1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him

Levi

Levi

Our Adoption Story

Levi was born on April 21, 2007 in Chinautla, Guatemala, a small town known for pottery. He weighed 6.7 pounds and was 19.7 inches long. He was in private foster care in Guatemala City where he lived for 10 1/2 months with his foster mom, her son and daughter and Isaac, his foster brother. Throughout our difficult adoption journey, Isaac's mom, Nancy and I became very good friends. God placed our boys together and had the perfect plan in place long before we ever realized it. When I was undecided on an adoption agency, I joined an online forum where Nancy provided me with information about her agency and recommended them to us. We decided to sign with the same agency and I emailed Nancy back to let her know. Over a few months we emailed back and forth to learn we were both from TN and lived only 30 minutes apart... we thought wow, it's a small world. Little did we know a few months later we'd both get referrals, earlier than we expected, of 2 beautiful Guatemalan angels. When they turned 2 months old our agency called and decided it was time to tell us that they were in the same foster home together and had been since they were 1 day old. We were amazed they were together. Even more so, God amazed us once again when we learned shortly after that they were born on the same day and were from the same town... no longer a coincidence that was for sure. We were being told by the foster mom how attached they were and acted like brothers. But, Nancy and I got the chance in January '08 to go to visit them and see it for ourselves. It was an amazing time of bonding with our boys that we will never forget. After that trip it seemed when one of us would reach a roadblock in the crazy process of international adoption the other would be delayed with something else. We stayed right together until the very day we picked them both up. We had our US Embassy appts the same day and we flew home through Atlanta on the same flight on March 11, 2008 when they both entered the US as citizens! It was an awesome time for us in the Atlanta Airport when we rec'd the congrats they were official! We've made friends for life with Nancy, Eric, and with Isaac's extended families. We look forward to many years of watching them both grow up so close together. Over the past year, as we went through battle after battle to bring our boys home, Nancy and I both would never think of one without the other in our endless prayers to keep them safe, happy and healthy until they could be home with their forever families. We're finally parents and it's what we've both waited for, for so many years.. our families are finally complete!!!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

New Picture

Hey, just wanted to post the new picture we rec'd yesterday with a caregiver report done by the social worker in Guatemala on Levi's progress. She just checks in on the babies and how they are doing with their foster family. She reports Levi is sleeping through the night for the most part unless he happens to wake up for an occasional bottle. He is eating 8 oz of formula every 3 hours still!!! He is eating more solid food and likes fruits and vegetables. He still loves to be held but, is sitting up by himself and that he loves any kind of music which makes his daddy happy of course. He should be going this week for a checkup with the pediatrician and we will get his measurements then. I rec'd some but found they were way off from last months visit to the doctor so I think they are incorrect. We will get more pictures when he sees the doctor as we have been every month. Isaac is growing well too and is cute as ever! Thanks for all your prayers for him last week. I am happy to report Nancy was able to find out that he is better from his respiratory infection and back on the go in the walker. Seems we're learning that Levi is a clinger and Isaac is very mobile. Although, we miss them terribly and it's getting harder everyday, it is comforting to know they are happy and playful and being well taken care of by their foster mother. We couldn't be more blessed not to have to worry about whether they are hungry or lacking medical care when they need it and issues like that on top of the worry this whole process brings us already. Praying that the amendments are passed this week (as they are to vote from what we understand, today in the Guatemalan Congressional session). This amendment is to some recent passed laws stating adoptions would be stopped January 1st. They are to be grandfathering in the ones who are already in process under the "old" laws. Praying this all goes well for the children's best interest in the end. There are approx. 4000 babies currently in process already assigned to families all across the U.S. Until I have more updates, pray... Tracy (aka... Levi's mommy)

Monday, November 26, 2007

Postings comments to blog

Wanted to let you know if you post a comment to this blog and you don't see it show up immediately, don't worry because Steve and I have it now set up to get them before they post to the site to approve them. Unfortunately, we rec'd some spam posting yesterday and it had links for a "not so clean and nice" site. We didn't want to see that happen again so, we now have to approve them before they show up, just to be safe and keep the trash off our baby's site. Since I am posting, keep Isaac in your prayers. He is sick with an upper respiratory infection. Until I know more... same as always... just pray.- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

Sunday, November 25, 2007

WE'RE IN!!!!!

