[lsworan]

We finally have our son home. For those of you that have been on the forum for a few years, you know much of our story. For those of you that are new, this is not a typical adoption story. We began our journey by submitting our Dossier to Panama in June of 2003. We received a referral in August of 2003 and travelled to meet this child in March of 2004. There were several issues with the Panama government during this time and our agency. The agency closed their Panama program as many of you are aware. Faith International stepped in to assist us in completing our adoption in September 2004. We found out that the referral had issues also and the child was placed with a Panama family in early 2005. We received information on another child in September of 2005; however, the child was the same age as our youngest son and we could not pursue the adoption. At that point, we had given us on the Panama program and began pursuing Guatemala. Our new agency did not give up and they presented up with another child in November of 2005. He was 18 months old. After everything we had been through we did not trust this, but Faith kept telling us that this was real. We knew through our faith that Panama was the place our child would be born, so we said ok we can do this one more time. We did not even tell our family or friends this time or any of you on the forum. So everyone was very surprised when we told them we were traveling to Panama in April to get our son. We picked up our son on April 17th(court was complete in March 2006 - we had received temporary custody with the right to travel outside of Panama). We completed our Embassy paperwork in 10 days and we returned to the US on April 29th (all paperwork was actually complete on April 26th - 10 days). We now have had our son with us for 7 weeks and he is growing and enjoying his new family. We know there is a possibility that we might have to return to Panama for the final adoption court date, but we are fine because our son is home.

I wanted to share this with you to tell you the journey may appear to be a long one and have many hurdles, but it is a very rewarding journey.

Lauri

Dossier to Panama June 2003
(lots happened with referrals and issues)
Final Referral November 2005
Travel to Panama April 2006
Son home on April 29th, 2006

[DolciLady]

Lauri!!!!!!!! I have missed you very much. I had NO idea you never got that first little boy. Oh my gosh.

I am so happy that everything worked out in the end. I wish you'd contacted me before travelliing, tho, since you'd become my cyber cousin, girly!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lsworan]

Yes I have very much missed the forum. I dropped off because alot of things were happening with our previous referral and we did not know what was going to happen. Everyone was really trying to work things out (our new agency, Panama DNA etc.), but it just did not happen. I now believe that it was meant to work out this way.

Our son is the son we were meant to have. It is like he has always been part of our familty. He is very attached to my husband and I in just 8 weeks. He is very young and does not speak yet, so I don't know if he feels that same way, but his smile says that he does.

Hang in there if Panama is the country that you are set on. It took lots of faith (and Faith International ), funding and a good sense of humor to get through all of this, but it was worth the journey.
Lauri

[DolciLady]

Lauri, would you mind sharing a photo of your baby boy? You can PM or email me (if you still have my email addy). I'd love to talk some more with you.

Big hugs to you, cuz!
Robin