Paper success and lots of dessert

We ran finishing papers yesterday and today.  It's all done - I'm still glistening with sweat!  There is a single sheet of paper yet to have in hand, but for the most part we are done.

Josie is official, she is a proud American (even though this is from her Colombian Passport)!

Ok, while not in chronological order, we had a wonderful 45 minute break this morning meeting with Tia Betty, the wonderful hostess who we lived with 4 years ago.  We were lucky enough to overlap itineraries as she is now retired and living in Miami.  We love you, Betty!

Here's the whole gang, what a crazy bunch of ladies (and 1 Andy) to descend on the Unicentro Juan Valdez!

Back to the timeline of paperwork - here is a silly shot of Annette and I waiting for Josie's Colombian Passport.  This was one of the best run, organized, clean, delightful governmental offices I have ever been in.  Anywhere.

Yesterday we had very important business to attend to saying goodbye to our French friends who returned home yesterday.  Lucy and Cami became great friends and we had a special bond with Cami's Mom and Dad that started with evening "wine time" at El Refugio.

Cami plants a goodbye kiss on Lucy's cheek.  Awwww....

This is the Tintin at Crepes & Waffles - it's part of the kid's meal, pretty impressive if you ask me.  I think it has something to say...

My face is showing my shock over my dessert.  I thought I was getting something smaller since it looked like it was in a regular martini glass in the picture.  Total.  Lie.  I didn't know they made martini glasses in a gallon size.

Trees, the Colombian Wisconsin Dells & the END!

After our spectacular news on Friday, we had to squeeze in two things we had hoped to do before leaving the country.  Thankfully Jorge was ready for us to drag him about the countryside at a moment's notice.

Visiting Trees at la Laguna de Guatavita
More than just the site of the legend of El Dorado, la Laguna de Guatavita is also the site of Lucy's legacy tree.  We planted a tree at this national park four years ago when adopting Lucy.  Jorge Rico had just started his tree planting spree which now numbers 380 or so.  Unfortunately, Lucy's plaque has been taken out by a rogue cow, but will soon be replaced.  The current leadership at Guatavita aren't so keen on Jorge's tree planting, so we're going to have one planted at another site.

A slow growing native tree, the Cucharo seems to grow about as fast a human child.  

Last time we were well acquainted with Jorge's bright green Dodge Dart, but since we are 4 + a gigantic stroller, we now qualify for the minibus.  Sorry to all family members who don't even get a choice of sitting in the front seat.

Another shot with the iPhone panoramic mode.  A nice view of the Colombian countryside... and the minibus.

Parque Jaime Duque
OK.  We love all things campy and a little bizarre, so this place was built for us!  Afterward we got an unexpected tour of the countryside because of not one, but two detours.  The whole ordeal took an additional 2-3 hours (who's counting anymore?) and took us into a very poor neighborhood high on the mountainside.  The big detour was due to a downed light pole and took out the power to the entire mountainside, so it was an interesting view of life.  Nobody seemed particularly surprised by the situation.

Let's just say that Jaime was a bit of an eccentric. 

Agra and pre-Colombian artifacts.  Who knew?

Of course, gotta love the spinning coffee cups ride!

We didn't make it to the dinosaurs, but we think you could climb into their mouths.  We do this by our cabin in Hayward, only with a giant muskie.

The zoo was the highlight, really, with many more South American species than we have in our zoos.  The birds were pretty entertaining, Jorge is communicating with this particular variety of parrot. 

The Process
She's officially OURS!  We have been running constantly finalizing the rest of our paperwork.  We signed Sentencia on Monday morning, so that was done.  But nothing is quick or simple.  Copies took us about 3 additional hours before we were able to leave.  We had hoped to get Josie's birth certificate yesterday after we had copies in hand, but the woman at the registrar said her computer wasn't working.  When she showed us the screen, it looked a lot like signing in would fix the problem...  oh, well.  That wasn't anything that would hold us up.

See the piles of papers - that's what it means to be waiting.  Not sure at what stage, but these are families waiting for something to happen.

