Current News from Guatemala

Guatemala's congress has added a special December session to vote on the Ortega law amendments. Also a separate bill related to adoptions , containing proposals offered by JCICS, was read. It is uncertain whether the second bill will be voted on in Dec. or not. Hopefully the effective date for new legislation will not go into effect Dec. 31st.

It has been a secret as to what the amendments entail, but it is hopeful that the Congress will place the needs of the children being adopted currently and those in the future above political pressure and financial gain.

We are resting in the fact that the Lord controls the hearts of kings and whatever the result of the vote is sovereignly within His plan and not a mistake. All for His glory and our good! May our prayers be aligned with God's will.

New Pictures From Our Visit Trip

Here's a couple of pictures of the little girls lying on the personalized lovey blankets I made for them. We were able to borrow a boucy chair for them which proved to be a great resource.

McKelle is holding the baby we got her. McCaule has an identical one, but with a purple dress. Both girls loved to hold them and look at them. We weighed them on our visit, McKelle weighs 13lbs and McCaule comes in at a hefty 11 lbs. We wished we had taken a tape measure to see how long they were.

Family photo update

Here's a picture of the four of us at La Casa Grande on Monday. Behind us is the dining area where we had breakfast each morning. Our room was just behind this area. The only down side was when more guests arrived, the gathering place for them was here and so the noise level went up quite a bit.

We Made It Back

We got up this morning at 5 a.m. and ate breakfast at 6:30 so that the taxi could take us to the airport. We were through security and at our gate by 7:30. Our flight left on time and actually arrived 20 minutes early into DFW. A good friend from church picked us up at the airport and we were back in our home by 1:30.
Our flight was uneventful. There was a baby being brought home to Chicago from Guatemala on our flight. She really looked Asian and about 6 months old. We had a good time talking about the visit and what we would do the same and different on our pick up trip.

Our Last Day

Today was our last day with the girls. We began with a late breakfast around 9 a.m. We did not know when the girls were going to be picked up but thought it would be later in the day. They came at 7 p.m tonight. We ordered Chinese from a place called Lai Lai. It was very tasty. One of the families had a birthday party for their little boy who turned one. Everyone was invited.

McKelle did better with the new formula and we began the medicine. She'd had three doses before she left today but was still have very loose stools. Her mood was much improved today.

McCaule really warmed up today and was very animated. She is quite the wiggler.

Both girls slept quite a bit today. We put the outfits on them that we purchased for them to travel home in. We place all the gifts for them and the foster mothers in separate ziplock bags to be delivered to them. Hopefully they will make it.

We've already gotten things packed and plan to leave for the airport at 7 a.m. in the morning.
Our flight leaves at 9:30. We're ready to get home and see you kids.

It was very hard to give the girls back tonight and we miss them greatly, but we know some day, hopefully before long, we will make this trip one final time to pick them up and bring them home to Southlake. I'd do it again even though it has been one of the most difficult experiences I've had. They are precious and will fit perfectly into the Milton household.

Day 3

We had a much better day today with the girls and even went next door to the San Carlos for dinner tonight. McKelle held down her food, but still has bowel problems. Cindy, the Guatemalan Coordinator, has a prescription delivered for her to help and they changed her formula to a non lactose type. She has slept a lot, but has been a joy.

McCaule has been a very happy camper today. She loves the pacifier and is eating well. I think she's getting used to us. She likes both Rod and I where McKelle has preferred me today when she is unhappy.

We had a good visit with Cindy. She discussed the details of our case with us and the route she believes it will take. Not really any new news except she reassured us that our case would not be hindered now that our Power of Attorney for both girls is registered. She has been doing this kind of work for 8 years. We gave her the gift of candy in a Southlake coffee mug today and she was touched by it.

We met the pastor from Iowa today and had a lovely visit. We also were able to meet their little boy. He's a cutie. They will return home on Thursday. The gave us some extra receiving blankets they had for the girls to use and diapers for spit rags. We've needed extra with all the extra fluids flowing the last couple of day.

