IN THE HOME STRETCH !!!!!!

GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS..WE WERE FINALLY PR APPROVED FOR THE ADOPTION AND NOW WE WILL ENTER PGN WHICH IS THE FINAL STRETCH...HERE BELOW IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PGN AND THE FINAL PROCESS....
The official adoption office is the PGN in Guatemala. PGN stands for Procuradoria General de la Nacion. Procuradoria is a Spanish term that is used in Central America. Its relative to jurisprudence in Guatemala. The PGN in Guatemala is made up of lawyers, judges, counselors and administrators as a combination of the US Immigration Service and elements of the Justice Department. The Procurador is the person who manage and administers laws on behalf of people adopting through the PGN in Guatemala.
In order to comply with The Hague Convention, the PGN in Guatemala was set up to act as the central department with authority over adoption in Guatemala. In addition to standardizing the adoption process, the Hague Convention is also an effort to stop the trafficking of children.
The PGN in Guatemala is the group that receives the paperwork prepared by prospective parent(s). The PGN reviews the paperwork and analyzes it against the adoption requirements required by Guatemala and the guidelines of The Hague Convention.
It is important to note, that the PGN in Guatemala does not charge a fee for adoptions. Many unscrupulous operators will attempt to charge vulnerable prospective parent(s) for this service.
Recently, many prospective parent(s) have reported that there have been delays in receiving referrals as they wait for approval from the pgn in Guatemala. The timeline seems to vary greatly from month to month in terms of referrals. The PGN in Guatemala provides referrals as quickly as 4 weeks and often stretches out the waiting period to 12 weeks.
Called the Notarial System, adoptions in Guatemala are facilitated by attorneys in the country. These attorneys specialize in adoptions and work to refer children available for adoption to prospective parent(s). These attorneys are also the point of contact between the prospective parent(s), their representatives and adoption agencies and the PGN in Guatemala. The unusual situation involved in the attorney representation with the PGN in Guatemala and throughout the adoption process is that the attorney is representing both the adoptive parent(s) and the orphan.
The PGN in Guatemala will also be the agency that requests documents from the legal representative of the prospective parent(s) as the adoption process continues.
The PGN in Guatemala is also involved in registering the approved power of attorney to the Guatemalan attorney who will be representing the prospective parent(s) in the country. The Spanish phrase ‘Protocolización del Mandato de Representación” refers to this process.
The PGN in Guatemala will be responsible for approval. At this point, the prospective parent(s) gain the legal responsibility for the adopted child. The child’s birthmother, if known, will then approve the adoption and a birth certificate will be issued listing the adoptive parent(s).
In addition to interactive with the PGN in Guatemala, the attorney will also represent prospective parent(s) with the USCIS or US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the DHS or Department of Homeland Security. The USCIS/DHS is the US agency responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children being adoption.
From within the US, mail the USCIS at:American EmbassyU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityUnit 3334APO AA 34024
The USCIS has a helpful web site that is available at: www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/overseasoffices/mexicodistrict/guatemalacity/aboutus.htm
As stated before, the PGN doesn’t charge adoption fees.

Web
internationaladoptionstories.com
The PGN in Guatemala is the official adoption office. ...SHE WILL BE HOME SOOOONNNN....LILY GIRL!!!WE LOVE YOU.....

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!!!

WELL THE GOOD TIMES ARE OVER AND THE HARDEST PART IS HERE. WE JUST SAID OUR LAST GOODBYES TO OUR SWEET ANGEL. IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE HAD TO EVER DO. WE HAD A GREAT WEEK WITH HER AND I'M SO GLAD WE DECIDED TO COME VISIT INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING..YES IT WAS HARD TO SAY GOODBYE, BUT IT WAS A BLESSING JUST TO BE ALL TOGETHER FOR A WHILE. BUT NOW WE GET TO GO HOME AND SEE THE BOYS AND DOGGIES AND GET BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS. WITH ALL THE HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, PLAYOFFS AND STUFF COMING, HOPEFULLY THE TIME WILL GO BY QUICK. WE ARE STILL NOT SURE WHEN SHE'LL BE COMING HOME, BUT WERE THINKING JAN-FEB. MAYBE FOR VALENTINES DAY. THAT WOULD BE SWEEEET.


UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN OUR SWEET ANGEL, YOU WILL BE IN OUR DREAMS EVERY NIGHT. WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH...MOMMA, POPPA, AND FAMILY..

HERE SHE IS!!!!

WELL GOD FINALLY HAS BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER. WE GOT IN LATE LAST NIGHT AND THE HOTEL WE WERE SUPPOSED TO STAY AT JUST DIDN'T FIT THE BILL SO WE SWITCHED TO THE MARRIOTT. (THANK GOD) THIS PLACE IS SO GREAT. THEY CATER TO ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND HAVE A WHOLE FLOOR JUST FOR BABYS. THEY HAVE A HUGE HEATED POOL AND JACUZZI AND 5 DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS. THE FOOD IS GREAT AND THE PEOPLE VERY FRIENDLY AND NICE. THIS AM @ 9AM THE BABY ARRIVED WITH HER FOSTER MOTHER AND SHE WAS VERY SHY. SHE STARTED TO CRY WHEN THE FOSTER MOM HANDED HER TO US. I WAS SO NERVOUS. THAN WE ALL WENT TO LUNCH AS SOON AS OUR LAWYER ARRIVED. THAT'S WHEN IT ALL CHANGED...I FED HER AND THAT WAS IT..THIS BABY ATE A WHOLE BOWL OF CEREAL. (BY HERSELF). AN ENGLISH MUFFIN, AND 2 PLATES OF FRUIT..I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. WHERE IN 4 IT!! WELL AT LEAST SHE'S NOT PICKY.

