More Skinny...

OK, so this week we did not get our file out of PGN yet again, but we have made a little progress. After having no luck in having our file released on Mon., Tues., or Wed., our lawyers and Mark and I decided that we needed to meet the Sub-Attorney General for the second time. So on Thursday that is what we did. Despite the fact that the Sub-Attorney General, could not release our file right then and there, we were told that she would release it on Tues. or Wed. (as Monday is another stupid holiday here). Also our attorney was able to review the previo at the meeting so that they could work on fixing the previo while we wait for the file to be released. The ultimate goal will be to have the previo fixed by the time the file is released from PGN so that it can be resubmitted immediately to hopefully receive approval within a few weeks of its resubmission. We REALLY hope this is the case - yet we remain cautiously optimistic as we basically have been screwed by each step of our Guatemalan adoption process (minus pre-referral, of course, when we had some control).

We will keep you posted on what occurs this coming week and thank everyone for their continued support - it is VERY, VERY appreciated.

XXOO Jen y Maxito

P.S. - Mark will be traveling back down this coming Sunday and will begin to stay down here more than ever before as it is getting harder for us all to be apart. Look out everybody, you may have another Guatemalteco on your hands! I'm sure by the end of this we will be a 100% Guatemalteco family and have to assimilate to life back in the states. But let's hope that by that time OBAMA will be running things or at least elected (oops, I actually got un poco political). Nigh, nigh.

Hmmm, I'm thinking I need to get home!!

OK, here's the skinny, we are delayed as usual. We have known for three weeks now that we have a previo (our file is being bumped from PGN AGAIN for a stupid error), and we have been unable to get our file so we can correct the error because things at the PGN are out of control. We have been told that the system has been down for quite some time, 2 files were approved where birth mother interviews were not done, and 1 file was found to have a forged sub attorney general signature. For this reason, they are now going back and looking at all existing files to make sure signatures are OK, and all birth mother interviews were done and done correctly. Now why they can't do this after we re-submit our file we cannot figure out. Just give us our file!!!

With that being said, Jen and Max are doing well considering. Daddy is visiting again and getting worn out by the little runt. Chasing Max into rooms and slamming doors never gets old for him. For me, that's another story. At least he's happy, so I'm glad to chase. I can stand to shed a few pounds too. Max still isn't saying much. Can anyone tell us if "deet" is a word? Point, "deet." Drink some juice, "deet." Pop dad in the face, "deet." Seems to be an all purpose word. Farting is now also becoming funny to Max so Papi is excited. There really isn't anything funnier than a fart. Of course, we're guys. We laugh, and Jen stares at us. Ever done the "pull my finger" gag? Yeah, Max likes that one.

Jen, by the way, is getting pretty good with her Spanish. She is becoming a true Guatemalteca. I think that she has surpassed my "donde esta el bano" Spanish. She actually orders food over the phone and asks questions in stores and never bothers me to do these things. I may be losing my purpose. Of course, only I come back from the store with Fud pizzas, so I'm good for something.

Big thanks to Steve and friends for the care package. We're shocked it made it here. It was greatly appreciated, and Max thinks the wax lips are awesome.

Hoping for better news Monday. Keep the good thoughts coming. They have to work at some point don't they?

Cubs suck.

Miss you all,

Mark, Jen, and El Jefe MAX

xoxoxoxoooox

WHHAAAAT!!!!!

So this week did not turn out as well as we had hoped. On Wednesday (not Tuesday as originally planned) I met with the Sub-Attorney General at PGN to discuss our case and learned in a matter of moments that we had another ridiculous previo! I could not believe these words were coming out of her mouth. How could this be after the ordeal with our last previo and additional review that was done by more than one attorney on our file. How could this be?

It has actually taken me until today to feel able to blog on this subject as it just disgusts me right now to see how badly our case is being handled. To gain more clarity on the situation, this is what we understand at this time -- Our file will be picked up from PGN on Monday and immediately taken to our attorney's office so that they can fix the previo. Our attorney believes the previo will be an easy fix as it relates to a legal document that was placed in our file right before it was resubmitted that clarifies a switch in one of our attorney's. Once our previo is fixed and resubmitted back to PGN, we will then have another meeting with the Sub-Attorney General who has promised to help us by then expediting our case out of PGN.

We are so extremely tired of this entire process and are so past it all. I constantly dream about being able to bring Max home and Mark desperately wants to have his family altogether safe and sound. A year away is way too long.

We will keep you posted on things and please keep us in your thoughts.

XXOO Jen y Max

Waiting 'til Tuesday

OK, so we do not have much news for today. Basically, we drove into Guatemala City to have our meeting at PGN and were told that it would have to be rescheduled to Tuesday morning due to the Guatemalan Independence day celebrations that were starting up today and continuing through Monday. Ugh, ugh, ugh! I guess we shouldn't be too surprised as this is how our luck goes --- this is why Max is almost 2 and we have not kissed U.S. soil yet...

