Back in PGN!

PGN is the Guatemalan version of the Attorney General's Office. It must review our case... anything they don't like (like smudge or a mismatched date, etc.) would cause them to issue a "previo" and we get "kicked out" of PGN. If they like it, they issue us a coveted "pink slip" at which point they create for Joseph a new birth certificate and give us a court date... then we bring him home. All this could take anywhere from 2-4 month plus a month for the certificate/court date. So, this means we're getting into the final lap. Praise the Lord! This was the email we've been watching for!

>From: "Sue Hedberg"
>To: "Keith and Sandra"
>Date: June 27, 2007 01:49:19 PM CDT
>Subject: RE: Your case
>
>Your case goes back into PGN today.. complete.. hopefully the final go
>around

PREAPPROVAL!

Just a quick note of thanks... We received notice from the US Embassy that our adoption case for Joseph was preapproved. If you want more details of what that means, scroll down to the post labeled "The Process". Next step is PGN, which can take anywhere from 2 months to 6 months. Please pray that God would move the hands and hearts of those officials who will be looking at our case. Please specifically pray that my Argentine birth certificate would be accepted in its current form, as this would be the most difficult piece to redo. As we wait, the Lord reminds us daily that He is absolutely in control. All glory to the God of the universe and the Defender of the weak!

Likes cereal, but not bananas!

Hi all: We just got this fun email from Erick. It is wonderful to get some news of his day to day activities. Hope you Spanish is working... Keith & Sandra

From: "erick lopez"
To:
Date: June 24, 2007 08:02:36 PM CDT
Subject: NEWs about danielitO!!

Hola esperamos que se encuentren bien en todo. Solo les escribo para contarles que Daniel le gusta mucho comer su cereal y el banano no le gusta. Ya comenzo a agarrar las cosas con sus manos y le gusta mucho un patito amarillo que ustedes le dejaron.. que por cierto aparece en unas fotos que les envie. Ahora se rie recio ya escuchamos cuando se rie y le gusta que juguemos con èl en la noche antes de dormir. Le gusta mucho el libro rojo que le dejaron. Ahora cada mañana cuando despierta lo hace hablando y riendose porque se despierta feliz y no le gusta estar solo, por eso nunca lo dejamos solo en un cuarto siempre esta con nosotros. Saben que queremos mucho a Daniel y de verdad cada dia lo amamos mas y sera dificil para nosotros el dia que se vaya pero ira con los mejores papàs que Dios le pudo dar Nos seguimos hablando-


Erick y Trini

O.K., so why Fabulous Hadleys?

Are we so vain? What is up with that name? "The Fabulous Hadleys" is the name of our family acrobatic stunt crew. It started when Caleb was 2-3 years old. Our first trick, sitting on Daddy's feet high in the air and shouting "Ta-Dah!" at Mommy. We added tricks when Sofia came along, including forming a human hoop with Mommy and Caleb and having Sofie lunge thru it! Now the kids simply ask, "Hey Dad, can we play Fabulous Hadleys?" So, we are already working up a new routine for FIVE Fabulous Hadleys... coming soon to a soft, carpeted floor near you!

Photos from Erick...

Erick (bless his heart) just sent us some new photos of Joseph... we are so glad to see him again. Please continue to pray that we'd get our "pre-approval" soon from the US Embassy in Guatemala. We've been over 60 days now -- Sue's warned us that it is taking up to 70 days. So, we wait.

>From: "erick lopez"
>To:
>Date: June 21, 2007 02:26:58 PM CDT
>Subject: hola
>
>hola esperamos que se encuentren bien
>Aqui les enviamos una fotos de Jose Daniel

Update from foster brother, Erick

We had a bit of anxiety yesterday when the news flashed reports of an earthquake in Guatemala of 6.8 magnitude. I called Erick and Trini, Joseph's foster family, and was happy to hear that everyone was fine. Apparently, the quake was perhaps smaller than first measured and caused no damage. We are so thankful for the ability to keep in close touch with Joseph's wonderful foster family during our time of separation. For the spanish readers (or those who wish to try), here is an email he sent today.

Le damos Gracias a Dios que el Termblor de ayer no paso a mas y todos estamos bien, no le paso nada a nadie aqui. Las noticias exageraron un poco diciendo que era de 6.8 cuando en realidad fue de 5.3 el temblor. Les contamos que Daniel ya esta empezando a comer cereal y banano... el cereal le encanta pero el banano no mucho pero igual lo come. Ya no duerme mas en el porta bebe ahora que duerme en su "cunita" esta mucho mejor y la doctora dice que el problema de la cabeza se le va a ir quitando con ya no dormir en el porta bebe y con estar mucho tiempo en su pansita. El esta muy contento y es un niño feliz y nosotros lo amamos mucho.

