First and foremost, the fast itself was really inspirational. It really just put absolutely everything in perspective for me. Three days of fasting is so, so little to essentially “give up” in exchange for what these three women are missing every single day. To be a part of a greater voice... more]]> Leave a comment http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/more-thoughts-on-three-days-three-daught Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:51:59 +0000 Courtney O Women in Guatemala Adoptive Parent's Perspective Birth Mothers In the News Grief and Loss 23534@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ One of my favorite sites regarding Guatemalan adoptions is Guatadopt. Prior to adopting Beauty, this was my go-to site; the CNN of the Guatemala adoptive world. I checked it daily, and while I haven’t continued that trend with the same fervor since Beauty came home, I do check in several times a week. In light of the start of Three Days, Three Daughters: An International Hunger Strike tomorrow, I read this... [...] Read more! One of my favorite sites regarding Guatemalan adoptions is Guatadopt. Prior to adopting Beauty, this was my go-to site; the CNN of the Guatemala adoptive world. I checked it daily, and while I haven’t continued that trend with the same fervor since Beauty came home, I do check in several times a week. In light of the start of Three Days, Three Daughters: An International Hunger Strike tomorrow, I read this... more]]> Leave a comment http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/three-days-three-daughters-an-internatio Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:06:58 +0000 Courtney O Guatemala Women in Guatemala Giving Back In the News 23520@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ “Don’t you ever worry your daughter was stolen like all those Guatemalan babies I heard about on the news?” It’s not uncommon for me to be stopped in the street by complete strangers who wish to compliment Beauty. Her long, dark hair with an oh-so-slight curl at the ends, her huge brown eyes, her amazing smile—even in my state of motherly bias, she is a beautiful little girl. And once in a while, people openly ask if she is adopted and if so from where; sometimes conversation ensues over Guatemala out of interest, experience, or curiosity. Only twice in the past going-on-two-years... [...] Read more! “Don’t you ever worry your daughter was stolen like all those Guatemalan babies I heard about on the news?”

It’s not uncommon for me to be stopped in the street by complete strangers who wish to compliment Beauty. Her long, dark hair with an oh-so-slight curl at the ends, her huge brown eyes, her amazing smile—even in my state of motherly bias, she is a beautiful little girl. And once in a while, people openly ask if she is adopted and if so from where; sometimes conversation ensues over Guatemala out of interest, experience, or curiosity. Only twice in the... more]]> Leave a comment http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/serving-it-up-a-look-at-a-blended-dinner Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:49:06 +0000 Courtney O Holidays, Festivals, Events Family Fun Siblings Family 23496@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ I consider myself a fairly able cook. Not to say I haven’t had a mishap or two (or ten) in my day, but for the most part, I’m able to hold my own in the kitchen. The kitchen is a place of comfort to me. My mom is an amazing cook. I vividly recall several of her past elaborate menus for holiday meals and mile-high desserts for no occasion at all. Suffice to say, being in the kitchen, for me, is the very definition of being home. Since both kids are at curious and helpful ages, we spend quite a bit of time “creating” in the kitchen. I try to encourage as much healthy eating... [...] Read more! I consider myself a fairly able cook. Not to say I haven’t had a mishap or two (or ten) in my day, but for the most part, I’m able to hold my own in the kitchen. The kitchen is a place of comfort to me. My mom is an amazing cook. I vividly recall several of her past elaborate menus for holiday meals and mile-high desserts for no occasion at all. Suffice to say, being in the kitchen, for me, is the very definition of being home.

Since both kids are at curious and helpful ages, we spend quite a bit of time “creating” in the kitchen. I try to encourage as much healthy... more]]> Leave a comment http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/kid-friendly-books-on-guatemala Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:20:21 +0000 Courtney O History Guatemala Parenting Books 23482@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ While we were in the process of adopting Beauty, I found several books on Guatemala available for purchase online and ordered them accordingly. One evening while we poured over the texts, trying to learn all we could about Guatemala and the rich culture within, it was as though a lightbulb went off: with all the hunting we had done for both books and information, we had put forth little thought about finding books for the kids. The next morning, during Bear’s nap, I set to work to find a repertoire of kid-friendly books about Guatemala—both to peak Bear’s excitement about the... [...] Read more! While we were in the process of adopting Beauty, I found several books on Guatemala available for purchase online and ordered them accordingly. One evening while we poured over the texts, trying to learn all we could about Guatemala and the rich culture within, it was as though a lightbulb went off: with all the hunting we had done for both books and information, we had put forth little thought about finding books for the kids. The next morning, during Bear’s nap, I set to work to find a repertoire of kid-friendly books about Guatemala—both to peak Bear’s excitement about... more]]> 1 comment http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/just-another-proud-guatemama-an-intro-po Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:40:30 +0000 Courtney O Guatemala Adoption Stories Adoption Process Guatemala Parenting Family 23477@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ On a blustery December day, in early evening, I paced anxiously around O'Hare airport with our favorite photographer and friend, Sylver. We made small talk about the weather, life in general, and the like, while I wrung my hands impatiently, waiting for my husband's call to my cell phone saying the words I'd be waiting so desperately to hear: "we're home". Amazingly enough--and if you've traveled anywhere even once you know what an incredible miracle this truly is--the plane arrived early. Kev, my husband, called my phone and said, "Baby, we're home. Come meet your daughter." This event took... [...] Read more! On a blustery December day, in early evening, I paced anxiously around O'Hare airport with our favorite photographer and friend, Sylver. We made small talk about the weather, life in general, and the like, while I wrung my hands impatiently, waiting for my husband's call to my cell phone saying the words I'd be waiting so desperately to hear: "we're home". Amazingly enough--and if you've traveled anywhere even once you know what an incredible miracle this truly is--the plane arrived early. Kev, my husband, called my phone and said, "Baby, we're home. Come meet your daughter."