Finally, I am able to post that we are back in PGN (the court) process from our October kickouts. Now we wait again but, at least we're moving again. We rec'd the email this morning from our agency so, I assume we went back in on Friday. I will confirm the date just for the sake of a timeline. We do start back with the first reviewer but, it goes back to the same one who we were assigned to at the beginning. Hopefully, he/she didn't find a reason to kick it out before they will sign it and pass it on to the 2nd. There are 2 reviewers and a final sign off person. At that point, you get submitted for your 2nd DNA and travel date to pick him up is rec'd. Along with the new birth certificate that will make him a BRADLEY! We're on the down hill now just keep praying him home. Without a miracle, and we believe in miracles, Christmas isn't happening but, we just need to keep praying for the amendments to be made to the laws there. Congress did meet on the 14th of this month as planned but, voting for adoption issues never happened that day. We only rec'd word that they were to reconvene and vote "soon". Once they put those laws into place we'll sit a little more comfortable having this run past December 31st. Will keep you posted as always with any updates. I am expecting new pictures soon because he's due for his 7 month checkup now. Until then.....pray, pray, pray!!! - Tracy (aka...Levi's mommy)

Friday, November 23, 2007

Still waiting!

Hey,
Just wanted to post and let everyone know we've not heard a thing about getting back into PGN. I know they did not take time off for Thanksgiving so, hoping to hear from the agency on Monday when they return to thier office. Our attorney hoped to ahve us back in by today or by the first of next week. Last Sunday afternoon, we had the opportunity to call Levi's foster mom with the help of a translator. Levi was playing and laughing and she held the phone to him so he could hear me talking to him. We were able to talk to her longer than we ever have and although emotional once I got off the phone, great to get the chance to talk to her instead of email and of course to hear Levi happy and playful. She said he had been sick with stomach problems the night before and was up all night. She had planned to take him to the doctor to be checked Monday morning. I was supposed to get an email on Tuesday but, haven't yet. My email has been down off and on for the past few days so, I don't know if I may have missed it or not.
As for Thanksgiving, we had a better day than I expected. It was hard because everyone had convinced me Levi would be home by then and that I needed to believe it. I did that and when he wasn't here it left me just disappointed in the end. I know it wasn't meant to be that way so, we wait and try to be patient and have faith. We are planning to send Levi and his foster family some gifts fro Christmas. still no word about Nancy's case for Isaac either so, maybe they'll hear they are out soon with no more kick outs. Keep us all in your prayers. - Tracy

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Finally moving again in Guatemala!

Hey, just wanted to post and let everyone know I rec'd an email from our agency today that the document we were waiting to come in made it back to TN, finally!! It is now back in the hands of our attorney in Guatemala as of this past Thursday the 15th. Now we wait again but, hopefully just a few more days and we're back in the PGN race again...moving at least not stuck in the mail somewhere. From the attorney, as I already posted, it will be translated and then registered that it's back in country with the Office of Foreign Affairs and get yet another seal. The attorney can then resubmit us back in. I will for sure post when that happens. Keep praying no more kick outs!!! The average time running right now is about 8 weeks from beginning of PGN until the end if you have no kick outs. Again that is average without the factors we have to consider with 2 holidays falling within our 8 weeks. Of course, it has happened that it's much quicker so, there is always hope. We'll keep praying and believing we're on the home stretch again. Some of you have emailed and asked about the Congressional Session that was supposed to be held to vote in the grandfather took place but, they didn't get to the votes on adoptions yet. I was told in another email from the agency today that she expects to update me with more next week. She may know they are planning to meet again for the voting. If the grandfather clause is passed and we're believing it will be, we'll be sitting a little more secure that even if more delays come with PGN he's still coming home as planned under the current laws with no further requirements to finalize his adoption. He should go back to the pediatrician and we'll get new pictures soon. It seems like that is coming so often now, guess it's where we are waiting and know he's a month older each set we get. Wednesday, Levi and Isaac will be 7 months old. Please pray for them both to get through this soon!! Nancy hasn't heard any more news so, we're assuming no news is good news and still in there somewhere... praying no more kick outs there either. Pray, Pray, Pray!!!!!!!!! Love and Blessings- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

