Levi Douglas Bradley: Levi discharged from hospital

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!!!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Levi discharged from hospital

Hey, wanted to post to let everyone know Levi got to come home from the hospital yesterday evening. He's able to keep down formula now and eating better. As much as he ate before he got sick, he's probably starving to death or thinks he is anyway. Just relieved to know he's back at the foster mother's house with Isaac and his foster family. I understand Isaac was glad to see them both. Bless his heart, he's probably wondered where in the world they went. Nancy and I are getting more and more excited about our trip to see them and Steve is getting his webcam set up so he can hook up the next best way to see us both from Guatemala. Keep Nancy and I in your prayers as we made it another week in PGN. She will be at her 8 week mark the day after Christmas and what a present it would be for her to hear she is awaiting final sign off and out with no more kickouts. I would love to hear the same news but, don't expect to just yet as we are only 4 weeks in today of the average 8 week stay in PGN. At least we're half way again but, wishing we'd both get out of there. Then they'd at least be ours once the birth mother signs that last and final time. We may have to wait a little longer before we clear to go get them but, we'd be the parents listed on their birth certificates and it would be final. Keep praying, it's all we have at this point. Will keep you all posted if there are changes or updates. Hard to believe our babies are 8 months old today.- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

2 comments:

Gail said...: Praise God!! So glad to hear Levi is better and able to go home.
Gail; December 21, 2007 at 4:23:00 PM EST
Aileen said...: Found your blog through the yahoo group. Levi is adorable and I'm glad to hear he is feeling better!
Ariana's Mommy; December 21, 2007 at 11:21:00 PM EST