Latest test results

Just a quick update on my latest test results. The doctor said there is something there, but doesn't look like a problem so to come back and have another mammo in six months. I am taking that as good news and pray it isn't anything and either goes away or doesn't change when they take the next pictures in six months. Thanks so much for your prayers. Anne.

Look how big I am!

Hi Friends and Family,

I wanted to show you the new pictures we received of Emily. She had a check up last week and they took pictures to send to us. The doctor reports that she is doing well and is 27 pounds and 33 inches tall. She looks so grown up to me.

Still no word on when our case will be officially signed off, making us Emily's legal parents. It is not advisable to dig for answers in the PGN. Tends to make them go slower. However, if you just wait and don't ask about your case, it goes slow too. Go figure. I just talked to a lady who wants to start an international adoption and she wanted to hear our story. Yikes! I just said, it is a wonderful thing and if you have the heart and desire to give an orphan a home, go for it, just be prepared it may(probably will) be a long bumpy, road. Of course I wish this would have gone smoother and certainly shorter, but I know it will be so worth it when Emily is home with us finally.If they don't hurry up we might be sending her to college when she gets here:)

Please be praying for our family as the months go on. We have had lots thrown at us lately and could use a large helping of God's peace and joy. I had my first mammogram and it showed some area that needs a closer look. Not the news I wanted to hear. I pray it is nothing, I will be doing the further tests next week. On a lighter note, I have found my first gray hairs, not a happy day. I guess I could always make myself a blond. That would be interesting.

If you ever need a really good laugh, check out Tim Hawkins, a Christian comedian that we saw last weekend. He is hysterical. It was great to laugh for over an hour straight. Abby has memorized a lot of his material from his website. So to see him in person was a huge bonus, we have pictures to prove it.

Enjoy the new pictures of little Emily. She's pretty cute huh?

Blessings,

Anne.

Hi Everyone,

It has been nearly one month since our court hearing in Guatemala. There has been no word yet as to what is happening with our case and still no news as to when we might be going again to bring Emily home. I get really frustrated with the waiting game. There are documents and fingerprints etc... that have to continue to be renewed. One in particular that expires in July but we have to refile in April. It is going to cost a bunch of money and if we knew we would be picking her up before July we wouldn't have to submit the new paperwork for the extension. But we can't afford to not file the paperwork in case this wouldn't be finalized by July. Anyway, please be praying that we would be able to bring Emily home before we need to refile these forms.

I'll post as soon as we get any new information.

Thanks so much for checking in!!

Anne.

A different, really different day..

