The Happy Five

We are settling into a regular routine--eating, play, eating, naps, eating, play, errands, eating, baths, bed. Sally is trying to acclimate them to her shopping habits and I am trying to acclimate them to the outdoors. Work has gotten into Sally's way and the cold weather has kept us inside. We did have a few warm days around thanksgiving. Always good, especially when friends and family visit from up North.

Eating and Doctors

We were told by the Foster caregiver and facilitator that the girls ate most all fruits, vegetables and various other foods pureed. No matter how many times and things we try we have not found fruits and vegetables to be on the girls list of "willing to try". About all that we were able to get them to eat in Guatemala was scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast and "coffee" crackers. Neither will even give anything on a spoon a chance. It is like they have never seen a spoon before! This short list of edibles did not leave us many choices.
Upon arrival each had a little bout of vomiting and diarrhea maybe due to the change of formula. The doctor suggested staying on formula, but changing to a soy based formula. The surprise at the doctors office was that the girls did not weigh the 18 pounds that we had been told. Madison only weighed in at 15 pounds and Monroe at 16 pounds. They did not believe that the girls could have lost 2-3 pounds in the short time we had received them.

We Are Home

The trip home held true to the rest of the adoption--nothing was easy or as expected! The flight out of Guatemala took forever to load and when they did they decided they had to inspect the monkey (a package about 4 x 5 feet with duck-taped handle) we were bringing back. As the wheels hit the ground in Miami, Madison lost everything in her stomach onto Sally and all over the plane. Welcome to America little one! Monroe was happy, happy. When we arrived at customs Melodye and Debbie had to fill out forms for re-entry which were not available on the plane. Unfortunately, we then picked a line that took over 45 minutes due to a family in front of us that was entering the country on Visas. Sally and I went to the "adoptions" room where the customs officer proceeded to purposely hold us up so that we would miss our plane. I have never been treated with so much hostility. He was so rude that even the other people waiting empathized with us. Of course, this all set us up to miss our flight, but American couldn't have been nicer. They booked us on a flight to leave an hour later, but arrive at an airport an hour and a half away from home. To top the trip off, in all the commotion at the airport we brought home someone else's bag and left the twins' bag at the airport. We had to spend the next day driving back to the airport to drop the other bag and retrieve the twins' bag. Today we spent the day at home. This seemed to help the girls settle in. They played, laughed and had a great nap. We had a great time watching Myles and the twins interact and play. All seem to adore each other!

Day 12 Waiting to Go

We are so ready to come home--one more sleep! Madison with Sally and Monroe with Terry. Today at 3:30 Sally goes to the U.S. Embassy to pick up the girls Visas. Tomorrow we fly out at 3:30 Guatemalan time.

Handi-craft Market Day 11

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Today we took a taxi and spent the morning at the Handi-craft Market. We found many treasures and trinkets. The girls slept through half of the morning--they got just a little bored with shopping.

Day 10 Embassy Day -- Finally!

Today we had to be at the U.S. Embassy by 7:15 a.m. Madison and Monroe are now U.S. Citizens. We will pick up Visas Wednesday at 3:30 and be on that plane back home Thursday. Seventeen months of waiting has finally paid off!

Day 8 & 9

Yesterday we went with Raul to meet his father Chris and eat tamalies. They were the genuine tamale--they were delicious. We are now spoiled and will probably never find tamalies as good in the US.

Days 6 & 7

Thursday was spent in Antigua. We had a great lunch at a converted monistary the Casa Santa Domingo. A friend Raul drove and toured us around the town. Today Raul took us around to see the sights in Guatemala City.

Day 5

Madison and Monroe on Wednesday morning. We had breakfast and walked around with them in their strollers. The picture was taken in the Family Room; the girls needed to run and play. Monroe's DNA test result is at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. Yesterday Madison's DNA test results left Greensboro, this morning left Miami and should arrive at the U.S. Embassy today. We will be trying today to get an appointment now that at least one of the girls DNA is here.

Day 4

Left: Monroe Right: Madison

Day 3

Monday we walked to a few shops and had coffee at the Weston. In the afternoon we took the girls grocery shopping and Mel and Deb got a little sun by the pool. We learned that Monroes DNA test was complete and being shipped to the U.S. Embassy here in Guatemala. Once we can get Madisons DNA completed, which we hope will be today, we can get the appointment scheduled with the Embassy.

Day 2

In our arms forever. The first breakfast all together with Auntie Mel and Auntie Deb. Madison is sleeping after all the food and fun. Monroe is posing for the camera. They are unbelievably beautiful. The first night was sleepless--they slept some, but we did not. Today they are adjusting well. We will post more photos and information...

On Our Way to Guatemala

Look for the next post--it will be from Guatemala! We are going to have the girls in our hands by 6 p.m. tomorrow! See you then...

Girls DNA Has Arrived in NC

The DNA samples taken last Tuesday have finally arrived at the Labcorp here in North Carolina. As soon as the testing is complete and the results are back at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala we will be able to schedule our appointments and then get them on that plane headed for home.

