Sleep-Skyping and Bedazzling

I ended the week before Thanksgiving with a webcast from the US Embassy in Bogota.  Any hopes we had of traveling in 2012 were gone with the sober message from the official.  With the strike, there was a 4 week backlog of cases so even if the strike had resolved, no new cases would have a chance of completing in what remains of 2012.

While not spectacular news, it was a huge relief to know something.  Anything.  Living in limbo was wearing on all of us.  So, instead we began to get some stuff done that we were putting off until our return from Colombia.

• We bought a real family vehicle!  We bought a Mazda CX-9 and Lucy is in love with it.  At school she had to make a turkey feather with 3 things she was thankful for:  Babies, Pancakes, and the CX-9.
• We finished unpacking and organizing the basement.  Now the kids can ride bikes and goof around - we are hoping to add a climber and a swing soon.
• We took a few days of vacation!  With the adoption looming, we were setting aside all of our vacation time.  Now with our travel in 2013, we needed to use some of our time AND we needed a break.  
• We visited family in Wisconsin.  We had to take advantage of our final chance with only 1 (potty trained) kid.

Skyping continues, now on a semi-regular schedule of 2 times a week.  You can tell that the regular conversations are really paying off and will make our transition more natural - she fell asleep right in the middle of it!

Before.

During.

After. 

In honor of Josie apparently being a good sleeper,  Lucy and I bedazzled the wall above Josie's bed.  I do love removable decals!

Good news yesterday that the courts are functioning again in Bogota, enough for a family from NY to get sentencia (the final legal step finalizing your adoption in the Colombian courts)!  After a brief check-in with FANA, it looks like we should be able to travel immediately after the New Year.  I am estimating January 3rd, but I am waiting for official word from FANA.

Yippee!

In other news - our group has been working with FANA to find families for some fantastic older kids and sibling groups.  Please visit the CaringBridge site dedicated to these kids - AND PASS IT ON!  Scroll through the pictures to see the kids that are waiting.

Update, or lack thereof

I have been waiting for some news before posting an update, but I'm afraid there is none.  At this point, no news is bad news.  As the days tick away, the likelihood that we can travel before the first of the year becomes less and less.

So, what's the deal?  It appears that the judicial strike is still on, at least in Cundinamarca which is the state that Bogota is in.  There was an agreement between the government and the union.  Now, union members are claiming that they don't agree with the deal and are, in a sense, succeeding from the union.  If the courts aren't working, we don't go.

Lawyers, officials and advocates for the kids have been working on alternatives with all parties involved and we were hoping to hear some news over the last few days, but nothing yet.  I again ask for prayers, thank you to everyone for your incredible support in this critical area!

Foolish as it may be, we continue to prep as if we will be leaving.  I guarantee that if we get word to hop on a plane, there will be nothing stopping us.  It has been wonderful to Skype with Josie on a near-daily basis.  She remembers us now and calls us Mama, Papa, Lucy and Gato.  The most entertaining thing so far is Josie's way of saying 'No" - she wags her finger and says 'No, No, No'.  Seriously funny.

Example - Josie is looking at the picture book we sent of family photos.  She is currently looking at Andy, who was not on this particular Skype.

That led to, "Papa, No No No" with wagging finger.

Big sis is showing Josie two very important toys, a doll and a car.    This is so good for Lucy, too.

'Allo?

We still don't know if we will travel next week, but we still need to operate as if we will.  Friday we finished up travel clinic appointments - oww, my aching arms.  We also received our official notice of provisional approval in the mail yesterday which I quickly scanned and sent to FANA, I really don't know if sending this will help.  Gotta try!

The file that the US Embassy need to issue us final approval (Article 5) is going to be received at the National Visa Center on Monday, then they update the system.  I know because I have been watching the UPS tracking thanks, again, to Officer Bethany.  I don't know how long it will take the National Visa Center to process the package, but if they can have Monday as a gimme since the US Embassy in Colombia is closed for a holiday.

