Levi Douglas Bradley: WE'RE IN!!!!!

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!!!

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)

1 comment:

Unknown said...: I hope you recieve the date soon. I am sorry he won't be home for his first christmas with you. I am praying for a special Christmas miracle for you this year!!; November 26, 2007 at 7:45:00 AM EST