Heading to Guatemala~Pray for us as we travel

Just wanted to post that later tonight we'll be headed to the airport for our trip to Guatemala to see Levi and Isaac. Nancy and I are flying out of Tri Cities to Orlando, Atlanta, then to Guatemala. We'll arrive there in Guatemala City Friday at 12:39pm Guatemala time. They are one hour behind us (EST). The foster mother will be bringing the boys to meet us at our hotel around 1:30pm. We have to make every minute count because we only have a few days with them but, we'll try and post on our blogs if we have the chance. If not, his daddy can post some updates to let everyone at home know we're ok. Please pray for us that our boys will be at peace with us, knowing we love them and not miss the family they have known for so long too bad while they're with us, for our safety as we travel to and from the airport but, mainly while we have the boys out taking them to the pediatrician with the adoption attorney's escort. It is the weekend that all the "extra people" start coming in for the Presidential Inauguration on Monday, the day we leave. I can imagine things will be a little chaotic (traffic, security, all the extra people attending, etc..) Steve and I both are dreading being apart after all these years of never being apart in 15 yrs. It has really set in now fr both of us and I can't and won't even try to explain how bad this part of the whole trip is for us both. Call it crazy if you want but, we're just closer than the average couple and we spend every minute together most of the time and don't mind it a bit so far. I'll miss him like crazy! I'll be connecting with him by webcam and he'll be able to see his son the next best way. He's thought this is what I needed to do since the beginning was to go see Levi and see for myself that he's ok and bond with him as much as I can while I am there. Just pray for us all. Will keep you posted. - Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

Nancy is officially Isaac's mom today!!

Hey, just wanted to post and let you all know that I just rec'd a call from Nancy that she is officially Isaac's mom today. She rec'd the call that Isaac's birth mother had come in to sign off the final time and the attorney was hand carrying her documents to the mayor of Chinautla today also. She is so relived to have this part behind her and know that he is officially her son! How exciting for her family! There is nothing now that can keep her from getting him and she now calls the shots where he's concerned. The attorney has assured her she will push all that she needs to for the new birth certificate and get it asap. She can then proceed with the loose end things that have to be done for him to leave the country. The big thing from here is the birth certificate to be able to obtain his visa. Keep them in your prayers and us too as we await these same calls that we're out of PGN. We technically have a few more weeks to go (Friday will be 7 weeks of expected 8 as I posted before) if we run the average 8 week stay and receive no more kickouts. Thanks for all of my family and friends who have lifted Nancy and Isaac up in prayer for their case. Prayer does change things and he'll be home soon!! I couldn't be happier for her and Eric, today is their day to celebrate!!- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

Just 3 days, 15 hrs and 19 minutes... but, who is counting?

Well, our trip is just right around the corner and I cannot believe how fast it's passed since we made the reservations. Nancy is so excited and anxious she is wearing Isaac's clothes out packing and repacking~ha ha! I have been pretty much packed for over a week since summer clothes are all we're taking, well besides all the toys and baby stuff!! We'll think about you all that are wearing your coats and sweaters while we're soaking up the sun with our babies by the pool in 75 degree weather and shorts (just had to rub that part in a little while I am at it). No, really pray for me that I don't need to be heavily medicated to walk away from Steve Thursday night to get on that plane and leave him behind. I know some of you are making fun of me right now but, for those of you who know us well, know that this is BIG for us both and very hard! He says I need this and so does Levi, which I think is so sweet that he feels that way. Pray that Levi will be OK with me and not cry the whole time, same with Isaac with Nancy. I know he probably thinks the foster mom is his mommy but, I at least want him to feel loved by me while I am there, we can work on the mommy change over later. My time is short with him but, IF he naps or I have a free minute, I will try and post updates on how things are going from Guatemala. Thanks in advance for all your prayers and support. Blessings- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

Nancy is OUT of PGN!!!!! One step closer to Isaac!

