Awwwww

I got new pictures this morning! To be clear: Veronica is Willow's foster mother. Sandra is my attorney's assistant, Veronica's sister, and the woman who emails me. She also lives with Veronica, so also lives with Willow (who they all call Pili). It sort of sounds like a "Who's on first" joke, but hopefully that helps. Now if you're already confused don't bother reading this:
Sandra is married to Ernesto. Veronica has two teenage daughters (Shirley and Melisa). Arnoldo and Carmen are grandfathers and live with them too. Lucky baby to have all that love in one house!

Sandra with Willow:

Ernesto (Sandra's husband):

The question is: When is Grandpa Bruce (aka "Papa") going to get a perm to help Pili feel comfortable after she gets here? Perhaps another vote is around the corner for this little blog...

Willow is looking at a photo I emailed to them of Lily and I:

I sent this dress down for Willow several months ago. She was wearing it the day she got the build a bear we made for her too. This is my favorite picture from this batch. That nose!!!

Sandra called this one "Pili haciendo naricitas" Translation anyone? I get "doing naricitas" when I use my normal website. Not much help, which happens a lot as I'm trying to communicate back and forth! I shudder to think what they receive as I cut and paste from English to Spanish in my lengthly emails.

I have learned that Pilar is a common name for girls in Guatemala. Willow's birth mother named her Amanda del Pilar Zabala, so the name Pili is just a nickname for Pilar.

I received a video tape on Thursday. I wish I knew how to go from tape, to disk, to computer because Willow is DARLING on this thing. She bounces while standing and holding onto Veronica's hands. She's real quiet, but happy. The narrator (at the dr. office) said on the tape that normally they would have the baby sitting on the table or crawling so I could see her better, but because she'd just had that exam she didn't want to be apart from Veronica. So cute, but YIKES. I better rest up while I can for what could be a very difficult transition period for all of us.

When Sandra told Veronica that I have photos of Veronica holding Pili in her room here at my house, she wrote that it made Veronica "cry with emotion".

More pictures from Sandra

Sandra emailed me this weekend. She wrote about how sad they will be to say goodbye to Pili. Veronica, the foster mother (and Sandra's sister) cries when she talks about it. She said that Pili throws things when she gets mad and her left arm is very strong - she thinks she may be a baseball player some day. I emailed more pictures of Lily and I, and one of Lily with her friend Anna who was born in Guatemlala. When Pili saw that picture she stared at it; Sandra told her that's her hermanita (sister) and Pili laughed and tried to touch the computer screen. She loves the show Backyardigans on TV and tried to touch the TV screen when it comes on. In the pictures, she said Pili was uncomfortable because she doesn't like to be naked. Wait 'til she's been hanging around our house a while - hermanita prefers to be naked! We'll break her in.

Sandra says Pili has stolen their hearts. My mom recently remembered a funeral where the death was compared to a ship leaving port: the people waving goodbye are crying tears of sorrow and the people waiting for the arrival are crying tears of joy. Both emotions are equal in proportion for opposite reasons. It will be a difficult time, one that can't come soon enough for me. I will do all I can to help Willow grieve and to comfort her foster family while they adjust to life without her. Sandra assures me that hearing about our daily life and seeing pictures comforts them. I'll continue that when Willow is home for as long as possible.

Laura at PGN

This is a picture of the infamous PGN. Please send a quick prayer over this place that has tremendous power over granting Willow's adoption approval in a speedy fashion. PGN stands for Procuradoria General de la Nacion. The PGN in Guatemala is made up of lawyers, judges, counselors and administrators. (Picture courtesy of http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/my-visit-to-pgn-a-report-from-the-belly)

This is the woman who all families adopting from Guatemala know and love. Laura answers the phones at the PGN and willingly gives updates on your case. She speaks English well, is polite and friendly, and if her information is not current, she encourages families to call back soon.

Doctor visit

Willow went to the doctor on Monday. She weighs a healthy 20 lbs. Look at that sad face - I'm thinking she may have had shots. Poor baby. Thank goodness for the pictures from Sandra! Without them, these sad pictures from my agency would have been all I've seen since December (when she went to the doctor last). The ziplock bags are what I've sent down for her - some clothes, some gifts for the foster family, etc. Could her bandanda be any cuter?!

Update: 3/22/08

Sandra reports that Willow was sad because they had to set her down on the examining table and she HATES to be "examined". As soon as Veronica picked her up and walked away with her, Willow was happy.

Lily and Grace

I took this picture before Christmas and just came across it. I have to post it because of the picture Sandra sent me of Willow in those funny glasses. I guess that pose is universal. Small world.

New pictures from Sandra

Sandra explained that this procession passes in front of their home every day during holy week. Pili loves to go outside and see the people and eat cotton candy (I emailed a picture of Lily eating cotton candy at the state fair last year). One day Pili saw another boy lifted high near a phone booth so he could see better. She threw a fit until they lifted her high near the same phone booth, and when they did she became "tranquil". The men are holding up sacred items showing Jesus and Mary.

