Homecoming

Here is what you have all been waiting for.. the pictures. It is just so much harder to get on this computer now - I wonder why! :-) The little man is doing well. You will see in the photos that he has a terrible rash all over his face. Poor Mo! He went to the pediatrician today to find out it is an allergic reaction. I swear he is not allergic to us - he came here with it! lol! I will tell the long homecoming story later when I have more sleep, in the meantime, enjoy our little guy. We are settling in with very little sleep. He is doing better than we expected despite the terrible rash! Thank you to ALL who have visited the blog, lurkers, commenters, friends, community members, and of course, our great family near and far. We love you and are glad that you are a part of our lives! Now on with the pics!!!!!!!!!!

the first siting as they get walked off of the plane.. he was waving at us!!!!! Okay, his hand was up, but I swear he was waving!

Mo checking out his daddy!
Our WONDERFUL escort, Mayana. She is a doll - and pretty, too!

Alli seeing her brother for the first time - she could not go to the gate with Jeff and I.

Above, the grandkids (Riley, Zach, Alli & Mario, Josh)

Below, Parents of Riley Zach and Josh, my sister-in-law Vicki and brother Jack

My dad, Pappy, with Mo

My mom and her grandson - Nanny

Jeff's parents

Mo in the stroller ready to go HOME

We come home to a great sign and homecoming gift for Alli and Mario

Checking out the new room!

HOOOOMMMMMMEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a LOOOONG story that I will tell later. He is home, sleeping in his crib behind me. All is fine. We are going to just take the next few days and just settle in. I will post pictures and everything when I can get to it! :-)

We are so excited! We are so blessed. Thanks to all who are out there reading! We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 Month Update

8 months - What a sweet little face...

Good News: The Visa 39 cable has arrived. It is the longest complicated story, but to sum it up, the guy at the National Visa Center who said it was "good to go" had never sent it. Yikes! So, other than spending the entire Thanksgiving break on the phone with our congressman's office, the National Visa Center, our agency and the embassy in Guatemala - all is moving forward. I have to say that Congressman Altmire's office has the GREATEST guy working there who has worked OVERTIME to help us, when NEITHER of our senators even called us back. We are grateful for this man for helping us so much. He went above and beyond his job.

Thanks for all of your support. We will keep you posted!

The gift of GIVING

I saw this on Trisha's blog, and I thought that it was a great thing to post! Thanks, Trisha, for leading me to this!

Mayan Families have a website where you can give the gift of FOOD to a needy Guatemalan family for Christmas: A CHRISTMAS TAMALE FOOD BASKET.


Taken from their website:

A tamale is a traditional indigenous food consisting of steam-cooked corn meal dough with or without a filling. Tamales can be filled with meats and sliced chillies or any preparation according to taste. The tamale is generally wrapped in a corn husk or plantain leaves before cooking, and during Christmas holidays, tamales of rice flour are a special treat for Guatemalans. The preparation time of this type of tamale is long, due to the amount of time required to cook down and thicken the rice flour base.

One food basket costs US $30 and will provide a Christmas Tamale celebration meal for a hungry and needy family of 12 or more.

The food for the Christmas basket will include:
A bottle of oil and 15 lbs of rice to make the tamales and a loaf of bread with which they eat the tamales at midnight
5lbs of meat
1lb of coffee
a block of drinking chocolate (a traditional drink taken at midnight)
raisins for the tamales, grapes, tomatoes, apples and sugar
leaves to wrap the tamales, cloves, pepper, sesame and pumpkin seeds. These are the requirements to make the midnight Christmas meal of Tamale.

I know this time of year we are asked to give to various charities. Giving is a great part of the Christmas season, so if you have not yet selected your charity, please consider clicking
HERE to make your donation to Mayan Families.

I know the story of Mario's birth mother, and think that this could really help a family like hers.

Thank you for considering the donation.

Much Needed Break...

This is a difficult post to write. Everything seemed to just pile and pile on this week. We were excited to have some time off of work for Jeff and school for Alli. I wanted to get things ready for Mo's homecoming. I want the house to be all decorated for Christmas and all shopping finished just to hunker down and enjoy him the month of December. We thought based on a few happenings that Mario was coming home REALLY soon. The National Visa Center had told our congressman that the Visa cable was sent and all was "good to go." We found this out a day ago, but still had no real travel plan. Soon, was what we were told.