Friday, November 16, 2007

Update

Just wanted to post an update since I haven’t in awhile. First of all, we had our baby shower and it went great! My mom, April and Morgan did a great job with all the food and decorating. We got a lot of nice things and his closet is now full of clothes and waiting for him. We have his room all done except for a few minor things. Having all the shower stuff there did make me a little depressed for a few days but, I am just trying to stay focused that the wait will all be worth it soon. Then last weekend we had the benefit dinner/singing (our last fundraiser I hope). It also went very well and we had a lot of people donate extra money above and beyond their ticket cost which was an answer to prayer. God is so good… just let me tell you. Sandy felt like God told her last week to put a flyer about our benefit dinner in her neighbors mailbox and after that (to make a long story short), she got a note back in hers that said she (the neighbor) had left us a donation under Sandy’s door mat. She and her husband donated $1000 towards our adoption benefit!! We ended up having enough to pay off some agency fees we have had due since September and just not had the extra money to pay them. We’ve just been praying for God to make a way for us to get the money we need and he did just that. We do still need quite a bit to pick him up for the country fees (you pay the rest of once we’re out of PGN) but, it’ll come. Tuesday our agency rec’d the document we’ve been waiting nearly a month to get back from having all the seals placed. This should resolve the kick out we rec’d from the court (PGN). The agency sent it overnight but, it really takes 2 days to get there from TN. Our attorney in Guatemala should get it today (Thursday) and then it will be translated, get another seal from the Office of Foreign Affairs and then we can be resubmitted back into PGN. We do start back with the first reviewer we had when we first went in but, hopefully since that person is not who issued the kick out then, he or she will sign it and send it onto the 2nd reviewer quickly. It would be nice to be one of those random files that gets resubmitted and right out but, they are few and far between. Keep on praying for our case and for Levi and Isaac to get home soon. Nancy called PGN this week and after her resubmit from kick out too, she is with the 2nd reviewer again. Our baby will be 7 months old next week on the 21st and we want him home!!!!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Still waiting for resubmit

Hey, just wanted to post an update with all the info I have right now. I have been tracking our paperwork from having all the seals placed so that we are able to go back into PGN (Guatemalan court). Today it finally arrived back at our agency in TN. It has been to Nashville and Atlanta in less than a week so, that was pretty fast. My agency social worker said once she gets it she will overnight it to Guatemala. Our attorney will then take it to be translated into Spanish. Depending on how long the translation takes we should be resubmitted back into court process soon. The Presidential election is on Monday and today is a holiday in Guatemala. Therefore, PGN is closed from today until next Tuesday. Basically, we'll lose a week longer but, having to be translated it should all work out either way. Surely by the time they're back open at PGN we'll be ready for the attorney to resubmit us back in. We do have to start over with the review process, with the first one again. Hoping and praying we don't have anymore delays once we're back in. We need a miracle and some prayers answered to have him home by the end of this year. They do vote on the amendment on Nov 14th after the election on Monday is over. If this is passed by Congress we'll feel better knowing they plan to allow our cases to proceed without further requirements under the new laws effective Jan 1st. Please pray that this is over soon. Also, Nancy, Isaac's mom got bad news today... they rec'd a kickout as well. They were with the second reviewer and we thought they were headed for Barrios' desk (the final sign off director)soon and on their way out of PGN. But, they needed a new medical report from Isaac's pediatrician. She is expecting to be back in as soon as they reopen from the holiday and election as well. Keep us all in your prayers.- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)