A Visit Trip to Guatemala

My agency just gave me the great news.....I can take a visit trip to see Abby prior to my trip to Guatemala to finalize her adoption later this year (hopefully by summer)! This is unexpected fantastic news because many months ago my agency would not allow us to visit after there was an incident in the hotel (everything turned out OK). The way it works is that the foster mother and my agency representative in Guatemala will drop her off at my hotel and then pick her up the day I leave Guatemala. Since she is not legally my child until the adoption is finalized, there is a set of rules that I must abide by, but they are all very reasonable, so the rules are a NON issue for me. Most importantly, I am not allowed to leave the hotel grounds whatsoever and go shopping, sightseeing, etc. Since, at this point, all I care about is holding, touching, playing, and cuddling with Abby, staying put in the hotel is a perfect scenario. She will stay with me 24/7 so I get to really do the mom thing earlier than I expected even if it is just for a few days! I have to coordinate a schedule that works for me, my agency and the foster family, but I am looking to go in about 6-8 weeks from now. What an awesome gift to get to see Abby earlier than I anticipated! Grandma may go with me because she is too excited to keep contained anymore. This is her third grandchild (one of my brothers has two sweet, beautiful daughters who are equally excited about Abby), but you would think it was her first the way she is carrying on. But, I love it that she is so excited and supportive. Actually, my entire family without exception has been behind me 100%, so I am very fortunate.

There is not any movement on my case review at this point since it must first be registered with the new Central Authority, known as the CNA or Comision Nacional al Adopcions, before it can go back to the old Central Authority, PGN, for review and processing. It still has to be approved by PGN because my case is governed by the old Guatemalan adoption law. One of the few new requirements was to also register it with the CNA. The deadline for registering is not 1/31 anymore but 2/11, so if it is open for business next week, my Guatemalan attorney should be filing my paperwork. The sooner the better so that my file can be reviewed. Thankfully, I have the visit with Abby to look forward to :)