We did Thanksgiving at my mom's, and I was relaxed. Relaxed for the first time in months knowing that the last part was finished, so all he had to do was board the plane. We got home and got an email from our agency that the Visa was not there when they went to pick it up. We have no way of talking to anyone at the embassy today as it is a National holiday. We will have to wait until Monday. I did speak to the congressman's office who told me he was so sorry and that there was nothing he could do until Monday. Even then, I am not sure what he will be able to do.

It is just so frustrating to think that you have nothing to worry about, and still have something to worry about. This is why we do not really share our good news with this adoption until after it happens. It is so hard to explain it to everyone. I am just incredibly sad, incredibly let down.

In previous months, I would read others blogs who would write that they were taking a "blogging" break, secretly thinking that I would never need to do that. The time has come. I need to take a break from the hours a week I spend reading all of the horrible news sites about Guatemala. It is consuming me and my enjoyment with the family I have here. I want to be normal again, but as all of us know, normal went out the window the second we accepted the referral. I will post pics of the room soon, but I am going to step away from other posts for as long as I need to. Maybe a day or 2, maybe a month. I hope that the next time I blog, he will be home in the crib behind me - and all of this will be behind me, too.

We love you all, near and far, cyber and non-cyber friends and family. Thank you for supporting us through this. I know that you will understand.

Great Site, Great Letter

I have been worried about Mario and his transition to the U.S. I think that all adoptive mothers stress about the same things at the end of the process. I have spoken with our pediatrician on how he may react once he comes home. Our priority is him when he gets here, and anything that we can do to make it better for him and for us as a family, we will do. Our pediatrician recommended many sites on attachment/bonding. She suggested that we get a "snuggly" or baby carrier and even suggested one that was best for babies legs/torso. We bought it. I have worn it around with a stuffed animal, and fought the urge to put the dog in it! Our pediatrician has been great. It is just hard to communicate ALL of this information to everyone who is just as excited as we are to get this boy home.

We have the most loving family and live in the most warm community, that I really think that everyone is so "in it" with us that when he comes home, it will be hard to say no to anyone who wants to see him, love him, hold him - but we will have to. We will need to allow him some time to adjust. He may do this rather quickly, or he may take time. In the meantime, we just need to make sure he feels safe and secure with us and does not think that we will be giving him away to anyone. I know that you all understand - I also know that most of you already know all of this, or have heard me stressing about it. I am a little nervous about his transition since I have read so many others stories about how difficult the first month or so is. I want him to just love me right away - don't we all feel that way about our babies? In his first month home, he will need to go to various doctors appointments at Children's and even get circumcised. Poor Baby! I cannot even imagine coming to this climate, away from all of the family you know and be poked and prodded.

I thought that this site explains attachment well. It really helped me to see the importance of us being the only ones who feed, change and soothe him for a while. It also will reassure you that I am not some crazy mom who is keeping everyone away. I love that everyone has been so supportive, so it pains me that I will have to say no at first. It may take a while, but he is well worth the wait. As soon as he seems ready, we will be out and about visiting all of YOU! I know that you all understand, but I thought that it would help to read a bit about these things that I stress about. Thank you for all of your support and understanding this unique situation. I think that the "form letter" says it well, so I thought that I would just post it by clicking HERE

Where have I been?

Sheesh, what has been going on here at the Lesko's. Recap - took mom shopping Saturday - fun!

Saturday night went with Jeff to the high school play - it was cute - what talent! I loved being in the plays, so it brought back memories being in my old school where I was on stage a LONG time ago. It looks so much harder now. Oh, to be young and brave!

Saturday was Mario's 8 month birthday! No photos for 2 months has really gotten to me. I really need to see his face. I am trying not to think or talk about it much.

Sunday - tried to get moving on shopping for Mario and Christmas by going to the mall with Jeff and Al.

Monday - Alli woke up with a belly ache. A few minutes later - ugh. Poor kid. Then Murry (the Fighting Shih tzu) saw her get sick, and he had sympathy, so he decided to get sick all over the place. SERIOUSLY. Only we would have a DOG with sympathy vomiting! I was at whits end cleaning up. Poor Alli. Poor Murry. Alli lost weight, that is how sick she was in 24 hours. She is so hilarious though. Such a trooper. She would look up and say, "seriously, this stinks." I agree. Being sick does stink. I kept her home today to get her to eat, but she is on the mend. She asked for a BIG MAC! Heck NO!