For those who get Bogota Family Court 6, everyone was wonderful.  The office manager was one of the nicest, efficient people we have met.  GO COURT 6!

Today we headed back to the registrar and finished applying for Josie's updated birth certificate.  Andy and I headed back around 10:00, but Annette returned later in the afternoon to get - yes - copies.  With that done, Annette, Josie and I headed with a pile of paperwork to the Colombian Passport office to apply for her Colombian passport which we will pick up tomorrow morning.

Once the passport is in hand, then we have to complete the process with the US government.  Embassy doctor will need to see it before we can get their finished paperwork, then we need it uploaded to the US Embassy so we can get an appointment for Thursday (finish the immigration process and get Josie's Visa to the US.)

We are assured that unless there is something COMPLETELY out of left field, we will have no trouble coming home on Saturday!  So I declare, we will arrive in Minneapolis on the 7:40 PM on Delta 1528!

We're coming home :)!

SENTENCIA!!!

I just got a call from Maria Theresa at FANA and she said we can sign Sentencia on Monday!!!  This is the most spectacular news and means we may have a shot at traveling home on our original tickets as a family next Saturday!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYAY!

Week 5, not that I'm counting

As I sit to finally write an update, I am sipping my Coca Cola Light and being pelted by hail as it bounces off the terrace and into our open sliding door into the living room.  Until this week, Bogota was in its dry season which was a little drier and hotter than usual.  We were in heaven!  But now, it seems like the rainy season is in full swing with a daily downpour in the afternoons.  This is the Bogota weather we remembered from 4 years ago.    Still, compared to snow measured in feet and temperatures so low that school is routinely called off, we count ourselves very fortunate.

Domicilios Addiction
Health here remains iffy.  I have a hacking cough that has required two visits with the doctor.  Just a few days ago, Andy seems to be getting the same thing.  Thanks to a referral from our friend Carmen who runs El Refugio (we stayed with her our first week) we got the number to a doctor who makes house calls, or "domicilios".   After our first visit, she also called a pharmacy for my prescriptions, who also delivered to our door.  Oh, and dinner that night was also by domicilios.  While an absolute luxury, it usually only costs an extra dollar or two.

Sanity, thy name is Alecia
This week I called the woman known by many as "The Baby Whisperer."  Alecia worked for families who stayed at Betty's Place.  Now that Betty is enjoying her retirement, Alecia is working odd jobs when she can get them.  So when offered a regular gig for the rest of our time here, she jumped at the offer.  She is now coming by from 8 - 1:00 Monday through Friday feeding, dressing, and entertaining the girls.  We are now both able to work unless we have adoption business to attend to.  Already our stress levels have decreased and I feel like I can do work as I had planned.

Attention all families coming to Bogota for adoptions, call her!  She is spectacular and the kids love her.  We should have done it weeks earlier.  If you want her contact info, let me know.  

Social History & FANA Visit
With the girls settled in with Alecia, we headed out to FANA to meet with Flor, one of the social workers at FANA.  Josie, being older, had a different path to adoption and much of it was documented in the papers that we had received with her referral.  Our social history was really a chance to see some pictures of Josie as a baby that were taking from her time in foster care and then at FANA.  This was worth it all!

I have no skill at approximating baby's ages, but here she looks like maybe 9 months???

This one kills me.  So sheik!

We then had the pleasure of walking through FANA with Juanita, Josie's therapist and now friend.  She herself was adopted from FANA as a baby, so I can tell how much the good work that they do means to her.  It means so much to us as adoptive families, I can't imagine. 

This handsome lad is waiting for our friends to finish up their paperwork and scoop him up with kisses! 

This is a therapy/exercise room for the toddlers.  Josie would have spent time in here.  Little Angelica is waiting for a family (sitting on the caregivers' lap).  If you are interested in her information, I am happy to connect you with someone who can!

FANA now has more older children that they are caring for.  Everyone is working hard to try and make these great kids available for adoption so they can have the love and care of a family.

