[1STTIMEMOM]

I am in Panama right now! We have been working with a private attorney for 4 years! In the meantime we adopted a little girl from Guatemala that is now 3 yrs. old. We are working on a visa for our daughter here in Panama right now. We are so close. We have been granted permission through the courts here for temporary custody so that we can return to the US. The stipulation for us to be granted the final adoption decree is that we have a post-placement visit once we get home after 1 month. Then we will be granted the final decree. They have said that we will not have to return. We are on our 3rd trip right now.

This is definately not an easy country to adopt from. However there is rumor here that they are trying to become more organized with their process. Their was an article in the paper this week that between 2005-2007 there were 200 children considered "adoptable". Only 20 final decrees for adoption were granted. There is definately a need for children to be adopted from here. It just has to take alot of patience, persistence, and trust that it will happen.

Also, Panamanians are given preference. It is difficult to be matched with a baby. Our daughter just turned 3 yrs. old. Yes, we will have two 3 yr. olds! The orphanage that our daughter came from was excellent! They took very good care of her. She has bonded great to us and our daughter. Our only main battle right now is the language barrier, which we are working through fine.

Let me know if you have any questions.

gena