Well yesterday was quite different than we had expected. We got to the court place after getting the directions and correct address (it is quite different driving around here looking for an address). We parked and went in. We saw Andrea (Emily), her birth mother and one of the nuns from the orphanage outside the meeting room. Andrea was dressed in a really pretty maroon dress and had her hair tied with two of the little ponytail holders that were in the supplies that we brought to the orphanage the day before. It just so happened that they were Abby´s old ones and out of all they had to pick from, well that was really neat to see.
We didn´t get to talk to them right away, we just kind of stood there while others coordinated and discussed things that we couldn´t understand (I think they were complaining about my socks personally). Anyway, after a few minutes or so, we were introduced to the birth mother. She is very sweet. After a couple of sincere hugs, Anne presented here with a gift we brought for her. We were then told that we could visit with Andrea there in the hallway. The sister that brought her there was a very kind and very young nun from the orphanage. We sat with her for a while and I am just thinking and trying to process all this.
Then they invited us into the meeting room. There was the judge lady, the PGN lady, a social worker, our attorney, a man that is kind of a witness guy (sort of like a notary), the nun, the nun´s helper to watch the baby, the birth mom, Lilly (our translator, friend, guide and Tamara´s co-worker like friend) Anne and myself. Well off they went reading things and discussing things (I still think they didn´t like my socks) and reviewing photos and other documents. Our file was about 1 inch thick. The PGN lady seemed to keep telling the birth mother that she still has the right to keep her baby and the mom kept telling here that she wants her to be adopted. They even brought up the thing about the unknown baby picture that got in the file by mistake. Well to shorten this up, the judge over ruled the PGN and said that not only could the baby return to the original foster mother Lilly (a different Lilly than our translator) but she could go back to the hotel with us for a day or so. That was a shocker. We were not at all prepared for that.
Outside in the hallway, we stood there for another 20 minutes or so while they finalized some things and I held Andrea and then she walked around a bit and then off we went. It was really hard to say goodbye to the birth mom, a very emotional moment for all.
We stopped on the way to pick up some diapers and things and then to the hotel. Little Andrea was not very happy at that time and I could only imagine what was going through her head. She went from the orphanage where there were other children and everyone spoke Spanish to a hotel room where there were 2 adults that spoke a different language. At first she only wanted me to hold her then only Anne. I know that one day soon we will be able to look back at this and after Andrea has been with us, adjusted she will see the love of a family that she doesn´t really have right now. But for now, she must be wondering what is going on.
We all decided that she needed to go to Lilly the foster mom that night so that there would be as few transitions times for Andrea as possible and that there would be Spanish speaking people around her and other children nearby. We arranged that and at 8PM last night, Lilly got to the hotel. It is about 30 to 40 minutes away from her house. She was there with the attorney´s assistant and the assistant´s 16 year old son. That too was an emotional time for Lilly as it had been about 10 months since she had seen her and Andrea seemed to double in size. Lilly really loves this child. We visited a bit and off they went and left Anne and I to sit and ponder this day.

In Guatemala Again

Tuesday:
Well, we have arrived here in beautiful Guatemala. We got in last night and we were supposed to be picked by a specific driver arranged by the agency. Well the hotel also sent a driver and guess what? He was the first one we saw holding a sign for us. You have to know that he is the one we went with. I greeted him by the name of the other driver and he smiled and nodded obviously not understanding what I said. We got in his car and off we went. Meanwhile back at the airport, the other driver (the one we were supposed to be with) is still standing there holding the sign for the Loefflers. After a brief panic, everything was sorted out and we are safe here at the hotel.

Next day.

We were supposed to have been given permission to visit the orphanage to deliver donations and visit with the babies. Well the nuns at the orphanage thought that we were only going to see one baby (which is partly true) and did not think that was fair to the other children. We explained that we had lots of donations of clothing, toys and other supplies for all the children. For now we can´t visit today and hope to see our little girl tomorrow. They are trying to arrange a visit for Friday and to let the orphanage know that we have donations and huggs for ALL the children.

The hearing is tomorrow (Thursday) and will update again after that. Thank you all for your prayers and continue to pray that this goes well and according to God´s plan.

Russell and Anne

Hello Evan and Abby, we love and miss you.

A week before our BIG trip!!

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to let everyone know that we both(Russell and myself) will be headed to Guatemala next week for our court hearing. Please keep us in your prayers for safety and that we would get good news from the judge on the 15th. We are taking tons of clothes, shoes, bottles and medical supplies to the orphanage where Emily has been living. We are hoping to see her on the 14th. I can't even express the emotions that I am feeling right now. I am so excited to finally see our little girl after almost one year. But I must say I am a little nervous too. We just pray for the judge to rule on our behalf, but we know anything can happen and yes, God knows all about it. We aren't taking a laptop with us this time due to having to pack extra light, so we will update the blog with NEW pictures, (yippee) and all the newest information as soon as we return at the end of the week.

Thanks for your prayers,

anne.

We hope all had a Merry Christmas. We would like to ask for your prayers as the hearing to find if we can proceed with finalizing the adoption is January 15 in Guatemala City. One of us are planning to be there for this. We are also sending lots of children's shoes and clothing that have been collected, to the the orphanage where Emily is. Thank you to all who donated items and for those who have been interceding on our behalf in prayer. We will update as soon as there is more to update. Until then, Lord bless your 2009.