[B.Montano]

Hello Forum Friends.

I am so sorry that I have not posted since I informed you all that I got my pink slip. Our lives have been very chaotic since we got the news that it was time to pick up our son.

We received the news that we had pink at about noon on Fri, Sept. 24th. By 2:00pm. we had tickets, room arrangements, and my mom was on her way to AZ from NM to come and take care of our girls.

Sat., Sept. 25th was a long and exhausting day, but we were one day closer to meeting our new son. We were told that our agency rep. would be meeting us in the lobby of the Raddison on Sunday at 10:00 am with our baby. We were there at 9:30. When 11:00 rolled around we began to get worried. We were told that "Guatemalan time" is a bit different so for us not to get too discoraged. Finally at about 1:00pm I called my lawyer in FL. (who was evacuated once again due to the hurricanes). I only got his answering machine, but I left him a desperate message as well as sent him an e-mail. An hour later we were told that there was a mix-up and Joshua would be brought to us at 6 pm instead.

Both the staff at the Raddison as well as the other adoptive families staying there were unbelievable! My husband said we were treated like royalty, but I think it would be more suitable to say we were treated like family. Everyone was so helpful and supportive. We met many other adoptive families there, but I am not sure if we met anyone from this forum (we were the Hispanic couple who spent all day Sunday in the lobby looking lost and desperate and spent Mon.-Wed. walking on Cloud 9 ).

Words cannot describe the moment I saw my son for the first time. He is a wonderfully beautiful, healthy, happy gift from God. I had prayed for so long for him and he was finally coming home.

It is very obvious that he was very well loved and cared for. He had no issues with separation and has been a joy everyday. He is 6 months old and I was worried that he would have a hard time getting to know us, but he bonded with us immediately. My dad said it was because he knew I was his mom and he had been waiting for me too. The only time he has really cried is when he got his shots at his doctor's appt. here in the states. He does, however, get "bugged" if he is hungry or tired, but no fits or crying . He just seems to be happy and content all of the time.

Anyway, to make a long story short, we did his dr. appt. on Mon, Embassy appt. on Tues. (it is unbelievably simple) and brought him home on Wed. Sept. 29th where he met his Nana and sisters (ages 4 and 6) for the first time.

My father, sisters and nieces came to visit from Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 3. I then spent the next week with some kind of flu. Then my oldest daughter got it. Since then I have been very busy getting our lives back to normal. My family is now complete and I thank God everyday for this gift.

I would like to say thank you to all of you on this forum. You all helped me through some very difficult times. You gave me strength and support when I felt lost, frightened and frustated.

Good luck to all of you.

B. Montano
June 2003 - made the decision to adopt.
6/30/03 - contacted agency
8/29/03 - Homestudy started
9/12/04 - Hague rulled unconstitutional (YEAH!)
2/3/04 - Homestudy completed (no, it should not take this long!).
4/2/04 - I-600A
4/03/04 - Our son is born!
4/12/04 - received and accepted referral
4/22/04 - POA
5/20/04 - DNA
5/26/04 - DNA match! 5/28/04 - DNA recevied at Embassy
8/5/04 - pre-approval! 8/13/04 - finally informed of pre-approval
9/24/04 - PINK! PINK! PINK!
9/25/04 - Travel to Guat. - 9/26/04 met our son - 9/27 Dr. appt.
9/28/04 Embassy appt.
9/29/04 Home !

[resabelle]

Thank you for sharing your story... it is wonderful to hear about a little one coming home. Your son is quite handsome and I am so happy for you and your family.... by the way, our children share birthdays, only my daughter is a year older... congratulations to you!

[B.Montano]

Sorry. I didn't know the pictures were going to post "life size". Here's another one.

[B.Montano]

Dr.'s Appt. in Guatemala

[B.Montano]

....another one

[B.Montano]

.....last one.

[Pamsko]

Enjoy him!

And congratulations!

[mattecook]

OH he is gorgeous!!! He is going to steal the heart of everyone who meets him with that smile.

Congratulations
Ami

[lotterino]

What a handsome little man you have! Your story gets me all excited to go and get Azaleah! I am so glad he is doing so well.

[Kate'sMom2B]

Awww, he is really cute! I love the pictures.

Thanks for the update and congratulations!

[aportell67]

Oh my....what a handsome boy! Congratulations and welcome home!

[Newsie]

Oh is he a cutie!! Congrats!!!!

Newsie

[wblewett]

Barbara -

Thanks for your post and the great pictures. Every homecoming makes me more and more excited! We are back in PGN after
being KO'd a couple of weeks ago. We've been in for 6+ weeks and we are SO anxious. This has got to the hardest wait I've ever experienced but posts like yours remind me how very worth it will be. Your baby boy is the sweetest! Congrats

- Wendy

[Lisatcst]

Congratulations on your new son!! He is absolutely adorable!

I joined Adoption Forums just today. I needed a great homecoming story! I have been in PGN and waiting for pre-approval for a month....and today has been very hard for me.

Your story and your son's beautiful smile was what I needed!!

Enjoy!!

Lisa, waiting on Kaitlyn boprn 6/10/04

[becky]

What a precious, happy boy...congratulations!!!