Seven Months Old!!!

I can't believe that today Cohen is seven months old! We are hoping we get updated pictures soon -- this is a picture we took back in March. Yes, I put my son in fleece and a hat with 75 degree weather, but only long enough for a brief photo shoot.

The drama with finding an apartment in Antigua continues. We went to Spanish class last night and spent time after class talking with a friend who fostered her daughter in Antigua last summer. She shared that she used the same real estate agency we were using and they were awful! She knew several people who used this company who spent many days without electricity because the owner did not pay the utility bills. She never received her deposit back even though she left her apartment in great condition when she left. Bascially, this company knows that adoptive parents desperately want to be with their children and they can take advantage of them.

So, the search for the perfect apartment (and now a trust-worthy landlord) continues. We still have a few other options we are looking into and I hope we can settle this very soon!

Heading to the drive-in...

For the past two weeks I have been a nightmare to live with! Or talk to on the phone -- just ask my mom. Once again I *think* we have an apartment, but the real estate office has to confirm this with the owner of the loft on Monday. So, please cross your fingers that this one really does work out!

Since I have been so "lovely" for the past few weeks, Robby and I decided to just have some fun today. We played cornhole in the backyard... Does everyone know what that is or is it just a Kentucky game? Robby of course killed me every game, but it was still fun. I was just glad when I didn't nail one of the puppies with the bean bags!

Then we decided to go to a drive-in movie tonight. This will only be my third time going to a drive-in, so I am excited about our date night. We're going to see Pirates and then Wild Hogs. When we heard Wild Hogs was playing too we invited his parents to come along -- they have a motorcycle and we all think it is great when they wear their chaps. (Bette, should I post a picture?)

Now, one of the main reasons I started posting this afternoon: You've got to read this post I just read on Michelle's blog. She is currently fostering her little girl in Antigua and she has been so great about answering my many questions. Her latest post is about "Training to Foster" and it cracked me up!

It's so hard to concentrate on work!!!

I have a great job and I love what I do, but it is so hard for me to concentrate on working right now! I want to finalize our travel plans, but that is easier said than done. Yesterday I was able to "chat" back and forth with someone in Antigua working at the real estate office. After 50 minutes of chatting, I still did not have confirmed reservations. After our chat session, I received a phone call from the real estate office. She took more information, but said that the owner of the apartment would be out of town until Friday, so she couldn't confirm it until then.

Even though we do not have definite plans at the moment, I feel so much calmer. I know that very soon I will be with Cohen. That's all I need to know. I don't care about bugs, no A/C, or small quarters (don't tell Robby, he might get ideas about another camping trip). All I care about is holding that beautiful boy!



Wondering about the somewhat scary painting in this picture? It was Cohen's favorite painting at La Casa Grande! He loved it and couldn't stop staring at it, so of course we had to take his picture next to it! Think we could fit one that size on the plane home?

Here's what is going on...

We've had a busy week looking for apartments in Antigua. (Antigua is just about 45 minutes outside of the city. It is where most people choose to foster their babies as they wait for their adoptions to be finalized.) After realizing all the things we need to do before going to Guatemala, we pushed the travel date back one week to June 18th. My mom and I will go then and Robby will come down as soon as we find out we are out of PGN.

After PGN approval, we will still have to wait on Cohen's new birth certificate, visa, and passport before bringing him home. The US Embassy will issue us a pink slip (which is commonly referred to as PINK) giving us our Embassy appointment. We will be coming home a day or so after our Embassy appointment.

As far as searching for apartments goes, I have had some great help. My friend Holly who lives nearby and fostered her daughter several years ago has given me some great advice. I have also emailed a few moms who have stayed in Antigua and one who is there right now. I think we found the perfect place to stay, but it is not confirmed since our contact person was out of the office Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I hope to have confirmed reservations tomorrow morning - YEA!

Now for the highlight of this post -- a few clips of Cohen from our visit trip.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

You all are not even going to believe this...

OK, so first off you should know that I did not wait until Mother's Day to open the mystery envelope. I waited a little over 24 hours and just couldn't stand it. As soon as we finished eating supper on Thursday night I ripped into the envelope. And this is what we found...