Sandra emailed me these pictures last night. She said that in one picture, Willow was watching Nemo for 15 minutes and eating bread. She also said that Willow was to the doctor yesterday and received the last 2 packages I sent. I had enclosed some pictures of Lily and I (before we had this email connection) and she was very thankful for them. She also said that she can't give me any more details about the legal case because it makes my agency uncomfortable. We don't want to do anything to jeapardize anything, and I'm just so thankful to have any information at all!

She wrote that they love Willow ("Pili") so much that they are thrilled I am so interested in her. They believe she will have a good life here and she will be loved.

Lily gets some air time

Here's a couple things Ms. Lily was up to this weekend:

1. She walked out of Pastor Bud's children's sermon. To be fair, she's used to 3-4 minute chats up there. She just got up, gave Diane (the organist) a hug as she passed her, and came up the aisle to ask me why everyone was laughing. He stopped talking as soon as she stood up. As she left he said "I guess we're done here."

2. During Sunday School, Lily told everyone it was her birthday today. She got to go up front, get sung to by all the kids, and got a great big "Happy Birthday" sticker on her shirt. She later asked my dad if he wanted it to be his birthday today - she told him if he said yes he could get some money in his pocket. WHAT?!? If you ask her when her birthday is, she'll tell you "August 27, 2004". This incident today was no accident.

3. I'll add one really nice thing, so readers are not too hard on my girl: during ice skating lessons the teachers have to tell Lily not to help her little peers up off the ice. She's had 3 lessons and she's already thinking it's her job to help the kids and help the teachers. She's a giver!

New pictures from Sandra

Sandra sent me an amazing email tonight, including 9 pictures.

She tells me that Willow

was scared of the teddy bear

we sent at first, but now she

is not. Now when they say "We

love you, baby Willow" she

laughs.

Sandra would like me to send a

larger picture of Lily and I. She

thinks Willow is intelligent enough

to learn and remember our faces

so she will be happier to go

to us.

I had asked if Pili has a special

blanket or toy that comforts

her when she's scared or hurt.

Sandra says she doesn't yet.

I also asked if Pili is shy and

Sandra said she is not. She

loves her 5 year-old niece and

laughs at her a lot.

IN PGN 3-7-08

We're in!!! Sandra reports today that she was able to enter my file to PGN today. Other families have been getting "out" in approximately one month. After I'm out, as I've said, it will be about 6-8 weeks 'til I can get her. However, because Willow's birth mother is a minor, there will be extra investigation (including another interview to be sure she has not been coerced and is relinquishing her baby of free will). Because of this, I could spend closer to 2 or 3 months in PGN. I do believe we are officially in the home stretch!

Care Package to Baby Willow

Lily and I made this bear at Build A Bear. We recorded a message, so when its paw is squeezed it says: "We love you Baby Willow!" Lily was giving it a hug and kiss to bring to her baby sister.

COMPUTER'S FIXED!

Sandra emailed me late last night - she wrote "Your prayers have been heard. The social worker's report was delivered today." She could only type for a minute because her husband was using the computer for University work, but she said she would email me again today. I assured her that the most difficult part of waiting for me is not knowing what is going on day to day and thanked her for letting me know right away. I told her how I have printed all her emails about Pili and read them every night before I go to sleep, I carry the picture she sent every where I go, and I stare at that baby's face all day long.

Now my prayer is that I will get into PGN as soon as possible.

Update on delay

Willow's case entered Guatemalan Family court in September. The social worker who interviewed her birth mother needs to write a report, a judge signs off on it, and the file is then sent to PGN. I have been agonizing for weeks now about why my case has not been released from family court, and have not gotten any explanations. When I was told last Friday that it still had not been released I was sure something dreadfully wrong was happening (the birth mother changed her mind or the judge found something wrong, etc.).

Well, today I was told that the reason it's still not been released is because the social worker's computer is broken. How long it's been broken or when it might get fixed or replaced is unknown. I am relieved, frustrated, and somehow amused. I asked if we could just chip in and get a new computer for her, but it seems that is not an option at this point.

Waiting for Willow

Here are the steps we are currently waiting for:

X 1. Release of file from family court. DONE! 3-5-08

X 2. File entering PGN. DONE! 3-7-08

3. File exiting PGN (2 weeks - 3 months)

4. 6-8 weeks after PGN "out" I will go to Guatemala to get Willow. I have to wait for another DNA test, a Visa, a new birth certificate, etc. before I can get her.

I got an email from her foster family asking me if I'd like to have contact with them. Naturally I sent a long, emotional email back (through an online translation) begging for any updates, pictures, and asking lots of questions. I found out they call her Pili, but I don't know why. I also know:

1. Pili loves bananas

2. She doesn't nap (WHAT?!)

3. She crawls forward and backward.

4. She goes to sleep at night being held and sung to.

5. There is a show on Discovery Kids that she loves - whenever the white dog with the black spot on his eye comes on at the end, she stops and stares at the TV.

6. There are 5 adults and 2 teenagers in the house with Willow and they all adore her.

7. She has a "strong character" and gets into everything. She can't be left alone for one second.

8. I know I want her home more than ever. I have no doubt anymore that she will get here, and that was enough to keep me peaceful for about 2 months. Last week I stopped being patient and thankful. Now I want her home!