A day after Colombia-based ICBF officially closed its file on Daniel Forrrester, the United States granted him a sought-after visa to enter the states with his parents.
We woke up at 5:45 a.m. and began our morning routine preparing to leave for our 8:30 a.m. meeting at the United States Embassy. Daniel skipped his morning bath, dressed wearing his USA jacket and had a quick breakfast. Claudia grabbed all of our documents necessary for our meeting and we were off.
We hailed a taxi to take us to the U.S. Embassy that is located near the El Dorado International Airport. En route, we struck up a conversation with the driver. There are 400,000 taxis serving Bogota's 7.4 million population. No wonder its so easy to get a taxi!
Even though we arrived at the Embassy at 7:45 a.m. there was already a line of a few hundred people hoping to receive a U.S. visa. Each person pays just to have an opportunity for an interview at the Embassy with no guarantee of receiving a visa.
A U.S. visa is very difficult to obtain in Colombia. It's something most U.S. citizens don't understand because there are very few countries that require U.S. citizens to obtain a tourist visa. Nearly every person waiting this morning had a packet of documents for their interview.
Inside the packets there was more than likely either letters from a family member in the United States petitioning for the applicant to recieve a tourist visa and vouching they will be responsible for the applicant, financial documents supporting a sufficient amount of money to incentivize the applicant's return to Colombia, and/or letters from work, etc.
The interviewer has a lot of leeway during the interview, based on information provided from a U.S representative. The interviewer has the right to ask whatever questions they want. They can request to review every document the applicant brings, or on a good day they won't even ask for it. If the applicant is nervous, then odds are against them receiving a visa. For these reasons and more, no one in Colombia takes the process for granted.
As we watched people leave from their interview, they had one of two reactions. Either they were smiling and hugging their family members, or they had a sad or frustrated expression. Many had dressed formally for the interview and some were probably wearing new clothes specifically for this morning.
All of that said, Daniel's situation is different. Because of his adoption, his visa is almost guaranteed. His visa will only be good for the 5-hour flight to Houston, but once he arrives there he will become a U.S. citizen.
After nearly two hours waiting, we were told his visa was approved and we can pick it up on Tuesday. Personally, I think his USA jacket had a lot of sway during the interview process. The little guy is eager to be home just like his parents!
This is the last step in our nearly 18 month process to bring our son home.
That afternoon, we went to Santa Fe to celebrate with Daniel. He ate Bandeja Paisa with mommy and I ate a burger to satisfy a week-long craving. After lunch, we went to both of the children's play areas. Daniel was in heaven with all of the children running and jumping around him.
We headed back to the condo after a couple of hours. Daniel was obviously worn out based on his crying. It was time to start our night-time routine. Eat. Play. Change into pajamas. Bottle. Bed.
Showing posts with label Bogota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bogota. Show all posts
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 31: ICBF Closes Case for Daniel Forrester
By all accounts Daniel appeared the same as we rode in the taxi back to our condo this afternoon, but something unseen was very different.
At 2:30 p.m. we met with Lucia's assistant Andres at the Colombian passport office. The weather was overcast and scattered showers. We stepped out quickly after paying our fare. Another couple was waiting to get into the taxi. When it's raining in Bogota, taxis are a valuable commodity.
We didn't need to wait very long to pick up Daniel's Colombian passport. The passport office had moved to a newer, larger location since we were last there to pick up Claudia's Colombian passport nearly a month ago. Maybe being in a new location makes things more efficient!
The wait was only about 20 minutes to get his passport. While waiting, Daniel was getting pretty tired and fighting sleep. I walked around the aisles with him in my arms. Claudia and Andres took care of the passport. When we finished, we grabbed another taxi and headed to the ICBF headquarters located near the airport.
At ICBF, we finalized Daniel's adoption paperwork, known as the "Resolution," and ICBF closed his case. Daniel is our son by all accounts. The only thing we need now is his U.S. Visa to return home. We're so close to being finished!
Outside ICBF, we said our good-bye's to Andres. He won't be joining us at the U.S. Embassy tomorrow, so this was likely our last opportunity to see him.
Lucia, Andres and our attorney Oscar are an amazing team. Lucia has been in the business for 40 years. Andres has worked with Lucia for 10 years and Oscar for 14 years. They operate like a well oiled machine. We would likely still be waiting for Sentencia if it weren't for them. (We've met one couple who have been in Colombia for two months trying to finalize the adoption!)
Daniel finally fell asleep in Claudia's arms as we rode through busy Bogota traffic en route to the condo. We both looked at him with love.
"He has no idea what has just happened," I said.
By the end of the day, something about us had changed. Daniel's first chapter in life, as hard as it may have been, finally ended today. Now he is writing a new chapter in life with a forever family and we are blessed by God to be that family.
At 2:30 p.m. we met with Lucia's assistant Andres at the Colombian passport office. The weather was overcast and scattered showers. We stepped out quickly after paying our fare. Another couple was waiting to get into the taxi. When it's raining in Bogota, taxis are a valuable commodity.
We didn't need to wait very long to pick up Daniel's Colombian passport. The passport office had moved to a newer, larger location since we were last there to pick up Claudia's Colombian passport nearly a month ago. Maybe being in a new location makes things more efficient!
The wait was only about 20 minutes to get his passport. While waiting, Daniel was getting pretty tired and fighting sleep. I walked around the aisles with him in my arms. Claudia and Andres took care of the passport. When we finished, we grabbed another taxi and headed to the ICBF headquarters located near the airport.
At ICBF, we finalized Daniel's adoption paperwork, known as the "Resolution," and ICBF closed his case. Daniel is our son by all accounts. The only thing we need now is his U.S. Visa to return home. We're so close to being finished!
Outside ICBF, we said our good-bye's to Andres. He won't be joining us at the U.S. Embassy tomorrow, so this was likely our last opportunity to see him.
Lucia, Andres and our attorney Oscar are an amazing team. Lucia has been in the business for 40 years. Andres has worked with Lucia for 10 years and Oscar for 14 years. They operate like a well oiled machine. We would likely still be waiting for Sentencia if it weren't for them. (We've met one couple who have been in Colombia for two months trying to finalize the adoption!)
Daniel finally fell asleep in Claudia's arms as we rode through busy Bogota traffic en route to the condo. We both looked at him with love.
"He has no idea what has just happened," I said.
By the end of the day, something about us had changed. Daniel's first chapter in life, as hard as it may have been, finally ended today. Now he is writing a new chapter in life with a forever family and we are blessed by God to be that family.
Day 30: Forresters Begin Jumping Through Final Hoops
Now the fun begins as we take our final steps toward leaving Colombia and Daniel receiving his U.S. citizenship.
The day began early since our first meeting was at 8:30 a.m. at the Passport office. We dressed Daniel in some of his best clothes and brushed his hair for his photos. He looked great.
We hailed a taxi and met with Lucia's assistant Andres who helped us navigate the Passport office. Daniel did a great job posing for his Colombian passport photo. We had the option of either getting an emergency passport which would be ready within a day but be good for seven months, or wait an extra day and get a passport that is good for 10 years. We know we'll be coming back to visit so it made sense to go ahead and get the 10-year passport.
Once we finished with the Colombian passport, we dove into a small store a couple doors down from the passport office and took Daniel's photos for his U.S. visa.
During this time, Lucia and Andres were contacting the U.S. Embassy doctor to see if we could meet with him today instead of waiting until we received the Colombian passport. Luckily we were able to schedule a meeting for 3:00 p.m.
The process continues to move quickly.
After taking Daniel's photos for his U.S. visa we had a few hours free before our next meeting. We took a short taxi ride to La Hacienda Mall, a high-end mall that was built to look like a small farm. We did mostly window shopping, but found some great boots for Claudia.