DNA Authorization

Yesterday the girls were taken to the U.S. Embassy to give DNA samples and Pat at Labcorp sent the DNA paid receipt to Guatemala. Heidi expects the sample to be sent to Labcorp today; Pat is going to let us know as soon as it gets to Labcorp. Possibly the DNA process will be completed and back to the U.S. Embassy by the end of October. If that is the case, we are going to ask for an appointment with the Embassy during the week of November 2.

Continued Drama with Good News

We called our Guatemala facilitator October 15 and she said "I have very good news and bad news"... story line of this entire adoption! We received one birth certificate, but they withheld the second saying that "a copy of a submitted document" was missing (make the damn copy!). Heidi said that she took a fit and they finally offered to try to have it ready if she would return at 5:00 p.m. They did have the birthcertificate when she returned, but they did not give her the Certificate of Adoption that she needed to take to the U.S. Embassy in order to continue with the DNA process. They said that she should return the next day for the Certificate. She did that very early hoping that they would give her the Certificate before noon so that she could get to the U.S. Embassy where the twins were standing in line for the 1/2 hour "open" window. Our facilitator did not get the Certificate of Adoption in time to submit the documentation to the U.S. Embassy during their 1/2 hour "open" window. Now we wait (a loss of 5 more days) until Tuesday (today) to submit the Certificate of Adoption to the U.S. Embassy so that the DNA process can begin.

Elusive Birth Certificates

Well we did not get the girls birth certificates on October 8 or 9--we still do not have the birth certificates. Heidi now says that the files are on the last woman's desk but she is out of the office at a seminar. She does not expect us to get her signature now until Wednesday, October 15. We are really close to my projected October 16 release of the birth certificates. Let's hope that one of us is correct this time.

Thrilled to Be Out; on Pins-and-Needles Waiting for BC

We have been told that we could have the Birth Certificates by October 8 or 9 -- Please, please, please. If so we would be bringing the girls home the first week of November!
We were also told that the girls still weigh 17 pounds and both started walking September 10. Another first missed...

OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT

APPROVED!

We got the word that the girls file was approved today. Next step is that we will be entered into the Civil Registry of Guatemala for the new birth certificates. This should take 17 days or less. Then we can submit paperwork for the 2nd DNA and VISA.

Long Overdue Post...

We have been in Maine and off the computer for a couple of weeks. I will try to provide a comprehendable update here.
The update on August 13 never came. We would call our facilitator daily only to hear things like "still with the 2nd reviewer hope to be at the window tomorrow; call again tomorrow." Finally on August 20 when we called the facilitator (our adoption agency is mute at this point) we were told that the file was picked up, but that it was not approved. Kickout #5! This time the final reviewer did not like that an "n" had been missed and then added by a U.S. Embassy official with his initials verifying the change. The document had to be redone and the birth mother had to be brought back to the city for signature. We were resubmitted on Monday, August 25. Now we wait through the entire process--again. The facilitator pushed the first reviewer as she is leaving this coming Friday. She signed it and now the file sits with the 2nd reviewer. After this signature we have to get through one more reviewer; the reviewer that kicked us out last time. He is known to be difficult. I don't think we will learn anything until next Monday.
We are extremely discouraged, disappointed and angry!

Unbelievable

Here is the latest:
Yesterday facilitator was told that the file was down at the window but they would not let her have it or even look at it. They are telling her that the files' history in the PGN computer has not been updated since June so they cannot release it until that is resolved. Furthermore they are putting the burden of proof on her to show the case's progress through each of the steps. Her plan today was to take what documentation she has (receipts and such) and begin the walk through the various offices to get proof from each department that the file had been there. For example, she had the appointment with the reviewer so she can get a photocopy from the secretary of the appointment book.
We are expecting an update later today.

This Is Ridiculous

Tuesday we were supposed to get through the "3 more hands" to the "window" for pick-up. Today (Wednesday) we have no idea if that happened as we were unable to reach the facilitator via telephone. Unusual that she would not answer her phone. We are hoping that it means that we are out approved and the facilitator is waiting for the agency to tell us.
But again we wait...grrrrrrrrrr

...Waiting...

Monday PGN was processing files but the girls only made it across 8 of the 11 desks to get to the "Window" to be picked up. Now Tuesday we expected that it would only take the morning to get through the 3 more hands. It is now late in the afternoon and no calls. How can these people be so insensitive to the hearts of children and parents! One Guateadopt poster thinks that if PGN finished all the in-process files that there will be no more work and therefore a loss of jobs...

Making Us Wait Through the Weekend

PGN was too busy watching the Olympics Friday to input any files into the computer in order to let us OUT. Heidi was so frustrated, but said she did all she could do looking over their shoulders but just couldn't make them work. So we wait until Monday. We don't know what will come up Monday to delay...

File Signed...

we will not know if we are approved or another previo until tomorrow or they may make us wait through another weekend. This time the delay is that the secretaries were being trained today on a new system that will make the process faster. Can we get any "luckier"?
We are so frustrated with waiting!

