2 More Days - - - BREAK!!!

This is where I am going on Friday!! (Just 2 more days of daycare.) This is a time-share in Winter Park, Colorado. My mom, a niece - Rachel, a nephew - Rodrick, and I are going. We will spend Saturday in W.P. doing whatever we can find to do. I know they have Colorado's largest Alpine slide there so I hope to do that. There is also 2-level maze. That sounds like fun!! On Sunday we have a wedding to go to in Denver. Monday is a free day again. I am sooooooooo looking forward to getting away for awhile. Another plus is - the high temp up there during the day is only about 75. Wow!! I haven't seen that during the day in a long time. I have to dig out the blue jeans. I do hope I have internet access so I can still keep up on how all of my wonderful blogland friends are doing.
TWO MORE DAYS!!!!

My Daughter

Today I was at a store and writing a check. I stopped, trying to think of the date and the cashier told me it was the 26th. As I was driving home I thought, "I should have remembered the date because my daughter is 1 month and 3 days old. Then it hit me. I had called her "My Daughter." I don't think I have ever called or thought that before. I have called her "my baby" or "my Johanna" or just "Johanna." It was so awesome when I realized I had called her "MY DAUGHTER" without even thinking about it. It just warmed my heart.
I love you Johanna, My Daughter!!!

One Month Old

Today my Johanna Faith is one month old. Oh, how I wish I could hold her and love on her. I wonder how much she has grown. I wonder if she is a good baby. I wonder if she is happy.
Johanna,
Mommy loves you so much.

Can This Ever Be A Nursery?

Below are pictures of the room that will someday be Johanna's. Right now it is a total mess!! Two of the walls are still concrete and need drywall put up. There is no ceiling, just sheets. This room is used for some guests and for storage. The bed is covered with cake pans I still need to get listed on ebay. My niece, who stayed in this room last year while going to school, still has lots of stuff in here. Will this room ever be a nursery? I sure hope so!!

Nothing To Do

Well, here I sit with nothing to do. All the paperwork is in to my agency. My dossier and Power of Attorney are in Guatemala. I just sit here and wait. Yuck!! I hate this!! I guess I had better get used to it because that is what I will be doing for the next several months.
For those who don't know the Guatemalan adoption process. Now dna has to be taken on my baby and the birth mother. The US embassy requires this to make sure the baby actually belongs to the mother who is giving her up. Then it's off to Family Court (Guatemala) and waiting for Pre-Approval (PA) by the US embassy.

3 Weeks Old

Today my Johanna Faith is three weeks old. I just can't believe it!! I can't believe this is all really happening. I so much want to hold her and kiss her and cuddle her and love on her. I bought a journal so I can write to her at least once a day. I pray for her constantly and her foster mother. I know she is being well taken care of because God is answering my prayers. I am praying for her birth mother too. My biggest prayer for her is that she will know and understand how much God loves her and that Jesus died for her. If Johanna doesn't get to see her birth mother again on this earth, I want her to meet her in heaven some day.

POA on it's Way!!

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Well, on it's way to the Guatemalan Consulate in Houston. It came today from the Kansas Secretary of State and as soon as my mom walked in the door, I was out. On my way to the Fed Ex drop-off box.

I have to say also, I really appreciate the Kansas Secretary of State, Ron Thornburgh, and his office. They are super-fast!! I got the POA from my agency on 8/7 and overnighted it to Topeka. They received it 8/8, authenticated and sent it right back to me that same day. Now, if the Guatemalan Consulate will be that quick. Patience, patience, patience!!!!

BTW, for those who don't know what the POA is, it is Power of Attorney. It gives my agency's attorney the power to act on my behalf in Guatemala concerning the adoption.

Accepted

I "officially" accepted Ana Lucia today. In my heart she was accepted as soon as I got the email on Friday. I bought a three-ring binder and sleeve protectors to put her pictures in. I carry it with me almost everywhere. Yesterday she went to church with me and last night to the church pool party. I am showing her off to everyone!!! I love her so much already!

The Call

It was so funny when my agency coordinator called Friday afternoon. I knew it was a long distance call from the caller i.d. I wasn't sure who it was though. She asked if it was Gail and I told her it was. I still didn't know who she was. She told my it was Anne but I couldn't understand her so she had to repeat. She said very calmly, "Gail, this is Anne. Go to your computer." I think I knew what she was saying but didn't want to believe it, just in case. I had to almost literally throw my 13 year old niece out of the desk chair. I got my mail up and found the email from Anne. I hollered at my niece to go get my mother who was in the backyard. I really wanted Mom to see the baby first with me but I also didn't want to wait. I went ahead and looked. Above is my very first glimpse of my Johanna Faith. Then all I could do was cry. Sometime during this one of our daycare moms came in. She stood behind me and cried too. She has a five year old daughter they adopted at 5 months. She could totally relate.

Johanna's Birth

Okay, I don't read Spanish but this is what I think the information is. Johanna was born July 23 at 11:55 (a.m.? p.m.?). She weighed exactly 5 pounds. Her birth mom is 20 and lives in Mixco. Johanna's birth name is Ana Lucia. Ana means "grace" and Lucia means "light." On August 2 Johanna was seen by a Dr. It was then that she weighed 5 pounds, 3 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. That is all I know at this time.
Oh, did I mention that she is the most beautiful baby in the world?!!!!!!!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

This is my beautiful baby girl. Johanna Faith was born July 23. She weighed 5 lbs., 3 oz. and was 49 cm. long. I think she is the most beautiful baby in the world. My mom is ready to go down and get her now. She may have a harder time waiting than me.

Need Some Good News

Wednesday morning my sister and brother-in-law had a nephew killed in Iraq. He was due to be home by the end of this month. He is survived by his wife, Amber, and two small children. He was only 30 years old.


Yesterday at 6:10 p.m., during rush hour traffic, a huge section of a bridge on I-35W collapsed in Minneapolis. Many were injured and too many were killed. Another sister and her husband cross this bridge everyday going to and from work. They had just returned over the bridge about two hours before the collapse. We are praising God for their safety but also mourning for those injured and killed.

This has just been a week of tragedy. I have had several friends make progress in their adoptions, DNA match, Pre-approvals, PGN outs, and one friend even brought her baby home yesterday. I want some good news of my own now. Please God, send me my referral.