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.