July 31-medical and legal updates

I received a medical update on Dillon today. I don't think it came from Dr. Montiel (his regular doctor) however it shows him weighing 19 pounds 8 ounces. Height and all other "info" was the same. I would guess in a couple of weeks he will see Dr. Montiel. The pictures weren't the best but better than none! We also received an email from our Adoption Supervisors, saying we have been submitted to the courts. If I understand correctly, our attorneys asked a well known adoption attorney to handle this. The Adoption Supervisors thought this was a good move. Hopefully we get good news soon. I think we are now at a point where we "sit and wait". Like we haven't done that enough. I will post any new info.

We're home,without Dillon of course- July 25, 2007

Here is another picture of Dillon. One of probably 100! As we mentioned our case has been kicked out of PGN yet again. This (PGN) has been going on since January 9. Our lawyers (in Guatemala) have finally had it, with good reason. So now they are taking a different approach called Judicial Review. We know very little about this process because we don't think it is done often, but we could be wrong. With Judicial Review, a judge decides on our case and we never deal with PGN again. Sounds easy however if the judge decides against the adoption, it is over. Dillon does not come home-ever. So it is risky, however our lawyers and our Adoption Supervisors feel we have a good case. The lawyers are still waiting on a final payment so we don't think they would risk it if they didn't think it was going to go through. We have been told that there is nothing wrong with any paper work and it seems that PGN is just stalling our case for whatever reason. We are sure we are not the only ones. We have not been submitted to the judge yet, we guess soon. This process can be over in as little as 4 weeks, then 4 weeks for the embassy appointment or it can take longer. With our luck, I bet longer. Now we all need to keep our fingers crossed and hope that the judge approves our case.

last day with Dillon for a while

Dillon is tired of waiting and tried to see if he could fit in the suitcase to make the trip home !

After our last breakfast together, for a while, we had a picture taken of the three of us.

growling July 21, 2007

splashing in Marriott pool - July 20, 2007

Dillon had a great time splashing in the pool today. He was a little hesitant of the water at first, but quickly came to enjoy it ! He really likes to splash with his hands.

Visit trip July 20, 2007

Things are going well. Dillon is very easy going, and happy. Last night he woke up once but went back to sleep after a bottle. He only takes one nap a day and yesterday he only slept for a half hour (normally 2 hours at his home) and was still happy. Sleeping in a strange crib will get easier for him. No food poisoning yet!

Visit trip July 19,2007

Chloe and Hannah at swimming lessons

I have no new news about the adoption however the girls are doing great at Hebron Camp. They go there for swimming lessons Monday thru Friday for three weeks. Hannah wasn't going to take lessons this year but changed her mind the first day after watching Chloe. This is Chloe's third year.

Bad news-July 6

We were just informed that we got another previo (kicked out of PGN). Apparently our reviewer, who was supposedly a great reviewer isn't. She now feels that the bio moms signatures don't match and they must be redone. Getting the bio mom to the appointments is like pulling teeth. Last time she had to redo the interview it took 3 months. Now that this has happened we have no idea when Dillon will be home. The bio mom is so unreliable. Our adoption supervisors say they believe that all these previos are due to anti adoption feelings in Guatemala. Call me wrong but aren't the adoptions putting food on alot of people's tables?

July 5- 12 months

Here is an update on Dillon. He is walking hanging on to things, eating well and has a very good pincher grasp. His measurements are 18 pounds 10 ounces and 27- 3/4 inches. Not much weight gain but he is probably moving around more.

PGN

Our update this week was the same as last week-no new news. Right now our file is in PGN (this stands for something in spanish, but is basically the attorney generals office). While in PGN the file is reviewed by two reviewers and Mr. Barrios-not sure of his official title. If any mistakes are found your file is "kicked out" and the mistakes must be corrected. Then you are resubmitted to your reviewer and the process starts all over. Right now we are with the first reviewer who kicked us out June 6 and we were resubmitted June 22. She said we needed a certain certificate and once that was obtained she would sign off on our case and send us to the next reviewer. So we are waiting for her to sign off on our case. She is known as a very good reviewer, so hopefully the next reviewer won't find anything wrong. After the second reviewer our file will go to Mr. Barrios desk where he too will review it and give it the final signature. Our adoption supervisors (private attorneys in Guatemala we hired to work for us-not the agency or the attorneys handling the adoption) thought she would get to it very soon, maybe next week. However we have heard this before.