Hey, just wanted to post some good news! Nancy got the call that she is OUT of PGN!! She found out this afternoon. She is just more than happy and praising the Lord today! She truly does give Him all the glory for this and knows without Him she wouldn't be this far. We both have a lot to be thankful for. Some of the adoptive parents weren't far enough along to have been grandfathered in under the old law as we were. I am sure when she gets to Guatemala and holds him in her arms this time she'll be looking at him in a whole new way. Before she called him her son and hoped and prayed he soon would be but, now she can say "this is MY son" and know it's finally real. Steve and I am so happy for her. I know she will continue to pray for Levi and hopefully we're soon to follow. It is good to know that although PGN has posted signs at the window where cases are brought by attorneys to submit, they are taking no more new cases at this time until the new law details are settled and established, the cases that are still there are still being reviewed and moving. Also, thanks to Nancy being persistent with our agency, the attorney over our cases in Guatemala is going to be talking to us about the birth certificate issues I mentioned in my previous post and what she has in place to do about the delays. As always, please just pray we're out too soon and that things continue to move to have them both home soon. As you pray today too, stop just a moment and say an extra prayer for all the children of Guatemala who won't have the opportunities Levi and Isaac will have because they'll be caught up in a corrupt government that has system set up to care for them but, want to stop/delay adoptions. Also, for our boys' foster mom, she will be without a job once Levi and Isaac come home. She has 2 children of her own and the small amount she gets for fostering them is her only source of income until when and if they ever have foster homes again. As of right now, unless things change , that is part of the new laws, no more private foster care. She is a fine lady and deserves so much more. Thanks in advance for all your prayers and support. Congrats again Nancy and Eric, praying your sweet boy is home with you all soon. - Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)

The latest news from Guatemala

Well, not much to post about our case specifically other than we called PGN and we're still with the 2nd reviewer. If we make it until this Friday, we'll be in 6 weeks of the average 8 week stay in PGN. However, with the holidays (we assume) Nancy should have been out last Wednesday. She hasn't called yet this week so, she doesn't know where her file is at to date. Pray we both hear something soon. I feel like that is all I ever post but, it's all we have is prayer and just hoping this is all over soon. We're a little over 8 days away from seeing our boys and the stress is just building for me. I hate, hate, hate leaving Steve here!!! It's starting to set in but, he keeps telling me he'll be fine. I know he is a big boy and can take care of himself but, it won't keep me from worrying. It would help if I didn't have to add to it all that his laptop crashed and is down completely until it can be serviced. We have to figure out an alternative plan because that is the only way we have for him to see Levi on his live webcam. We had already worked the bugs out and had it installed and working good until it crashed the other night...not good! HP is sending for it this week but, it won't make it back before we leave next Thursday night. Nancy and I have arrangements with the attorney's facilitator to pick us up on Saturday morning in at our hotel and take both boys to the pediatrician they see monthly (until they are out of PGN then they start seeing the US Embassy panel of doctors). We are meeting him at the request of our agency since both boys have been sick pretty often for the past few months. Boy, will that be an early morning and our initiation I guess. We have to have both babies up, awake, bathed, dressed, ourselves dressed and ready to be downstairs to meet her to take us there by 8:20am!! That is am!! Man do I hope they sleep good and not stay up all night since it's their first night with us Friday night. If we're up all night they'll be really excited to see the doctor I am sure. The newest thing for us to worry about is the town where Levi and Isaac were both born has a corrupt mayor. He's against adoptions and stalls making the new birth certificate. The babies have to have the new bc before they can have their Embassy appt for their Visa to exit the country. They have to have that step done before they can have their 2nd DNA test done, etc.. Basically, you can't move until the new bc is obtained. He has been stalling the new issued bc for some time now (so we've learned from our own research this week about it) and the average wait has been anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks in addition to the 6 or so the agency/attorney takes to have him ready to leave Guatemala. We're looking at being closer to his first birthday. It doesn't seem at all fair and we're just hoping and praying we can also get with the attorney while on our trip and see if she has a plan in place for this situation before we are faced with it. We'll see. Praying something or someone can make him speed up. What makes tit so bad is that they are our legal children after PGN and the final birth mother sign off. But, without the new bc listing us as his parents and giving him our last name, he can't get a Visa meaning he can't leave the country without it. It's always one hurdle after another. Praying for some answers soon to all this mess. Will keep you posted.- Tracy (aka Levi's mommy)