[drport]

Sitting her with tears streaming down my face trying to figure out how to do this. Just got back from our visit last night. It was wonderful, exciting, tiring, difficult and amazing all in 5 nights. We stayed at the Marriott and arrived on Thursday night and her FM brought her to us on Friday AM. She was sick with a cold and had diarrhea from the antibiotics poor baby! She is so beautiful and we were so thrilled to have her in our arms. The first night was pretty rough and I had no idea how difficult it is to get up all night like that. She taught us quickly The second day we really bonded more and it felt so good. Her smell is heavenly. The FM and family really put us at ease. We love them and they are truly wonderful people. We met so many nice families and babies at the hotel and having access to the baby room was great. We used it a lot.

By the third day it felt almost natural and we had figured out her different crys and smiles. She really was starting to trust us. It was the most difficult thing we have ever done giving her back to the FM. We are so comforted by the fact that she is in such good care and we know they love her very much. I am so glad we visited and got to be with our sweetie. I feel so blessed that we were able to spend time with her. Now, it's just so hard thinking about when we will be able to pick her up.

I can't imagine how the long time waiters on here have handled the wait. You are extremely strong people Praying that we can bring her home soon so hard and wanting you all to know that I pray all of you waiting will have your children home soon too!

D

[4abrightfuture3]

I am sorry for your pain. I can only imagine how bad that hurts. You are so lucky to have spent such wonderful time with your daughter. It sounds so special. I hope your journey is short. I cant wait to see pictures.

[Lisa2003]

Hi D,
I know exactly how you feel because we went to visit our children, one time each. Its the most wonderful, heartbreaking, amazing, stressfull, thing we have ever done :-) Each time we were very lucky, like you, that we really liked the FM. You can really tell your child is in good hands, uh? still... its very hard to continue to wait... I am a very impatient person so it was not easy... I did keep me busy doing hobbies, writting in my baby journal (I keep one for each child) ... just take it one day at the time... soon... you WILL have your baby forever in your arms...

Lisa

[cheri25]

You know we just got back from our visit too, and I can totally relate to how you are feeling. I'm sorry you are feeling so down right now. Try to think of the wonderful time you spent with your daughter and look at all those beautiful pictures I know you took Hang in there, she will be home soon.

We would love to see some pictures

[Amykk]

I know it is hard - I was the worst waiter. Just remember that this is really only a small amount of time compared to forever.

[mac308]

I know exactly how you're feeling! I hope your little angel is in your arms again VERY soon!!! Hang in there!

[Mariais5]

Visiting is one of the reasons we chose Guatemala. It is such a wonderful time of bonding and getting to know your baby. Leaving is also one of the hardest things I've ever done. I used to sit at my computer and look at pictures we'd taken of Bryce on our visit trips for hours and cry. It is so hard when you miss them so much. I hope your stay in PGN is short and you have your darling home soon! I'm so glad she has such a wonderful foster family. It does give you comfort to know that they love her too..

[seania]

We haven't been able to go visit, money is too tight right now. But I am not sure I would be able to!

On the one hand I would love to be able to see him and hold him, but I don't think that I could give him back! I think I would have to do the fostering in Guatemala and just stay down there until it was time to bring him home.

I feel for you. That must have been so hard to hand your little one back to the FM! I read somewhere else on this forum that we have to just consider them not really our children yet. But I don't know how to do that when we have been looking at their pictures and thinking about them and loving them this long!

Hope you are able to bring her home soon!!!

[csw]

Yes it is very hard to hand them back over to the foster mother..I know its hard (I did it 3x) but I am glad you know she is getting great care and with a loving family..I am sure that eases your mind..
It won't be long till she is in your arms forever!

[kelleymac]

I remember being where you are...Mike and I talked about suddenly being "parents without a child" when we got home from that visit. I hope that your process goes quickly, and when it's all over you'll have awesome pictures, video and memories of your little one that are irreplacable.

Kelley

[mcnay1]

I hope the rest of your process is quick and smooth and you have that little girl back in your arms forever soon!

Katy

[WVUMom418]

We waited 7 long months to get our little girl home. We visited twice and each time was more difficult than the last to leave but I can say that now that she's home the pain off the wait is a distant memory.

[mamalulu6]

D....I am so sorry for your sad heart. But I am glad you have such a great visit. Aren't babies wonderful?? Soon your baby will be in your arms forever. My timeline looked EXACTLY like yours in 2004. I mean exactly.....we had our adoption decree on March 4th and pink on March 21nd. We were in Guatemala holding our baby by March 24th. I hope this gives you hope for a speedy return to Guatemala. I am sending you a hug and all my good thoughts for a fast process. Lu

[LadyTink]

I know how hard the wait from visit to pick up is. I pray that your baby is back in your arms soon!!

[DesertMom]

I know how you feel. The visit is a wonderful experience but it is difficult at the same time. I was depressed for about a week when we came back and I kept waking up thinking that I heard the baby. The thing that made it easier was that I knew he was with a wonderful foster family who loved him and was taking very good care of him. That helped get me through the hard times.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time and I hope your little one is home soon.