WE'RE HOME!

Hey, just wanted to post and let everyone know we made it home safely from our visit trip early this morning. First of all, for those of you I promised I would try and post everyday while we were there, I apologize for only posting once that we made it OK. I was just so busy and consumed with being a mommy I couldn't find the time to do it. We had a great trip and were so thankful for the memories we'll hold forever of the time we were able to spend with him bonding. He is just simply perfect for us and it seemed like everything fit perfectly for the 3 of us as a family. He is a wonderful baby and he is just so happy all the time it's amazing. He goes to sleep smiling and wakes up smiling. He never cries unless he's wet (which he absolutely hates) or hungry. Otherwise, he's all smiles all the time. He amazed us how smart he was at 4 months to mimic what we would do and to try and push his diaper off if it got wet. He also loves cartoons but, we found it hilarious that he doesn't watch commercials! He and daddy have that in common- ha ha! We were just in awe of him and things were just great! We had a really hard time leaving him there though. It was by far the hardest thing either one of us have ever had to go through. I know it's nothing any other adoptive parent hasn't been through on their trip but, we never knew it would have been as bad as it was. We were not prepared for the overwhelming emotions we felt walking away. We have to have faith in the Lord that he'll bring him home on His timing and will continue to be in control of our adoption. We are so blessed that we cannot thank Him enough for what He's already done for us. Please keep us in your prayers and Levi and his foster family. His foster mother seems to love him too and we are thankful she shows him so much love until we can bring him home forever. Keep my friend Nancy in your prayers too as she goes to visit Isaac, Levi's foster brother this coming week. We're hoping for our pre-approval from the embassy this week or next. Nancy rec'd hers last week so, we should be close behind her. Praying for a speedy trip through the final stage of this process, PGN once we have that approval. Lots of love and thanks- Tracy (aka mommy)

HOLA FROM GUATEMALA!!

Sorry I didn't get the chance to post like I said I would try to once we got here. We had a great flight and were so nervous to get off the plane once we got here and I don't know where the time went from there (well, I have a good idea). We had a horrible airport experience that scared me to death. But, man did Steve step up to the plate and took full control of the situation. Thank God because I was about to lose it and I am sure it was starting to show after a few minutes. We had some mix up with our escort/translator meeting us there when we landed. She said she was given the wrong time for pick up (we think what happened had something to do with the time difference) We were pointed out (literally) and they talked about us being lost. We were put in quite a bit of danger being there without her. After we had paid 4 different people tips to push around our luggage looking for our sign "Bradley" we paid the last teenage boy a tip to chase down the Marriott shuttle as it went by. We hadn't made prior arrangements for the shuttle but, he drove us to the hotel. That drive with him was an experience in itself but, luckily we made it without an accident. I have a feeling had he hit someone or something he would have backed up and went on anyway. He was in one of the large vans and went over top a stack of bricks at the airport construction site like we were in a SUV. He killed the engine from hitting it so hard but, he never slowed down. He came right across it, grabbed another gear and started back blowing his horn and cutting through traffic. I have ridden in a taxi in Mexico which I thought was crazy but, this guy topped that. Anyway, we got to the Marriott and called her and she said Levi would be to us soon. We paced and finally got the call she was downstairs. we were beyond nervous but, as soon as we rounded the corner it was a bur from then on. He is absolutely wonderful. He is a happy baby and never cries unless he's wet (which he hates), hungry or needs something. Otherwise, he's playful, all smiles. He was just in awe of Steve's voice from the very first words he spoke to him. Every time Steve spoke he'd smile. We noticed last night too when you mention Isaac's name he starts kicking and laughing and breathing fast... he gets so excited. Isaac is my friend Nancy's baby, their foster brothers. We are so glad we got to make this trip because we'll treasure the memories forever. It has been awesome for us both. I knew Steve was going to be a good daddy but, he's amazed me too. He's catered to Levi and I since she brought him to us. I haven't made the first bottle. he's doing great and I think he's enjoyed every second of it. Well, until I get the chance to post again, I better get in bed. Levi gets a bottle every 3 hours so.. I'm catching naps when he does. He's been a little congested with a cold I guess. He's got a little cough off and on but, if he gets worse we'll take him to the doctor before we leave. Keep us all in your prayers and maybe say an extra special one for me to have the strength to make it through giving him back to his foster mom on Wednesday. Reality is starting to set in that this is just temporary and we do have to leave without him in a few days. I cannot maintain composure at the slightest thought of it right now so, I don't know what the next few days are going to hold. I really am trying to prepare but, will have to rely on prayer to get me through it. Until next time, love and blessings- Tracy (aka..mommy)

Waiting.......Waiting.......

