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#1
08-28-2004, 08:10 PM
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Our adoption journey is over and a new journey is beginning.. Jeremy is home!
Hey everyone!
After 21 months in this adoption journey, with too many highs and more than enough lows to remember, we are finally here!!! On Thursday evening, August 26th Jeremy Louis Ardany arrived home!!!! Our pick up trip was VERY quick this time around. We arrived in Guatemala City on Tuesday alittle before noon. It was before check in time so we had to wait about an hour for a room. We walked to the nearby mall to get a phone card, came back and shopped in the jade shop in the lobby. As we were walking to the reception desk to check on our room, I noticed Jeremy's fostermom sitting on one of the sofas in the lobby! We were completely surprised!!! On past trips, we always got to our room, the attorney called, and then an hour or so later we met in the lobby. As it turns out our little surprise baby surprised us one more time by showing up early on pick up day  . Jeremy's fostermom only speaks spanish and we speak almost no spanish and understand a small bit. We called our attorney. Apparently his fostermom had the time wrong and showed up an hour and a half early. She had to leave Jeremy with us before our attorney could get there to translate for us. In that way, the moment was disappointing because there were questions we would have loved to asked that we couldn't. But, oh what a moment! I sat next to his fostermom and she took the quilt from his head. I was trembling with all sorts of emotion. When she pulled the quilt away,( the same yellow quilt he was wrapped in at 5 weeks and only 5 pounds on our first meeting,) there was Jeremy. Oh my! He is HUGE now. That was my first impression. He is almost 7 months old and wears a size 12 months clothing. He is 19 pounds 12 ounces! He was sleepy but his big brown eyes looked up at me and blinked a couple of times, and then he smiled at me. I can not tell you all the emotion of that moment! He was in my arms forever at 1 pm on August 26th. I don't ever have to give him back, there is no piece of paper I need to rely on someone else to fill out, no more notarizing or certifying or authenticating. There is no more waiting for one government to approve another government's approval or preapproval. There are no more do over documents, or new documents, or anyone with changes of mind or heart. Most importantly, for the first time in 21 months, there is no WAITING!!!!! I just want you all to know that it is SO worth it. Jeremy is in our home, our hearts, and our arms forever. There is nothing like it. And you WILL get there. No matter what point you are at, or what you are waiting on, which step of the process you are "stuck" at, if you've just got a new referral or lost one after several months, if you're just considering maybe thinking about adoption or you're out of PGN and waiting on the pink.....IT WILL HAPPEN for YOU! And it WILL be GOOD....no matter what age or stage your little one comes home in.....it is just so worth it! I will post pics soon. Things are still very crazy here. Jeremy did awesome on the flights home. He was awake and happy half way from Guat. to Houston and then slept. He was awake at the airport for 5 hours and then slept all the way home from Houston. Our embassy appointment was at 8 on Wednesday morning, we were back in the hotel by 8:30. Immigration in Houston on Thursday took about 20-30 mins from leaving the plane to exiting the little INS office. I'll write more about tips for travel when I get a chance. I just wanted you all to know we are all home...all 7 of us! And we're doing well. And to give you all hope that it will happen and you will be posting your own precious story someday. You all have been such a great support to me and my dh. I'm sure I would have gone crazy without you all! Thank you! I'll post pics soon! ~hugs~ Kim
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Mom to 5 including L and J Home from Guatemala 2004 Last edited by Kimberj71 : 08-28-2004 at 08:16 PM. 
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Guatemala Adoption Information
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#2
08-28-2004, 08:16 PM
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Congratulations Kim!!
Welcome home and enjoy your family. Tom
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Homestudy complete 3/25/03 Accepted Referral #1 4/24/03 FC Bmom Interview 7/16/03 Lost Referral #1 8/21/03 Accept Referral #2 10/03/03 Agency has license revoked 12/6/03 FC 1/12/04 Hire new agency to help 1/04 DNA Completed 2/13/04 Visa Preapproval 3/01/04 Out of FC 3/05/04 Into Pgn 3/12/04 Kicked out 3/26/04 Back in around 4/19/04 Finally OUT! 5/04/04 Pink Slip 5/18/04 Traveling 5/29 - 6/3 Home 6/3/04
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#3
08-28-2004, 08:16 PM
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It's wonderful hear such good news
Congratulations, enjoy your little ones!marcie
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Timeline: 1/1/04-DOB 3/8-signed with agency 4/1-completed homestudy 4/15-accepted referral 5/7-dossier down to Guatemala 6/23-dna test/family court 6/30-dna match 7/29-pre-approval 8/5-PGN 8/27- K/O PGN 8/30-re-enter PGN 9/20-k/o PGN 9/24 re-enter PGN 10/26 OUT of PGN!! 11/9 Pink 11/18 HOME!!
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#4
08-28-2004, 08:59 PM
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Hi
Glad he is home...it seems that both of your adoptions took around 4 months...you had a great agency and attorney! I am so happy he is home and he sounds like such a great baby! take care and keep us updated....
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Mom to 2 kiddo's DS b/r 6/91 home 12/91 Peru DD b/r 6/03 home 3/04 Guatemala 2/03 totally paper ready Never told about Hague  6/03 DD b/referral 6/03 agency claims they will "do our POA"  1st visit 8/03 DNA 10/03 2nd visit 10/03 Found out POA never sent to Guatemala  POA 11/03 (5 months after referral!) FC 11/03 3rd visit 1/04 redid entire dossier and finger's PGN 1/04 fostered in Antigua 3/1/04 Home 3/30/04 
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#5
08-28-2004, 09:00 PM
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WELCOME HOME JEREMY!!!!!!