Teasers But No OUT Yet

We have given up on getting information from our adoption agency. Now we are calling our facilitator in Guatemala. She is the one that has custody of the girls; is in direct contact with PGN daily, visits the girls, schedules doctors appointments, arranges our visits and oversees all aspects of their well-being.
After talking with her last week we were expecting last Tuesday that the girls file would be signed by the head of PGN. She had 200+ files to go through unrelated to adoptions and 56 adoption files of which the girls file was number 11. She was unable to get from a meeting at the Presidents house back to PGN due to masses of Guatemalans protesting in the city about poverty causing a gridlock. Wednesday she was expected to get through the 56 files, but only signed 25. We are hoping we are one of the 25 files signed. Today we will be calling to learn whether our file was signed, but we will have to wait until Friday or next week to learn whether the file was signed with an approval or a previo. Once the head of PGN signs the file, it then goes through several hands down to the "pick up window" where a person must enter information into the computer before it can be picked up. Only in Guatemala!

New Pictures--Old News

Still with 2nd Reviewer. We have no idea why PGN will not release our file. Our only option is to wait--wait on PGN, wait on facilitator, wait on adoption agency. We are really tired of waiting and are concerned that the girls are getting older and will have more and more difficulty with the transition as they mature.

We love getting the pictures, but hate seeing them growing up away from home.

Waiting...Past Angry

The "wait a week" has come and gone. It has been 17 days since we were told "wait a week." There is no specific reason for PGN to be holding the girls file. We just wait.

KO'd Again

Kicked out of PGN again on Friday, July 11. This time a seal on one of the girls paperwork was not as clear as the others. We were put back in Monday, July 14. This time the facilitator met with the reviewers and they said that they do not see any other previos. They were told that all twins were being given extra scrutiny. The facilitator also got our files moved to a different reviewer. The facilitator was told "give us a week". We are not quite sure what giving them a week will mean. Check in next week to see.

Waiting...Getting Angry

Evidently PGN decided to let us sit for weeks--no quick review and out for us. We were told Wednesday, July 9 that "the file is down". What that means is that the file is at the window in a pile to be released. Released does not necessarily mean "accepted"; it could mean another previo. The file can not be released either way until the information is put into the computer and we do not know how long it will take to get to our file. We had hoped three days would have been enough time and then we would have learned our fate today. It is now 7:30 in the evening on a Friday so we will not learn anything until Monday or later. Frustrating to say the least!

Back In PGN

Evidently the "incentive" did not move things along any quicker as it still took over a week to get the Mayors signature. The good news is that the Agency says we (the girls files) are back into PGN as of Wednesday, July 2. Optimistically we could hear an approval before the week is out. Or they could let the file sit for weeks. We wait and the girls just get older--14 months July 11.

Previo #3

Kicked out again. PGN found more previos. BM ID with same smudge as previo #2 plus birth mother birth certificate had the mayor's signature not a registrars. Now we have to get the mayor to verify and authenticate that there is no registrar in the town. It is supposed to take a week or more because the mayor is off on one of his drunken spree's. Our lawyer has offer incentive to try to expedite...It would almost be getting funny if we weren't so frustrated.
We have no idea once we are back into PGN how long it will take someone to review the file to release us again with possibly another previo or maybe even release us with an approval = OUT.

Where Are We Now...

We were hoping that we would see some cases (ours would be nice) OUT of PGN considering the latest statements from the Joint Council on International Children's Services.

June 6, 2008
Joint Council is pleased to announce that PGN has released approximately 230 adoption cases today. At this time, there is no estimate of the number of cases with previos, versus the number of cases without. Upon the release of cases by PGN, Joint Council will be providing estimates of the number of cases without previos. Joint Council extends its appreciation to PGN for its release of these cases. We will continue to work with PGN and key stakeholders in Guatemala on the review of the adoption procedure.
June 5, 2008
Joint Council remains seriously concerned about the status of the approximately 2,600 pending adoptions currently being reviewed. It is our understanding that over 260 adoptions have been cleared of serious irregularities yet have not been released by PGN for finalization. For those children whose adoptions have been cleared of any irregularities, it is clearly in the children’s best interest for PGN to release their cases and for the children to be united with their adoptive family. Joint Council again urges the PGN to immediately release all such adoption cases.

Considering this new pressure from JCICS and PGN's statement that "260 adoptions have been cleared of serious irregularities" we had hoped PGN would follow through with their promise to release 230 cases last Friday. It is now the Thursday after and there seems to be very few cases OUT and very little action on the part of PGN.

So the short of it is that we are still stuck in PGN--over 180 days that which by Guatemalan law is only to take 3 days.

BM Interview then Previo #3 (or still #2?)

