I KEPT A SECRET!!!

Ok, now that Thursday and Friday is over, I can post this!

My Eldest Nephew Joey is getting married on Saturday. I had decided that I was not going to make it to the wedding, because of finances, and the trip to Guatemala. Well, with a little help for Grandma, I was able to fly out to CA on Thursday Night! And no one new I was coming. I landed in SFO Thursday night, LATE.. Picked up a rental car, and drove to my sisters house. Darius, Dasia, Danni and Kirsten were all there(my great nieces and nephews) along with my mom, sister, brother in law, sister in law, and Nephew Chrstopher and his soon to be wife, Allie...

All I can say was the look on their faces were amazing! Then yesterday I took all the LITTLE kids with me to run some errands, of course I wasn't stupid... I took Allie with me! As we are driving down the street, I looked at Allie and said, I guess I screwed this one up, she kind of looked at me funny and said what... If I am practicing of being a mother... Don't you think I should have brought a diaper bags with diapers and maybe a bottle, or even pacifier for Danni? (Danni is only 5 months old). We just laughed and said oh well... Guess we gotta hurry!!

Then later in the day, I had to go and pick up Mom and Shannon at my others sister shop and walked in with Danni. I walked in and Coco was working on Shannon's hair, and she seen me and then took another look, then started shaking ran over and gave me hug that was so needed... We both go teary, but so worth pulling this supprise on everyone... Later in the afternoon, Coco told me she actually thought that I was carrying Angelena, but then came to realize it wasn't.

Then I walked into my sisters house and my dad was sitting in the chair. He looked at me, like as if he was dreaming.... I know you aren't suppose to play tricks on old people, but it was so cute to see the look of confusion his face, it was a kodak momment, and only wish I had a camera!

When I had all the kids with me in the car in the morning, we OF COURSE did out morning ritual.... STARBUCKS! And stopped at Joey and Erika's house. Talk about suprising the Heck out of Joey. He seen me and could only say, WHATS WRONG... WHAT HAPPENED... WHY ARE YOU HERE? Dah Joey.... Did he really think I WOULD miss this amazing time in his life??? NOT!!!

So you see I can keep a secret! Most of the time... And this one was so worth it.!

Well, got to go and get ready for the wedding.... I am the only one ups, so I get a HOT SHOWER!!!!

Hugs
Ellie

Happy 3 month Birthday Baby!

Just wanted to wish Angelena a Happy 3 month birthday, and Mommy will be there in a few days to hold you.

I love you and can't wait to hold you in my arms!

"Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculouslyMy own.

Never forgetFor a single minute: You didn't grow under my heart, But in it." --Fleur Conkling Heyliger

Well it is Monday..... And I was waiting for that call!!!!

Yes, I recieved my call today. We are NO LONGER waiting for the Social Worker Report, why you ask me.... WE HAVE IT!!! Now we are in PGN... It is official...

We are in PGN. According to one of the forums I am in; PGN is ranging for 31-75 days, if you don't get kicked out for a spelling error. So, once we are out of PGN, we will be getting Angelena's New birth Certificate with her last name as mine! Then my attorney will submit it to Immigation and they will issue my "Pick Slip" with the Appointment Date for us to go and sign the papers and BRING ANGELENA CHRISTINA HOME!!!

Talk about doing the PeePee Dance!!!!

All is quite on the Home Front....

Well we all know the saying, no news is good news..... I just hope that is true. There has been no movement on my case as of yet. I did find out though a forum that they only release the Social Worker reports on Fridays and Monday. So all day, I waited with anticipation. But, of course... There was nothing. So, now I am looking forward to Monday. This report is the only thing that is holding us up before we go into PGN. (The final step) . One of the forums I belong to are actually keeping track of cases. The average time of the Social Worker report after the pre-approval's are 9 days. We are at 7 days rught now. So maybe Monday. Then we will go into PGN, and the average for PGN is running 7 weeks. So at this point it is anyones guess.

I have been getting ready for the trip, which is only 11 days away. I did find out thay are going to bring Angelena to me on Thursday morning between 9-10. So we will have to be in the lobby of the hotel a little before 9. I have so many things going through my mind, and so many things I want to do. I want to go and get a couple disposable camaras to give the foster mother to take pictures, and a self address stamped package so she can send it back to me. I would love to see what her first few months of her life was like. How she lived, who she lived with, where she lived, and how well she has been taken care of.

After everything that happened last Friday, I went shopping on Saturday. Such a stress releaser...

