Guatemala 900 Media Coverage

Parents protest delays in adopting Guatemalan kids - Americas - MiamiHerald.com
Source: www.miamiherald.com
When Rhonda Felgenhauer and her husband Phil decided to adopt a second baby in Guatemala, she never thought the process would take her to Washington, D.C. to protest what has became a torturous and expensive ordeal of securing the legal rights to their daughter, Julia.


Parents Fight to Have Children Freed From Guatemalan Orphanages - washingtonpost.com
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
More than a year and a half after Paul Kvinda and his wife began what they expected would be a seven-month process to adopt a newborn girl from Guatemala, little Marcela and an estimated 700 other children are languishing in orphanages there as their cases wend through a maze of legal hurdles and...

Guatemala 900 Campaign

Take Notice! The march is today!

The Guatemala 900 Campaign is a SERIES OF ACTIONS that calls attention to the stagnation of the approximately 900 remaining Guatemalan adoptions that were begun before 2008. The Guatemala 900 Campaign asks that the US and Guatemalan governments take immediate steps to deliver timely due process and transparency for the children who wait to join their future families. It is imperative that these cases do not languish while children wait in limbo, losing their childhood one day, month, and year at a time...... We strive to take steps that will ensure all grandfathered cases will be processed to completion by January 31, 2010.

On January 1, 2008, adoptions in Guatemala abruptly changed from a privately run system to a government run entity. The 5000 adoptions that were “in process” at the time were “grandfathered” to finish under the laws in which they began. The childrens’ cases were promised to be expeditiously processed in a timely and reasonable manner, but now almost a year and a half later approximately 900 children are still waiting to join their families.

The Guatemala 900 campaign begins with the “Guatemala 900 March” on June 17 in Washington, DC. Later today there will be a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Guatemalan Embassy in which we will light 900 candles as a voice for the waiting children.

Family friends of a Guatemalan princess are representing us today at the march. Pray for the DiGirolamos and for the 900 children waiting to unite with their forever families.

Her Birthday Day

With so much going on, I haven't posted pics from Isabella's actual birthday day! Here's a short video of the family at dinner, then home for gifts.


Isabella's Birthday 6/8/09

Snow in June?

I'm so tired of cottonwood. Our neighbor to the back has a huge cottonwood tree that "molts" the first few weeks of June every year. They aren't bothered by it, but Isabella and I are miserable from itchy, watery eyes and sneezing.

Zoo Weekend

We had an extended fun, but exhausting, 4th birthday weekend for Isabella. We visited both the Akron and Cleveland Zoos. Special thanks to the Hilkers for joining us at Akron and to Grandmas Mary and Sue who came along to Cleveland. Isabella had a blast!


Zoo Trips Weekend June 2009

The Big Princess Party

Our Guatemalan Princess

Thank you for all the wonderful gifts for Isabella! All the kids seemed to enjoy the day. I can't believe Isabella turns four tomorrow :-(


Isabella's 4th B-day Party 6/6/09

The Princess and the Queen

Happy birthday, Kevin

Kevin turns 33 today! Happy birthday, honey!

We celebrated with his family on Sunday. Watch as he plays with all his girls.

Kevin's Birthday 5/27/09

A Day at the Akron Zoo

We are taking advantage of a long weekend of beautiful weather starting with a day at the Akron Zoo. Enjoy!

A Day at the Akron Zoo 5/24/09

More haircut pics

First Haircut

Can you believe that Isabella almost made it to her fourth birthday without a haircut?! She was terrified, but after months of pep talks, she wanted to have it done. Doesn't she look so scared? (Our family hair stylist, Amy, did the honors. She been cutting my hair for more than 15 years.) She got a sucker and a special stuffed animal as a prize. Mom got a certificate with clippings, too.

Sleepy kid

Since Grandma Mary and Papa Steve are vacationing in North Carolina, Isabella has been with a family friend during the day. Monday was her first day with Miss Tracy, and it did not go well. I picked her up by 2 p.m. and took her to the office with me. By 3 p.m....

Things with Miss Tracy went much better Tuesday. We'll see how today goes!

Her Last Day

I couldn't wait to post these pics even though I have many others that need posted first.

Isabella had her last day of preschool today. Even though she will attend again next year, it makes me sad that she's old enough to have completed one full year.

Kevin and I (and Grandma Mary since she was taking Isabella home) visited the class for "Days of a Preschooler." Miss Anna and Miss Cheryl created a 24 minute video of the year in pictures set to kids' music. Kevin and I took punch and cupcakes for everyone to snack on during the show.

The kids ran into the room so proud and presented the moms with handmade hugs and necklaces before joining us for the show.

Here a few pics from the day. I have a copy of the video but I'm sure no one wants to watch a 24 minutes video of preschoolers. (If you don, I can pop popcorn and we can watch it anytime.)

Kayla and Isabella

Miss Anna and Isabella

Favorite Easter Shots

Easter weekend was busy. We spent Saturday with Grandma Mary, Papa Steve and Aunt Julie (dogs, too) and Sunday with the whole Kramer/Cantwell-clan. Lots of candy and presents and egg hunts as we celebrated our Lord.

Easter 2009 4/27/09

Bella and her computer

Yep! That's right. This three year old has her own computer thanks to Aunt Julie, Uncle Chris and Grandma and Papa Kramer. The Kramers got Isabella this great Fisher Price learning system that hooks to a computer. Aunt Julie and Uncle Chris got a new computer so they gave Isabella the older HP which works perfectly for her. She can turn it on and start up her programs all on her own. (We disconnected our wireless Internet from the system :-). She even operates the mouse on her own. (I don't think my family even owned a computer when I was her age, let alone let me use it.)

Guat Easter Bunny Breakfast

Getting together with our Guat adoption playgroup is one of my favorite things to do. Yesterday some of us gathered to celebrate Easter with the Big Bunny himself at a private breakfast and Easter egg hunt at Quail Hollow State Park in Hartville.

The kids (and the parents) had a nice time playing and running (the parents talked and ran after little ones.) in the grassy fields during a sunny outing after our breakfast of french toast sticks and sausage.

Forever Family Day - 3 years ago...

The emotions I feel today are just as strong as those just three years ago when I first got to hold my Isabella. The emotions are different. Three years ago I was anxious, nervous and excited. Today, as I remember that day (like it was yesterday), I am full of love.

Isabella has changed our lives in every way - for the better. She's filled my heart that so longed to be her mother. She makes me proud each and every day whether it's by saying "Sure, mommy" or by peddling her bike the right way.

We have a special day planned today. We will visit the zoo, Isabella's favorite thing to do, with Aunt Julie. We will have a special dinner with all the grandparents at "Bob Heavens," Isabella's favorite restaurant. We will read special books about adoption and Guatemala. And we will hug her extra hard today as we celebrate our third Forever Family Day!

Congrats to the Millers, too, who we will think about today as they, too, celebrate three years with their Jakob! We may have met in line at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, but you will be our special friends forever!

Hodgepodge

I still have pics from before Christmas to post. So this post is dedicated to all those people who have waited so patiently for these. This will catch us up to Dec. 23.

Christmas Celebration with the Cantwell Clan

Preschool Christmas Party