Dillon is due to go to the doctor, so when I get his report I will post it. Here is another picture from his one year appointment. I'm not sure if he is hitting at someone or waving. He does look like he has had it with that appointment!

Big sisters Chloe and Hannah

I knew I couldn't forget the big sisters. Chloe (with glasses) is with her best friend Charity during field days at school. Chloe in a potatoe sack race. Hannah at her 5th birthday party at Meme and Papa Jacksons house. She couldn't wait to get baby alive from Gramie and Grampie Hanks. Hannah with her "big" catch from Todd and Stacy's pond.

June 28-12 months old

Dillon went for his one year check up, not with Dr. Montiel though. He will see Dr. Montiel July 5-or so I was told. They used the same measurements as Dr. Montiel did on June 5. This is what the report told us: he has 4 teeth, still on formula, drinks 6-7 7ounce bottles per day, eats beans, bread, fruit,vegetables,chicken and soup (is not a picky eater and will eat anything), sleeps from 10 pm until 7 am and takes a 2 hour nap. He is a very hyperactive child and likes to explore and touch everything. He crawls very well and pulls himself up holding onto furniture. He likes to watch tv and loves the Disney channel. He is very close to his foster mother but he is not shy at all and loves to socialze with other people. He is also up to date on his shots.

June 5-11 months old

Dillon is almost one year old. It never should have taken this long, but at least the adoption is moving along. This months measurements are 18 pounds 5 ounces and 27.5 inches long.

April 26-10 months old

Dillon is very active and eating "real" food. He can crawl and pull himself up on furniture. His measurements are 17 pounds and 26 inches.

March 27-9 months old

We received these pictures, not sure why but we'll take them! Dillon is with his foster mom, Manuela.

March 22-9 months old

Dillon's measurements are 16 pounds 9 ounces and 25.8 inches long.

February 7-7 months old

Dillon continues to do well. Measurements are 15 pounds 9 ounces and 25 inches long.

Christmas 2006-6 months old

What a nice Christmas present. Dillon being here would be better though!

December 6-Five months

This month Dr. Montiel is on vacation so Dillon saw his partner who apparently doesn't know how to use a camera. No pictures this month but good measurements. 12 pounds 14 ounces and 23.7 inches long.

October 26-Four months old

Dillon seems to be doing well. He had problems with his formula so it was switched and he is doing better now. His measurements are 10 pounds 14 ounces and 22.7 inches.

September 19-Three months old

Here Dillon is at home-I think. They (someone from the lawyers office) measured and weighed him. They came up with 8 pounds and 16 inches (different scales). I don't know how a baby can shrink, however it is tough to measure a wiggling baby.

August 30-Two months

Dillon has a new doctor, Dr. Montiel, who is a well known pediatrician in Guatemala. His measurements this month are 8 pounds 7 ounces and 20.4 inches. Much more believable.

August 19-Two months

Dillon continues to gain weight but no length. We continue to complain about this. Measurements this month are 7 pounds, 15 inches.

July 20-One month

Dillon is one month and is still very tiny. His weight is 6 pounds 4 ounces and according to the doctor he is now only 15 inches. We are looking into a "new" doctor.

Our adoption

We made the decision to adopt in April 2006. We knew we wanted a boy to complete our family and Guatemala had more boys then they knew what to do with. So we contacted Adoptions From The Heart and got the process started. On July 17, 2006 we were given a "referral" of a little boy, born June 24, 2006, weighing 5 pounds 8 ounces and was almost 16 inches long. After consulting with the "Orphan Doctor" we accepted the referral now known to us as Dillon Dean Hanks. However his given name is Kenneth Aron Galdemez Ruano.