November 25, 2007

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Just got some updates on Dawson. She is now 5 months old and up to 12.5 lbs, and 21 inches tall. Still on the small side but, glad to know she is growing. Each month I get a check list of what she CAN DO according to what her foster mom claims. Here's the list...sit without assist, hold head up, hold own bottle, push up on arms when on stomach, track objects, transfer objects hand to hand, roll from front to back and back to front. Sleeping seems to be going well too! She sleeps from 10p.m until 6a.m. I'm hoping she continues that pattern when she gets here!! Dawson and her mother were submitted to family court on 11/15. This is when a social worker gathers all her background information, goes to court with her mother, and then decides if the case seems legal. This process takes about a month for court approval. I'm hoping to be out of court by Jan. 1. Guatemala is a very catholic country and the take lots of holidays in December that might delay me. We'll see what happens?

November 14, 2007

Thought I would post a few new pictures...they just came through today! I sent a few new outfits and a photo album of my family. As you can see, she likes to look at herself best!!! The clothes laying on top of her are the ones I just sent down. I think my agency is letting me know she got them! Check out those Spanish books. I sent those to encourage her to READ instead of WATCHING TV so much! Enjoy!!

November 10, 2007

My agency is headed out this weekend for a visit, pictures and a medical check. This means...MORE PICTURES to come soon! As always, I can't wait to see the changes. This past week I did have the opportunity to send over a few questions for my foster mom. These questions go through my attorney in Guatemala and then are translated to my foster mom. Being a an educator I was curious to find out if she was being read to, enjoyed music, liked rocking, etc. Basically, I was asking what she likes to do. To my surprise, her response was....she likes noise but, LOVES TV! (remember she is only 4 months old) Well, I didn't like the idea that she was liking TV until Papa Pat mentioned he would buy her a 60" plasma for Christmas! Now I think it's GREAT!!! I also found out she has other children in the home. The foster mom has two of her own children, a boy age 6 and a girl age 8, along with another baby girl (fostered) that is 2 months old. All I can say is that she might as well get used to all the chaos and confusion! It probably won't change much when she gets home!!!

November 2, 2007

Just got my new update around 10:00 tonight. With DNA a match, I will be submitted to Family Court on Tuesday, November 6th. I will now be assigned a social worker to do a report on Dawson's mom, similar to the one I had to do here in the U.S. This report needs to be submitted, reviewed, and approved before I can exit Family Court and move on in the process. I'm hoping and praying for an EFFICIENT social worker. Some are better than others! This is also a big month for the grandfather clause that I am looking for. On Sunday, the presidential election will occur. After the election, the congress will begin to go back into session and the grandfather clause should begin to be discussed and hopefully passed. The word in Guatemala is that this might occur by the middle of November. Hope everyone has a great week!