Merry Christmas From Kennedy

On Friday, December 21, 2007 I received a phone call from Carol. "I just emailed you pictures and I think you are really going to like them." I got off the phone and checked my email. "Merry Christmas from Kennedy" was in the subject line.

Since Kennedy's birth I knew it was not realistic to think that we would have her home for Christmas. I thought I was prepared for that. Then yesterday, out of the blue, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Since that time, I have been pretty emotional. Adoptive mothers joke amongst themselves about "adoption hormones". Unless you have been through an adoption process, you have no idea the kind of roller coaster ride your emotions can take you on. So yes, this Christmas is bitter sweet. We have our daughter....we just don't have our daughter.

While talking with Carol, she said that even though we don't have our pre-approval yet, Paco registered our case with PGN. With the passage of a new adoption law in Guatemala, all in process adoptions must be registered with the "Central Authority" by December 31, 2007. By registering our case with PGN, Paco did just that. Our case should proceed as is.

I have posted a few more photos of Kennedy below. And as always, please keep us in your prayers. We still expect to have Kennedy home by April, but we need all of your prayers to help make that happen.

A Precious Gift

As you already know, we received word on positive DNA results on December 4, 2007. Since that time I have been waiting for a special envelope to arrive in the mail. Unlike some other Guatemala adopting parents, I knew to expect it. I was told early on in the process this would be something to be prepared for. Yes, I knew it was coming, but I didn't know how I was going to react. Yesterday, the envelope arrived. I was nervous and anxious at the same time. I wanted to open it carefully but also wanted to open it fast. There it was.....a picture of Kennedy being held by her birth mother.

This is part of the process to receive pre-approval. On the day the DNA test was taken, a picture was also taken of Kennedy and her birth mother. Further proving that "this child and this woman" have the same DNA.

The questions were racing in my head. What will she look like? How old will she be? I wonder why she made this decision? That is the tough question. I will never know why. I do not need to know why. If my daughter is anything like me, the day will come that she will be curious. I will have the picture. The picture of the woman that gave Kennedy life. The picture of the woman who changed mine......ours forever.

One of my questions was answered. Kennedy's mother and I are the same age. I found that so reassuring. An incredible calm washed over me. Then a flash back from a memory a year ago hit me like a ton of bricks.

In the Fall of 2006 I was at my OBGYN office. Through tears, I again told her that I wanted more then anything to be a mother. She looked deep into my eyes and said, "There is no reason why you can't at least be expecting a baby a year from now." We tried fertility treatment again. In December 2006, I had all the symptoms of being pregnant. I was devastated to find out I wasn't.

At that time, my doctor's words kept rining through my ears, "...next year". I kept praying. Here I am, right on schedule. Again, God had a different plan than what I was expecting. Our baby was born in the Fall 2007.....just as predicted!

I will always carry a special place in my heart for Kennedy's birth mother. She has given me a precious gift. I will be forever grateful. And as the years go by, I will try to answer the questions Kennedy will have.

Christmas Package!

We are sending a care package to Kennedy for Christmas. Please enjoy some pictures of her new outfits in sizes 3-6 months. We are also sending more hair bows, bibs, blankets, and toys! I've added a few more photos at the bottom of the page.

We Have A Match!

I just got an email from Carol that the lab faxed her confirmation and we have a positive DNA match! Now we wait for the American Consulate to issue Pre-Approval and then we can enter PGN. Right now Pre-Approval is taking 60 days to receive, but cases have been approved in as little as 20 days. So please keep the prayers coming. We appreciate everyone's love and support and could not do this without you!