On the adoption front - and really the reason you all are here :-) - our visa is m.i.a. It is supposed to be at the National Visa Center, but no record of it yet. Our agency urged us to contact our congressman and senators. We have been emailing, calling and talking with them throughout the weekend and week. Congressman Altmire has been FANTASTIC. His office has been so on top of things and helped put me at ease. I really feel that they are in our corner. Not sure how much they can help us, but they are trying.

They are to call tomorrow with answers. It can't be soon enough. Who knows. It would be nice t have a general idea when he is to come home. Every time we have some idea, something changes. We will get through, we are just wanting to have him here. In our arms. Now.

I will post once we hear from our congressman tomorrow. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Pray for Mario in Guatemala. Pray that he attaches to us and bonds with us. It will be so difficult for him.

It's a Miracle!

The Pittsburgh CIS Office told us via email that it would take 4-6 weeks to get our son's visa approved.

We found out that they APPROVED OUR CASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woo Hoo!

Now off to the National Visa Center, then to Guatemala for our Pink Slip for our escort to travel!

Thanks for the prayers... keep it up, there must be something to it ;-)!

Now sing along - "I believe in Miracles!" This little boy needs to COME HOME SOON!!!!!!!!!!!

So, what is left...

Since I am a blogging fool today, I figured I would tell you the answer to the burning question: What in the heck is taking so long... what is left on the list?????

Well, the Pgh CIS (office of immigration) needs to approve our I600. See, most folks get their 2nd DNA sent to Guat, then they hear of the PINK appointment, travel, pick up and get the baby's visa at the embassy themselves.

In our case, since we are using an escort, we have to do the visa HERE for the baby. The forms were strange to fill out and sounded like we were ordering a mail order bride, but we completed them. They are at the PGH office and ready to be approved. They say 4-6 weeks as of 11/8, but we HOPE & PRAY that this is a liberal estimate.

From the approval in Pittsburgh, they then send the information to the National Visa Center for the 2nd approval. We were told that this timeline is constantly in flux. I hate in flux. Or any kind of flux. Flux is bad.

Finally, it will be sent to Guatemala and they will give us PINK from there.

We knew that the process of using an escort would add time onto our timeline, but a good friend told me that we had to just make the decision and be okay with whatever happened. Instead of being upset that this is taking longer, we are trying to make peace with it, and be excited with our progress in the case.

We are thankful that the DNA was a match (although I did have the Maury Povich moment and thought of him saying, "You are the MOTHER!" and me running off of the stage crying).

We are thankful that our forms are completed (as much as I LOVE our notary, I am happy to be done with that stack of paperwork!).

I am thankful that in a few weeks (*fingers, legs, toes crossed*) we will have our son sleeping in his crib under our roof.

Not having photos for 2 months is killin me!!!! We should have them on the 24th or so... I would rather have the real thing!

The eagle has landed!

His DNA is in GUATEMALA!!!!!!!!! One more thing down! Whew!

According to Fed Ex:

Nov 13, 2007
3:16 PM
Delivered
GUATEMALA CITY GT

Welcome to Miami!

Mario's DNA is visiting the sunny beaches of Miami!!!!

According to the Fed Ex Site:

Nov 13, 2007
7:30 AM
In transit
MIAMI, FL

Send me on my way...

The Fed Ex site has confirmed:

Nov 12, 2007
6:06 PM
Picked up
GREENSBORO, NC

Wooo HOOOOOO! The DNA is on its waaaaayyyy!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and I bought diapers for the first time in 12 years! I was just pushing my cart around the grocery store HOPING someone would notice! I am such a dork! :-)

Hopefully, we will hear Mo is being "sent on his way" soon!

Come on VISA!!!!!!!!!!!

On its way....

DNA IS ON ITS WAY!!!!!! Our 2nd DNA was tested today. It was a match and is on its way to the Embassy in Guatemala City!!!!! Woo Hoo!

The Fed Ex site says:
Estimated delivery
Nov 13, 2007 by 6:00 PM

Cool! Most folks at this point would be then "waiting for pink" which would be next week for most - meaning they would be traveling for pick up. Congrats to all of my blogging buddies who are at this point!

