I get this question ALL the time…What exactly is PGN?
Many people, including myself, don’t understand the entire adoption process. The PGN in Guatemala acts as the official adoption office in Guatemala. Paperwork is processed through …read more

OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT !
I can’t say it enough.
OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT !

I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.
Charles M. Schulz, Charlie Brown in “Peanuts”
There are days in our lives where we awaken delighted in what we are doing and there are days we awaken dreading what the sunshine will bring us. Most days we have control over the the kind of car we drive or what we eat…we even have control over what happens throughout the day. Should we answer that phone call or let it ring, pay the bills or forget about them until tomorrow?
What we don’t have control over is other’s …read more

I have waited to post anything about the birth mother interviews in Guatemala because it is so hard for me to write about…so hard for me to think that Gus’s birth mother has to go back, yet again, and explain her situation to people who don’t know anything about her and her life.

Hmmm…
I believe that it was in January that I stated I would tell you all The Bebe’s name once we were out of Family Court and had the DNA results. It looks like it is finally that time. And, to be honest, all I want to do right now is breathe a sigh of relief, as we were kicked out of Family Court and sent back in after getting a new document.
But, all is well now in Guatemala. we are finally in PGN and awaiting a interview with the birth mother, one of the new requirements with the new officials. …read more

First, let me explain that much of this is speculation. However, Guatadopt.com does have the most up to date information on what is really going on in Guatemala. Please read their key points regarding PGN.
My “unofficial sources” (meaning list serves and other adoptive parents) are telling me that Birth Mother and Foster Mother interviews have already been scheduled and will be conducted according to entry date into PGN.

I’m so disappointed this morning that I either want to crawl under my covers and hide or hop a plane and cradle him in my arms again. I know that neither can happen because real life has to go on but the bed sounds mighty good right now.
I do hope that this is simply media farce but I know that sometimes this can be all too real. Media tends to over examine events like this and make it into a mass hysteria event for ratings and page views. At this point our agency has not heard anything about a suspension …read more

With all of the Vietnam issues and the previous Guatemala issues (okay, the current, ongoing, and just plain old disheartening issues) I am gettin’ a little bummed.
The new Attorney General Baudilio Protillo Merlos took over on April 24, 2008. The new Sub Attorney General is Flory de De Leon. Apparently de De Leon is holding off making any critical Constitutional Court rules and Merlos has requested an audit of in process cases.

We finally got an email today from the Consulate that indicates our DNA is final…finally. So, basically, the Guatemalan USCIS has issued our case Pre-approval and when we get the social worker to finish up the family court documents our case can now move to PGN (unless there is an issue with our family court papers).
Prospective adoptive parents must receive receipt of “pre-approval” from the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) office in Guatemala before their attorney can submit their dossier to the Guatemalan authorities. After obtaining clearance from a social worker under the supervision …read more

I love days like this (Thursday, April 10, 2008); when you’re not thinking about getting an update because it’s not expected and then you get home from a hectic day, check your email, and there it is…an email from your social worker with pictures of the little guy.
The Bebe is three months old now and 12 pounds and 60 cm so it seems that he is just about 50% across the board according to US standards. Interestingly, this makes him a rather large Guatemalan baby.