We all survived yet another day

Her appetite seems to be picking up and Kat has been great about this new routine of being buckled in EVERYWHERE. Shopping cart at Target? Buckled. Going anywhere in the car? Buckled. High chair for meals? Buckled. Maiden voyage in the awesome new stroller, BOB? Buckled. And in all of the buckling today, she cried just twice, in the car, I'm pretty sure when hungry both times (well, she ate immediately afterward, so I'm assuming that she was hungry).

It was in the 90s here today with a heat advisory and scattered thunderstorms forecast (I have seen nor head none). WTH? This is NOT the Seattle that we left a few days ago. At 4:30 we left to pick up the twins and the car thermometer was reading 95. The Guatemalan baby seemed unfazed, though she was definitely sweaty, especially in her car seat. Daddy was sweating his butt just changing her. I closed up the house first thing this AM (and shockingly, I was up at that hour for some reason) to capture any cool air and try to shut out the day's heat. It was 87 or so upstairs. I'm not sure if that is better than the alternative or not. It makes the 80 first floor seem like air conditioning.

After picking up the idiot twins, we had our first family outing. To the dogpark, of course. Very quickly. We were there long enough for the boys to throw themselves in the river and then to run back to the air conditioned Rav4. The boys were both nice to Kat. Well, they didn't show a ton of interest, but they also didn't react hostilely, so that's good news. It'll probably be a few weeks before we have Ben babysit, however. They did, however, immediately associate her presence with the scattered Cheerios laying around and they seemed to like that.

Poor Kat, she's very frustrated in not yet being able to crawl. She gets close, but can't get her knees bent at the same time that her arms are stretched under her. It appears to be a very frustrating experience for her. She also doesn't show any inclination to feed herself (she has people for that). That's not true, she does try to reach in and for the baby food jar and intercept the spoon, but aside from that, it didn't seem to occur to her that she could put the banana pieces, nor the Cheerios, in her mouth. Not yet anyway....

Here are some pics, one from last night- the best we could do at the Seattle airport as proof that the poor little baby was, at long last, in the US!!!! And the video- I did NOT capture the full frenzy of her jumping, despite repeated efforts. The zeal of her jumping and the flying hair, the manic smile and the screeching are unbelievably funny (she was bouncing in that thing, rabidly except for when I had the camera out for 1/2 hour or more. Baby aerobics) .



I know I cut Dan's head off, but I liked everything else about the picture

I think Boo was in the water...

WE'RE HOME!!!!!

And Kat did great on the trip!

And, I DID have her confirmation, I had not thrown it out and her name wasn't an issue anywhere.

The first flight was at 2:15 and she hadn't yet napped, so we walked her around the airport and looked at all the other babies (or they came to look at her) and then she was on Dan's lap at the window and was FASCINATED looking out as we were taxiing and taking off. Then she turned, had a few nips off her bottle, and passed out. For the entire 2 hour, 20 minute flight!

We had a tight connection in Houston, considering we had to go through customs and security, again. In Customs, we had to go to a special room to get 'interviewed' and we were sure we'd miss our plane. we were in there maybe 10 minutes and the guy handed us her passport, with her US visa stamped through December and we were on our way.

We then had to pick up our bags, go through the rest of customs, drop our bags back off, find security, so through security and do a 1/2 mile dash through the airport/. But we made it and even had time for a diaper change before boarding the second flight.

Kat struggled more on this leg, as she was now well rested and had been allowed to just sit on the floor to play for about 3 minutes in the customs area. She was fidgety and noisy for a while, until the naval seaman (in the OED- ordinance, explosive device division) next to me began entertaining her. He did a fantastic job and you should have seen the look on her face later when she was looking at him for entertainment and he was asleep. She was crushed. He was the baby whisperer. Eventually, after snarfing down a few bottle and two jars of food (back to back) she finally passed out and stayed that way for another 2 hours or so.

Even when rudely awakened to get off the plane and stuffed in the stroller for the last time for the night she was placid baby. Not fully awake, but not at all whiny. She was happy to just look around at all the activity (the airport was hopping) and observe. Being put in a car seat for the very first time didn't phase her (and of course, within 5 minutes or so, she was out again).

That's the update. I have only one pic from today and I'm too lazy (tired) to upload it. I will tomorrow. Also tomorrow, Kat has to explore her new house, room, life. And meet the idiot twins. Should be interesting.....

And it was 80+ degrees in the house when we got home. I'm confused. Maybe this isn't Seattle? So, I hope that tomorrow is a nice day and we can spend time just hanging out in the yard and letting Kat start to explore her new life. I'm sure there will be pics.

