[ajvacations]

Margina had her first visit with Regina the psychologist yesterday afternoon. The psychologist from the orphanage is bringing her to the appointments and a lot of the first visit was filling Regina in on Margina's background. A big plus is that Regina asked Margina if she knew why she was there and she said she didn't understand why. When Regina explained it to her and asked if she agreed to keep seeing her Margina agreed. Since Margina has lived in orphanages most of her life she has no concept of what life in a real family is like. She doesn't know what makes up a good family and what makes up a bad family. It's a natural fear for her to know her whole life is changing. Regina is going to work with her on understanding what her life will be like, the things that will be better etc. I pre-paid for 6 visits to Regina so after the 6 visits she's going to make a report to the govt and send me a copy in english. She is supposed to visit on Mondays & Thursdays so we're looking at 2 more weeks not counting this week. I guess it depends on how the next couple of visits go as to whether Regina wants me to come to take part in some visits. She said she feels like Margina does want a family she is just scared and resistant to the changes so hopefully Regina will be able to help her past that. I'll keep you guys posted if anything changes. Thanks for the support, and keep me posted on how everyone else's Nicaragua processes are going.

[ajvacations]

I'm planning to return to Nicaragua on March 12th. I still don't know if it will be to complete Margina's adoption or to request referral of another girl from mi familia. Margina has had 3 sessions with the psychologist but I haven't gotten a report on the 3rd visit yet. We'll see....anyone else going to be there fostering at the same time?

[KMtexas]

Hi Amy.

We are still waiting to hear anything. Right now the only good thing we have had recently is that the person who was acting (family member) as our go between suggested we use someone else for this (another family member - but a lawyer). We are waiting to hear what she can find out for us.

I hope these sessions are helping Margina. I am sure she will always be yours to you no matter what the outcome. I can not even fathom how hard this must be on you and your family.

[ajvacations]

If you need a referral for an attorney let me know. She handles pretty much nothing but adoptions and the govt knows her and trusts her. I can pm it to you if you want. They put a new director in while I was down there. He was very nice, young, only 33 I think but seemed very sincere and willing to work with us. Keep me posted because we have to get together if we're there at the same time!

[KMtexas]

Amy-

Have a safe trip Monday! I hope things start going better. How long do you plan on staying there this time?
Please keep updating how things are going.

[dawnrenee58]

Anything new??????? Praying for you guys!

Dawn ( who is so ready to give birth it is not even funny!!)

[KMtexas]

Well, we finally got at least a little information. We got in touch with a lawyer there (Thanks Amy!!!) and she jumped right on it. They looked over our file in March but they did not approve or deny us. They want an additional medical document.
Sounds simple enough right?...

Nope ! Our doctor (who filled out the other documents - although was not overly helpful) now refuses to do it!!!!!!!

We have only lived here for a year, so I don't know many doctors in the area. So we are scrambling like crazy trying to find someone to do this.

I am frustrated byond belief. This seems like such an easy issue to resolve - how can it be this difficult!!!!!
Why would you not want to help someone if you could?

But, as I said at least we are getting information now. And I feel so much more confident that we are moving in the right direction.

[ajvacations]

I can't believe the doctor would refuse to help. How crazy is that? Well hopefully it sounds like everything else was fine so once you get that piece of paperwork in things will start moving. Fingers crossed!

[dawnrenee58]

Seriously, I would change doctors. Who wants to deal with that? Is it the Doctor who is refusing, or the front desk staff? My family doctor is WONDERFUL, but the desk girls are terrible. I hated calling there during our adoption. When I asked to be transferred to the nurse, it went much smoother.
Do you have to have this new thing translated, notarized, authenticated? If so, ICK! I am assuming so, and so I am so sorry for you.

Can you believe we took custody almost a year ago? We got him in April of last year. Time flies. Your adoptions WILL happen. I could never believe that we would actually be on this side of it, but we are. And, truly, all the crud that you go through in the process, well, it just fades.

Amy, any news on Margina?

Praying for you, girls.

[ajvacations]

We're in a holding pattern, Margina started back with the psychologist today for 12 more visits (twice a week for 6 weeks) She'll be finished the 1st week of May. So by then we should have a referral for another girl from mi familia and so if Margina is still not ready we'll proceed with finishing with the other girl. If Margina is ready she can go to the judge without us because Nubia has power of attorney for us. So at least I wouldn't have to go thru another judge's appt myself. We would return after the judge's appt for the last 2 steps so less than 2 weeks. It will take a little longer with another girl. Our fingerprints expire June 8th and everyone in the process knows this so we're all working at making that deadline. A friend of mine is going Saturday to stay at the orphanage for 2 weeks so she's going to make sure Margina gets back into school. (She hasn't been going to school because the orphanage didnt want to put out the $ or find a sponsor because they feel like she'll be leaving soon, but she really needs to be in school because of her dyslexia) So we're paying for her supplies to get her back into school. Meg (my friend) is also going to talk to Maryuri. She is a 15 year old girl at the orphanage that was actually with Margina in an orphanage in Costa Rica and they came to Nicaragua together so she is the one person Margina has known and been with the longest. Maryuri might have some influence on Margina and can get her to come around. Margina knows logically it's best for her but emotionally she just can't get the word "yes" out. She had a lot of fantasies about parents showing up when you're 18 and leave the orphanage etc. I'm sure these are made up to deal with the realities so the psychologist is trying to explain the realities to her and giving her the tools she needs to make a decision. Right now she's so emotionally confused she can't make it. I'll keep you guys posted.

I still think Kirsten and I are going to end up in Nica at the same time, one way or another!

I just talked to a friend I made in Nica that was adopting a 7 year old boy. They just got home mid Feb and things are going great. He actually sang at a PTA presentation with his class, and the song was in African & English. He had no idea what he was singing but he sang and danced anyway! Now that right there I'm sure made all of the hoops etc worth it to her!

[KMtexas]

Another step forward! My old doctor came through for us!!!! I was able to get in touch with my former (retired) doctor from Maryland and he was more than happy to help us out. It did take a few emails to get the notarization point across, but all is well that ends well. And since it (naturally) has to be authenticated in Maryland a friend of mine is going to take it to the county and state there to get done - then ship it to DC and then we can take it to the consulate here.
We have been so lucky to have family and friends run documents all over Maryland, Wisconsin and DC for us.

And yes - we are switching doctors. The desk staff was actually great, it was her nurse and possibly the doctor that gave us trouble (I am not sure I was never able to actually speak to the doctor). And that makes me even more upset because I hold nurses is very high regard - I was raised by one.

[ajvacations]

Glad to hear it's moving forward. Hopefully it won't take too long once you get the form there. Nubia will be a great help. She stays on top of things! I don't blame you for switching doctors.