Levi Douglas Bradley: Headed to the Embassy appointment today

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, March 7, 2008

Headed to the Embassy appointment today

Hey, it's bright and early here in Guatemala. Well, I don't know how bright yet but, it sure is early. Man I'm not a morning person! I had to get up at 5am!!! I have myself ready and my older kid (just kidding..Steve) getting ready and one still in the bed. I am about to wake him up so, praying that he'll wake up smiling and not crying. He's going to hate this embassy appointment with all those strangers in close quarters and I am sure at least 20 other crying babies. Luckily, we're couple number 7 this morning and shouldn't be there all day. I will post later to let you know how it went and how he is doing today. After I posted last night he actually smiled at my mom. We took him down to their room and just hung out for about 15 minutes to let him at least be around them even though he's not interested yet. He doesn't know that is his key to many toys yet haha! Well, pray for us all today. Nancy and Eric will be there with Isaac too but, not until a little after 8. They are taking a cab to keep from having to leave when we do at 6:45am and wait. I don't blame them for that I am sure I would choose sleep over a taxi ride anyday. Love you all- Tracy (aka mommy)

1 comment:

~Isabel said...: So happy to hear that you have your little one in your arms! He's going to be fine with you both-i think it just takes time for him to realize that you and your husband aren't going anywhere and he's yours! I hope the embassy appointment went well; please give Nancy a hug for me.

Congrats to you, Tracy, you're going to LOVE being a MOMMY!!!; March 7, 2008 at 4:31:00 PM EST