This... more]]> 2 comments http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/the-status-of-inter-country-adoption-fro Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:27:54 +0000 AdoptionBlogs Editor Hague Treaty *Guatemalan Adoption News 23005@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ It's been some time since the Guatemala Blog has been updated and since our last post, adoptions from Guatemala have gone through a number of dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking changes. At this time last year, there were rumors of an adoption halt while the U.S. Ratified the Hague and Guatemala became "Hague Compliant" but everyone kept a tight grip on hope as rules, laws and guidelines changed countless times at the end of last year. As December approached, Guatemala announced that they would no longer accept new cases and instead focus their efforts on revamping the adoption system in Guatemala... [...] Read more! It's been some time since the Guatemala Blog has been updated and since our last post, adoptions from Guatemala have gone through a number of dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking changes. At this time last year, there were rumors of an adoption halt while the U.S. Ratified the Hague and Guatemala became "Hague Compliant" but everyone kept a tight grip on hope as rules, laws and guidelines changed countless times at the end of last year. As December approached, Guatemala announced that they would no longer accept new cases and instead focus their efforts on revamping the adoption system in Guatemala... more]]> 5 comments http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/changing-forms-dos-and-uscis-statements- Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:57:34 +0000 Lisa *Guatemalan Adoption News 21888@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ As Susana Luarca reported in her last update on ADA, the registration forms for in-process adoptions have changed; here is a copy to view. This must be driving the attorneys crazy and that may actually be the motivation behind the changes. Adopting parents who were told that they were registered will now be waiting to hear if the have been “re-registered.” When will this chaos end? The DOS (Department of State) released this statement about... [...] Read more! As Susana Luarca reported in her last update on ADA, the registration forms for in-process adoptions have changed; here is a copy to view.

This must be driving the attorneys crazy and that may actually be the motivation behind the changes. Adopting parents who were told that they were registered will now be waiting to hear if the have been “re-registered.” When will this chaos end?

The DOS (Department of State) released this statement... more]]> 3 comments http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/treating-our-children-s-skin-problems Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:25:45 +0000 Lisa Health Issues 21874@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ Parents with Guatemalan born children are often confronted with skin problems that they are unfamiliar with. I’ve blogged about this in the past, but I’m a little more knowledgeable now that Ella and I have paid several visits to the dermatologist. If your child has white patches on their skin, chances are they have pityriasis alba, a form of eczema. It initially presents as a patch of raised bumps, often quite small in diameter that eventually becomes red and rash like. After the rash disappears, the pigment in the skin also disappears and what is left is a white spot. There... [...] Read more! Parents with Guatemalan born children are often confronted with skin problems that they are unfamiliar with. I’ve blogged about this in the past, but I’m a little more knowledgeable now that Ella and I have paid several visits to the dermatologist.

If your child has white patches on their skin, chances are they have pityriasis alba, a form of eczema. It initially presents as a patch of raised bumps, often quite small in diameter that eventually becomes red and rash like. After the rash disappears, the pigment in the skin also disappears and what is left is a white spot.

There... more]]> 4 comments http://guatemala.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/what-is-going-on-with-the-central-author Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:40:06 +0000 Lisa *Guatemalan Adoption News 21865@http://www.adoptionblogs.com/ Susana Luarca’s latest blog has caused panic in the Guatemalan adoption community. According to her, the new registration process with the Central Authority is just not taking place. In my last blog, I reported that registration was underway, and a friend reported to me that her agency confirmed that her daughter’s case had been registered with the new Central Authority. However, according to Susana, who is usually pretty accurate, the registration forms are being changed weekly, the Central Authority adding more required information all the time. The latest requirement for the forms is a photo of the child, birth... [...] Read more! Susana Luarca’s latest blog has caused panic in the Guatemalan adoption community. According to her, the new registration process with the Central Authority is just not taking place.

In my last blog, I reported that registration was underway, and a friend reported to me that her agency confirmed that her daughter’s case had been registered with the new Central Authority.

However, according to Susana, who is usually pretty accurate, the registration forms are being changed weekly, the Central Authority adding more required information all the time. The latest requirement for the forms is a photo of the... more]]> 1 comment