Ginger has decided, even if Faithful Adoption (that other Agency) doesn't have a baby ready for her before the trip, she is still going, and will do a lot of site seeing. But, I know they will have baby for her when she gets there. When I went shopping last Saturday, I bought 2 little outfits, one for Angelena, and one for the new baby. They are matching... We originally had 3 or 4 matching outfits for Angelena and Berali, so we could take pictures. But, they will be a little to big for her new baby.

I jut can't say how excited I am about going. Mom is in California for Joey, Erika and Isabelle's Wedding. Then she will be coming home on the 7/31, and we fly out on the 2nd. Cousin Liz will be flying to Texas on the 2nd and then catch the same flight out to Guatemala with us. AND, Ginger and her best friend Debra will be flying out here from New Mexico and catching the same flight to Guatemala too! So all 5 of us will be on the same flight coming and going to Guatemala - that is kind of neat!

I pulled out the camcord manual tonight and am going to read it over and over again, so I will know a little of what the heck I am doing. I am also checking the chargers and batterys, disks, and bags. I should be ok. I will be taking both, the digital camera and the camcord that not only takes DVD's but still pictures too! I have enough space for 1600 still pictures and 13 hours of video. Ya, ok, I know I don't need that much... But everyone knows me.... I always want to have enough... and I don't want to run out...

I know Lizzy and Ginger are bring camaras too! So for the 5 days there, we should get plenty of shots!!! And I am not talking about Tequilla Shots either!!

Ok, so now you can tell I don't know what else to say because I am getting goofy...

So with that, Good night... And until more news comes, or if nothing comes before I am off to Guatemala, I will let you know..... AND THEN THERE WILL BE TONNNNNNNNNNNS of Pictures!

HUGS!!!!

Oh My Goodness..... What a day....

Where do I begin...

First this mid morning, I received an email from the Agency saying she had the Video. So, I tried to finish up my work so I could leave early and pick it up.

As I was a work, I received a email form Ginger asking if I read her prior email. I replied, I hadn't rec. it yet. And if something was wrong. As I waited for her reply, I jumped onto the website and read her Blog... What I found was devestating. With only 19 days before we go see the girls, the Birth mother had 2nd thought and is keep her baby. All I could do was start crying. HOW COULD THIS BE. Ginger has worked to long and to hard, and has loved Berali from the momment she set eyes on her. How could an Adoption Agency let this happen this far into the process??? Why wasn't her DNA taken care of before, would this of happened if the mother signed off the paperwork along time ago? I just can't understand this. And for me not to understand.... What about Ginger??? I CANNOT imagine what she is going through. What her family is going through. Complete shock... All I know is my heart aches for Ginger... I have always said things happen for a reason... BUT I CAN'T SEE THE REASON RIGHT NOW...

As for my Video... I get home and watch the video 5 times, then go up stairs to tried to figure out how to put it in the Blog. NO LUCK... All I can say is, Angelena is adorable. She drinks 2 oz every 3-4 hours. She sleeps about 6-7 hours a night, and wakes up about 6-7 in the morning.... What's that tell you... She stays up late!!! She is a very content baby, but is very active... She likes to grab hold of things... INCLUDING HAIR... (I Guess I need to be getting a haircut before I go to Guatemala). Oh, and did I say she was Adorable.... Apparently the foster mother is fostering another child, he is only 2 weeks old. He is on the video too! But, all he did was sleep. But you can hear Angelena in the back ground starting to get fussy.... It was so sweet.... I need to hold her.....

Anyway, I went to send Olga my Blog site, and when I went into my email... I FOUND the PRE-APPROVAL notice form Guatemala... I started crying AGAIN!!! So I forward that to Olga. Now, all we are waiting for is the Family Court Report - then off to PGN!!!! Who know we maybe in PGN while we are in Guatemala... Wouldn't that be AWESOME!!!!!!

So you see... I have been on an emotional roller coaster all day...

Vital UPDATE

July 11 medical
8.11 lb, length 22 in, head 14.5 in.

Physically, mentally, neurologically healthy

Things Happen for a Reason....

You know how people always say things happen for a reason, or how you dream something a long time ago, and then something happens in your life and you think.... Wow, I remember that dream... Or when things that have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but end up correlating with eachother...

Well, let me tell you something... For those who don't know this, Angelena's middle name is after my dear niece that we lost a few years ago, Christina. Well, the other day when I had recieved the DNA results in the mail, the date the DNA was taken, was on my neice Christina's Birthday.

I believe is stuff like the paranormal. I have continusly tried to look for signs from Christina, to see if she is around, and ok. I think this time she is slapping me to wake up a smell the coffee... I know she is alright and watching over us, but this time I think she is telling me to stop looking cause she is around. Now I know this name is exactly what it is suppose to be.