Yesterday I gave McCaule a bath in the sink. She was so cute. I plan to give McKelle one tomorrow, but was waiting until she felt a bit better. We found out a little about the foster moms who are caring for the girls. One is a young mother and has children of her own. The other is a grandmother who has a large extended family and whose daughters also foster children.

It was a lot noisier around here last night and today as many more families arrived to either visit or pick up their children. We were spoiled by the quietness over the weekend.

Day 2

Saturday night was rough as McCaule was up all night. Not really hungery just congested and has a wicked cough. McKelle slept all night and I could hear her kicking her legs off an on during the night. Needless to say, I was very tired to start the day. This definitely a working trip. McKelle threw up her bottle 3 times yesterday, so we phoned our facilitator and she suggested decreasing the ratio of powder to liquid and giving her some pedialyte. We did so and she did sleep, but is still a little grumpy this morning (Monday). She is most likely coming down with something as her nose began to run yesterday. No fever, but a little crankier and sleeping quite a bit.

We lost blackberry connection yesterday, but it seems to be up and working today. For that we are thankful. Last night we ordered in Italian. It was tasty, but a little rich for me. We watched American Football at three...Dallas Cowboys. That was weird. We did find one TV preacher who wasn't too off in his theology last night to watch. They have millions of channels, but only about 3 worth the time of watching.

We took a walk around the place yesterday and have met many other families. It's kind of like being on a college campus with everyone having a primary thing in common.

McCaule has very big cheeks. We keep telling her that she will be the object of being mummed when she comes home. We've told her to watch out for Cameron! HeHe! She slept much better last night as I gave her a binky and she loves it.

McKelle has a smile on her face most of the time. She has a sweet personality, but when she is sad you definitely know it.

Kay(the facilitator) called us the first night with the girls to check on us. It helps to make you feel like you're not totally out here alone. She has been very helpful. We are still hoping to meet with Cindy(Guatemalan coordinator) soon. I have many questions for her and she has some paperwork for us as well. She is an attorney, her father is an accountant and she has a sibling who is a doctor here.

Rod had to exchange some money yesterday for our food last night. It's alot like Honduran money. There is a lady here who has been fostering her own little boy for 5 months. I'm not sure I could be in a hotel for that long. She has been a wonderful source of information, she even gave us some batteries for our camera.

First full day in Guatemala

We slept in today...8:30. Had a lovely breakfast and then waited until we got the phone call that the girls were here. The coordinator phoned around 10 a.m. to tell us that McCaule had the chicken pox. I inquired when she had broken out and it was over a week ago and she already scabbed over. We got the girls around 2:30 p.m. and they took to us right away. The younger one was hungry, so we made her a bottle right away...something I've only done at church for other people's children. She took it and went right to sleep. Her pox are mainly on her torso with just one on her hand and one on her thigh; none on her face. The oldest baby fell asleep on Rod. She has a very alert and happy disposition. Easy to take care of. The younger one is a little fussy, but is warming up and smiling for us more and more. They take their bottles very easy and have each taken two naps today already since we've had them. The older one is holding her head up at a 90 degree angle, but not sitting alone yet. The younger one can hold hers up but only 45 degrees. She is all head and torso with short arms and legs. The older one is long and lanky but dense when you pick her up. She reminds me of McKayln in the way she looks. We have a bed for them to share, but we'll see how it goes tonight.

Guatemala City was setting off fireworks tonight getting ready for the Christmas Holiday season. It was quite loud. Rod is with the girls so I'm going to go rescue him. More tomorrow.

We made it!

Our flight arrived on time. We sat next to a 17 year old girl who is native to Guatemala. Her dad is vendor for John Deere Tractors here. She goes to a boarding school in Connecticut. We had a lovely conversation. Her mom teaches English as a second language and is Dutch. One of the passengers in front of us was reading the Spanish version of John MacArthur's "Twleve Ordinary Men". He told us that he taught Sunday School at his church. God's word is reaching these people.
Customs was no big deal and our driver was waiting for us with a big sign with our names on it. He chattered the whole time and was quite jovial. The hotel looks just like the pictures. Our room is about the size of McKenna's room and has two double beds, a very large closet and nice size bathroom. The staff all speak very good English. Our room number is 6 on this trip. The hotel is quiet tonight, but we understand that it is completely booked. We'll probably catch a small bite to eat.