After lunch, we took a walk around Usaquen town. It's similar to Belle Meade in Nashville in the sense that its part of Bogota but has its own mayor and other city operations. The town is high-end with elegant restaurants, clothing stores and artifacts wrapping around the town square and church.
We arrived at Casa Lanthana at 1:40. It was great to re-introduce Daniel to the staff who had taken such great care of him during our first week. The staff were so happy to see him. Another great sign of Daniel's attachment to us was when he preferred for me rather than the staff hold him.
Andres showed up at 2:30 and we headed off to the doctor's office. The doctor was tall and had a low gravely voice that reminded me of Herman Munster from the Adam's Family. He was very friendly and would throw out hints about parenthood with a twinkle in his eye.
We were very comfortable talking with the doctor. To our surprise, he lived in the United States for about five years working at a hospital in Louisana and at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis.
Daniel was a little nervous when the doctor took a look at him. The doctor let Daniel hold a few of his instruments and play with toys.
Most importantly, the doctor signed off on the documents necessary for the U.S. Embassy to provide us with Daniel's visa. We're confirmed to visit the U.S. Embassy on Friday at 8:30 a.m. Everything is falling into place quickly. It's hard to believe we are almost finished!
During the evening, we had a brief meeting with Claudia's uncle Alberto. We're taking advantage of the Colombian holiday this weekend and planning a trip to Villa de Leyva, located about three hours from Bogota. It's one of my favorite places to go.
God Bless,
Brian, Claudia and Daniel
The day began early since our first meeting was at 8:30 a.m. at the Passport office. We dressed Daniel in some of his best clothes and brushed his hair for his photos. He looked great.
We hailed a taxi and met with Lucia's assistant Andres who helped us navigate the Passport office. Daniel did a great job posing for his Colombian passport photo. We had the option of either getting an emergency passport which would be ready within a day but be good for seven months, or wait an extra day and get a passport that is good for 10 years. We know we'll be coming back to visit so it made sense to go ahead and get the 10-year passport.
Once we finished with the Colombian passport, we dove into a small store a couple doors down from the passport office and took Daniel's photos for his U.S. visa.
During this time, Lucia and Andres were contacting the U.S. Embassy doctor to see if we could meet with him today instead of waiting until we received the Colombian passport. Luckily we were able to schedule a meeting for 3:00 p.m.
The process continues to move quickly.
After taking Daniel's photos for his U.S. visa we had a few hours free before our next meeting. We took a short taxi ride to La Hacienda Mall, a high-end mall that was built to look like a small farm. We did mostly window shopping, but found some great boots for Claudia.
After lunch, we took a walk around Usaquen town. It's similar to Belle Meade in Nashville in the sense that its part of Bogota but has its own mayor and other city operations. The town is high-end with elegant restaurants, clothing stores and artifacts wrapping around the town square and church.
We arrived at Casa Lanthana at 1:40. It was great to re-introduce Daniel to the staff who had taken such great care of him during our first week. The staff were so happy to see him. Another great sign of Daniel's attachment to us was when he preferred for me rather than the staff hold him.
Andres showed up at 2:30 and we headed off to the doctor's office. The doctor was tall and had a low gravely voice that reminded me of Herman Munster from the Adam's Family. He was very friendly and would throw out hints about parenthood with a twinkle in his eye.
We were very comfortable talking with the doctor. To our surprise, he lived in the United States for about five years working at a hospital in Louisana and at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis.
Daniel was a little nervous when the doctor took a look at him. The doctor let Daniel hold a few of his instruments and play with toys.
Most importantly, the doctor signed off on the documents necessary for the U.S. Embassy to provide us with Daniel's visa. We're confirmed to visit the U.S. Embassy on Friday at 8:30 a.m. Everything is falling into place quickly. It's hard to believe we are almost finished!
During the evening, we had a brief meeting with Claudia's uncle Alberto. We're taking advantage of the Colombian holiday this weekend and planning a trip to Villa de Leyva, located about three hours from Bogota. It's one of my favorite places to go.
God Bless,
Brian, Claudia and Daniel
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day 29: Colombia Recognizes Daniel as a Forrester
Tuesday, June 21st was the BEST Day for the Forrester Family. Afer a month in Colombia we finally got the sentencia from a judge saying Daniel is our official baby boy. It was an emocional day.
We got up early because we were waiting for Lucia's call at any time. Around noon we got the good news. Our court appoinment was for 2:30 pm. Also, she recommended for Brian and Daniel to stay at the condo because it was going to be a long afternoon of paperwork. We went out to eat a quick lunch and right after that I headed to Casa Lanthana with my grandfather to meet Lucia's partner Andres, who was going to take us to the court in downtown Bogota. Around 2:15 we arrived at the building and met our lawyer Oscar.
We went trough all the paperwork to make sure all the information was correct. It melted my heart to see my son's name for the first time on paper with our last name. I don't have words to describe the moment. It was awesome. I signed the papers and we waited for about 30 minutes for the judge to sign it. Andres and the lawyer shook my hand and told me congratulations, "It is official. Daniel is your son."
At that point I was ready to cry. My son, my fist son, was finally offcially my baby boy.
Right after that we headed out to the Notary to change Daniel's last name to Forrester on his birth certificate. In Colombia, you need to go to the Notary where you were first registered to obtain original birth certificates or make any changes. This means we were going to the Notary where Daniel was first registered. It was a special connection to part of Daniel's past. It was really far away and the traffic in Bogota can be a mess sometimes.
As soon as we walked into the Notary building, I saw all the couples registering the little babies. I became a really proud mom also. I was going to register our baby boy under our names as his parents. What a great feeling! What a great Day!!!
While we were waiting to get copies of the documents, I finally had time to call Brian and give him an update. He was really excited also and couldn't wait to celebrate. He also had great news for me. He was having a great afternoon with Daniel; a great bonding time for both of them.
I got home around 7 pm. It was a long day for everybody. As soon as Daniel saw me at the front door he was so excited that he was jumping and screaming like crazy. It was like he knew what a great and significant day we had as a family of three. All my exhaustion melted and I was ready for some play time with my son. I love my two boys with all my heart.
Good nigh everybody. We have another busy day tomorrow!!!
Claudia
We got up early because we were waiting for Lucia's call at any time. Around noon we got the good news. Our court appoinment was for 2:30 pm. Also, she recommended for Brian and Daniel to stay at the condo because it was going to be a long afternoon of paperwork. We went out to eat a quick lunch and right after that I headed to Casa Lanthana with my grandfather to meet Lucia's partner Andres, who was going to take us to the court in downtown Bogota. Around 2:15 we arrived at the building and met our lawyer Oscar.
We went trough all the paperwork to make sure all the information was correct. It melted my heart to see my son's name for the first time on paper with our last name. I don't have words to describe the moment. It was awesome. I signed the papers and we waited for about 30 minutes for the judge to sign it. Andres and the lawyer shook my hand and told me congratulations, "It is official. Daniel is your son."
At that point I was ready to cry. My son, my fist son, was finally offcially my baby boy.
Right after that we headed out to the Notary to change Daniel's last name to Forrester on his birth certificate. In Colombia, you need to go to the Notary where you were first registered to obtain original birth certificates or make any changes. This means we were going to the Notary where Daniel was first registered. It was a special connection to part of Daniel's past. It was really far away and the traffic in Bogota can be a mess sometimes.
As soon as we walked into the Notary building, I saw all the couples registering the little babies. I became a really proud mom also. I was going to register our baby boy under our names as his parents. What a great feeling! What a great Day!!!