We did have our birthmother interview on Friday. Our BM interview was completed sucessfully. BM stood strong that she wanted to continue the adoption process and that she did not receive money during the process. I guess PGN could not find any "wrong-doing" on the part of the BM or the lawyer so instead they just issued the case another previo (error in paperwork). They didn't like that the copy of the BM ID card had a smudge. Even though the BM had her ID card right there for comparison they demanded a "good" copy with authentication from the agency that issued the card.
PGN "released" 50 cases on Friday. Only 10 were accepted and 40 had previos! PGN just does not want to let these children come home. We are very disappointed and discouraged. We had hoped that we would have been approved and begin the last processes to bring the girls home. Instead we wait two weeks before the "fix" can be submitted and then who knows how long PGN will let the file sit before they will again consider us for approval and release.

Birthmother Interview Tomorrow!

The Quatemalan facilitator has a PGN interview appointment on our case! It is tomorrow morning and she was just notified today so she has been scrambling to get everyone into the city. They have sent someone to go and pick up the birthmother in
Esquintla by car. If all goes well they will arrive in the city tonight and
the appointment is for 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

PGN is also getting ready to release the files that were interviewed two
weeks ago. They are now saying that is the timeframe--about two weeks after interview the file will be released either approved or with a previo. The attorneys are being told at the interview whether the file had been approved previously or if there was a previo.

Our Agency should be calling us tomorrow before the end of the day to let us know how the BM interview went and if the file has been approved for release.

PGN Releasing Cases Today or Tomorrow?

Guatadopt says Yes....at least that is what they are *planning*. There are nearly 300 cases that are ready to be released. But probably only 100 will see the door this week that have passed the birthmother interview. We're hoping today or tomorrow we'll hear some good news. Through the blog community we have learned that there is a sign posted by PGN that cases will be released.
We have yet to have our birthmother interview scheduled so we will not be amoung the cases released today or tomorrow. We were hoping to hear at the beginning of the week that our BM interview was scheduled. We have not heard anything--maybe tomorrow (Friday) before the weekend.

Hoping for Birthmother Interview

We are waiting... Hoping that the BM Interview will take place this week so that we might be in that first group of files that are released from PGN. Hopefully PGN will follow through with their promise to begin releasing files the first week in June. I am not holding my breath on this promise!
We were told by our adoption agency that we would get more information today regarding 1st hand information about the conditions during the BM interviews. Our agencies facilitator will have attended her first yesterday. Up to this point we have been hearing anything from long and demeaning to short and easy on the birthmother. Even though birthmothers have been threatened with jail and offered money to keep their children, all have indicated that they choose to continue to give up their child(ren).

StandSTILL, but an Update

From the Adoption Agency:

The twins are doing great. The pics and video will go out shortly. Heidy has concerns about their legs as they are thin and the girls are both
trying to walk (with assistance) but the doctor says that they are fine and the
thinness is typical of preemies and multiples. The doctor is keeping them both
on formula instead of switching to milk as they normally would at 12 months to
assist in building their muscles. Both are very active and on target developmentally for Guatemalan children. Which is to say compared to a 12 month old in the States they are behind, but as far as all the other 12 month olds I saw they were on target with the other children. Still, it might be something you may want to mention to your pediatrician to see if he has suggestions on building muscle mass in their legs.
Today and Friday were holidays for PGN so it has been very quiet. No (birthmother interview) appointment set up yet. The attorney is hoping
to hear this week. They have already been in touch with the birthmother and will
be able to get her into the city fairly easily when the appointment is
scheduled.

PGN has completed many other birthmother interviews, but they "will not release any files for 30 days". We are not really sure when that 30 day marker began. First birthmother interviews began the week of May 5. So we hope they will release files the beginning of June and not find more stall tactics. We are hoping that our birthmother interview will take place before then and that we will be released very soon. We are getting very discouraged at this point--much time has been lost with the twins and their homecoming becomes more and more difficult for them as so much time passes and they get older.

Standstill and April Picture

Those cases that were signed by Barrios will be conducting interviews with the birthmothers today. It is still unknown if the cases will be release after this new process. Although we were on Barrios desk, it seems that he had not signed our file. We have no idea how long it will take PGN to conduct the birthmother interviews with the signed cases and how long it will take to get to our case.

We were sure that we would have the girls home for their birthday (May 11), but that is not to be. All we can do is hope PGN will move quickly with their new hoops and that we can get them home before August.

NEED HELP

Statement from Guatadopt:
According to the Prensa Libre (the largest newspaper), all adoptions are being put on hold for a month in order to validate the legitimacy of the cases. The story can found here: http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2008/mayo/05/236311.html. By clicking on http://www.guatadopt.com/archives/000855.html#000855 you can read a so-so internet translation of it. As we learn more we will post it.

By way of this posting we are asking all whose who read this to please contact your Congressman and Senators and demand they standup and take action against those who are finding numerous ways to delay our children from coming home to their forever families. This is a political battle about money and power, not about the well being of our children and it must stop. The only ones that can drive this to resolution are our elected officials......so the more phones that ring on Capital Hills around the Nation the better chance we have of putting an end to this. Do the math, 3000 familes plus their families and friends can soon add up to enough ringing of phones to force action. Elected officials listen only when they HAVE TO and now is the TIME to get their attention. Please pick-up your phones and call now.

