Friday The 13th!!!!

OH MY GOD!!! Today could not have gone better if we had planned it. Everything we needed to happen did and more. Let me start from the beginning. We expected the birth mom at 8:30 this morning and she was here. Everyone except Ozzy and dad went to family court. When that was finished Luis and Kimberly came by the hotel and picked us up and we went to the lab for DNA testing...all of us, Adela, Ozzy, Luis, Mayra, Kimberly, me and all of the support staff. We had a few document gliches and while those were being taken care of we went upstairs to Ozzy´s new (US Embassy approved) Doctor for a complete physical. He´s fine and Dr. Hagan knows the doc that has been seeing him and believes his medical records are correct and he is up to date on his shots, but he is calling to get his complete immunization records.

We had the rare opportunity to witness all of this, plus meet the birth mom. Kimberly got to go to family court and be in the testing room to witness the DNA process and hold Ozzy while they scrubbed his inside cheek with swabs. Luis took pictures of it all for us...amazing. While at the DNA lab we had Adela place her mark on the foster mother custody papers giving Irma everything she needs legally to care for Ozzy until we bring him home.

After we left the lab everyone came back to the hotel and there was yet another delivery from the attorney...the power of attorney for Adela to mark. That was it, everything we needed and had asked you to pray for was completed and in less than 24 hours from the time we arrived on this trip.

The sad part is, after asking questions for six months and receiving unsatisfactory answers or no response at all we decided to visit Guatemala. We were very fortunate to meet other families who, as we have had to do, had learned the adoption process and were willing to share their knowledge. Now during our third trip we have finally accomplished what should have been done before January 2008. So a big shout out to all you families, and you know who you are, that have been so willing to help. We would not be this far without you.

Next hurdle is waiting for our DNA results, thanks to Jen we have the contact info for the lab, and then on to pre-approval. Finally, something the US attorney and Senators can help advance. Glad to have all of these folks already on board and willing to help (our tax dollars at work).

Everyone continues to ask us about time tables. We have no idea, but we took a single giant step today in catching up in the process. We just want him home before Christmas.

Unlike the two previous trips the remainder of this one is going to be enjoyed with Ozzy (Father´s Day is Sunday) and without all of the stress of working to catch up. When we set back and think about all that has happened for us, over the past three months, I really don´t think we did anything but put arms and legs on all of our prayers. Why did it take so long...we didn´t know all that we should have before we started the process and we trusted the ones that were suppose to know. I believe God saw our ingnorance and our hearts and made up the difference.

I have so many pictures from today and the computers at the hotel are so slow I will only post a few tonight and will post more over the weekend.

Keep praying, today is proof that it is working.

Enjoy!


Ozzy and dad wait at DNA testing


Adela holding Ozzy in testing lab


Cheek swab...scrub


Mommy makes it better


All the mom´s, Irma, Adela and Kimberly