Paper Process

We are now in the final waiting stage with our paperwork.  After being stalled for a while, our file was accepted by the judge and then approved/accepted by the Defender of Minors.  Since Wednesday our file is waiting for final approval, known as Sentencia.  Legally, the judge has 10 business days to complete this, but often it happens sooner.  Laser beam prayers on this one, please!

Almost, but not Quite

Onto a more frivolous topic, food.  We have enjoyed two restaurants that are eerily similar to ones in the states.  Let's see if you can figure out which restaurant concepts may have inspired these Colombian equivalents!

Sipote, a place where you stand in a line to have your perfect burrito, taco, or salad built. Cilantro rice?  What kind of beans?  Meat?  Salsas?  Cheese and/or sour cream?

You enter Parque Safari through a giant hippo's mouth.  For those of you familiar with the area, this opened 7 months ago and is close to Crepes & Waffles and Bogota Beer Company on a side street!

Hmmm, giant aquariums?  Animatronic elephants and tigers?  Fake trees and flowers everywhere?  Any ideas?

Sorry this one is sideways, but I was wondering why the name 'Rachel' was everywhere...  it's because their elephant mascot shares my name.  Great.

Butterflies & leather pants

If you can imagine a relay race where one team member passes the baton to another - that's sort of been our story here with illness.  The last lap was Andy who was out of commission for at least two days with something very much like the flu.  He got better then I started to get something in my lungs, feels a lot like bronchitis (I've got the black lung, Pop).  Lucy is the only one who has escaped illness, let's hope she can be spared.

To keep the kids busy and give Andy a little breathing room, I took the girls along with our friends to the Botanical Gardens.  It was a nice break to get away from all of the congestion and surround ourselves with a little greenery.

Our visit coincided with a butterfly exhibit, much to Lucy's delight.  There was a path of butterflies from the entrance all the way to the butterfly house, it was pretty tough trying to reel her in.

Here is an example butterfly, this one's wings were about 4 inches across.

Lucy's friend Cami who speaks only Spanish and a little French.  Here she was grabbing his hand and saying, "Look Cami!  A sign!"

Josie pondering a bushy palm tree.  Not too much after I took this picture she went straight into it.

After the gardens, we headed to the Leather District, a street where leather shops have clustered.  I was on the hunt for boots and a wallet.  I lucked into a purse, too :)  I also had the belt we bought Andy 4 years ago to get him two more.  

I bought a pair of boots from this nice lady.  Strangely all boots were my size, I would have thought a 39 would be too big for Colombia, but apparently I fit right in.

Store after store of purses, wallets, shoes, leather pants...  I passed on the leather pants.

One of our big accomplishments this week was getting Josie a TB test at the US Embassy doctor, as well as getting her medical exam.  The TB test requirement kicked in because she just turned two.  The medical exam is a regular part of the process, but usually is done after you get the kiddo's passport.  They agreed to give her the exam early, then do the paper work after we get the passport.  Thank you US EMBASSY!  That should save us some running around after we get Sentencia.

This took place over 2 days.  They have to inject her on Tuesday and have her return on Thursday to read the test.  No TB, thankfully.  Also she's looking really healthy!

Thank you to friends for providing Freddy the emerald guy's info, because Annette and our French friends headed there after Josie's Thursday appointment.  There really is no comparison when it comes to quality of the stones.  They were beautiful!  Melanie ended up with a gorgeous necklace and I am having an emerald and diamond anniversary band made to go next to my wedding ring.

When we arrived, all of the jewelry was put away so we waited for the vault to be opened and the suitcases to be unpacked.  Freddy's mother is in the background supervising.  It's hard to see, but she has a bumper sticker on the mirror over her shoulder mocking Hugo Chavez.

Today was again, Cicolvia, so we headed off to Parque 93, a very busy and very upscale park within walking distance (round trip 4.5 miles).  I walked in TENNIS SHOES!

The girls getting ready to take on the park.  Josie hasn't quite gotten the hang of smiling for the camera.