PGN Closed -- Since April 29

It does not seem that PGN is moving forward with the promises from the meeting on Monday with the Guatemalan lawyers. The sign on the window (above) says that they are not releasing cases right now.

Even though we were on the Sub Attorney General Flory de De Leon's desk for last signature, we are stuck until she / PGN starts letting files OUT. As it appears, all cases in PGN are on what is being called a temporary hold, awaiting an audit. We have also heard that the CNA plans to interview all birthmothers to verify that their relinquishment was voluntary. Of course all of this is illegal according to the grandfathering laws. And of course it will take more time to sort this out.

Lawyers Meeting with New PGN

Outcome of Monday, April 28 Meeting with PGN

One forum regular who attended the meeting basically posted that it went well. She said that

1.) PGN agreed to look into the legality of the CNA auditing grandfathered cases
2.) PGN agreed that everyone knows who the corrupt attorneys are and that they will not hold up all cases over that (note: I find this hard to believe as who decides the list of "corrupt" attorneys"). But they said that they will separate investigations of attorneys from the adoptions themselves and prosecute the corrupt ones.
3.) They will process cases in a timely fashion
4.) They are looking into cases that seemed to have exited PGN too quickly in the past. Iwould assume this part of investigating what went on in PGN with Gordillo and Barrios as there is till a court case open involving their firing.

What is Happening...

President Colom is in Washington, D.C. meeting with Bush regarding immigration laws/problems. We are hoping to have a voice through our Senators during these meetings about the state of adoptions.
The new Attorney General and Sub Attorney General were to meet with the adoption lawyers this morning. We are waiting to hear the outcome of that meeting. We can only hope that if all the remaining adoption cases are going to jump through yet another hoop that they will make the requirements clear, fair and able to be met in a timely manner.
This has not been the norm, but maybe Colom has actually put in a good team of people who will want to make sure that the children get to their forever families quickly.

Another STOP...Different People--Same POLITICS

The new Attorney General Baudilio Portillo Merlos took over PGN. The new Sub Attorney General (replacing Barrios) is Attorney Flory de De Leon and she has already moved into the office. It appears she may be holding off making any critical decisions until the Constitutional Court rules. The new AG has requested an audit, as well.
What does this mean? Short term, cases that were simply waiting for Barrios' signature are going to be delayed because of the way the review process works and the audit. With a change of power comes delays in about any business or government entity. Expect an impact on all cases currently in PGN. Long term, we cannot predict what this will mean. As always, we hope that this appointment by Colom will mean a more efficient PGN.

More info at the web site below:

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Susana Luarca susanaluarca01@YAHOO.COM
To: GUATEMALA-ADOPT@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 10:06:06 PM
Subject: The Plans of the Central AuthorityADA
has a new post at http://www.adaguatemala.org/
Susana Luarca

New Attorney General = Possible Delay

As written on Guatadopt:

Today (April 21, 2008), Guatemala has a new Attorney General appointed by President Colom. Attorney Baudilio Portillo Merlos takes over the position from Gordillo. Gordillo has filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court to keep the position. I guess we will see if that challenge holds any water!
Since this is connected to the operations of PGN, I will also mention that there have been some rumors that PGN "closed its doors" and everything has been left to the CNA. Today, several of our contacts went to PGN and are confirming that PGN is still working.

Our adoption agency says "possible shut down, expect delays".
All sorts of rumors in the adoptions world! Please, Barrios clean off your desk before you are ousted and/or the shut down!

Waiting...

Called PGN last week and got confusing and conflicting information. The new girl at PGN (Christina) told us that we had been given incorrect information last week--we were not on the 2nd Reviewers desk, but still with the 1st Reviewer. She also could only see Monroe's paperwork in the file.
We call the adoption agency and after some research on their part we where told that Heidi confirmed that we are on Senior Barrio's desk. His would be the last signature before OUT.
We will hope that Heidi is correct and that Senior Barrio gets his pen moving!

Good News...Hope it is Solid

Called PGN today. We were told that the Girls file moved from the 1st Reviewers Desk to the 2nd Reviewers Desk on March 24. We were told to expect two weeks on the 2nd Reviewers Desk and Final Signature to our lawyer. We would be very happy if this comes true!

Maybe our next delay...

Few days after the Attorney General celebrated the triumph of his wife who was appointed by the Congress as one of the magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal,Mario Gordillo, Attorney General was politely requested to present his resignation, by the Chief of Staff of President Colom. Gordillo refused such request. In a press conference held yesterday at the PGN, Gordillo expressed that he will act as Attorney General until March 2010, because he was appointed by Oscar Berger in 2006, for a period of four years, and that he will file legal resources to prevent Colom from firing him. President Colom has said that he needs someone who does not have a conflict of interests, like Godillo has, because he belongs to another political party, has a wife in a high position and he is not handling efficiently the adoption processes. We can attest that it is not only adoption processes that are not being properly handled, but all the processes where the PGN has to act as such. Because of the PGN interference, the abandonment processes take years and that affects negatively the children, because the worst enemy of an abandoned child is time. The PGN lawyers do not go to the hearings, or demand unnecessary documents to prevent the judge from ruling on the merits of the case and when the child is ruled abandoned, the PGN files an appeal, that even if it is not granted, it takes many months of the life of the child who is waiting. There is need for a change in the way the PGN is being handled. Gordillo must go. It is necessary that someone who has the best interest of the children at heart, is appointed as Attorney General. This is the time when you can tell President Colom, the problems with your adoptions, due to the groundless requests of the PGN. His email is cartapresidente@scspr.gob.gt. Don't wait any longer. Write now and make a difference in the lives of the Guatemalan children.

