Edgar!

Thanks, Jean!

Jean flew back to New York today. She helped us out immeasurably with the transition. And in Jean, Edgar developed his first major crush. Here they are hanging out in little E's room.

Jean snapped the family portrait on her way out.

Thanks for everything, Jean! And come back sooooon!

We're All Together!

MAJOR UPDATE! We landed in Guatemala City yesterday around noon. The flights were good. No problems or delays whatsoever.

We've already gotten Edgar. What a great kid...he's happy and fun loving. Only one freakout in the middle of the night. He probably didn't realize where he was and it may be sinking in that his foster mother isn't around anymore. The foster mother and her daughter brought him to the hotel in the afternoon on the day we arrived. We had a bittersweet time with them and will be taking them to dinner tonight. They're sad to say goodbye to Edgar, but are such wonderful women. We intend to stay in close touch.

Today we had our appointment at the American Embassy. That's all done now too. But that experience contained some of the more difficult waiting we've had to do all along...several hours in a very full, stuffy waiting room. Now we're pretty much free for the rest of the time. This aftenoon the three of us swam and sat around the pool. Tomorrow we'll visit Antigua with other families we've met.

The weather's great. Sunny and warm, but not hot!

It's Here!

We just found out that the elusive "pink slip" that gets us into the American Embassy has been issued -- two days before we're to depart for Guatemala City. Looks like smooth sailing now. Look for more posts while we're there.

Just Days Away

Everything's coming together...flights, hotel, arrangements for house/dog-sitting on this end, etc. We leave in a few short days. Look for new pictures soon!

Plans in Place

We'll spare you the details, but the upshot is that we're not flying to Guatemala this weekend. That's the bad news. The good news is that we have now booked our flights for NEXT weekend -- Sunday the 7th of August, returning Thursday, the 11th.

So, Edgar will arrive here with us on the 11th of August! Now we just reset the clock and start a new countdown. This time it's for real.

Thanks to our moms for helping out with flights!

Pink Slip?

It's Tuesday. The end of the work day. No pink slip. Tomorrow?

90% Certain?

OK, here's the current situation. Edgar's with his foster mother in Guatemala. We're home in Minneapolis, awaiting confirmation for the trip that will bring Edgar back with us. The wait for the birth certificate is over. That much is clear. Now it's a matter of getting a so-called Pink Slip (in this case, a pink slip is a good thing). The pink slip usually takes a few days after the birth certificate goes through, and it was just this past Friday that we learned of that event. We've been advised to investigate -- but not yet book -- flights for this coming weekend. This means "(almost) full speed ahead." So we're doing all of the final preparations and acting like we'll be going on Sunday, the 31st of July, and returning on Thursday, the 4th of August. Come back for more news!

Waiting

Waiting...waiting...

This image is from Jim's trip to Guatemala in 1999. Flying over the northern jungle region in a small plane.

Ya-HOOOOO!

Well, today is Wednesday, June 22, and GUESS WHAT! We just got the call saying that our case is out of the Guatemalan court system and EDGAR'S COMING HOME IN A FEW WEEKS!!!

We'll find out in a few days exactly when we'll be going down -- probably mid-July.

Biggest news ever!

Thanks to Tamara, Mary, and Aida for all their hard work and for holding our hands through the process.

Thanks to Edgar's wonderful foster mom, who's done a beautiful job with him these last several months.

And thanks to all of those who have been asking how things are going, and crossing their fingers for us. This means you!