Today's Update - good news, bad news and amusing news

Thank you so much for all of your support and good wishes in the past few days. As you can see from the blog, Thursday and Friday were very difficult days for me. But, things seem to be going a little better in Guatemala right now (all things being relative, of course).

GOOD NEWS: Best I can put together - the President & First Lady have withdrawn the Executive Order at this point. Don't know if or when it will re-surface, but the State Department is telling us that "it is no longer a threat." I very much want to believe them, but I am (understandably) cautious. So - theoretically - international adoptions can continue as usual in Guatemala for the time being.

BAD NEWS: In the practical (and selfish) reality of "what does this mean for Lilly and me," it is unclear. I got news today that my case update is "no change." I am still in PGN and still waiting to be kicked out. While I had hoped for better news...this is exactly what I expected. With all of the turmoil of the past few weeks, I did not think that PGN would be processing anything, but would instead wait to see the outcome of the executive order issue before moving forward. Hopefully now that is settled someone can dig my file out of the pile and kick me out so I can hurry up and get back in. I especially want to be out before the end of the year now in case this issue flares up again at the January 1 deadline that has been mentioned.

AMUSING NEWS: The funny part of this is more of an anecdote than news...but here goes....

Friday I was still so upset from everything that I really wasn't thinking very clearly. I was going to Asheville, NC for the weekend to meet up with old friends, but I was so distraught Thursday night that I couldn't pack. So, I left work a little earlier than planned Friday to run home and throw some clothes in a bag before heading to the airport. When I got home, there was a FedEx envelope at my front door. I had been expecting a video from Guatemala, as one of the social workers had been to visit the various foster families. So, I was suddenly thrilled, ripped open the envelop and ran to the TV. Well, the disc wouldn't play in my DVD player. So, I headed upstairs and tried my computer. No luck. So, I threw everything in a suitcase & ran back by work on the way to the airport to try that computer. Again, no luck. So, I headed to the airport w/ the DVD in my purse and caught my flight. Once in Atlanta, my connecting flight was delayed 2 1/2 hours, so I wandered around the holding this DVD but unable to see it. So - I got the great idea to go to one of those portable DVD rental places to see if it would play. They let me try, but it didn't work. Then they changed my gate, so I changed terminals. There was another DVD rental place, so I thought I would try again (wasn't anything else to do anyway!). First time didn’t work, but the lady behind the counter was so helpful and suggested trying it on one of the expensive models that they just sell (but don't rent). Low and behold...up pops a file...titled "Marcus Enrique." I thought that was weird, but I was so excited I didn't care. Then up pops this video. I am staring at it and it wasn't Lilly. I thought "maybe she's just changed a lot..." but the more I stared at the baby, the more I knew it wasn't her. Looked like a little boy in overalls...maybe 5-6 months old. Cute kid...just not my kid. So I said something like..."oh, that's not my child," and the lady behind the counter says "well, he does look Hispanic." So, I tried to explain that my child was Hispanic, that just wasn't her.

So, disappointed, I head on my way to NC and had a lovely weekend. When I got home Sunday night, I swung by my friend Kendra's house (who is also adopting) to see her video, as hers was working on her computer. So, I got to see cute little Jackson and was so jealous they had a video! Then we decided to put in the DVD of Marcus Enrique to compare videos...and up pops a video of Lilly!!!! I was so surprised and so shocked! It was wonderful to see her (she looks great) and I just got to enjoy her for 7 1/2 minutes! The funniest part was that the foster mother said how Lilly had developed some "serious issues" since she had returned from her week w/ me. She is now much more demanding of attention and is much more spoiled!!! Its nice to know she misses me. The foster mother also said Lilly listens to a tape of me reading stories every night as she is falling asleep. And, she is now calling her Lilly Marta (instead of her birth name)...but she still also answers to "princessa."

So, to prove to Kendra & Coop that I wasn’t totally nuts…we tried the disc in their portable DVD player…and low and behold, there is Marcus Enrique and not Lilly. Way beyond me…but it was GREAT to see her.

So now…we just continue to wait. I am so confident I will get to bring her home at some point. I just have no idea when that might be. So…continued prayers would be appreciated. Specifically – prayers for a speedy approval process, for calm in the adoption system in Guatemala, and for Lilly to continue to thrive where she is.

If I can figure out how to post any of the video, I promise I will. Thank you for patience and understanding in all of this!