While we were waiting to get copies of the documents, I finally had time to call Brian and give him an update. He was really excited also and couldn't wait to celebrate. He also had great news for me. He was having a great afternoon with Daniel; a great bonding time for both of them.
I got home around 7 pm. It was a long day for everybody. As soon as Daniel saw me at the front door he was so excited that he was jumping and screaming like crazy. It was like he knew what a great and significant day we had as a family of three. All my exhaustion melted and I was ready for some play time with my son. I love my two boys with all my heart.
Good nigh everybody. We have another busy day tomorrow!!!
Claudia
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sentencia Scheduled for Tuesday!
Our liaison Lucia confirmed this evening our Sentencia is confirmed for Tuesday and now the fun begins!
This is fantastic news and means our time in Colombia is coming to an end within about a week. We'll definitely be able to spend Daniel's 1st birthday in Nashville.
We're supposed to meet Lucia downtown tomorrow morning and meet with the judge overseeing our case. Depending on the time we finish, we'll be able to immediately go get Daniel's birth certificate.
The rest of the week we'll have a lot to do. We need to obtain Daniel's Colombian passport, take him to the U.S. Embassy doctor and receive his U.S. Visa.
We need to change our flights, but will be heading to Nashville next week!
Stayed tuned.
This is fantastic news and means our time in Colombia is coming to an end within about a week. We'll definitely be able to spend Daniel's 1st birthday in Nashville.
We're supposed to meet Lucia downtown tomorrow morning and meet with the judge overseeing our case. Depending on the time we finish, we'll be able to immediately go get Daniel's birth certificate.
The rest of the week we'll have a lot to do. We need to obtain Daniel's Colombian passport, take him to the U.S. Embassy doctor and receive his U.S. Visa.
We need to change our flights, but will be heading to Nashville next week!
Stayed tuned.
Day 28: With End Approaching It's Time to Shop
With hopefully only a couple of weeks left in Bogota, it was time to start hunting for gift ideas for friends and family.
We believe Sentencia will be Tuesday based on our last conversation with Lucia. It will be only a matter of time before we can return to the States once Sentencia is behind us. So time is becoming a valuable commodity for us.
We had an early breakfast and headed outside The day was gorgeous. Blue skies and sunshine with a few white clouds here and there.
We visited a flea market near the condo. Basically, it's a vacant lot between buildings on a main road. Someone bought the lot and then sold or rented 10' x 10' spaces to local vendors. Walking through the flea market makes me feel as though I'm going to meet that guy from Gremlins who sold the Magwai to the dad. It's an interesting spectrum of merchandise, but includes several typical Colombian-made items too.
Daniel was a trooper during the entire day. He wasn't fussy and relaxed most of the time while in his stroller. He also ate a great lunch. It's been difficult to get him to eat solid foods for the past few days, but fortunately today he decided he'd give chewing another attempt.
During the afternoon we went to Santa Fe to avoid an afternoon shower. We visited a children's play area and let Daniel burn off the calories from lunch. Watching him interact with the older children is fun to watch. He so wants to be a big kid and do big kid things.
Daniel loved playing with the other children, but would look for either Claudia or I. This is a great thing because it indicates our attachment is going well. He also looks to us to comfort him when he bumps his head, falls down or other such event. We make a big deal out of ever knock or fall. Doing so helps him attach with us.
By the time we returned to the condo, Daniel was worn out and ready for dinner and bed. He has acted wonderful the past few days and we feel as though he is really starting to view us as his parents.
We believe Sentencia will be Tuesday based on our last conversation with Lucia. It will be only a matter of time before we can return to the States once Sentencia is behind us. So time is becoming a valuable commodity for us.
We had an early breakfast and headed outside The day was gorgeous. Blue skies and sunshine with a few white clouds here and there.
We visited a flea market near the condo. Basically, it's a vacant lot between buildings on a main road. Someone bought the lot and then sold or rented 10' x 10' spaces to local vendors. Walking through the flea market makes me feel as though I'm going to meet that guy from Gremlins who sold the Magwai to the dad. It's an interesting spectrum of merchandise, but includes several typical Colombian-made items too.
Daniel was a trooper during the entire day. He wasn't fussy and relaxed most of the time while in his stroller. He also ate a great lunch. It's been difficult to get him to eat solid foods for the past few days, but fortunately today he decided he'd give chewing another attempt.
During the afternoon we went to Santa Fe to avoid an afternoon shower. We visited a children's play area and let Daniel burn off the calories from lunch. Watching him interact with the older children is fun to watch. He so wants to be a big kid and do big kid things.
Daniel loved playing with the other children, but would look for either Claudia or I. This is a great thing because it indicates our attachment is going well. He also looks to us to comfort him when he bumps his head, falls down or other such event. We make a big deal out of ever knock or fall. Doing so helps him attach with us.
By the time we returned to the condo, Daniel was worn out and ready for dinner and bed. He has acted wonderful the past few days and we feel as though he is really starting to view us as his parents.
Day 27: Our First Father's Day
Being a father is still a new role for me.
There will only be one first father's day as a father. It's still hard to believe that the child who climbs up my leg and sleeps in the crib in our room is our son.
Claudia and I enjoyed the first several years together after our wedding. We traveled. We bought our first house. We enjoyed lazy weekends. But as time passed, we felt the desire to start our family. I don't remember a specific date we decided to start a family, but I know it was a few years ago. It's been a long time coming to finally have a child in our lives.
So to finally see Daniel's smiling face and hear his laughter is such a sweet blessing for both of us. I pray to be as good a father as possible for him.
I can't help but see things from a slightly new perspective. I reflect on Abraham and Isaac. I think of God's willingness to sacrifice his son for our salvation. I have a new, growing appreciation for Christ and God's love for us.
We spent the day at Claudia's Uncle Miguel's home to celebrate El Dia De Padre, or Father's Day. Daniel met several second cousins and other family members. He was a little bit nervous and never completely relaxed.
That evening I laid Daniel down in his crib. He was sound asleep and looked so innocent. I really am blessed to be a father. I don't take for granted the ability to have a child. All children are blessings from God.
Happy Father's Day.
There will only be one first father's day as a father. It's still hard to believe that the child who climbs up my leg and sleeps in the crib in our room is our son.
Claudia and I enjoyed the first several years together after our wedding. We traveled. We bought our first house. We enjoyed lazy weekends. But as time passed, we felt the desire to start our family. I don't remember a specific date we decided to start a family, but I know it was a few years ago. It's been a long time coming to finally have a child in our lives.
So to finally see Daniel's smiling face and hear his laughter is such a sweet blessing for both of us. I pray to be as good a father as possible for him.
I can't help but see things from a slightly new perspective. I reflect on Abraham and Isaac. I think of God's willingness to sacrifice his son for our salvation. I have a new, growing appreciation for Christ and God's love for us.
We spent the day at Claudia's Uncle Miguel's home to celebrate El Dia De Padre, or Father's Day. Daniel met several second cousins and other family members. He was a little bit nervous and never completely relaxed.
That evening I laid Daniel down in his crib. He was sound asleep and looked so innocent. I really am blessed to be a father. I don't take for granted the ability to have a child. All children are blessings from God.
Happy Father's Day.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Day 26: Small Idea Turns into Big Fun
When Claudia suggested taking her grandmother's housekeeper and daughter to an amusement park, she had no idea how plans would evolve into something bigger.
We had lunch at Claudia's grandmother's house earlier in the week. During our conversation, Claudia invited her grandmother's housekeeper Francia and her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter to Jaime Duke amusement park on Saturday. Neither had been there before.