Un fuerte abrazo,

Erick

From: "Sue Hedberg"
To: "Keith and Sandra"
Date: June 09, 2007 09:31:52 AM CDT
Subject: FW: Reenviar: Jose Daniel Sanchez Ramos

De: Francisco Montiel
Fecha: 08/06/2007 02:21:03 p.m.
Asunto: Jose Daniel Sanchez Ramos

Hello!

This morning I had the opportunity to review little Jose Daniel, he is now aged 4 months and has been, I am told, doing really well in the time since he was seen for the last time one month ago, he shows a constant and normal development, a very bright little boy he shows interest in all that goes on around him, will turn to sound without localizing it, and is quite vocal himself making many cooing and some initial babbling noises of his own. He now shows better control of his neck muscles an will keep the head pretty straight in the midline when pulled to the sitting position, also when on his stomach he is able to lift his head clear form the bed, will attempt, with swiping movements. To grant things that are nearby and puts everything into his mouth. He will hold his hands together in the midline and also enjoys looking at his fingers whilst putting them in front of his eyes. The caregiver tells me that this little one takes well his formula and is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found him in good health with no obvious physical or neurological abnormalities, his weight today is 17 lbs 14 oz, length of 61 cms and head circumference of 42 cms. He received today his second dose of DPT and HiB. Please find his pictures attached.


Best Regards

Francisco

News from Guatemala

Today we were delighted to get this email from Erick, Joseph's foster brother, who is 18 years old, internet saavy and very much interested and loving with 'Danielito.' Sandra and I agreed together that this was a specific answer to our prayers for Joseph and his care... we are so fortunate to have him in a home with someone like Erick. Read on, it will be a test of your Spanish!

Hola... si hemos recibidos sus 2 mails gracias.
Daniel los extraño mucho el dia que lo fuimos a traer, se veia un poco triste porque los extrañaba. Ya no esta durmiendo en el porta bebe y ahora duerme en una especie de cunita, y estamos jugando con el sobre su estomago..le gusta bastante.

Ya no toma pacha cada 2 horas ahora toma cada tres horas. Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para que su cabezita este en una mejor posicion. perdon por no haber escrito antes pero no tenemos internet en casa... y proximamente les estaremos enviando fotos por el correo.

bendiciones

Erick y Trini

Sorrow and joy

Hard to leave... so very hard to leave him there. As I held him sleeping in my arms it dawned on me that I would soon hand him back to Trini and Erick, his foster mother and her wonderful grandson. I was watching and listening as Sandra compared notes with them... it was obvious that they love "Daniel" and know all his likes, dislikes and quirks... suddenly I looked at him and began to cry. It hurt me so to think about handing him back over and my heart felt like it weighed 100 lbs. Then another feeling joined my deep sorrow, joy, because I realized suddenly how much I truly loved Jose Daniel. That felt very, very good.

Bonding

Wow... what an unusual experience. It is nothing like when the other two were born. There, it was such a dramatic process (say no more) that the meeting was mixed with joy and such profound relief that the birth was over. Holding Joseph now, looking at his face, talking to him... I feel like I'm inviting him into our life, almost like I have to ask his permission. I want to win him over, to make him comfortable, secure, to laugh... I find that I'm wooing him and hoping that he'll choose us as his parents. I keep asking him if he'd take me as his father and if he'll come to live with us in Chicago. I tell him about Caleb and Sofia and what great kids they are, how they will be good to him and make him laugh and share their toys... Sandra, of course, speaks to him in Spanish and is softer than me. I've shaved every day (which is against my vacation rules) so that I won't scratch him... whoa, he's waking up... gotta go... Joseph, Daniel... coming~!

Great night together...

Joseph almost slept thru the night... we put him down around 10:00 after a bottle... he was peaceful until around 1:30. We gave him a bottle with no struggle and then, he went right to sleep again until 5:30. He whimpered and we were both excited to see him so we got him and put him between us in the bed. He was so happy and smiley... we're holding him all the time and he really likes it. All these skills that we learned with Caleb and Sofia are paying off, we feel like pros, shushing, touching his cheek, patting his big diapered behind to calm him down and get him to take the bottle, etc. We're becoming good friends.