On and on and on...

Update from Adoption Agency

New Medicals

The girls went to the doctor on 3/3. Madison weighed 13 lbs 5 oz, was 63 cm in length and head circumference was 41 cm.She received her third set of immunizations. Monroe is at 14 lbs 12oz, 62 cm in height and head circumference at 40 cm.

Luck of the Irish

Paperwork was completed on Friday and we are back into PGN today, St. Patricks Day. Let's all hope the Luck-of-the-Irish is going to come our way and make for a speedy OUT.

Back into PGN, Please

Have not heard anything from the agency. We are just hoping that all went well with the necessary paperwork this week and we will get back into PGN today or Monday. This KO certainly "took the bottom right out of the boat", but all we can do is wait and hope for some divine intervention to get them home before their 1st birthday (May 11).

Kicked Out

Previo # 2
We were kicked out today by the 1st Reviewer. Birth mothers ID Card had a correction on it--now we need an affidavit explaining and confirming validity. It will take until Friday to get the affidavit and they hope to have us back in by Monday, March 17.

Waiting Movie Stars

Last visit by the Agency...

I WILL get a movie to work here eventually...

Still Waiting to Get Beyond PGN

Both cases were submitted together on Valentines Day (February 14). We know that we were on the first reviewers desk on Monday, February 25. We have to get to a second reviewer and then the final signers desk. We are still hopful for an early out. Others who submitted cases this same week have gotten outs.

Back in PGN

We know that we are back into PGN, we think our files were submitted February 14. In the past this has meant expect 8 weeks before an OUT, but we do not know how things will operate since all the changes. Some cases have just recently been released (out) in less than 10 days. We could hope for this, but I will be happy if we get released in the expected 8 weeks without any previos (kick outs).

We are Registered with CNA!

...Next Hurdle is getting into PGN! We will keep you posted. Thanks everyone for sending those letters!
General Update Sent Out by Adoption Agency:

...we can confidently tell all of you, for whom it is a
necessity, that your cases have been registered with the Central Authority! We
would also like to share with you that PGN is not yet settled on how to work
with the new registration. We do not expect all cases to be submitted
immediately (today). Most attorneys are choosing to wait until PGN has worked
out a reliable system for dealing with this type of file before they allow the
cases to be turned over to a PGN official. We are hoping that most cases will
have returned to PGN by the end of this week. We would like to encourage
everyone to remember that timelines for PGN processing are likely to be at least
as long as they were before the registration process began. We would still
estimate an average of 8 weeks of processing for one “round” of PGN.

Calling All Hands

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU THAT SENT LETTERS--WE ARE REGISTERED!
CNA worked diligently morning to night all weekend. We think they are going to be able to register all cases before the end of the day today.
HOW TO HELP...
The CNA is now using the new laws, misinterpreting Article 57 to include those cases that Article 56 clearly states should be Grandfathered. The CNA has delayed the registration of 2000+ cases. If these cases are not registered by February 12, 2008, they will not be considered registered and therefore no Grandfather rights. The adopting families would have to begin proceedings again (losing any rights to the children they have been matched up with for months). The CNA would be then responsible for searching for the ideal family for the child, and give priority requests from local families.

CONGRESS
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
USDOS
sheltonbk@state.gov
fullergw@state.gov
Gary Fuller Adoption Unit Chief
DOS(202) 663-2928
US Embassy in Guatemala
John Lowell
Consularguatem@state.gov

CNA Moves forward with Newly Sworn in Members

New members were sworn in yesterday. Today ADA posted information: The CA will be open 9 to 6 including the weekend. All cases started before December 31, 2007 must register. Any cases registered with the previous CA must bring copies in to the "new" CA. All will be given registration numbers that will allow them to re-submit/submit into PGN.

The lawyers lost the amparo to suspend the obligation to fill out a 4 page form. Having the amparo court rule that the form should be filled out, means that the new/legal CA cannot change the form and must register now without delay.

CNA Update

I am sure you all have been wondering just what is the acronym CNA, well here you are: Consejo Nacional de Adopciones

The following was posted from Guatadopt:

The ever developing saga of the Central Authority continues...
The news for the day: 1.) The Good News: The CA is accepting registrations again. Attorneys do receive a stamped document showing the date the case was submitted. The Bad News: To my knowledge, no contrasenas were released. 2.) The courts denied the amparo of Anabella Morfin. This means that the three CA appointees are all official for the time being.