The next day when Lucia called to give us an update on Sentencia, she also mentioned there were two American families in Bogota. Claudia asked if they would be interested in visiting the park also. Of course Lucia thought the idea was great and offered to coordinate getting a large bus to take everyone.
And so Claudia's small idea evolved into something bigger than us.
In fact, by the time the bus had arrived Saturday to pick us up, there were 20 people including parents and children on the bus. The group included two families from the United States and one from France. One of the American families was adopting five siblings and the other family was adopting three siblings. The French family had an 8-month-old girl.
Jaime Duke Park is near Panaca, which we visited a couple of weeks ago. Jaime Duke is a huge amusement park that also features a zoo with exotic animals like lions, various types of monkeys and panthers to name a few.
The children had a blast on the various rides and the zoo. Daniel even had his first amusement rides with Daddy. Mommy rarely rides anything. Daniel's face almost split open with his huge smile! You could tell he had a great time. He is an active baby and enjoys thrills. I'd put money on him giving us a heart attack at some point for doing something outrageous!
The American families were very friendly and it was awesome to hear their stories. It's great to recognize the similarities and differences between our experiences.
The family adopting five sibling girls already has another six or seven children at home (sorry guys, I lost count but think you're amazing!). Their hearts and love is an amazing gift from God. They were finishing their first week together and needed a break. Jaime Duke was the perfect answer.
The couple adopting three children (two girls and one boy) was from Arizona and had been in Bogota for two months. They are ready to be home! The kids have seen videos and pictures of their new house and also are ready to be in the states!
Claudia played a special role during the day as the group leader of sorts. She and I both acted as interpreter for the parents and children at various times. After seeing the gratitude from the parents, we realized how huge a blessing it is for us to be bilingual. I've rarely been more proud of Claudia than I was when watching her connecting with the children and helping them understand the opportunities they'll have in the United States.
Claudia couldn’t compete with Daniel or his cuteness though. He was the main attraction at Jaime Duke. Many of the girls held his hand. Rarely did time go by when he wasn't escorted by a girl in each hand. Needless to say, he was in heaven.
After reflecting on the day's events, Claudia and I both agreed it was one of our favorite days in Colombia. Claudia was able to teach the parents a few key Spanish phrases and explain to the children what they're trip in a plane going home would be like among other things. It's amazing how God works through us sometimes!
We had lunch at Claudia's grandmother's house earlier in the week. During our conversation, Claudia invited her grandmother's housekeeper Francia and her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter to Jaime Duke amusement park on Saturday. Neither had been there before.
The next day when Lucia called to give us an update on Sentencia, she also mentioned there were two American families in Bogota. Claudia asked if they would be interested in visiting the park also. Of course Lucia thought the idea was great and offered to coordinate getting a large bus to take everyone.
And so Claudia's small idea evolved into something bigger than us.
In fact, by the time the bus had arrived Saturday to pick us up, there were 20 people including parents and children on the bus. The group included two families from the United States and one from France. One of the American families was adopting five siblings and the other family was adopting three siblings. The French family had an 8-month-old girl.
Jaime Duke Park is near Panaca, which we visited a couple of weeks ago. Jaime Duke is a huge amusement park that also features a zoo with exotic animals like lions, various types of monkeys and panthers to name a few.
The children had a blast on the various rides and the zoo. Daniel even had his first amusement rides with Daddy. Mommy rarely rides anything. Daniel's face almost split open with his huge smile! You could tell he had a great time. He is an active baby and enjoys thrills. I'd put money on him giving us a heart attack at some point for doing something outrageous!
The American families were very friendly and it was awesome to hear their stories. It's great to recognize the similarities and differences between our experiences.
The family adopting five sibling girls already has another six or seven children at home (sorry guys, I lost count but think you're amazing!). Their hearts and love is an amazing gift from God. They were finishing their first week together and needed a break. Jaime Duke was the perfect answer.
The couple adopting three children (two girls and one boy) was from Arizona and had been in Bogota for two months. They are ready to be home! The kids have seen videos and pictures of their new house and also are ready to be in the states!
Claudia played a special role during the day as the group leader of sorts. She and I both acted as interpreter for the parents and children at various times. After seeing the gratitude from the parents, we realized how huge a blessing it is for us to be bilingual. I've rarely been more proud of Claudia than I was when watching her connecting with the children and helping them understand the opportunities they'll have in the United States.
Claudia couldn’t compete with Daniel or his cuteness though. He was the main attraction at Jaime Duke. Many of the girls held his hand. Rarely did time go by when he wasn't escorted by a girl in each hand. Needless to say, he was in heaven.
After reflecting on the day's events, Claudia and I both agreed it was one of our favorite days in Colombia. Claudia was able to teach the parents a few key Spanish phrases and explain to the children what they're trip in a plane going home would be like among other things. It's amazing how God works through us sometimes!
Day 25: Visiting Old-time Friends
On Friday we visited two of Claudia's college friends and did a little shopping at Gran Estacion, or Grand Station Mal.
It was good to visit with Javier, Carolina and their two boys. We were able to catch up with them and later had lunch at Crepes and Waffles.
After lunch, we walked around Gran Estacion Mall. It was built about three years ago and features a small ice rink. There is a large outdoor area at one of the main entrances that features a fountain around a giant chess board.
By the time we returned home, it was time to give Daniel dinner and start our bedtime routine. Daniel is feeling much better. His congestion is almost gone. Yea!
It was good to visit with Javier, Carolina and their two boys. We were able to catch up with them and later had lunch at Crepes and Waffles.
After lunch, we walked around Gran Estacion Mall. It was built about three years ago and features a small ice rink. There is a large outdoor area at one of the main entrances that features a fountain around a giant chess board.
By the time we returned home, it was time to give Daniel dinner and start our bedtime routine. Daniel is feeling much better. His congestion is almost gone. Yea!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Day 23: Forresters Make Trek to Monserrate
View photos from Monserrate Trip by clicking here: Photos from Monserrate Trip.
Seconds after hailing a taxi we were en route to Monserrate and witnessing the inner-workings of Colombia's capital city through the side windows of our cab.The skies were clear and the sun was out. Our reservations about taking Daniel on a day trip were finally gone.
Bogota's population is 7.4 million; with many more people coming into the city daily for basic needs, work and other activities. The city has the critical mass so people appear as an ant colony; multiple ants popping out of different holes and traveling down pathways on various missions. It's a city of activity. One of the best places to get the scope of the city is from the peak of Monserrate, a mountain that dominates central and southern Bogota and peaks at 10,314 feet above sea level.
Monserrate is a special attraction for the capital city. At its peak sits a 17th century church devoted to "El Senor Caido" or The Fallen Lord. The church is a pilgrim destination for people from around the world. The church is surrounded by restaurants, local artisans selling souvenirs and gardens.
Locals say if you bring your boyfriend or girlfriend to Monserrate, then either you will break up soon after or the person is the one you're meant to marry.
As we drove toward the mountain, Shakira sang Rabiosa from the taxi radio. Various tiendas were a blur. Auto mechanic shops. Plastic surgery clinics. Offices. Numerous locally-owned restaurants and small grocery stores. On the sidewalk, individuals selling empanadas, arepas and fresh squeezed juices sat waiting for their next customers.
We passed several pedestrian bridges overhead. The bridges zig-zag from one side of the road to the middle where pick-up and drop-off points for the city's mass transit system, Transmilenio, wait for them. The bright red buses have a dedicated lane to move thousands of people a day efficiently. There is a constant file of people coming and going from Transmilenio like ants filing to and from the colony.
When we got to La Circunvalar street we began our ascent to Monserrate. La Circunvalar snakes around the foot of the mountain from north to south. The small hodge-podge of local shops slowly transforms into residential towers. Small avenues going back to the city's heart are narrow and steep.