However, the good news is that theoretically having the meeting on Tuesday is not going to change a whole lot as not much work is going to get done at PGN between now and Tuesday morning. So we will try and stay positive about this one. Also we have someone that is really wonderful helping us right now. So we believe we are in very good hands and will see some real progress occur very soon.

We will keep you posted on the outcome of Tuesday's meeting.

Keep up the voodoo magic & whatever else you do!

XXOO Jen y Maxito

Will the 6th Time be the Charm?

Well we learned that as of yesterday, we are officially back in PGN!!

This time we are back in PGN with some good 'ol documentation from the Attorney General meeting that took place last week so we really hope that our 6th TIME back in will be the charm. This is all muy loco! We need to get ourselves home rapido. We do not need to set any more 'length of stay' PGN records nor 'length of stay' fostering in Guatemala records. Believe it or not, I think I finally feel like we will have enough stories to share with Max someday about our time living in Guatemala so we just need to get home and enjoy the Chicago life again... We can always travel here later for a VISIT!

So to help our cause, I am going to PGN this Friday with one of our contacts down here and we are going to meet with the Sub-Attorney General who is the one that actually approves adoption cases within Guatemala. We are hoping to plead our case and appeal to her heart so that we can get signed off pronto. We know that the Sub-Attorney General wants to meet adoptive families and also know of other families that have done the same thing with positive results. So we are going to give this a whirl and see what happens as we really have nothing to lose.

Please continue to send us those positive vibes and voodoo magic as they have been really helping! We will let you know how Friday goes and continue to hope that we can move forward to finally see ourselves coming home. By the way, Max is not talking a lot yet, but is managing to say a few key words -- woof woof (for any dog he sees), luz (Spanish for lights), bird, mama, boon (for balloon), and a very infrequent nigh nigh.

XXOO Jen y El Rey Max

We Like the Attorney General!!

Well folks, let's start off with the good news. The meeting occurred today with the Attorney General here in Guatemala and based on the limited information we have at this point, all went well and he agreed that we need help. Our file should be submitted back into the PGN very soon with his blessing. PROGRESS!!! We can only hope that this means a short stay in the PGN, but we will take what we can get. Getting back into the review process is what we needed. Enough stagnation! Thank you everyone for helping work the voodoo and sending those positive thoughts. Finally a little relief. Let's hope things go better from here.

Now for the bad news. Max pooped in the tub again.

Onto other things... Max is showing great signs of athleticism these days. I taught him to catch. He can now catch a wide variety of balls. No jokes Steve and Dave. He can catch a football, soccer ball and a variety of misshapen toys. He can also kick a soccer ball the length of the yard here and score goals. I'm hoping the soccer doesn't lead to rollerblading. I will be teaching him baseball fundamentals on the next trip.

Finally, I leave tomorrow, but yesterday Jen and I were able to celebrate our 7th anniversary at a Mayan spa. Jen got a manicure and pedicure while I went all out with the pedicure and massage. This was my first pedicure and suffice it to say that it was a daunting task for the young woman. Is it good when the woman has to stop multiple times so that she can consult with another person on how to best handle my feet? Also, I didn't exactly enjoy seeing a commercial for a new TV show when the quote from the detective was, "Clearly the victim was gay...How do you know he was gay?...He had a pedicure." My feet are the best they have ever looked and felt though! The massage was great too...until Jen had me lugging groceries on the long walk home. Oh, and it was just a massage.

I really hate to be leaving tomorrow as Max is becoming such an enjoyable kid, but at least I am leaving on a good note. And I'll be back soon!

Love to all,

XO - Mark, Jen and the one and only MAX

Who's Your Daddy?

All right folks, I don't want to belabor the point, but we don't have much news to report, BUT we do have a meeting scheduled with the Attorney General here on Tuesday AGAIN, so let's get those positive thoughts happening, do whatever voodoo you do, and let's get some good results!!! We have some people to get home, and a daddy who needs to see a world series happen.

Speaking of the Cubs, Max learned recently about wet paint, which resulted in a new white pattern on his Cubs shirt. Now it looks a little more like those disco Andre Dawson t-shirts of yore. Sorry to those of you who don't know how bad those shirts are, or how bad Dawson's jheri curl was. Frankly, I'm just glad Max is getting into the Cubs with Daddy. Yesterday he showed his displeasure with their loss by throwing strawberries at the screen. Just getting ready for the bleachers.

Not sure if Montezuma ever made it down to Guatemala, but someone has been getting revenge with Daddy. I recommend the cherry flavored pepto. Max today also threw in his own bit of revenge with a couple of loaded diapers that I got to change. I think we need to re-evaluate his diet. Should he be eating microwaved pork rinds? Should Mommy be leaving us alone long enough together where we spend those kinds of moments together? We both say "yes".

Watched a $2 Guatemalan bootleg special of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" -- Not that good. Decided against purchasing Wall-E -- Very nice version of someone videotaping the movie screen. And to my dear friends, no, we did not purchase Speed Racer even though it is everywhere. We'll wait for the real thing.

That's it for now. Get the mojo going for Tuesday...PLEASE!!!!

xxooxxooxxxxxoooo

Mark, Jen and El Jefe MAX