll pick for the theme?! Stay tuned for a sappy post on Tuesday, the day our little man entered the world and changed so many lives.

Happy 6 months bebita!

Wow, how time has flown. Our sweet little girl is 6 months old today! Feliz cumpleanos mi amor! Many people have asked me if we're sad that she's not home yet. Of course I'd rather have her here with us, and would love have had her here all along, but unfortunately she has to be in Guatemala for another week or so. Fortunately for us, though, she will be home very soon and we had prepared ourselves for a much longer wait. We are so incredibly blessed!

Yesterday we got a photo update from our agency, the first one in more than two months. Here is our sweet princesa. Isn't she a sight to behold?! It's hard to believe that very soon we'll be kissing those little cheeks again!

La princesa's DNA sample got to the Embassy yesterday afternoon, so now we're officially waiting for the "pink slip" to tell us when we will have our appointment. We're getting so anxious to be able to make the arrangements for the trip of a lifetime for our family, but I'm holding onto the patience I have learned from this process and will wait a few more days. Not more than that, ya hear me USE?? A few days. I wore pink today and will wear pink everyday until we get that coveted email from the embassy. I've even got some of my co-workers on board wearing pink! hee hee

Hopefully my next post will be announcing our trip and the date that we will officially, in person, become the family of four we have been in our hearts for many months. Abrazos y besos princesa!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know it's really a few more hours until it's officially Mother's Day, but this mama's gonna be busy tomorrow. My guys are taking me to the zoo (my idea--it's free for mom's tomorrow, and the little man is still free for oh, say, about 8 more days, so the 3 of us are going to get in for a total of $7.00! yeehaw! My kind of fun!), then we're coming home to force the critterboy to take a nap, then it's off to meet Aunt L, Uncle C, and Grandma/Grandpa somewhere for an early dinner. Sheesh! I'm tired already!

This will be my 3rd Mother's Day. The little man was born just 5 days after Mom's Day 2005. Here's a pic of me in all my preggo glory (30 weeks) from that day 3 years ago:

Little did I know how much my life would change before another week went by! This year I'm merely weeks away from being a mom of two, and I've never felt more blessed in all my life.

This year I have a new appreciation for moms of all kinds. I'm thankful for all the moms I know for helping me to become who I am today.

1. My mom - for giving me life
2. La princesa's birth mom - for giving us the opportunity to complete our family and for trusting us to raise the little angel she gave birth to. What an amazing woman! I pray that she continues to find peace in her decision and knows in her heart how much we love that baby girl.
3. La princesa's foster mom - for treating her as if she was her own child, doting on her and teaching her how to love and be loved. We are forever greatful for this wonderful mom.
4. All my "mom" friends - for being a shoulder to cry on, always there to celebrate the little successes of parenting and to pick me up when I'm having an "I'm a bad mom" day. Sharing the struggles and triumphs of life with these girls has kept me sane. You know who you are, and you rock!

I truly have things in perspective now--this is what life is all about. Now all I have to do is be the kind of mom every kid wants to have, set a good example for moms-to-be and juggle that with everything else life throws at me. I know now more than ever that I can do it. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Baby shower pics and little man's new bed

As promised, here are a few pics from my baby shower at work. I've pretty much got everything where it goes and the last few outfits are in the dryer even as we speak!

My wonderful co-workers and me - thanks ladies!

The awesome cake that matches the nursery decor

The gazillion gift bags and packages - we're so blessed!

All of the big stuff we didn't carry inside

Today my beloved brought in his latest amazing work of art: little man's bookcase headboard. It turned out wonderfully perfect. The man's got skillz! hee hee Here are some pics of the work of art, with and without the critterboy.

The covered wagon lamp on top was made by daddy-o's late aunt Joy many years ago. It was in his room when he lived at home, and it's been in various rooms of our house since we got married almost 12 years ago. I hope you love it buddy! Daddy-o also wrote a sweet note on the back of the headboard so the critterboy will always know it was made with love. What great guys I have!

The latest happenings

La princesa's 2nd DNA sample arrived at the lab today. Yippee! This means that we should have our Embassy appointment date in the next week to 10 days, and if things go well, we should be able to go pick her up in about 2 1/2 weeks or so. I'm still thinking either the 23rd or 27th for our Embassy appointment. Keep praying for me to have patience.

In other Guatemala adoption news, they have temporarily suspended adoptions that are in process to further "investigate" (read: delay) the cases. Even those that were approved but the files not yet picked up by the attorneys are being held. Please note--this does not affect our adoption! It saddens me for those families who are waiting for their children to come home. Tomorrow, 5/9/08, is being designated as a day of prayer for the children of Guatemala, and the families who are stuck in emotional and financial limbo from this latest mess. Please take a moment tomorrow, or preferably every day, to say a special prayer that God look after the babies, children, and people of that beautiful country. With attorneys no longer taking adoption cases, many birth mothers who cannot provide for their children are literally throwing them away. Abortion rates are on the rise. This must stop, and the only thing to do is pray. Alot.

In happier news, my wonderful co-workers had a baby shower for us today. I haven't loaded pics on the computer yet, but holy moly we got lots of stuff. I told DH that he needs to build an addition to the house, tonight if possible, to hold it all! :) The wonderful employees I work with make everyday an adventure, and I'm so thankful and grateful for each and every one of them. Since I am in human resources, I have had the opportunity to get to know just about all 250 of them, and I consider them all friends. What a wonderful blessing!

The little man has an appointment next week with an ear nose and throat specialist to discuss having his tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears. I'm dreading it, since I never wanted my little guy to ever have another IV or surgery (EVER!), but he needs to be healthy, and well, he's just not. He's been sick every 2-3 weeks for the last few months and enough is enough. He deserves to feel good and we deserve to have a happy go-lucky little man. The up-side is that hopefully we can do it while I'm on leave with la princesa so I can be home with him during his recovery. Anybody have a favorite popsicle I should get for him? hee hee The critter is such a sweet little thing. Last night he said, "Mommy, come lay wif me", so I dropped what I was doing and layed down with him. And fell asleep myself. Before we fell asleep, we said our "God blesses" where we ask God to bless the people in our lives. He extended the blessing to the door, the lights, the windmill (ceiling fan), the sky, etc. The way he says it is so cute too--"Wawd bwess . . ." I could just kiss him to pieces! He asks about his baby sister every day, so I hope he's ready for her!

Stay tuned for more updates as we get more information!