It becomes clear the residential area is high-end. In fact, it’s one of the more exclusive sections of the city with great views of Bogota below. Families who live here are wealthy enough to afford owning original paintings from Colombian artist Fernando Botero. We pass by Colegio Nueva Granada, a private school for Bogota's elite.
"Look at all of those bodyguards waiting outside the gate," says Claudia. "This is a really high-end school. The children have bodyguards. The fathers have bodyguards and the wives have bodyguards."
"This is where the president's kids go to school and they arrive on helicopter," she adds.
Within a few minutes, the residential towers begin to disappear behind us and we are surrounded by an obviously poorer area. Buildings made of worn-out brick have clothes hanging from windows and on clothes lines outside. Portions of the buildings expose the skeletal structure supporting the building.
People can be seen in the open grass areas. It's unclear if they are workers taking a break from the various road projects, or if they are so poor they don't have a house. Both are there, we just can't tell which one is which.
The desperately poor and opulently wealthy live very close to each other. It's hard for the people who have everything to ignore the people who have nothing.
Finally we arrive at the foot of Monserrate after a 40 minute taxi ride. The peak can be accessed by train, cable car or foot. If you take the footpath then you're at risk of one of the poor people robbing you. Despite the risk, many people ascend the mountain on their knees praying for something specific during Easter week.
We took the cable car.
At the top, the view of Bogota is very impressive. The entire city has been developed to support its population density. The buildings are developed so close to each other that it's hard to tell them apart. Cars are barely visible and people have completely melted into the urban landscape.
The Catholic Church perched on top of Monserrate is best known for El Senor Caido, or The Fallen Lord. Where a cross or representation of Christ on the cross would normally be in the sanctuary there is a statue depicted the moment Christ collapsed with the cross en route to Calvary.
We took several photos of Daniel with either Claudia or I and Bogota in the background. We were able to take a few photos together thanks to a couple from Bogota. Daniel enjoyed a bottle while we took in the scenery.
While we were showing Daniel the city below, he put his hands to each side of his head as though he couldn't comprehend how large his city was.
We visited the artisan shops. They were small 100 square feet tiendas with locals inviting us inside as we walked by. One shop caught our attention. Daniel was looking for presents for his friends in the United States.
The owner would quote a price per item. "Thirteen thousand pesos, but for you I'll sell them for $10,000 pesos," the owner said with a smile. "But don't tell anyone."
"Eight thousand pesos," offered Claudia. "I'm going to buy five or six of them."
The owner paused to think about the potential sale.
"Okay," he said, "But don't tell anyone."
"It's a secret between you, us and God," I joked.
After a couple of hours enjoying the mountain top and iglesia, we headed back home. It was special to take Daniel. Even though he didn't understand what he saw, we have pictures and one day we will show them and explain where he came from.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 22: Progress Being Made on All Fronts
We have seen great progress with Daniel during the past two days.
He has slept the entire evening for the past two days. This is a significant improvement from the past several days. We are trying to establish a routine and put him to bed at 8:30 p.m. He has woken up at 7 a.m. the past two days in a good mood and not woken up during the night at all. As I write this, I hope I'm not jinxing us for tonight!
Daniel is also feeling better. He still has a cough and a little bit of congestion. It is much better than last week though.
He plays with each of us. Today he sought me out a lot! It was great to look down and see him climbing up my leg several times. Most of his moody outbursts are simply normal for a child his age. On the other hand, he occassionally has a preference still for Claudia. This is normal for a child recently adopted. They are experiencing a lot of changes in their lives and many children only have the ability to "open up" or connect with one person at a time.
After talking with our social worker in Nashville, we have noticed a few behaviours that could be him grieving the loss of his foster mother and best friend. We noticed he moves around a lot while sleeping. Many children don't sleep well and their grief is manifested in light sleeping or tossing and turning.
We still don't have a return date yet but hope to know something next week. Our attorney needs about two weeks after our Integration Meeting (which was held 6/9) to do several legal "things" for our case. We still hope to be home first of July.
We were hoping to visit Monserrate, a huge mountain that dominates the city's landscape. There is a beautiful Catholic church on top of the mountain known for having one of the few, if not only, statues of Christ at the moment he collapsed carrying the cross. In fact, the city lays along the bottom of a few tall mountain tops that are visible from almost anywhere in the city. Click here to learn more about Monserrate: Information about Monserrate.
Unforutnately, the weather didn't cooperate with us because it was raining some during the day. Hopefully we can visit it tomorrow.
Adios!
He has slept the entire evening for the past two days. This is a significant improvement from the past several days. We are trying to establish a routine and put him to bed at 8:30 p.m. He has woken up at 7 a.m. the past two days in a good mood and not woken up during the night at all. As I write this, I hope I'm not jinxing us for tonight!
Daniel is also feeling better. He still has a cough and a little bit of congestion. It is much better than last week though.
He plays with each of us. Today he sought me out a lot! It was great to look down and see him climbing up my leg several times. Most of his moody outbursts are simply normal for a child his age. On the other hand, he occassionally has a preference still for Claudia. This is normal for a child recently adopted. They are experiencing a lot of changes in their lives and many children only have the ability to "open up" or connect with one person at a time.
After talking with our social worker in Nashville, we have noticed a few behaviours that could be him grieving the loss of his foster mother and best friend. We noticed he moves around a lot while sleeping. Many children don't sleep well and their grief is manifested in light sleeping or tossing and turning.
We still don't have a return date yet but hope to know something next week. Our attorney needs about two weeks after our Integration Meeting (which was held 6/9) to do several legal "things" for our case. We still hope to be home first of July.
We were hoping to visit Monserrate, a huge mountain that dominates the city's landscape. There is a beautiful Catholic church on top of the mountain known for having one of the few, if not only, statues of Christ at the moment he collapsed carrying the cross. In fact, the city lays along the bottom of a few tall mountain tops that are visible from almost anywhere in the city. Click here to learn more about Monserrate: Information about Monserrate.
Unforutnately, the weather didn't cooperate with us because it was raining some during the day. Hopefully we can visit it tomorrow.
Adios!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 21: Looking for Positive Signs
Occasionally it is hard to be positive when you don't know exactly what signs to look for.
We are 95 percent positive every day, but there are little things that stick in the back of our minds and occasionally build up. Our attachment with Daniel, or sometimes the lack thereof, and his persistent congestion and cough are sources of frustration.
We've not had very many good night sleeps since Encuentro Day. That has been somewhat expected. Daniel wakes up crying, sometimes a lot, during the night. Ninety percent of the time we believe it is because he is sick. Sometimes we feel as though he may be grieving the loss of his foster mother and best friend, who was adopted the same week as Daniel.
The hard thing is we can't really tell the difference. It's just too early to tell.
Last night was somewhat of a low point. Daniel constantly wanted to be with Claudia. He only wanted to be with me when she was within eyesight. If she wasn't, then he crawled to find her. He also threw up his milk. He cried on and off until four o'clock in the morning.
Each day we give him medicine using an inhaler and mask, and use saline solution and a suction bulb to help his breathing. In order to do both, we have to restrain him. He pretty much melts down every time. I feel like he hates me afterward. He slaps my hands away and wails. Only Claudia can console him.
Depending on what you read or believe, he may or may not be attaching to either one of us. What we see as attachment to Claudia may just be his survival skills. You know, don't bite the hand that feeds you. This is certainly a process. We're 11 months behind most parents regarding attachment. Our bond is still in the beginning stages. We remind ourselves of that daily.