Along with the note from Cohen, we found cash... enough cash for another trip to visit Cohen! As you can imagine, I immediately burst into tears. Robby was speechless -- for like 30 mintues! We are still praying that we do the right thing with this money. Of course our initial reaction was to jump on the first plane to Guatemala and hold our son. But after thinking about it, we realized that there is a very good chance that our case will be kicked out of PGN at least once and it would be very difficult for us to redo documents if we were both in Guatemala. So our plan is for me to go down around June 11th and Robby will join us as soon as we hear we are out of PGN.

We can't help but wonder who sent us this money... At the bottom of the note, it read: "With a little assistance from some of God's anonymous helpers." I hope that the sender of that envelope is reading this post. I want you to know what an answer to our prayers you are! As I looked back in my prayer journal, I found this from May 2nd: "God, I have to think realistically... June may come and go without Cohen coming home. If this is your will, please make a way for me to stay with Cohen in GC." On May 9th our answer to prayer arrived in the mail. Wow! Thank you, God for working through others and making your hand in Cohen's adoption so evident.

Now let me brag on my husband a little bit...Robby made me breakfast in bed this morning! Usually I am the queen of the snooze button -- drives him crazy. This morning, however, I couldn't help but think of all the things I needed to do before church -- clean up the house a little, wrap a Mother's Day gift, decide what to wear. Robby's plan was to get up the first time the alarm went off and make my breakfast. He was shocked when I hopped out of bed so quickly. I had already taken my shower and gotten dressed by the time breakfast was ready, but I happily hopped back in bed and enjoyed being pampered! Am I lucky or what!

Mystery Mail & Mother's Day

Today I found something fun in my mailbox... an envelope addressed to me with instructions to save for Mother's Day. The address was typed, so I could not tell who sent it and so I flipped it over to see the return address... my name and address on the back! Save for Mother's Day?! I am going to try really hard to wait, but I am SO CURIOUS!

So, if the sender of my mystery mail is reading this, thank you! You've given me a special gift already by helping to distract me. Mother's Day is a great day to celebrate mothers and let them know how much we love and appreciate them. But it has also been a day that reminds me of the years I have longed to be a mother. This year is just as painful because although we finally have a son, he is not here with us.

Even though our hearts are heavy as we wait to be with Cohen, we are filled with hope. We know that there are brighter days ahead. Now, if I can just make it to Sunday without tearing into this envelope... :)



Cohen, you are the most wonderful gift from God. I thank Him daily for you and pray that you will be home forever very soon!!!

Packing and Unpacking

As we were getting ready to leave Guatemala, I can't tell you how many times I thought about sneaking Cohen home with us in our luggage! We've been home for over a month now and I just unpacked his suitcase this past weekend. It was hard to look at some of the clothes that he wore, but I unpacked telling myself that I would soon be packing again to be with him.

The question is: "When will I go back?" I have talked with my agency and they are fine with me going back and staying until Cohen's adoption is complete. But there is no way of knowing when that will be and financially it is not possible for me to stay for longer than a month. Robby and I have talked and talked about this. Right now we are thinking that we will wait until we get out of PGN and then I will go down and stay until we can bring Cohen home. But if we don't hear anything by the end of June I may just go down then anyway.

Please continue to pray that our case moves quickly from this point on. I will post more news if we hear anything, but this may be a quiet week for us...

New Pictures!!!

Thank you so much for your advice. Looks like everyone is definitely liking the shelf the best... me too! Now the best news of the day -- we received new pictures of Cohen!

Notice the washcloth he is holding -- it is his security blanket. His foster mom is doing such a great job taking care of him. He does not take a pacifier or suck his thumb, just loves holding on to his washcloth.

Obsessing about the nursery...

I am so not a perfectionist. Usually I like to think about the "big picture" and I don't worry too much about details. Which is why it is not like me to be this obsessed about Cohen's room. I think I feel like his room is one of the only things I actually have control of right now so I want it to be perfect.

Things have been coming together with his room... Robby painted and installed extra shelves in the closet. We both loved the furniture this time -- remember how we hated the original furniture and sent it back? But I still can't make up my mind on how to hang Cohen's quilt. So please vote for your favorite...


Curtain rod with nickel clips


Wooden shelf


Wire with clips (not sure if this would be strong enough)