While we wait, we have had the pleasure of Skyping with Josie both Thursday and Friday mornings.  It's been great.  Friday, Josie said both Momma and Pappa which melted my heart.  She showed great excitement for the little toy car she was playing with - that just put a toy car on my shopping list.  At one point the phone rang and she put her hand to her ear and said 'allo?'  It was super cute!  Enjoy a few shots I was able to capture from Friday's session.  Disclaimer - I am totally scary as I did this from my phone shortly after a shower.

Here Josie is blowing kisses.  Mwwa!

Juanita had to look up the word 'ticklish' on Google Translate to describe Josie.  Then she demonstrated.  Lucy was very excited because she also loves being tickled.

Here, Josie is discussing her love of online trading.

More silliness.  I don't remember what was the joke here.

My favorite.

Lucy is showing Josie how she eats yogurt.  I love that this kept Josie's attention. 

Skype and prep-a-palooza

It is still unclear if and when we travel. In the unlikely event of travel this weekend, I took the day off to jam through some important per-travel items. But to start the day, we had the surprise of waking up to an invitation to Skype with Josie! It started out as video only, but eventually Juanita and Josie changed computers. Here's the bottom line - she is so busy!!!  I knew this in my head, but seeing her reminded us just how busy 21 months is!

Favorite highlight was when we brought Bing into the frame. For those of you who know him, he is a giant orange tabby who never looks pleased.  She looked a little concerned, but she eventually gave Bing a big smile!

No news on the final approval. We have a tracking number that will tell us when the file is at the National Visa Center which should be tomorrow. Theoretically, once it's received in, it should be accessible by the US Embassy to review and give us the thumbs up. Pray, pray, pray....

In the afternoon, Lucy and I hit the Secretary of State for sone mother/daughter apostilling. Then we headed to the mall for 3 very important items:

1.  A new computer - MacBook Air (purrrrr), totally travel-ready
2.  A presentation outfit for Josie - leave it to Lucy to pick a vibrant number for her little sis. She kept saying 'no thank you' every time I showed her more subtle dresses. This will be the outfit that Josie is dressed in when she is presented to our family in the green room at FANA.
3.  More and additional hair products from the Carol's Daughter line.  Even thought Josie doesn't have much hair, I'm gonna be ready for it!

I should have a couple of Skyping pictures tomorrow, today I have Lucy taking Josie's presentation outfit for a spin.

Mostly Good Things

Lot of good things, yet still we are not sure we are going to be able to travel when we want/need to.

Good Thing #1:  The strike is over!  Late tonight an agreement was reached between the government and the judicial union.

Good Thing #2:  Today, we received provisional approval from immigration.  Past the lockbox, past Officer Bethany's Desk, an now on it's way to to the US Embassy in Bogota.

Good Thing #3:  We successfully went to Chicago to visit the Colombian Consulate for Visas.  We left really early on Sunday morning and spent the day in Chicago.  Monday, we had our appointments with a tiny tense moment (license we had from FANA was expired, but FANA was closed for a holiday), but the nice folks at the Consulate worked with us and we now have our visas!  I want to thank everyone who helped us when we were standing in line at the Consulate - Marcia, Julie, Sarah...  it's amazing in this age of iPhones and technology that we can pass documents between states and countries in a manner of seconds.

Down-right Confusing Thing:  FANA said the US Embassy in Bogota is not giving anyone final approvals with the courts out of commission.  One would think now that the strike is over, this would no longer be a problem.  But the one thing I learned is that I need to just chill out and see what happens.   Prayers that the system starts up again without any delay and we can travel next week.  If we don't, even missing a few days, might result in us having to wait to travel until January.

Uggghhh...

Now for some pictures of our trip to Chicago!

Finally figured out how to pay for fare on CTA when all credit card machines were broken and we had to scrape for small bills and change.  Money orders?  We had those, but no singles.

Pretty sure our coffees were almost gone by this point.  6:25 AM flight means very little sleep.

On our way to the Art Institute stopped to examine 2-story lips.  Often art is lost on me.

Andy's first time at the Art Institute. Obligatory lion picture. 

Meanwhile, with Grandma and Grandpa, Lucy was having a rough time...  

And we have VISAS!