Despite a sleepless night, we woke up Sunday and hung around the house. Claudia and I spoke about some of our concerns. We hugged. We cried. And when Daniel woke up, we put him in the stroller and went to Santa Fe Mall.
While there, Daniel played on the Caterpillar play set again with a bunch of other children. He was in heaven. He crawled in circles around the other children. He also had Chinese Rice for the first time and apparently it's a winner. He wolfed down several spoonfuls. We're trying out new foods with him because we believe he is getting a little tired of soups.
During the evening, he let me feed him almost an entire grilled cheese sandwich; another favorite. He played with me without trying to hunt down Claudia. He has started to "blow kisses" by moving his hand from his mouth to the targeted person; just not consistently. We've been working on that for a couple of days. We think he called me "Papa," also. Claudia fed him one of his favorite fruits. When bedtime arrived, Claudia was able to lay him down in his crib effortlessly.
Overall, it was a great day with Daniel. We continue to be hopeful and pray for a successful transition and attachment with our son. We continue looking for positive signs each day that indicate Daniel thinks of us as parents. This is our prayer. Please keep us in yours.
In Him,
Claudia, Brian and Daniel
We are 95 percent positive every day, but there are little things that stick in the back of our minds and occasionally build up. Our attachment with Daniel, or sometimes the lack thereof, and his persistent congestion and cough are sources of frustration.
We've not had very many good night sleeps since Encuentro Day. That has been somewhat expected. Daniel wakes up crying, sometimes a lot, during the night. Ninety percent of the time we believe it is because he is sick. Sometimes we feel as though he may be grieving the loss of his foster mother and best friend, who was adopted the same week as Daniel.
The hard thing is we can't really tell the difference. It's just too early to tell.
Last night was somewhat of a low point. Daniel constantly wanted to be with Claudia. He only wanted to be with me when she was within eyesight. If she wasn't, then he crawled to find her. He also threw up his milk. He cried on and off until four o'clock in the morning.
Each day we give him medicine using an inhaler and mask, and use saline solution and a suction bulb to help his breathing. In order to do both, we have to restrain him. He pretty much melts down every time. I feel like he hates me afterward. He slaps my hands away and wails. Only Claudia can console him.
Depending on what you read or believe, he may or may not be attaching to either one of us. What we see as attachment to Claudia may just be his survival skills. You know, don't bite the hand that feeds you. This is certainly a process. We're 11 months behind most parents regarding attachment. Our bond is still in the beginning stages. We remind ourselves of that daily.
Despite a sleepless night, we woke up Sunday and hung around the house. Claudia and I spoke about some of our concerns. We hugged. We cried. And when Daniel woke up, we put him in the stroller and went to Santa Fe Mall.
While there, Daniel played on the Caterpillar play set again with a bunch of other children. He was in heaven. He crawled in circles around the other children. He also had Chinese Rice for the first time and apparently it's a winner. He wolfed down several spoonfuls. We're trying out new foods with him because we believe he is getting a little tired of soups.
During the evening, he let me feed him almost an entire grilled cheese sandwich; another favorite. He played with me without trying to hunt down Claudia. He has started to "blow kisses" by moving his hand from his mouth to the targeted person; just not consistently. We've been working on that for a couple of days. We think he called me "Papa," also. Claudia fed him one of his favorite fruits. When bedtime arrived, Claudia was able to lay him down in his crib effortlessly.
Overall, it was a great day with Daniel. We continue to be hopeful and pray for a successful transition and attachment with our son. We continue looking for positive signs each day that indicate Daniel thinks of us as parents. This is our prayer. Please keep us in yours.
In Him,
Claudia, Brian and Daniel
Photos from our trip to Panaca
We wanted to share photos taken during our weekend trip to Panaca. We hope you enjoy them.
Just click here: Our Trip to Panaca
God bless,
Claudia, Brian and Daniel
Just click here: Our Trip to Panaca
God bless,
Claudia, Brian and Daniel
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 20: Daniel Meets Lots of New Animals at Panaca
Granted, we didn't take a long excursion to some far away place. But we did go about thirty miles north of Bogota to a small town called Sopo where there is a great Farm-themed park named Panaca. The weather was great. Not too hot. Not too cold. Most importantly, there was no rain.
There are two Panaca parks in Colombia. The one in Sopo is less than 10 years old and very popular. Colombia doesn't have sophisticated theme parks on the same scale and quality as those in the United States. There are no Six Flags, Cedar Point or Walt Disney World.
The popular theme parks are Panaca and Jaime Duke, a more traditional theme park owned by a former airline pilot and also in Sopo. For the majority of Colombians, going to either park is a big deal.
Everyone was feeling various levels of sick; Claudia, Daniel and Bisabuelo had a cold, and I had a sore throat. When Tio Alberto offered to take us to Panaca, we thought some fresh country air would help us kick the Funk.
The park is spread out with buildings separated by green pasture used to feed the animals. There are several pins holding various types of cows, bulls, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. Daniel never was very comfortable with any of the animals, but did pet lambs and goats. A couple of piglets smelled his feet and decided Daniel does in fact have stinky feet.
We watched a demonstration of little piggies run around a race track and obstacle course. Daniel had a great time clapping his hands for his favorite piggy to win! We also saw a presentation of various bulls and cows from around the world.
We enjoyed a late lunch at the park before heading home. Daniel had his share of yuca, chicken nuggets and asado meat. As we finished, we noticed the clouds were beginning to darken nearby. You never really want to take a chance with the weather here. While it was warm where there was sunshine, the temperature was chilly in the shade.
Given our various colds and sore throats, we decided to return home before a potential down pour of rain got us soaked. During the ride home, Daniel fell asleep. It was a good day.
Viva Colombia,
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day Nineteen: Daniel Gets His First Needle
Apparently it is not easy watching your child have blood drawn.
At least it wasn't easy for us to restrain Daniel for two nurses to take blood to test for various tests this morning. It was hard to hear our baby crying as a nurse stuck the needle into his arm. Claudia cried with Daniel, and I watched from the rear as his small legs kicked in my hands.
We went to a clinic to run a battery of tests on Daniel and consult with a pediatrician regarding his persistant "gripa" or cough and runny nose/congestion, diet and other questions. Needless to say, Daniel was a trooper during the entire process.
The good news is all results were normal and he doesn't have any parasites. Our doctor at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital always recommends testing for intestinal parasites in recently adopted children.
We bought additional medicine to help with his gripa and some different powdered milk packed with every nutrient possible to help him continue growing. The price tag wasn't cheap either; but so it is in Colombia. Prices here are between two to three times higher than in the United States.
Thankfully, Daniel appears to be in a better mood today. We've learned to give him his space rather than smother him with attention. He enjoys playing by himself. From a distance, we hear him babbling and laughing.
We're also learning there are some things I can do with him easily and some things that are better left to Claudia. Day by day, we're dividing the responsibilities to take care of him. The good news, at least for today, is when Claudia and I show affection toward each other Daniel wants to be a part of it rather than bite my arm. I take that as a good sign. We'll see if he has the same attitude tomorrow.
If the weather is good Saturday, we plan to visit an animal theme park named Panaca. We hope we can go since we've really not done very much besides stay in the condo and make short trips outside for the past couple of weeks.
Adios!
At least it wasn't easy for us to restrain Daniel for two nurses to take blood to test for various tests this morning. It was hard to hear our baby crying as a nurse stuck the needle into his arm. Claudia cried with Daniel, and I watched from the rear as his small legs kicked in my hands.
We went to a clinic to run a battery of tests on Daniel and consult with a pediatrician regarding his persistant "gripa" or cough and runny nose/congestion, diet and other questions. Needless to say, Daniel was a trooper during the entire process.