Read y'all soon.

Day 2- So far so good, no, great!!

We've all survived day 2- in fact Dan is just tiptoeing to her crib to set her down. Now he's passing out on the couch with his iPod.

We went to Antigua today and Kat was just awesome the whole time. I suppose it's a baby trait, as the world is mighty big, but she is insanely curious about everything and thus going out in her carrier is very fun and entertaining and so far being in the stroller is too (though we've only gone to the restaurant downstairs). I'm guessing we'll both be feeling some soreness tomorrow after having 20+ pounds strapped to us while walking around (and in the car, as there are no child seats here).

We got her visa today, so all should be well tomorrow at the airport. Excepting the fact that I may have discarded her ticket in the little envelope with our luggage stickers from the flight here, as I knew we would not be needing those and forgot all about the baby paper ticket inside. Dan thinks it's a e-ticket and he checked, it is definitely linked to ours, so hopefully we won't be buying a new one..... And her name is wrong on her reservation, it has just her first three names and thus does not match her passport exactly (which I've been told it has to).....we're allowing time before the flight to take care of possible ticketing issues.

I asked our guide today about Guatemalan naming conventions (and I think it applies to the rest of Central and South America as well). Everybody has 4 names and the mother's comes last and you always use all 4 names. Which would explain how they did it on her birth certificate.

Antigua is beautiful- all of the streets are the original cobblestones and there are many buildings, especially churches from the 1500s. Most have been rebuilt after earthquakes bet. 1500-1700 or so, though some have not. And there are tons of street vendors selling just about any kind of craft-ware. Yesterday I bought a scarf, a table runner and a kid's patchwork backpack. Today, after going to the Jade factory, I had to buy a ring and bracelet and a beautiful jade (blue jade, indigenous to Guatemala) necklace for Kat when she grows up. And I had to get her a handmade wall hanging that tells a story of the Mayan people (if one knows how to read the pictures) for her room.

There is no question that there is severe poverty here, especially amongst the indigenous populations. And I've never seen so much razor wire in my life as in Guatemala City (on 2 very brief forays out of the hotel). I was extremely surprised at the US Embassy that the guards outside it were NOT US Marines. They looked like (from their uniforms) and in fact are, rent-a- cops (or at least a contracted company). I had just assumed that all US Embassies were manned by Marines. Now I know.

This is us at the old monastery, in front of the pool from the old aqueduct.

We have all survived the first day and a half!!!

But we're all tired.

Before I forget, Happy Anniversary Jim & Julia and Happy Birthday Joli.

The FM said that she takes an 8 oz bottle every three hours, plus 2 bottles of juice, and at least 3 jars of food every day.....the websites say that a baby her age should have about 32 oz of formula.... hmmmm. Well, she certainly hasn't come close to 64oz with us.

Last night was rough, but mostly because we were a tad bit paranoid about Kat and being up at 5:30 for our 7:15 embassy appointment. We were worried that waking her up and dragging her out at first light might make for a cranky baby. In fact, she did great. We were there 2 hours, met 2 other families (scored a barette from one as I forgot to bring something to keep her hair out of her face), and Kat was playing to the full house in the waiting room. There was screeching, and peering at everyone and just having a great time in general. No crying at all.

We had read in the past about our agency being at the front of the line at the embassy while other people foundered in the masses. And that's exactly how it played out. The only surprise at the Embassy (for us only) was that her birth certificate, passport and now US Visa all read with her full name as Katerine Mishell C------ M---!!!! I didn't even plan it that way!!! Oops.

Tomorrow, since we would be confined to the hotel, our driver asked us if we wanted to visit Antigua (the Colonial Capital from 1540s), which is just an hour away and he'd be our guide. We really had to think long and hard before saying "hell, yes!" Our driver also happened to once be the driver for the president of Guatemala. Funny, he had no comment when I said "I bet the driver of the President would be well-armed".

I went to the Artesian Market today and got a few things from a true Mayan weaver. I figured if we were going to Antigua we would have more opportunity to see (and buy) truly indigenous work. Juan Carlos also said we'd go to a real Guatemalan restaurant for lunch. Dan and Kat will enjoy that (I'll be slipping some pop tarts and Snickers into the diaper bag).

That's the update. We pick up Kat's visa tomorrow at 11:30 and we leave Saturday about noon and I expect to post some pics, etc tomorrow after Antigua.

The Kat has landed!!!

