Rachel's New clothes

I was at the store this weekend & I bought a few things for Rachel... babies r us & childrens place were having really good sales.. I did want to buy a valentines day outfit & I found a really cute one...

promising news

This is the email we rec'd from Carol yesterday... This is certainly wonderful news, please pray it all pans out... We sholud know more next week...

Ive booked my 2nd visit trip for Feb 13-16.. I cant wait to hold rachel again, I miss her so much & I hope & pray shes home soon...

from carol....

the good news is that everyone at the new office states that it is their intention that all cases in process, those with POA registered on or before December 31st will be grandfathered in under the old system and it is their intention to complete all of those adoptions. So, please keep practicing your breathing. : ) Carol }

new pictures

I received new pictures of rachel today, she will be 4 months on January 10th she gained 2 1/2 pounds, shes 11 pounds 12 oz.. the way this poor baby is dressed you would think they are having a deep freeze in Guatemala.. I left so many nice things & this is what they put on her... thats ok though, getting pics today was great, especially with all the nonsense going on over there it was great to see her....

bad news out of guatemala

well, lets see... on friday january 4th we rec'd word that things are basically a mess in Guatemala & who know if & when Rachel will ever come home... heres the deal, if you are kicked out of PGN, (which i will be, we were submitted on 12/21/2007 & our pre approval arrived on 12/22/2007 you just cant submit that form, you have to wait to be kicked out before you can add to the file) you have to regidter with the Central Authority before you can get back into PGN, the kicker in all of this you ask............ the Central Authority doesnt exist yet!!!! yep you read corrrectly.

this means that there are going to be delays of how long noone knows.. at this point i'll consider myself lucky if Rachel is home by her first birthday!!!

needless to say I cant even begin to explain how we are feeling & this is why i dont want any gifts or decorate a room...

We are hoping for news, any news to come this week.. i wish i new high political people that could pull strings for me to get rachel home.'

please keep us all that are adopting in your prayers

thnx
alex & sam

We are in PGN!!!!

Its official, we have been PGN since December 21st... this is where the Guatemalan Govt agency looks over all of your paperwork... while I'm ecstatic that we are in.. we are definetly going to get kicked out for not having our Pre Approval, the PA arrived on the22nd of december. Our lawyer wanted us submitted into PGN before the end of the year due to all the political turmoil, its better to be safe than sorry. At least our Kick Out will be an easy fix, lets just hope it comes sooner than later. Apparently there are 3 reviewers & a final signature. If you get kicked out from the 3rd reviewer you go back to the first reviewer, at least this is how I think its works, ladies correct me if i'm wrong... So right now i'm praying to get kicked out, I NEVER thought I would be hoping for this, but as everyone who is going through this process knows, this is the ultimate rollercoaster ride & frankly I hope it ends soon LOL.. This portion of the process is usually about 3 months, lets hope its sooner... we should have Rachel home by sometime in april!!!!!!!!!!! Just in time to head to the beach.. yipee!!!!

love
alex & sam

Pre Approval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today we received our Pre Approval!!!!!!!!!!!! what this means is that the US consulate is allowing Rachel to come into our country. Now we go into the black hole of PGN. This is where the Guatemalan Govt goes over all of our paperwor with a fine tooth comb... almost everyone gets kicked out for one reason or another.. I just hope the Ko's come sooner rather than later, & lets hope they are easy fixes... After we are out of PGN, it will be about a month before we can get Rachel for good...

please pray that we get through PGN quick with no KO's

merry christmas & happy new year to everyone

alex & sam

rachels a ham