Where do we begin?

Hi All,

First, we want to thank you all for coming by and checking on our progress with our second adoption. If you would like to get an email when we update our blog, just send me an email - and I'll put you on the list.

As for this wonderful surprise, I don't even know where to begin. Over a month ago we discussed adopting again - so Peter would have a sibling to grow up with. Then there was a chance of us adopting Peter's birth sibling - but that didn't work out, because Peter's birthmom decided to have an abortion. So we just went ahead with our original plans of adopting again from Guatemala. It wasn't an easy decision, we checked into adopting from other Countries, because of the Hague Treaty in Guatemala, but after looking at our choices, Kerry just said......."lets go with Guatemala since we've been there and Peter and his sibling will be from the same Country".......Margaret was fine with this choice.


Just about two weeks ago - we were planning on using FTIA (the agency we used to bring our son Peter home) for our second adoption, then after talking to a couple of people and Margaret and her yahoo groups on Adopting from Guatemala.............here we are - doing an adoption Independently. We weren't even sure yet what our game plan was, because Kerry still liked the idea of a security blanket (Ie. FTIA), and Margaret knew the paperwork and really didn't need an agency to walk her through it, and much rather spend the money saved on visiting our daughter. We discussed the pros and cons, and either way the lawyers have the power to do what they wanted, regardless if they were with an agency or not. So we decided to go independently and hopefully by going this route it will be a quicker process. It is so amazing, how everything just falls into place. So here we are with a referral of a cute little girl, and Margaret just emailed the Lawyer in Guatemala telling him that we were interested in this little girl, and asked more questions to find out more info on the baby and her family.

Margaret called her mom this evening to tell her the wonderful news. Mom is all excited on picking out a name for our daughter. We are still deciding on a name. We emailed the lawyer to see what the grandparents names were, and to see if her given name was after anyone.


As for the paperwork, Margaret started that in the beginning of July and had all the paperwork collected for our Dossier, within 7 days. The fingerprints was the only thing that slowed up everything, because we had to wait for the clearances to come back. As for our Dossier - we just got word today that our fingerprints and child abuse clearance all came through so our homestudy is DONE! So Thurs. Margaret is going to pick that up and head to Riverhead to get all the documents certified, and then first thing Friday morning we are heading into NYC to get it all authenticated!!! Yippie!!!! Anyone want to go for a train ride? Peter will be participating in this fun adventure to get his sister home. Wow, it'll be Peter's first time on the train.........chooo chooo!

So lets think positive that this little angel will be home real soon. Right now this lawyer is only working with about 5 families, so its not like we will have to wait on a pile to be submitted to any part of the process.

Here is the information on this little angel that we received from our Lawyer;

Her name is Nancy España Martinez, she born in the Hospital de Zacapa on July 18 2007, today I took her to the first medical check up and she weight 5.2 pounds Length 45 cms head circumference 32 cms. Her lab test was taken. The Doctor said she looks normal and healthy, with no obvious physical abnormalities. Her pregnancy was normal; she has medical control, and was on time.

Her mother name is Maria Cristina España Martinez, she is from Chiquimula, she is 21 years old, she is single. She lives with her mother in Aldea La Catocha this is a very poor place, she help her mother with doing housekeeping activities.

She declares no sickness history in her family. She declares she is healthy.

Now the fun adventure of coming up with a name? There is already a Nancy in the family, so we have to come up with another name. Hopefully the grandparents name will be helpful. We'll let you know what we decide on.

Have a great week!