Less than 2 days until we leave for Guatemala City to meet our son, Levi. I find myself just staring off into space wondering what he will be like. How will he react to us? Will he cry for the foster mom who has taken care of him since his birth? Will he feel the love that we already have for him? If he cries, will I be able to comfort him? The questions keep piling up and I only have a couple of days left until the answers come.

I hope that you all will keep us in your prayers, but most of all, that you will keep Levi in your prayers. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be taken from the family you have known since birth and given to a couple of strangers for a week.

God touch this baby boy and his foster family. Let him feel that he is safe and loved at all times. Keep him from danger and work all of this out according to Your Will, Amen.

I Love You Son,
Daddy

Anxiously awaiting trip to Guatemala

Well, as you can see we're officially on the countdown until we leave for our visit trip to Guatemala. We are very excited to be going to meet him for the first time. We're pretty nervous too because of all the chaos going on in Guatemala right now. We'll be prayed up and ready to go though in just 2 weeks. We're enjoying every minute of getting all his things together we'll need to care for him while we're there. Unlike some other countries, Levi will get to stay with us from the time we arrive in country until we're ready to leave to come home. I don't even want to think of having to hand him back and come home without him but, unfortunately that is part of the process and hopefully we'll be going back real soon to bring him home for good. We're nearly half way with the expected time frame for our pre-approval. After PA, we move into the last part of the adoption, which can be speedy or drag out. For our family and friends who have been following our process through this blog site, we'll be posting daily during our trip since we won't be doing much calling internationally. We'll try and post some pictures from there of our trip provided the hotel Internet service is adequate to do so. We'll be revolving around his schedule so, we'll post when he lets us- haha! Keep us in your prayers as we travel and pray that he's not too upset to be away from his foster mom and in different surroundings for a few days.

Update

Just wanted to post an update and keep everyone informed of what's going on with the adoption. We found out yesterday we're in Family Court and awaiting PA, which is pre-approval for Levi's Visa to come to the US. They are taking about 45-60 days to complete the PA and then we enter the last phase, PGN. PGN to them is like our Attorney General who signs off the final decree and says we're clear to travel to bring him home. Some make it smoothly through PGN, some don't and it takes awhile. We're praying for smooth sailing the rest of the way and we're done soon. We're still hopeful to have him home by Christmas. The Lord allowed my dad to meet up with a guy who came through his work that so generously donated us some frequent flier miles to allow us to make the trip to meet Levi. We'll be leaving Sept 7th and coming back on Sept 12. We get to keep him with us 24-7 while we're there. The hard part will be handing him back to his foster mom at the end of the trip and walking away to catch our plane home. It's nothing all the other adoptive parents haven't gone through and it'll be worth the time we get to spend with him bonding, just Steve and I. We're counting down the days until take off!! My friend Nancy, Isaac's mom, just came back from her visit trip and they asked the foster mom to bring Levi with her for them to meet him. Nancy got some pictures of our boys together and was able to hold Levi, that made me feel better too. Isaac and Levi have surely bonded by now and will grow up with a story of their own to tell. We learned not long ago the foster mom has them sleeping in the same bed too. Certainly not a coincidence how Nancy and I met and then learned over time that Levi and Isaac were born the same day, same hospital and have the same foster mom. We used to joke about our boys crossing paths somewhere in Guatemala but, we found out later on it was much more than that. It gives us both comfort to know they're together. I'll keep the blog posted with any updates as we wait. until then, keep us in yous prayers.