If I have posted the name corrolation before, sorry to ramble... But this is my circle within a circle with no beginning and never ending....

Time Will Tell

Well I talked to the Agency yesterday, and had tons of questions. And guess what... NO answers, well actually, there were answers, but not the ones I wanted like when can I bring home Angel.

We are waiting for the pre-approval from the social worker, and we can't start bugging them until 30 days have lapsed. With my calculations the 30 days will be 7/21. So they have till then before I become a complete pain in the ass.... I mean BUTT!!! Then PGN!!! PGN is the final step.

Once we get the approval form PGN, we have to request a new birth certificate form Guatemala City, and on this birth certificate it will have her last name as "PULS". Then it will be official. Once we have the Birth Certificate, we will get our appointment with Immigration and get her Visa to leave the country. Then we will be HOME bound, as a family of 3!!! Grandma, Mommy and Baby...

22 more days till we leave for Guatemala... Can you tell I am excited? I talked to Ginger the other day, and she is getting so excited too! When Ginger was here, we went... SHOPPING!!! and bought a couple of matching outfits for the girls. When we get there we are going to dress them alike and take pictures! I will post them... I am sure I will be posting more than them too! I know it is going to be hard to leave Angelena there after the visit, but I know it won't be much longer after that, we will be heading back to pick her up.

I am so glad that I have most my family behind this whole journey. I wouldn't have it anyother way. Yesteday, I talked to Johnnie on the phone, and that little squirt had 2 sentences for me... Hi Aunt Ellie, When can I come to Texas, and When are you bring Angelena home??? Even the little kids are excited for me and Angelena. When ever I talk to Dasia, she is always saying, when I move to Texas, I will get to play with Angelena... Darius says, "I can't wait. AND the big Kids, Shannon, Joey, Christopher, Allie, and Erika, (all over 19) keep checking in to see the status, the anxioty is building in all of them. Then you have Grandma... EVERYDAY, " Have you talked to anyone? What did they say? Anything in the mail? Any good news? " Uncle John askes, did you have your baby yet and she is a cute baby. Kevin thinks the updates and her picture are very cool, and can't wait to meet her. Coco said she is cute.... AND Tommy and Shirley, still thinks she has my NOSE, and is so excited and can't wait to meet her too! So you see... Everyone is behind me.

Well that's all for now...

DNA

Well, this evening was a very emotional evening. I received the DNA results today in the mail. Angelena's birth mother and Angelena was a match 99.99%.

With the DNA results, I received another picture, on Angelena's birth mother with Angelena on her lap. I just can't imagine what that must feel like. To, first give up your child, then a month later, have to take a picture with with her, to PROVE you gave birth to her, then to have a DNA test done.

It was always just paper work for me, in regards to the DNA, but, now that I have a couple of picture and it is all coming together, it kind of through me a little. The birth mother, seems so sad, and upset, I completely feel for her. But, little Angelena, has a hair clip in her hair, and is bright eyed and bushie tail (head). Well, lets just say, COMPLETELY ADORABLE!!!! I just want to kiss her little face.

With my agency, Adoption International, I have learned so much about the whole process. And will be indebted to them for life, to lead and help me through this, and to have found Angelena for me. They have been wonderful, and I would recommend them to EVERYONE! They answer my questions, no matter how stupid, or lost I am on things, they lead, and I follow. The answer my questions with respect, and don't make me feel stupid. They have my utmost respect and I will use them again for a sibling for Angelena SOMEDAY!!!

Update on Berali Grace

This is my friend Gingers Daughter. She is another Absolute Angel... She has such long hair, and look at those eyelashes.

I finally got to meet Ginger face-to-face. She came and spent a weekend with us here in Texas. She is an amazing person, and I personally think we are alot a like. We both have had long roads to get where we are today, and we both have have ONE major goal in common.... To bring our baby's home! OH she likes to SHOP TOO!!! YAHOOOOOOO

AN ANGEL

Hello everyone.... I recieved pictures yesterday at work... The pictures were taken on the 29th of June. She is absolutely beautiful, and that is not a mother talking. Seeing the pictures again, is making the waiting harder than ever. I don't know how people do this. To know that she is just a 3 hour flight away, and I can't hold her in my arms till Aug. Or even have her now. In the pictures she seems like a PERFECT ANGEL... I have a picture of her Foster Mother, but, I don't want to post it, because, I don't have permission too! But, I don't need permission to post Angelena's... SO enjoy...