I'm so glad to hear you had a happy, uneventful trip and Jeremy is home, safe and sound. Looking forward to seeing some new pictures of Londy and Jeremy together again. Enjoy those babies!!!!!!
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CiCi's Grandma Formerly known as Hopeful Grandma
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#6
08-28-2004, 09:43 PM
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Jeremy, Welcome Home!
Kim:
Oh, my goodness I was just thinking of you today and wondering if Jeremy was home yet. I am so thrilled that all of your waiting is over. Enjoy those babies and all of your kiddos! Take care and Congratulations!!! Lori
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TTFN~ Lori
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#7
08-28-2004, 10:36 PM
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Kim:
I'm so very happy for you!!! I was hoping to hear that Jeremy was home what a joy to hear of your beautiful journey. Hugs,
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Maria, mama to Gabi, Larisa and Miguel Miguel born 4/21/04 in our arms 9/11/04 Strenght does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. - Gandhi
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#8
08-29-2004, 04:22 AM
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Kim, Your story gave me chills being that we are so close to bringing our son home soon as well. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us. I am so glad Jeremy is finally home safe and sound where he belongs.
Kim
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Nina Mommy to 3 2 Bio daughters (ages 9 &11) and a beautiful baby boy from Guatemala who is now 3!!! Started paperchase 1/16/04  Referral 2/11/04 at 3 months old  DNA taken 5/4/04 Submitted to PGN 5/?/04 DNA results 5/14 Amazing visit at 6 months old 7/2/04-7/5/04  WE ARE OUT!!!!! 8/13/04  New BC received 8/30 Pink 9/1 Home forever at 9 months old 9/7/04 A child sent from heaven A child I know is mine Though not of our creation He's our child by God's design.    
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#9
08-29-2004, 05:06 AM
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Congratulations!!!! And thank you so much for sharing your story. I was glad to hear Jeremy's doing so well and that he did well on the trip home. Looking forward to your travel tips!!
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6/8/04 DNA to embassy 6/21 entered PGN 6/25 KO'd for good customs 7/20 got preapproval!! 7/29 back in PGN 8/20 OUT of PGN (and final decree issued!!!!) 9/18/04 Home with our boy!!!!! And now waiting for preapproval on son #2! Got preapproval, in & out of PGN and now waiting on PINK!! Home with son #2 end of Feb. 2005
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#10
08-29-2004, 05:47 AM
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Kim..
So glad that you are home and that all went well. As I was reading your words about "no more paper no more waiting'....I just thought "I cant even imagine that feeling"...it must be the most awesome thing to have a baby in your arms instead of a stack of papers LOL!!!!'
Welcome, welcome home Jeremy....
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Kelly lucky mom to 3 girls
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#11
08-29-2004, 06:25 AM
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Kim--
I was wondering if you were back yet. I am so thrilled for all of you. This must be such a relief to be finished with the waiting! I can't believe Jeremy is 19 pounds!!! Wow!!! Maya is closing in on 15! Maybe I haven't been feeding her enough : ) What do all of the kids think? Does Londy get to share some of the attention now? I am sure that everyone is so excited. I can't wait to see pics. Kathleen mom to maya
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#12
08-29-2004, 06:29 AM
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Kim,
I'm so happy for you and your family. Thanks for sharing your pick up trip. Congratutations! Welcome Home Jeremy!
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Kita "Adoption means a forever family" Adopted 1st DD June 2002 Sent in I-600a.........12/01/03 Signed with agency ..1/2/04 Homestudy done ....2/13/04 Dossier done.........3/1/04 I-171H ............. 3/22/04 DOB..................10/25/04 Referral.............10/30/04 DNA a Match......11/30/04 Preapproval........12/16/04....  FC closed mid Dec 04 - mid Jan 05 In PGN...............01/27/05 OUT of PGN........02/11/05 BC from GC........03/17/05 Pick up trip........03/28/05
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#13
08-29-2004, 07:01 AM
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Congratulations!!
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Mom to one adorable little girl! born June 2004 in Guatemala City adopted September 2004
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#14
08-29-2004, 07:43 AM
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Congratulations!
Thanks for the reassurances that "this WILL happen"....we're so early in this process (dossier went to agency and then goes to Guatemala NEXT WEEK!) but we're still waiting on our I171-H...but it still never happens quite fast enough and there have been little bumps along the way that seem like MOUNTAINS at the time.
I look forward to seeing the pictures of your dear little ones - all together! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
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Pam Mom to Ashley -- our California girl -- 13 years old Alex -- 3 years old Scotty -- 2 years old **************** 5/21/04 Our adoption journey began 9/1 I-171H (Finally paper-ready) OUT of PGN 12/15! PINK 12/29/04... Family Day 10 January 2005 As a stay-at-home Mom, I now have a chance to indulge in my writing. Check out my author website at www.pamskochinski.com
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#15
08-29-2004, 08:58 AM
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CONGRATULATIONS!!
I was so happy to read this post! I can't believe that Jeremy is finally home! I had goose bumps when I read the post...the waiting is over and now you can just enjoy the kids! Wonderful! I can't wait to see photos!
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