The good news is all results were normal and he doesn't have any parasites. Our doctor at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital always recommends testing for intestinal parasites in recently adopted children.
We bought additional medicine to help with his gripa and some different powdered milk packed with every nutrient possible to help him continue growing. The price tag wasn't cheap either; but so it is in Colombia. Prices here are between two to three times higher than in the United States.
Thankfully, Daniel appears to be in a better mood today. We've learned to give him his space rather than smother him with attention. He enjoys playing by himself. From a distance, we hear him babbling and laughing.
We're also learning there are some things I can do with him easily and some things that are better left to Claudia. Day by day, we're dividing the responsibilities to take care of him. The good news, at least for today, is when Claudia and I show affection toward each other Daniel wants to be a part of it rather than bite my arm. I take that as a good sign. We'll see if he has the same attitude tomorrow.
If the weather is good Saturday, we plan to visit an animal theme park named Panaca. We hope we can go since we've really not done very much besides stay in the condo and make short trips outside for the past couple of weeks.
Adios!
Many Colombian Orphans Never Get a Home
There are nearly 60,000 orphans in Colombia and the majority of them will never be blessed with a family to call their own.
It's a sad statistic and stark number that includes orphan infants and people over 18 years of age. Once 18, the children are left without a strong support system to go to school or find a career.
Nearly half of all orphans are disabled or otherwise considered special needs. Many times these children are never adopted and spend their childhood in institutions. The demand from families to adopt these children is far less than for healthy children.
When families outside of Colombia adopt a child they often spend years waiting. From beginning the paperwork to having a child in their arms, one French family waited nearly six years.
Why does the process take so long? Every month Colombia receives about 200 dossiers or applications to adopt a child. There are only three people to review these applications, a necessary step before a family can be assigned a child.
Colombia places approximately 1,500 children with native Colombian families (no. 1 preference) and another 1,500 children with foriegn families. At this pace, it means that if no other child were added to the system then it would take 20 years for all children to be adopted!
Knowing these statistics helps us appreciate even more the blessing Daniel is to us.
It's a sad statistic and stark number that includes orphan infants and people over 18 years of age. Once 18, the children are left without a strong support system to go to school or find a career.
Nearly half of all orphans are disabled or otherwise considered special needs. Many times these children are never adopted and spend their childhood in institutions. The demand from families to adopt these children is far less than for healthy children.
When families outside of Colombia adopt a child they often spend years waiting. From beginning the paperwork to having a child in their arms, one French family waited nearly six years.
Why does the process take so long? Every month Colombia receives about 200 dossiers or applications to adopt a child. There are only three people to review these applications, a necessary step before a family can be assigned a child.
Colombia places approximately 1,500 children with native Colombian families (no. 1 preference) and another 1,500 children with foriegn families. At this pace, it means that if no other child were added to the system then it would take 20 years for all children to be adopted!
Knowing these statistics helps us appreciate even more the blessing Daniel is to us.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Day Eighteen: Integration Meeting Successful and Our Case Moves Forward
Today was a big day for us in the adoption process and the first significant step after Gotcha Day toward heading home.
We had our Integration Meeting today at the Bienestar Familiar office (where we had our Gotcha Day on 5/30/11). The purpose of the meeting is to understand how things have gone during the first week and is typically held eight days after Gotcha Day. Our Integration meeting was scheduled 10 days after Gotcha day because of the national holiday Monday.
We picked up our liaison, Lucia, at Casa Lanthana and headed toward Bienestar Familiar. En route, Daniel fell asleep. Thankfully, he was in better spirits than yesterday! We are taking him to a pediatrician on 6/10.
At Bienestar Familiar's office, we needed to wait in the room where we first met Daniel. The biggest difference was I had Daniel sleeping in my arms when we went in the room. Otherwise, the room was decorated the same. Baby blue balloons; some of which had either popped or otherwise disappeared.
After a short wait, we were directed into a small office where a family advocate attorney for Daniel interviewed us. It was a little intimidating considering we didn't know what to expect.
She asked us a range of questions. How did Daniel react on Gotcha Day? How did our families react? How much is he sleeping? What activities have we done with him? What is he eating? How much and when is he eating? When told three bottles and alpina (a fruit flavored food similar to yogurt), the lady responded with, "He was eating just two bottles with his foster mother and I only gave my child Alpina once a month!"
After we told her he is gaining weight and we are happy about that, she responded, "We're trying to fight childhood obesity."
Really? Daniel is either average or slightly below average in weight for his age. He's 11 months and not 20 lbs.
Otherwise, the interview went well and within 20 minutes we were shaking hands and saying thank you. While leaving, Lucia told us our attorney Oscar was able to change the court our case had been assigned to because the first court had a reputation for being slow. It isn't easy to make a change like this so it helps when your liaison and attorney have connections!
When we were in the parking lot, we invited Lucia to lunch. She recommended Brisas Marina , a seafood restaurant located about 10 blocks from Bienestar Familiar. The prices were reasonable and the food was good. Decor was slightly upscale and many of the customers were dressed business casual. Our blue jeans and golf t-shirts stuck out a little bit.
Lunch was a great opportunity to get to know Lucia better. She plays an extremely important role on our behalf during the adoption. If needed, she is an advocate for the family and knows how to work the overly complicated system.
Short in stature and always very well dressed and formal, she brings four decades of experience to the table. She knows not only the decision makers, but also their secretaries. She buys treats for the office staff to share while garnering influence to pull strings or ask favors when needed. Over the years, she has become proficient at working the system on behalf of families and children alike.
Her heart is in her work. To her, the adopted children are like grandchildren. Every time she sees Daniel, she asks for "un besito" or "un abrazito" (a small kiss or hug). She represents two agencies in the United States and four in France. She periodically travels to each country to reconnect with some of her previous clients.
When we returned to the condo, Claudia, Daniel and I finished the day with a walk around the neighborhood. Bogota is a great place for people watching. There is always so much activity going on at any given time.
When the sun set, Daniel was in a better mood and we were officially starting the adoption process and closer toward returning home.
Adios!
We had our Integration Meeting today at the Bienestar Familiar office (where we had our Gotcha Day on 5/30/11). The purpose of the meeting is to understand how things have gone during the first week and is typically held eight days after Gotcha Day. Our Integration meeting was scheduled 10 days after Gotcha day because of the national holiday Monday.
We picked up our liaison, Lucia, at Casa Lanthana and headed toward Bienestar Familiar. En route, Daniel fell asleep. Thankfully, he was in better spirits than yesterday! We are taking him to a pediatrician on 6/10.
At Bienestar Familiar's office, we needed to wait in the room where we first met Daniel. The biggest difference was I had Daniel sleeping in my arms when we went in the room. Otherwise, the room was decorated the same. Baby blue balloons; some of which had either popped or otherwise disappeared.
After a short wait, we were directed into a small office where a family advocate attorney for Daniel interviewed us. It was a little intimidating considering we didn't know what to expect.
She asked us a range of questions. How did Daniel react on Gotcha Day? How did our families react? How much is he sleeping? What activities have we done with him? What is he eating? How much and when is he eating? When told three bottles and alpina (a fruit flavored food similar to yogurt), the lady responded with, "He was eating just two bottles with his foster mother and I only gave my child Alpina once a month!"
After we told her he is gaining weight and we are happy about that, she responded, "We're trying to fight childhood obesity."
Really? Daniel is either average or slightly below average in weight for his age. He's 11 months and not 20 lbs.
Otherwise, the interview went well and within 20 minutes we were shaking hands and saying thank you. While leaving, Lucia told us our attorney Oscar was able to change the court our case had been assigned to because the first court had a reputation for being slow. It isn't easy to make a change like this so it helps when your liaison and attorney have connections!
