More pictures arrive! Check out them out in the Photo Album section. We are so impressed with how well both boys seem to be doing. They look wonderful – well fed and well taken care of. Not to mention, we think they are incredibly handsome and adorable!

Here we are at a little over 3 months old! We've grown up a little - Austin weighs 12 pounds and Logan is at 11 pounds.

We are wearing outfits that Mom and Dad picked out for us. Perfect fit!

All of our new clothes and new blankets smell just like our new home because Mom and Dad bought them a while back and have been sleeping with them ever since. This will really help us when we get to meet them for the first time in person!

Have you figured out who's who yet?

Logan is on the left and Austin, making his favorite facial expression is on the right.

And here we are at a distance! Next time Mommy is just sending us onesies -

that way everyone can see our toesies!

Lots going on all around us!

BIG stretch!!

Logan gives us a smile!!

And Austin gives us another one of his infamous Popeye looks!!

A litte smile from Austin!

United we stand!

Bye-Bye!! See ya next time!!

July 20th

Written in my journal:

Horrible day – I feel like nothing is moving. No word on the I600A – Wed 1800 number, told to call 757 number 8:30 – 10:30 Friday am. Called, first time 26 minute wait, hung up on. Called back, told write or visit, make appointment – can’t make an appointment!

Hung up, cried, and frustrated – horror stories on the web about PGN – I had been ignoring, but heard new stories about DNA testing delays. Also, big e-mail going around about Focus on Adoption Group.

6-8 week time frame for pictures and video turned into 10-12 weeks, got first pictures June 2nd, won’t get more until Aug 20 – that’s excruciating!!

Need to write Foster Mother a letter. Need to write Austin and Logan. Need to update website.

Read where others had I171H before even sending dossier off – knew we should have waited, but then wouldn’t have Austin and Logan.

Lisa – was great – took charge, gave instructions, took action - soothed and consoled. Says things are moving in Guatemala and that I171H won’t hold things up. Promised me a baby – and to hold on tight to that thought.  Which SUCKS because THESE are my babies!

Looked at my time line – July 20th – family court….;-) things moving on.

Horrible cable day, lost phone, lost e-mail, more long phone calls.

Letter to Foster Mom

This is what I wrote up and had translated and then sent with the care package....of course, I don't think the family ever got it.  Just my two cents.

Dear Foster Mother –


Words cannot begin to express my gratitude and love for you. I think of you and your family every day and Thank God for the wonderful things that you are doing caring for Cristofer Josue and Cristofer Alexander. We (my family) also pray for C. Alex and C. Josue’s birth mother and family. I wish there was a way to tell her I think of her pain and sorrow. I wish there was a way to let her know, to ease her pain, to let her know that her boys will be so incredibly loved, that we will embrace their Guatemala heritage and that we will return many times so that they’ll always know where they came from.

My husband and I are so in love with C. Alex and C. Josue. We look at their pictures all day long. We cannot wait to meet them. We have included pictures of our family, me, my husband, Gary, our oldest son, Mason and Evan.

We have also included a camera and would appreciate it if you could take pictures of the boys to document this part of their lives. Pictures with you and the boys and anyone else in your family. We know it cannot be easy to love and raise a child (or children) knowing you have to let them go. And we want to make sure you stay a part of the boys lives.

It is also our pleasure to include a necklace that we picked out for you – a St. Christofer’s medal, in honor of Cristofer Alexander and Cristofer Josue. We hope that you like it.

I am looking forward to meeting you and hugging you and thanking you for all that you do. Please let me know if there is anything that we can do or bring to help you. We plan on visiting, if possible before the final adoption trip.

I would love to hear from you if you have the time. I know you are busy and may not be able to. But I have enclosed a self-addressed envelope to make it easier for you. You can just write in Spanish and I will have it translated. I would love to hear all about you and your family and your thoughts on C. Alex and C. Josue.

I speak a little Spanish, but am looking forward to learning it better. We will see how much I improve!

God Bless,
Donna

Questions – These are questions that we ask so that we can “fill” in questions Cristofer Alexander and Cristofer Josue may ask later in life.

Do you know where (what hospital) the boys were born?

Do you know anything about their birth parents or their family?

When did you first receive the boys? What were your first impressions – what can we tell them later in life?

What can we tell the boys about their lives now? How many people are in your family that they live with? Does anyone in particular play with them?

What can we tell the boys about you? Have you had other foster children?
Do you want to stay in any kind of contact with us? Letters, pictures?
Any fond memories, special comments about Cristofer Josue?
Any fond memories, special comments about Cristofer Alexander?

More pictures arrive! Check out them out in the Photo Album section. We are so impressed with how well both boys seem to be doing. They look wonderful – well fed and well taken care of. Not to mention, we think they are incredibly handsome and adorable!

First twin purchase!

Yea!! We found a great deal on 2 strollers and 2 car seats from another Mom of twins. They are in amazingly beautiful condition, like brand new! Grandma Barbie generously purchased them for us and is storing them in her attic.

Also, We went to dinner with friends and were introduced to another family that adopted 3 siblings from El Savadore and one from Guatemala. It was SO wonderful to meet and sit with them and enjoy hearing their adoption stories!