Levi Douglas Bradley: Update from Guatemala

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, January 13, 2008

Update from Guatemala

Hey, sorry I didn't get to post like I said I'd try and do but, things haven't gone entirely as planned the whole trip to allow me time to post anything. Our flight was a little early getting to Orlando so we ended up spending the night even longer than we had planned. We slept where ever we didn't get run off and waited to catch the next flight. When we arrived in Guatemala, the foster mom was already waiting for us at the hotel with Levi and Isaac. They were very upset all night Friday night and I mean they screamed all night long. Isaac went to bed like at 2 something in the morning and Levi at 4:30am! When they weren't asleep they were pitiful looking for the foster mom and crying, well screaming. Things got so bad Friday night we had decided we weren't putting them through that anymore and we were calling for the foster mom to come back and get them. It wold have been different if we were here for pick up trips and knew we could ride it out til things improved but, we were trying to settle them with 2 strangers for just a few days to have to go back to her and do this again later. They were so pitiful we were heartbroken for them both. Luckily, we have praying parents and husbands and it got us through ti. We know that is all that did. They settled and went to sleep and when they woke up things weren't great but, better. By today, they're both great and it's like they've always been with us. Of course, this is our last night and that is starting to set in for me. Nancy said that she thought knowing she was out of PGN would make it easier to leave but, she was wrong. She is feeling just like she did before having to leave her last 2 trips, it stinks!! Well, just pray for us as we have to leave. I know it'll be harder than the last time I know. He's just I know we've already missed so many things with him it just kills me to think about it. I do miss Steve so much but, the time has flown by for me a whole lot quicker I am sure than for him. He looks so sad and so tired when we talk by webcam. I don't think he's getting much rest but, he wouldn't tell me if he wasn't. Better go get some things packed before Levi is up from his nap. I just can't get over what a good day it's been with him. Make it even harder I think to leave, who knows, it's bad either way. Praying when I call PGN either tomorrow or Tuesday I am out or told by Laura to call back a certain day! If I were out and the birth mom signs I will feel a while lot better having to wait to come back. Love and Blessings from Guatemala- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)