We called the Foster Mom this evening

With the help of Margaret's friend Soni (thanks soni) we finally got a hold of Anna's foster mom and talked to her. She said Anna is doing great. She also told Margaret that her and her family is going to miss Anna very much when she leaves - because they love her so much, but she knows Anna is going to a good family. Margaret asked Carolina (foster mother) her thoughts on baby girls getting their ears pierced. Carolina got very excited and said she would be thrilled to get Anna's ears pierced - that would mean so much to her. She also told us that she got her daughter's ears pierced when she was only 2 days old. Kerry and Margaret discussed this earlier and decided, if it was important for Carolina to do (since it's a cultural thing to do in Guatemala, see below) then we would let her get Anna ears pierced. So Margaret told Carolina, that she would have to bring Anna to the Dr's to get it done, and Carolina said absolutely - only a Dr. can touch those little tiny ears. Margaret then told Carolina that she would inform Jacqueline & Edwin, that we give her permission to bring Anna to the Dr's to get her ears pierced. Carolina informed us that she was bringing Anna to the Dr's this Friday for a check up, so we suggested to her to put it off for a couple of days - this way Margaret would have time to get earrings to her for Anna to wear once her ears are pierced. Margaret also asked for Carolina to take pictures of this event, so it can be put in Anna's life book. So Carolina is going to re-schedule the Dr. appt. for next week, this way the ears can be pierced at the same time.

As for the Cultural thing in baby girls getting their ears pierced. It's to my (Margaret) understanding, that birth moms get their daughter's ears pierced as soon as they are born to show their love for their daughter. The Birth moms would buy the pair of earrings and bring them along to the hospital so as soon as their daughter is born - they can ask the Dr. to pierce the ears. It's also a cultural thing for foster mother's to get their foster daughter's ears pierced to show their love towards them.