With us it is a bit different. Our DNA will get there, but we will have to wait for the Visa 39 cable. Pgh CIS said 4-6 weeks.... that would be from 11/8 since that is when they received our stuff. Once they approve it, it goes to the National Visa Center THEN to Guatemala for the Escort to travel. Our time is a little more undetermined due to the escort. It should be by Christmas though - we hope, we pray, we have everything crossed, we are wishing on stars and eye lashes!

Alli and I were talking about Mario yesterday, and she said, "So when he is shipped..." I said, "No, ESCORTED, not shipped!" Funny Kids!

On another great note, the room is FINISHED. My busy little worker bee (Jeff) worked all weekend to help me hang border, blinds, valances, etc. All that while watching his Brownies lose to the Steelers, lol! I will post photos when I feel it is complete (still need to pick up a night stand).

We are anxious. We are ready. We just want him HOME HOME HOME!!!!!

True Stories

Celebrate Adoption Month with some true stories of adoption on the Hallmark channel website. Click HERE for the link. The Long Wait is about Guatemala, and the little boy reminds me of Mario.

Not too much farther, Papa Smurf!

I miss him...

I miss him today. Why are some days better than others? How am I capable of missing a person whom I have never met? How do I feel so much today?

This last stretch is agony.

Seeing the finish line, yet not knowing how far we have to go.

** 2nd DNA is at the Lab being tested this week.
Who knows how long the Visa 39 will take since we are using an escort.
Finishing the final paperwork this week to be notarized and sent.
This is not in my hands. **

I love him already.

Happy Valley!

This weekend, Jeff got tickets for him and Alli to go to the Penn State/Purdue game. This would normally be uneventful if I was not brought up in a strictly Pitt household. My father (and brother and sister-in-law, and uncle and cousins, and so on) are ALL Pitt alum. My father proudly marched in the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band. We had season tickets to Pitt games as a child. You either are a Pitt fan around our house, or my father says you have no taste! :-) Well, my husband is a Browns fan in Steeler Country, so why not like Penn State, too? He doesn't LOVE Penn State, he just doesn't HATE them like my father does.

He had never been to State College, so he took Alli to the game. 100,000 people all in one place. She was impressed. Not a whole lot impresses a pre-teen, but this trip impressed her.

First, she was allowed to listen to all of the hip-hop she wanted in the car on the 2 and a half hour trip up AND back. I thought Jeff was going to have a melt down, but he held it in after the 500th time he heard Chris Brown sing, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss... ahh, what does she listen to?

She was impressed by the organization and efficiency of the student section. She thought it was awesome (her word) that they would say, "We Are, " and the fans would reply, "Penn State!" She wanted to know how they knew to do that. It was much different than a high school game!

She was pleased that the cheerleaders smiled at her. Very impressive for a youth cheerleader to see what those athletes can do - inspiring!

She got to see, and photograph, the famous Joe Paterno. She turned to Jeff and said, "I thought his name was Joe Pa, dad!" He laughed about that A LOT!

It was a wonderful trip for them to take together. There are not a whole lot of things that we do together as she runs with her friends so much. We are grateful that she is social, but are equally as grateful when she takes a day to spend with us.

Hanging out with our girl is the best. Even if it was not a "Pappy-Approved" day out!

Early Early in the morning, leaving for the game!

The Nittany Lion Marching Band - not as good as Pitt's, buttttt....

The student section making the "S" with themselves :-) Creative!

The famous, Joe Pa - in khaki pants to left.

His roots....

My Grandma Gesko (affectionately called Gummie by the great grand kids), says funny things. One of the things that we love that she says is that you are going to see "your people." Example, Jeff is going to see "his people" this weekend - meaning: Jeff is going to his hometown to see his mom and dad. Well, the map below show where Mario was born - where his people are from! lol! (see * marking El Quetzal, San Marcos, Guatemala)

Update: The passport was obtained, authorization from Guatemala for the 2nd DNA was given, 2nd DNA was paid for and should be DONE on Monday - hmmm... that is about it! Once it is done, it will need to be sent several places. We have an extra step in ours before we get our PINK appointment which is to have a cable sent for a special visa in order to have someone else bring Mo home. I will update you as it goes. I got some papers notarized by my friend - who makes house calls for me, so I have now named her my "beck and call-girl!" Thanks, Kimmie Bean!

Oh, and as I write, my awesome hubby is half asleep and taping the room getting it ready to paint! I love you, honey!