Levi Douglas Bradley: New Picture

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)