When we were in the parking lot, we invited Lucia to lunch. She recommended Brisas Marina , a seafood restaurant located about 10 blocks from Bienestar Familiar. The prices were reasonable and the food was good. Decor was slightly upscale and many of the customers were dressed business casual. Our blue jeans and golf t-shirts stuck out a little bit.
Lunch was a great opportunity to get to know Lucia better. She plays an extremely important role on our behalf during the adoption. If needed, she is an advocate for the family and knows how to work the overly complicated system.
Short in stature and always very well dressed and formal, she brings four decades of experience to the table. She knows not only the decision makers, but also their secretaries. She buys treats for the office staff to share while garnering influence to pull strings or ask favors when needed. Over the years, she has become proficient at working the system on behalf of families and children alike.
Her heart is in her work. To her, the adopted children are like grandchildren. Every time she sees Daniel, she asks for "un besito" or "un abrazito" (a small kiss or hug). She represents two agencies in the United States and four in France. She periodically travels to each country to reconnect with some of her previous clients.
When we returned to the condo, Claudia, Daniel and I finished the day with a walk around the neighborhood. Bogota is a great place for people watching. There is always so much activity going on at any given time.
When the sun set, Daniel was in a better mood and we were officially starting the adoption process and closer toward returning home.
Adios!
Day Seventeen: Two Forresters Sick
On June 8 the most significant things that happened were Claudia and Daniel were both feeling pretty bad and Claudia needed to dig into a suspicious phone call.
Daniel continues to have either congestion or a runny nose. He was very cranky all day as a result. Claudia needed to be with him the majority of the time because he didn't seem too interested in being with daddy. The face we made another big change from Casa Lanthana to the condo could be another reason why he was so cranky.
The poor guy has been through an aweful lot during the past ten days.
On another note, someone called Casa Lanthana the day after we left asking for Claudia. There was some confusion as to who the person was working for initially but as it turned out the person claimed to be with a collection company.
When Claudia called them to learn how they knew to call a hotel for us, she didn't get a satisfactory answer. They asked her for the equivalent of her social security number a few times before they would tell her much information. They said they were working on behalf of a bank Claudia hadn't done business with in seven years.
The entire thing was very suspicious so Claudia went to the bank to learn what was going on. At the bank, they had no idea why a collection company was calling her and said that if the person called again to contact the police.
We are going to ignore the collection company at this point as we are comfortable the bank isn't trying to collect money from us.
Tomorrow is our Integration Meeting!
Daniel continues to have either congestion or a runny nose. He was very cranky all day as a result. Claudia needed to be with him the majority of the time because he didn't seem too interested in being with daddy. The face we made another big change from Casa Lanthana to the condo could be another reason why he was so cranky.
The poor guy has been through an aweful lot during the past ten days.
On another note, someone called Casa Lanthana the day after we left asking for Claudia. There was some confusion as to who the person was working for initially but as it turned out the person claimed to be with a collection company.
When Claudia called them to learn how they knew to call a hotel for us, she didn't get a satisfactory answer. They asked her for the equivalent of her social security number a few times before they would tell her much information. They said they were working on behalf of a bank Claudia hadn't done business with in seven years.
The entire thing was very suspicious so Claudia went to the bank to learn what was going on. At the bank, they had no idea why a collection company was calling her and said that if the person called again to contact the police.
We are going to ignore the collection company at this point as we are comfortable the bank isn't trying to collect money from us.
Tomorrow is our Integration Meeting!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Photos from Day 16: Bye Casa Lanthana, Hello Condo!
We wanted to share photos from our move out of Casa Lanthana and back to the Condo for a Welcome Party!
Just click here: Bye Casa Lanthana, Hello Condo!
All the best,
Claudia, Brian and Daniel
Just click here: Bye Casa Lanthana, Hello Condo!
All the best,
Claudia, Brian and Daniel
Day Seventeen: The Funk Returns
It's never fun to get the funk and especially not for the second time in as many weeks.
When we met Daniel he had a cough and congestion; the vestige of his bronchitis. But after a week of medicine, he was feeling much better at Casa Lanthana. Claudia experienced a night with shivers and congestion, but otherwise felt better during the following days.
Unfortunately, the funk each of them had has returned. Daniel was somewhat cranky because of feeling sick, and Claudia had difficulty hearing because of the congestion. Fortunately, neither one has a fever and I'm still in good health and able to care for them.
The good news is Daniel is bonding very well with Claudia. The bad news is that when I showed affection toward Claudia in front of Daniel today, he attacked me with his five baby teeth like a piranha going after fresh meat in the Amazon River. If Claudia wasn't within eyesight, he had a meltdown.
Hopefully most of this behavior can be attributed to his cold, or "gripita" in Spanish.
The morning was fantastic with clear blue sky and warm sunshine. We took a morning walk after breakfast with Daniel. It's something that was part of his routine with his foster mother and we are trying to stay as close to that routine as possible.
Actually, his morning walk was described as a "vueltica" or short trip, in the information we received from the foster mother. Now we understand.
We put him into his stroller, or "coche" in Spanish, (again... Thanks Nana!). Daniel was sound asleep within minutes of leaving the condo. We found a nearby park and sat on a bench and enjoyed the great sun and temperature.
In the afternoon, we spent a couple of hours at Santa Fe Mall. They have a huge play Catepillar children can crawl through. Daniel was hesitant until a couple of children showed up. They ran through the Catepillar tunnel and before you know it, Daniel was all game!
It's really neat to see him light up and get so excited when other children are nearby. He didn't make it all the way through the tunnel, but did make it half way and turned around. I guess that counts!
Please pray "the funk" will disappear soon! There are a lot of things we'd like to do with Daniel while in Bogota but don't feel comfortable doing them because the weather isn't great if you are sick.
Adios!
When we met Daniel he had a cough and congestion; the vestige of his bronchitis. But after a week of medicine, he was feeling much better at Casa Lanthana. Claudia experienced a night with shivers and congestion, but otherwise felt better during the following days.
Unfortunately, the funk each of them had has returned. Daniel was somewhat cranky because of feeling sick, and Claudia had difficulty hearing because of the congestion. Fortunately, neither one has a fever and I'm still in good health and able to care for them.
The good news is Daniel is bonding very well with Claudia. The bad news is that when I showed affection toward Claudia in front of Daniel today, he attacked me with his five baby teeth like a piranha going after fresh meat in the Amazon River. If Claudia wasn't within eyesight, he had a meltdown.
Hopefully most of this behavior can be attributed to his cold, or "gripita" in Spanish.
The morning was fantastic with clear blue sky and warm sunshine. We took a morning walk after breakfast with Daniel. It's something that was part of his routine with his foster mother and we are trying to stay as close to that routine as possible.
Actually, his morning walk was described as a "vueltica" or short trip, in the information we received from the foster mother. Now we understand.
We put him into his stroller, or "coche" in Spanish, (again... Thanks Nana!). Daniel was sound asleep within minutes of leaving the condo. We found a nearby park and sat on a bench and enjoyed the great sun and temperature.
In the afternoon, we spent a couple of hours at Santa Fe Mall. They have a huge play Catepillar children can crawl through. Daniel was hesitant until a couple of children showed up. They ran through the Catepillar tunnel and before you know it, Daniel was all game!
It's really neat to see him light up and get so excited when other children are nearby. He didn't make it all the way through the tunnel, but did make it half way and turned around. I guess that counts!
Please pray "the funk" will disappear soon! There are a lot of things we'd like to do with Daniel while in Bogota but don't feel comfortable doing them because the weather isn't great if you are sick.
Adios!
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