What this means is that we are 18 days at a standstill and still waiting for the CA to release contrasenas (Certification of Registration) before we can get back into PGN to start that wait.

Amparo Filed to Demand CNA to Register

After many promises that in eight business days the CNA would issue the proof of registration, only a few were released. Those cases were reluctantly admitted by the PGN, but they will be rejected, because the registration proofs were signed by only one of the CNA directors, and they should have been signed by the three of them. Since we do not know who will keep their job at the CNA, there is no way to get a proof of registration signed by three legally appointed members. It appears that the CNA is abusing their power and their position, spending a month fighting over who gets appointed, refusing to register the cases until time passes and the grandfathering of the cases is no longer possible.
An amparo was filed yesterday by one hundred and fifty notaries, to demand from the Amparo Court, to rule as unreasonable and illegal the registration form for the adoptions in process, to prevent the CNA to refuse such registration based on the information thus provided, and to command the CNA to register the cases without delay, with the sole presentation of an aviso stating the names of the child, of the birth mother, of the notary and the starting date of the adoption. On Monday we will find out what the position of the Amparo court is, to continue taking the necessary measures to ensure that the cases continue to be registered, without delay and that they are finished according to the law in effect when they were started.
Now we sit on pins and needles waiting to hear what happens on Monday in the Amparo Court.

CA Misery Continues

Guatadopt supplies a clearer explaination of the current "roadblock":

The adoption law passed by Guatemala’s Congress on December 11, 2007, permits notarial adoption cases initiated before its effective date of December 31, 2007, to be completed under the old notarial process, provided those cases are registered with the National Adoption Council (CNA), Guatemala’s Hague Convention Central Authority for adoptions, within 30 business days after the effective date of the law. Unless a case has already received a favorable opinion from the Guatemalan Solicitor General’s office (PGN), it still needs to be registered with the CNA to be eligible for processing under the old law. The Embassy, therefore, recommends that prospective adoptive parents confirm with their Guatemalan legal representatives that this registration "Aviso" has been filed with the CNA for their adoption case.
Following receipt of the “Aviso” by the CNA, they will issue a confirmation of registration (“Constancia”). Cases are considered registered and pending only if a “Constancia” has been issued. Filing the “Aviso” with the CNA before February 12, 2008, should be sufficient to register the case, even if there is a delay in issuing the “Constancia.”
Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that the Government of Guatemala is engaged in establishing the CNA and that the definition of “registered case” is still subject to change.

So even though we are hoping that today is our eighth business day and the CNA (CA) will issue our constancia (confirmation of registration), we are not investing too much hope. We are still hearing that the CNA selection of members is still tied up in legal dispute, therefore we do not know if there is anyone that can issue the confirmation. Without this we cannot get back into PGN, therefore time is continuing to pass without getting any closer to bringing the girls home.

CA Update

Our adoption agency tells us that the "registration applications from your attorney are finished and with the Central Authority" and that our lawyer in Guatemala "hoped to have pre-approval by today (1/23). We do not have confirmation that she has the document."
So we think that this means that Monday or Tuesday (1/21 or 22) the 8 business day countdown started with the Central Authority. We should have the Certification of Registration by February 1 and be able to get back into PGN.

CA Misery

Yes we finally have the Pre-approval from the U.S. Embassy (46 days), but now our next roadblock seems to be the new Central Authority. The simple registration has turned into a four page form that necessitates finger/foot prints, submission and then an eight business day wait for the stamped receipt or Certification of Registration. Once that has been completed we can submit our case back into PGN for the average eight week wait for either another kick out (Previo) or an Out to the next step. Will not be going to pick up in February and maybe not even March...

U.S. Senator Supports Adoptive Families

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, Co-Chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joint Council sends letter to Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom. Senator Coleman continues to be actively engaged in and supportive of our collective efforts to ensure that every child has the right to a safe, permanent and loving family. The Senator’s letter, presented on Friday morning, outlines his concerns regarding in-process adoption cases and requests the assistance of President Colom.
Additionally, on Wednesday, January 16, 2008, new members of the Central Authority were appointed to fill the positions of the previous Presidents "mid-night" elections.
On Friday, January 18, the newly appointed Guatemalan Central Authority released the forms necessary to register in-process adoptions as required by the new adoption law (Decree 77-2007). While additional details regarding the registration process are not available at this time.

To review a copy of Senator Coleman's letter to Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, please click here.
http://www.jcics.org/Senator%20Coleman%20Letter%20to%20President%20Colom.pdf

Day 46 -- Pre-approval

Yahoo!!!!!!! Today we received Pre-approvals for both Madison and Monroe. Finally our dossier is complete and we can re-submit to PGN. Hopefully the chatter is correct and the new Central Authority is finally handing out forms to Register today. If so, we are hoping that our lawyer is on top of things and will complete the Registrations (pay the extra fees that we are expecting) and re-submit our file to PGN A.S.A.P. To us A.S.A.P. means today or the next possible day!