At 10 am this morning, we met the foster mom and Kat for the first time (and last for one of them). The FM clearly adored Kat, though she left with little fanfare and Kat has, so far, accepted us placidly. She did finally fall asleep and woke up soon after crying, I suspect that waking up in unfamiliar surroundings (she's never been in a crib, much less a hotel before) was startling. She's doing great and tolerating our cluelessness beautifully. So far. And she's damn cute, as you will see. Her FM had her in this adorable Mayan outfit. We'll put her back in it for photos later. It was too big and too cute to wear around the hotel with us, so we changed her.

It's hard to add more photos, as blogger assumes you want them at the top...I call this series going, going, gone

We're in Guatemala!!!!

Holy crap!!!

We're here, smooth flights, no problems whatsoever. We're unpacked and I suppose as ready as we can be for Kat to show up at 10 am tomorrow! Yikes.

The driver met us at the airport, we flew through customs, no one even asked us a question (I was a little worried about that, knowing that Americans adopting aren't necessarily that popular here) and were whisked to our very nice suite at the hotel. Dan just finished ironing our clothes (so we don't look like slobs).

I've never flown Continental, but I was impressed. They had food on both legs of the fight, which I didn't think anyone did anymore. And we didn't get charged for our third bag (that was the stroller wrapped and duct-taped in a fluffy ski bag. Of course, they whacked the hell out of us for Kat's lap ticket (when flying internationally babies have to have one) at 10% of today's adult airfare for $300, so I think the gate agent felt bad enough that she didn't charge for the stroller.

The EAC Agency staff guy was very nice for the ten minutes that we saw him (and I didn't see a chase vehicle). We'll see him more tomorrow- and we'll see the suite tomorrow as well. I'm not sure how much we'll use it, but it has a microwave and stuff and that may be handy. We're the first family here in a month!

Tomorrow, we get the baby, meet the foster mom and then immediately one of us heads to the grocery store to get Kat supplies. And then sometime in the following 2 days, one of us will go to the craft market. Dan suggested that I would prefer to do the craft market and thus he'll do the grocery store so we both get to maximize our exposure to the city.

That's all I can think of to report.

We will post pics tomorrow.

Checking things off the list

We're getting there.....

-Dogs- ready to be delivered to the 'spa'
-Called credit card companies to tell them we'll be in Guatemala and to let us use our cards while there. Had to explain to one Indian call center employee where Guatemala was. When I told him it's in Central America , he said I could use my card anywhere in the US. I faxed him a world map and highlighted Mexico's southern border.
-Got all of our documents (there are 3) organized and confirmed with the agency what we need paper-work wise. Dan is scanning and e-mailing them, just in case.
-Put the mail on hold

Next and last steps-
-Head to the bank for more US cash in pristine condition (Guatemalans can only use it if it is in good shape, and I suspect it's a primary currency down there).
-A stop at Target for food supplies for us- we'll be dependent on the hotel restaurant for the entire time....I hope I like something on the menu.
-Drop the boys off at the spa (after the dogpark, of course).
-Pack our stuff- oh yeah - and everything we could possible need for a baby we haven't yet met, for 4 days and a plane ride......

We're almost ready. We'll post from our hotel, assuming we do have high speed access, as advertised. If you don't see anything new, you'll know that we did NOT have access and we'll post when we get back.

Made our reservations

We're traveling Tuesday, arriving in Guatemala City at 9pm (hopefully our flights will be on time) and heading back to Seattle on Saturday, via Houston (I suspect we'll be ecstatic to land on even Texas's soil!), arriving at 11 pm. One thing to cross off my list.

Turns out that since adoptions have virtually ground to a halt, the Agency still has a baby room, but no longer any staff on-hand (though the driver/interpreter will be solely at our disposal, I suppose). And there are no other families who will be picking up their children when we are there. I am disappointed that we won't be meeting other families who are meeting their children for the first time. I guess the three of us will be spending lots of quality time together (I'll bring my Netflix movies and laptop, as I presume she'll sleep more than we do.) And I can post updates and pics for everyone to check out.

Back to making my lists......

Our Embassy Appointment is 6/26!!!!

Yes, that's a week from today!!! Holy crap! This is beginning to seem very real and very scary.

And the to-do list just got a little bit longer. Luckily, we took baby CPR tonite and are doing the car seat safety check (both cars) on Saturday (once I get them out of the boxes and try to figure it out first) so we'll have those items out of the way and some confidence that we can get her form the airport to home in one piece.

We've spent most the the night (that we weren't breathing into plastic babies) trying to find the best flights to Guatemala City and back. Things we're taking into consideration include (not necessarily in the order of importance): cost, layover time, spending as little time in Guatemala City as possible, and, allowing a decent cushion after our visa is supposed to be ready on Friday to get the the airport for an international flight. Unfortunately, it seems there isn't a flight out late enough on Friday afternoon and we'll have to go out on Saturday. Dan wants to get her and flee, minimizing the amount of time we spend there. I can see the value in that.