Our baby girls' foot prints

McKelle's 11/2/07





McCaule's 11/2/07

Meeting our U.S. Facilitator

We had a three way phone conversation today at noon CDT and found out volumes about our adoption. Both girls are with separate foster families and if we would like to have them placed together, they would try to arrange that.

McCaule's DNA has been authorized and now a time needs to be scheduled.

The in-country coordinator is meeting with the social worker today about beginning the family court interviews. They have been assigned to one who will not be taking the 15 day vacation next week, so there will not be any delay in the report being done.

We will receive updated medicals on both girls while we are in Guatemala and should get to meet the in-country coordinator who does all the foot work on the case.

All in all, we were very excited to hear from her and get a thorough update as to what's happening with our case. There will be other families at the same hotel being guided by this same agency that we hope to meet...they are actually picking up their little one.

She described McKelle (the older baby) as a go-getter and a bit onery. McCaule as quiet and a snuggle bug. We can hardly wait to make our own assessment.

Here are pictures of the La Casa Grande Hotel where we will be staying for 5 days. It does look lovely.

Some News Before Our Trip

We heard from the facilitator updating us on the progress of our case. The report is as follows:

We had a previa(or an identified area that the Department of Registrars wanted changed) of the POA of second girl (McCaule) and we got the registration of the POA of second baby girl on Friday 9, November 2007. The two baby girl’s adoption process will be done through one adoption file so we had to wait until both POA were registered. We got the registration on Nov. 9th, now we can start family court two processes through one dossier, one social worker and one PGN attorney. This seemingly “delay” will in the end cause the cases to move much more quickly and as a unit so that both girls complete together and come home together; we will not have two separate files that might have finished months apart. Constant contact will be kept with the assigned social worker and she will move quickly; both interviews will be held together; one document will be produced; she will sign off on one report.

We were also told the name of the in-country coordinator and her assistant who will be bringing the babies to us on Saturday morning.

The U.S. facilitator will be contacting us today via phone to discuss any other issues and travel concerns. One interesting note is that she also has a large family, 7 biological and 3 adopted from Bulgaria.

We've got most of our bases covered for the trip with just a few loose ends to tie up over the next couple of days.... Can't wait to hold those pumpkins!

I visited friends out of state last weekend and they surprised me with baby shower! What a wonderful surprise and love showed. Some of these ladies I hadn't seen in 8 years! It was fun to catch up. We just picked up where we left off as if we had not been separated by time. The Fellowship of Believers is definitely a Work of the Lord.

Great News Coming Out of Guatemala

Prensa Libre, the main newspaper in Guatemala City, is reporting that yesterday a congressional committee voted to postpone the implementation of the Ortega law from January 1st to April 1st. If confirmed, that means adoptions will continue under the current system, without fear of a shutdown or additional requirements, through March 31st!

JCICS just posted that "members of the Guatemalan Congress, including numerous party chiefs, have submitted a new legislative proposal for implementing the Hague Convention." If this proposal is passed into law, it would replace the Ortega Law!

The new law is scheduled to be introduced to Congress early next week. According to JCICS it:

• Includes a strong ‘grandfather’ clause
• Designates April 30, 2008 as the effective implementation date of the Convention
• Allocates $5 million Quetzales ($650,000 USD) for the creation of the Central Authority
• Allocates a percentage of the total government budget for child welfare services
• Creates a new government entity to act as the Central Authority in Guatemala
• Provides for private non-profit accredited entities to provide services to children
• Allows single potential adoptive parents to apply for adoption
• Creates a functional process by which children can find a permanent, safe and loving family

Soon To Be Sisters

Exciting to see both girls together.
We should receive an update later this week as to whether they are being fostered by the same foster parents.
We are counting down the days until we see them.