Booted out of PGN

We knew the Previo (return of file for missing or incorrect paperwork) was coming. Our lawyer submitted our cases into PGN December 17 (4 1/2 weeks in PGN) without the needed Pre-approval from the U.S. Embassy--CIS. DNA was submitted to CIS on December 4--43 days the U.S. Government is holding us from bringing our girls home. Now the days just go by with no advancement in the process until the U.S. Embassy's Visa Pre-approval. Once we get the notice of Pre-approval we would then need to re-submit the cases to PGN. As of January 1 all cases must first be registered with the newly formed Central Athority--it is unknown when they will begin registering new cases and re-submits. Once we are able to register and then re-submit the wait in PGN is usually 8 weeks.

Dateline: Sunday, January 20

Guatadopt representative spoke with the producer of the long awaited Dateline NBC piece and published the following statement.

First of all, for those of you with adopted children old enough to comprehend the show, you may wish to consider taping it or watching it without your children present. I am not at liberty to discuss the exact content of the show, nor do I know all of it. But some of it, IMHO, could be detrimental for children from Guatemala to see if they are old enough to understand it, but not old enough to put it into perspective. Guatadopt did aid Dateline's producer with this story. Troy will be making his network television debut.... Realize that what we have found with the media is that while helping them does not make it a story we'd write, it does impact the net result. I have seen how talks I've had with reporters don't result in lots of my brilliant quotes in their finished stories, but they do influence the overall tone of the story.
Lastly, I'd like everyone to realize upfront that this will not be a glowing story about the beauties and positives of Guatemalan adoptions. No media organization could do a story on Guatemalan adoptions and keep it all positive. Most of the story (which I have not seen) will most likely not be positive. However, I am very optimistic that all sides will be covered and the perspective, if not the ratio of air time, will be balanced. So be prepared for that.

The story will air on Sunday, January 20. We don't know what to exptect but as stated above we hope that they will do a reasonable job pointing out the positive outcomes and not dwell on the corruption. If the percentage of time given to each side is relative to the actual, I am sure the positive effects will be the lasting image for the viewers.

Viva Colom! Adios Oscar....

Today is Inauguration Day in Guatemala as Alvaro Colom becomes President.

The following taken from Miami Herald Story: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/AP/story/377837.html

GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemala's new president, Alvaro Colom received training as a Mayan priest. His vice president is a heart surgeon. As the two men prepare to take office on Monday, Guatemalans are hoping for some healing.
After a 36-year civil war, and still plagued by poverty, corruption and street gangs, "Guatemala is sick, very sick, in intensive care," says Vice President Rafael Espada, who gave up a decades-long medical career in Texas to return to Guatemala last year as Colom's running mate.
Guatemalans survive on less than $1 a day, on average. Mayan Indians, half the population of 13 million, suffer discrimination and economic exclusion in a country dominated by those of European ancestry. Colom and Espada are part of that elite, and are promising to move the country leftward, raise taxes, protect human rights and widen access to health care, education and housing.

Who is Slowing the Process?

The Guatemalan Central Authority has been named and has an announced place of business. We have been told that they will begin processing those cases in PGN once they have an "official stamp". We have heard from other adopting families that they have gotten "out" of PGN since 2008--so it appears that the Guatemalan side is continuing to process. We are not certain that the U.S. Embassy is continuing to take any actions to process adoptions for its citizens (its taxpayers). A pre-approval process that had been taking a few days is 40+ days!

In PGN, But Expect Delays

Friday we received the following update from the adoption agency:

"The Embassy should be in the process of issuing pre-approval of the files. Pre-approval typically runs 50-60 days from the date when US Embassy receives DNA results. We would expect to hear from the Embassy regarding your files around the 2nd of February. Because your attorney anticipated issues with PGN beginning on January 1, she made the decision to submit the cases to PGN without pre-approval before the holidays. This is sometimes done if the attorney feels that the case is stalling while pre-approval is pending. It means that the case is officially registered with PGN, but that the file will inevitably receive a previo for the missing pre-approval. The date of submission for both cases was December 17."

But then in a general information email from the adoption agency we were sent the following information:

"The new Central Authority in Guatemala is beginning to take shape. Two people have been appointed to the committee. It has been confirmed that PGN has stopped accepting new case or resubmits until the Central Authority has been formed, and establishes the registration procedure for cases currently in process. They have also been reluctant to move on any cases currently in PGN until they know more about how the implementation of the new law will go."

Others have been in PGN for eight weeks or more before recieving their "pink-slip" appointment (date to go get the babies). As we expect a previo (rejection of paperwork to fix and re-submit) it could be longer. And since PGN has stopped accepting resubmits and is waiting until the Central Authrity has been formed, it is very unclear what our timeline is.

Our family and many others would be grateful to anyone that would be willing to send a letter to your Senator complaining about the U.S. Embassy's choice to stall the paperwork of Americans who are adopting children from Guatemala (a process that used to take only a few days is now taking 50-60).

Waiting

We are still waiting on the U.S. Embassy--too much politics and too many holidays!
We did get a report that both girls are well. We are beyond the scare with Madison's viral pneumonia.