Kat will show up with (her foster mother) Wednesday morning to be wrenched away from the life she has known for the first 10.5 months of her life and then we have our Embassy appt at 7:15 am Thursday--we have a two hour time difference and also have to get an unknown baby up and ready for travel and our appointment at some ungodly hour. That sounds sooooo fun! I know you're all jealous.

And we have to have a decent layover in Houston so we can clear customs- it will probably take longer than it ever has before, with a Guatemalan National and all (she will NOT be a US citizen until we re-adopt her stateside)......I'll post more definitive travel info once we confirm. That will be tomorrow.

Dan's checking the hurricane forecast right now.....

I'll keep y'all posted as soon as we know what's happening. Oh, and at long last I have posted a new Epic on "Antigone's Epics".

DNA Test Results

Kat passed her DNA test! It was an identical match. The snail mail results are on their way back to the US Embassy in GC. Once they get them, they will e-mail me our appointment date and we'll start making travel plans.

For some info on what other families, etc are going thru, here's a good article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080617/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/guatemala_adoption_limbo

Last step is ALMOST complete

The DNA test (swab) is complete, and is now in NC at the lab, and we are awaiting the results, which we expect back in a few days. Then the Embassy will set our interview date and we make our reservations and fly to Central America.....

Just one last step

The agency called today and our file is at the Embassy and the DNA test has been authorized. I presume that the DNA test will take place by the end of this week. Then it gets sent to NC, and once the Embassy gets the hard copy of the results, they set our appointment. And then we reserve our flights and head to Guatemala to pick Kat up and bring her home.

We should only have to be in Guatemala City 4-5 days. We will be sequestered in our hotel (the ggency (which errs heavily on the side of caution) has their own suite that is full of all things baby, as well as other adoptive families and their babies). We will only leave the hotel to go to our Embassy appointment (no strollers allowed-go figure), to go to the 'American-style' grocery store (for diapers and formula), and to go to the artisan market (to buy all things Mayan/Guatemalan). But that's okay, as from what I've read, we don't want to be wandering around on our own down there.

We will be met at the airport by agency representatives, and as I understand it, they have two vehicles.......we'll be in the first one...I wonder who/what is in the second vehicle? Yikes. And apparently the climate there right now for American adoptive parents by the general public isn't particularly warm, so I'm okay with staying in. Although the actual climate is warm and rainy, as it is the wet season. In the tropics. Another reason to be glad we're staying in the hotel.

I'll let you know once we hear about the DNA results. That's the next step.

MORE NEWS!

The agency called back late today, while we were taking Lexie down to Ranier for her climb to the summit later this week, and said that they had the birth certificate! So, it's just the DNA test (I hope she passes), which could take 2 weeks (but I bet it's less) and then the Embassy telling us when to be there! Getting closer......

NEWS!!!!!

The agency called today and said that they had the authorization for the birth certificate!!!

This is what we've waited nine weeks for! They expect to get the new, improved birth certificate next week and deliver our file to the US Embassy by the end of next week. Then the lawyer who is handing over the file will get the DNA authorization from the Embassy, they will do a second DNA test to make sure she's the same baby who was tested at the very beginning. The results will be fedexed to Labcorp in NC, and once the Embassy receives the hard copy results, they will schedule our Embassy appointment. That has been traditionally scheduled 10-14 days in the future. So, we're thinking that we'll at least be traveling by the end of June!

Our Agency person, Julie, was very happy to deliver good news, as there hasn't been much of that coming out of Guatemala lately and lots of families are waiting for any good news in the face of ever-increasing new rules and regs and uncertainty.

That probably means that we will NOT be meeting Ann & Mark & CO in Missoula for the half marathon. We will have to find another one later or in the fall. I know Mark's been training for it.

I will post more updates as I get them. I will hear from the Agency once the file is handed over, when the DNA is done, etc...


Here are a few more of the recent pics:

More pics, Still no news

I don't know why we have more pics so soon after the last (with no medical update either time, BTW), but we'll take them. I think we're going to miss the entire "baby" phase- she looks like a little person (a pretty big one at that compared to her FM, but then the avg height there is shorter than here). I have sorted through all the clothes that I've bought on eBay and anything that's 9mths or less will be being re-sold on eBay soon. That's most of them. Oops. That's what I get for believing in April that it was happening soon and diving in. At least I haven't installed the car seats yet, so we're not driving around with empty seats in the back.

No News, more pics