A New President for Guatemala

Alvaro Colom of the National Unity of Hope Party stands with his wife Sandra as he claims victory in Guatemala's presidential elections in Guatemala City, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007. Colom defeated retired Gen. Otto Perez Molina who conceded defeat after results from 95 percent of the vote showed him trailing Colom by 6 percentage points.
Alvaro Colom won with 52.84% of the vote. It remains to be seen what his position on international adoption will be as that is a small part of Guatemala's total picture needing reform. He's got a huge job before him if he holds to his political promises.

What's Happening in Guatemala in a Nutshell

Slamming the Door on Adoption (From the Washington Post)

Depriving Children Abroad of Loving Homes

By Elizabeth Bartholet
Sunday, November 4, 2007; B07

Last month, Guatemala was effectively shut down as a country from which children can be adopted into the United States. While the shutdown is officially temporary, it is likely that even when new laws are in place, Guatemala will follow the path taken by many South American countries in recent years: eliminating the private agencies and intermediaries that facilitate the placement of children who need homes and substituting government monopoly over adoption, which will reduce to a trickle the number of children escaping life in institutions or on the streets.

In recent years, Guatemala has been a model for those who believe in adoption as a vehicle for providing homeless children with permanent, nurturing parents. It has released significant numbers of children to international adoption, many at young ages, before they suffered the kind of damage that results in attachment disorders and other life-altering limitations. Ironically, these policies are why Guatemala attracted the attention of UNICEF and other human rights organizations that, along with our State Department, have been pushing for adoption "reform." These official "friends of children" have created pressure that has led to the cessation of international adoption in half the countries that in recent decades had been sending the largest number of homeless children abroad. Until recent years, the number of international adoptions into the United States had been steadily increasing, but the numbers are dramatically down.

Why close down international adoption? The real-world alternatives for the children at issue are life -- or death -- on the streets or in the types of institutions that a half-century of research has proved systematically destroy children's ability to grow up capable of functioning normally in society. By contrast, we know that adoption works incredibly well to provide children with nurturing homes and that it works best for those placed early in life.

Critics of international adoption argue that children have heritage rights and "belong" in their countries of birth. But children enjoy little in the way of heritage or other rights in institutions. The critics argue that we should develop foster-care alternatives for children in the countries they are from, and UNICEF's official position favors in-country foster care over out-of-country adoption. But foster care does not exist as a real option in most countries that allow children to be adopted abroad, and the generally dire economic circumstances in these nations make it extremely unlikely that comprehensive foster care programs will soon be developed. Nor is there any reason to think that children would do as well in foster care as in adoptive homes. Indeed, for decades the research in countries that use foster care, such as the United States, has shown that such care does not work nearly as well for children as adoption does.

Critics also condemn adoption abuses such as baby-buying. But there is no hard evidence that payments are systematically used in any country to induce birth parents to surrender their children. In any event, the right response to such abuses is stepped-up enforcement of the overlapping laws prohibiting such payments, which would rightly result in the lawbreakers being penalized. Closing down international adoption, however, wrongly penalizes all those homeless children who could otherwise find nurturing adoptive homes, condemning them to institutions or to the streets.

Policies restricting international adoption replicate the same-race matching policies that used to exist in the United States. In the mid-1990s, Congress passed the Multiethnic Placement Act, rejecting the notion that children should be seen as belonging only within the racial group into which they were born. Our lawmakers recognized the harm children suffered by virtue of being held in foster care rather than being adopted transracially.

Congress, the State Department and the human rights organizations that purport to care for children should similarly reject the notion that children in other countries must at all costs be kept in their communities of birth. Children's most fundamental human rights include the right to be nurtured in their formative years by permanent parents in real families.

Elizabeth Bartholetis a law professor and faculty director of the Child Advocacy Program atHarvard Law School. She is the author of the books "Family Bonds" and "Nobody's Children."

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