Hug attack, I believe there are prehistoric delphiniums in the background.

Q&A

Why is it that when I get a moment to update the blog, all I want to do is to pass out or enter a TV coma?  No time to waste, so let's do a little Q&A.

How is Josie doing with the transition?
Great, she is now 100% comfortable with all of us!  We are now focused on helping Josie make emotional connections with us.  Growing up without a mom or dad around, she is just now learning social queues and figuring out how to regulate her emotions.  I am confident that she will catch up quickly as she has already made incredible progress.  Thank you to all of the advice and encouragement from knowing parents.  I welcome it all and regard NONE of it as prying.  We treasure the wisdom we get from others, thank you.

How's the foot?  
I am in complete awe.  My toe had 4 or 5 pieces broken off, so not an insignificant break.  By the end of last week, I stopped wearing the boot.  Thank goodness I love massive, unflattering European shoes because I am able to walk miles a day and not even feel sore.  I don't think I would have believed it when being X-Rayed (twice) or hanging out in the ER with all of the flu patients.

What's up with your court process?
We have landed Court 6, which I hear is middle-of-the-road.  We had heard things were moving quickly, then we heard that we may not be moving at all.  We are anxiously awaiting an update from our lawyer to get the real scoop.

What have you been up to?  Your goal to blog every day hasn't exactly "panned out".

We have marveled at the fruit selection here.  We've enjoyed juicing oranges and the kids' favorites are uchuvas which look look like little cherry tomatoes, but taste like fruit tarts.

We attempted to shop for emeralds at a new place, but I wasn't convinced I was getting the right thing.  I just can't get my hands on Freddy's contact info!  Everyone says they have it, but still nada.  If anyone has it sitting around, I'll take it!

Grandma has enjoyed afternoon tea with Josie.  Thank you to Juanita for this lovely tea/ice cream set.  Josie loves it!

I have made the pilgrimage to Migues for baby shoes.  SPOILER ALERT for anyone expecting a baby...

We waited for a clear day to head to the top of Monserate, a church and look out where you can see the whole city.

From a height of 10,341 feet you get winded doing, well, anything.  I had to take Josie to the bathroom and thought I had just run a marathon. 

After Monserate, we went to the old town of Bogota, called Candelaria, and for the first time went into the old cathedral.  Beautiful!

I've been having fun with the iPhone panoramic feature.  Here is Simon Bolivar square which is surrounded by state buildings. 

This Sunday in Usaquen there was a woman singing and selling her CDs.  Josie loved it because she is very fond of dancing.  She hears a tune and will immediately start swaying perfectly to the beat.  We were attempting a little salsa dancing here.

Lucy is allergic to mosquito bites and unfortunately one tasted her eye.  She's been a one-eyed pirate for a couple of days now, but she seems to be taking it all in stride.  Arrrr.

And of course, we have been drinking coffee. 

Party on, Josie!

Today our Josie turned 2.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, this little girl was going to have a party!  We extended the invitation to a few friends in Bogota and overwhelmingly people were able to come.  It quickly outgrew out apartment and through our wonderful landlady, we were able to use a meeting room at La Fontana for free!

A few stops at Fiesta Ciudad and Yei! Let's Party, we were ready to dud up the room and welcome our guests.

Here's the birthday girl all ready to party like a high-healed mouse!

A killer view!

Juanita, Josie's therapist, and her daughter Martina.  A 2-year-old in each arm, this woman is incredible!

The spread after it was partaken in for  quite some time.

Lucy presenting her gift, an "Lumin Osito."  100% sure Lucy picked it out for herself.

Bogota friends Annette (our driver/paralegal) and Jorge and Patricia Rico (our tour guides).

The kids helping with the present unwrapping.  Poor Aaron, I didn't realize there was a boy coming so all he had were Minnie Mouse/pink party favors.

Darly is a wonderful 15 year old being adopted by the Iowan family.  She is just a magnet to Josie, it's adorable!!!