THE DAY HAS COME!!!!! WE ARE OUTTTA THERE!!!!!!

Holy Schnickeys!!!!! We are OUT!!!!! I can still hardly believe it! I got home yesterday and checked my email around 3pm...Our agency had sent the email 1 minute before I logged on....I read it 10 times and still could hardly believe it! We also got an email from our attorney around the same time so I knew it was FOR REAL!!!! I got in the car and drive like a maniac to Eric's office to tell him and we laughed and cried our eyes out!!! Praise God! I am still in shock...It is finally here! Bianca is coming home!!!!

Okay, so to give you the details of what has to happen now...

-She will be getting her new Birth Certificate (7-10 days)

-She will get a new DNA test- New requirement from the US Embassy (7-10 days)

-Her paperwork will be submitted to the US Embassy to process and we will receive the coveted PINK which will give us her appointment date for us in Guatemala City (Not sure, a couple more weeks)

So I am thinking 4 weeks...on the generous side. Then Bianca will come home and be a US CITIZEN!!!!!!! And she will live with us forever more!!!WAHOOO!!!! I cannot express in writing how I feel today...I am still pinching myself! We are just sooo happy and I can hardly wait to get my hands on that little squirt!

I have called some of you and I know others of you will read this on the blog. I just want to thank you all for your love and support as we have waited so long for this day to come. Now the wait will be short and sweet! I will post much more later and let you know as we learn more.

Much love to you all-Chantelle

Tick, Tick, Tick....

Okay for anyone who has not been logging on to read my rants, let me say that this COULD be the week! We will be back in PGN 8 weeks tomorrow. Any time between now and the 12th looks VERY promising....though I hate to put that out there in case the outcome is different. So last week not much happened in the PGN...Turns out the head honcho, Senor Barrios, was out of the country. He has to sign off on the final approvals of all adoptions in Guatemala.....Maybe I need to send him a fruit basket...I wonder if that could be considered a bribe, or even illegal...Hmm Maybe I should hold off on that one....at least for now.

On to other info...after a few of you have been frustrated by not being able to post, I have changed the parameters on the blog, so now anyone can post, whether you have an account or not, so feel free to try it out.

As I have posted in previous blogs, a group of women are starting a non-profit organization to educate people who are interested in adoption....I am a lead in this group. We are just beginning but have already had so much response...So on that note, if you know of anyone who would like more info on adoption please feel free to give them my contact information. The org will be called "Room for One More" and it will serve to field questions for people who are looking into adoption. We will also serve as a support system to families that are already in process or new families that need assistance with paperwork and so on.

Okay, I am busting at the seems to get back to Guatemala....And Eric is need of a vacation also! We are so ready to see Bianca! I know it will be a tough transition for her foster family when we bring her home, and I have been thinking about that a lot lately. Bianca will have her own adjusting to go through, but I am thinking her foster mom, Iris will be very sad when Bianca leaves her. Initially Iris thought that Bianca would only be with her for 4-5 months. Since that time has almost doubled, I am sure she sees Bianca as her owns daughter. She has spent every night with her pretty much since she was born. I have to tell you, Eric and I both loved Iris from the moment we first saw her. She speaks no english whatsoever, but it is amazing how much I see her love our daughter. We have been so blessed to have her in Bianca's life. Iris' husband, Hugo is also a very kind and loving Papa. They have 3 girls of their own, almost grown, so Bianca has PLENTY of attention at home. I will have to really work hard to impress her once she gets home....I am only one person, but some would say with MANY personalities!!! Keep the good vibes going...I have a great feeling our little lady is coming home soon!!!!! Love, Chantelle

New Look!

Yep, The blog site has a new look....I am really getting into this stuff. I feel like all I talk about is how much time we have spent in PGN, but it is because it is what I spend much of the time pondering! We are really so happy about where we are in life right now. Eric and I were talking at breakfast today about what it will be like to add Bianca full-time to our lives. She is already so humorous and fun. I just love our time together, and we both feel that the time is coming where she will be coming home soon. It is just so awesome!!!! I will check in again soon!

Chantelle

7 Weeks Back in PGN

Okay so 7 weeks back in PGN today!!! Come on, we must get the OUT call soon! I have to be honest...I am not handling the wait all that great this week. I need to get focused on other stuff, but this is my kid I am waiting on! I am always happy to see other families get out of PGN and know that they will be taking their babies home, but today I am having a pity party wishing that we could be one of those families! Keeping positive can be a challenge!
On a very bright note, one of our best friends has decided to move forward to adopt from Guatemala....We are SOOO excited for them...Bianca will have another Guatemalan girlfriend!
Some of the old high school buddies are getting together this week. I am excited to see everyone and we will be working on our class reunion coming up this fall......15 years.....Is that really possible?
As always thanks for your prayers and thoughts.
Much Love
Chantelle

6 weeks back in PGN!

Hey you crazy kids! Okay, today is 6 weeks back in....Totally believing to get out at 8 weeks, so 2 more...Wahoo! I can do some serious math....I am obsessed with the date....Wonder why? Eric and I are talking more and more about the realities of Bianca being in our home soon! I love it! I have so much planned for us....Okay, mainly just staring at her...and thinking everything she does is brilliant. Is that wrong? Today I am just being thanksful for our family's health and happiness. We have such an awesome life. I really could not ask for more, except to get Bianca home ASAP, of course. Thanks for all that so many of you do for us...We appreciate the fact that we have so many people who already love Bianca and are believing for her to get home soon.

As always, we will keep you posted as soon as we get more info.

Love-Chantelle

Bianca is 8 Months old!

Wahoo!

New Bianca updates and medical! This photo was taken at her 8 month check up. Is she a doll or what? She still weighs a petite 14 pounds....She did not gain any weight over the past month, but I am hoping that is because she is constantly on the move! Other than that she seems to be doing fantastic! She is totally crawling with no problem, responding to her name. She laughs and gets frustrated and really can show both of those emotions! Her hair is making a full come back which we are so pumped about, and it looks like she will sport the curly locks. Man, I HAVE to get this child home!!!! Keep sending out the positive vibes for PGN to give her paperwork the official OUT!!!!!

Lots of love!

Chantelle