WHEN WE WERE DONE I HAD TO GO TO THE FRONT DESK FOR A STROLLER. WHEN I GOT BACK THE LAWYER AND FOSTER MOM SAID SHE GRABBED ON TO TONI LIKE A LIL MONKEY AND THAT WAS IT. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO ONLY STAY FOR A COUPLE HOURS AND THAN COME BACK TOMORROW, BUT SINCE SHE TOOK TO US SO GOOD WE GOT HER TILL MONDAY AM..SO AFTER BREAKFAST WE WENT FOR A STROLL AND THAN TO THE POOL. 1:30 WE WENT TO LUNCH AND SHE ATE AGAIN. NOT AS MUCH THIS TIME THOUGH. NOW SHE'S ON THE BED PLAYING WITH HER DORA DOLLS AND PLAYDOUGH. (IT'S ALL OVER THE BED..LOL). WERE SO THANKFUL AND BLESSED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I DONT KNOW HOW WERE GONNA LEAVE THIS CHILD HERE AND HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 4-6 MONTHS TO GET HER..THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES HERE ADOPTING IT'S CRAZY. NOW I KNOW WHY THEY CALL IT THE BABY HOTEL. WELL AT LEAST ALL THESE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GET THE OPPORTUNITIES AND LOVE THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. GONNA TRY TO GET THIS LIL ONE TO TAKE A NAP NOW OR IT'S GONNA BE A LONG NIGHT!!

WERE OFF!!

TOMMOROW IS THE BIG DAY AND WERE SO EXCITED..(NERVOUS TOO).
WE JUST CAN'T BELIEVE WERE FINALLY GOING TO MEET OUR NEW DAUGHTER.
OUR PLANE LEAVES @2PM AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE IN TEXAS AND THAN ONTO TO GUATEMALA. WE SHOULD BE THERE AROUND 8PM. THAN THURSDAY @9am THE FOSTER MOTHER WILL BRING THE BABY TO US AND WE WILL SPEND MOST OF THE DAY WITH HER AND SEE HOW THINGS GO. THE NEXT DAY SHE WILL STAY OVER NIGHT AND HOPEFULLY ALL WEEKEND. WE ARE BRINGING THE VIDEO CAMERA AND WILL HAVE TONS OF PHOTOS AND VIDEO WHEN WE GET BACK. WERE BRINGING THE LAPTOP SO WE'LL BE EMAILING STUFF HOME TOO. WATCHING THE WEATHER CHANNEL RIGHT NOW AND TRACKING HURRICANE FELIX AS IT IS HEADED RIGHT TOWARD OUR DESTINATION. IT LOOKS LIKE WE SHOULD BE OK THOUGH. BUT IT'S JUST ONE MORE THING TO WORRY ABOUT. WELL IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT ONCE WE SEE OUR LITTLE ANGEL.

DAUGHTER TO BE???

WELL IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME WAITING BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. WE JUST GOT CLEARANCE FROM IMIGRATION AND THE NEXT DAY WE GOT A REFERAL. IT SEEMS ANOTHER COUPLE WAS READY TO ADOPT THIS CHILD BUT RAN INTO PROBLEMS AND WE WERE THE NEXT IN LINE. SO ALL THE RED TAPE WAS CUT THROUGH ALREADY AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO VISIT HER IN 3 WEEKS. HER NAME IS HEIDI NEOMI YOJERO BUT HER NEW NAME WILL BE LILIANA ROSE FORNICOLA. SHE IS AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN. WE SHOWED THE BOYS HER PICTURE AND THEY CANT WAIT FOR A LITTLE SISTER!!WE ARE SO EXCITED AND NERVOUS. SHE IS 15 MONTHS OLD AND 22 LBS ALTHOUGH SHE LOOKS BIGGER THAN SHE IS. WELL I THINK IT WILL BE EASIER THAT SHES OLDER. WERE JUST NERVOUS ABOUT THE TRANSITION. THE TRIP TO VISIT WILL HELP THOUGH.

WELL THIS IS ALL SO SUDDEN SO I WONT GO CRAZY..BUT AS OF NOW IT LOOKS LIKE A GO!!!!WISH US LUCK

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

HELLO EVERYONE. HOPE THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER SEASON IS TREATING YOU ALL WELL. WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY THE LAST MONTH. I'M BACK TO RUNNING MY SUMMER BUSINESS AS WELL AS COACHING JOHNS BASEBALL TEAM AND TAKING CARE OF ALL THE OTHER HOUSEHOLD CHORES. TONI IS VERY BUSY WITH THE PTA AND CLEANS THE HOUSE TOP TO BOTTOM EVERYDAY AFTER WORK AS WELL ( SHE NEVER STOPS). BUT WE STILL FIND TIME IN BETWEEN ALL OF THAT TO SHARE SPECIAL QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. WE JUST RECEIVED OUR HOME STUDY PACKAGE AND IT WAS VERY NICE TO HEAR THE WAY THEY DESCRIBED OUR FAMILY AND HOW WE WOULD MAKE GREAT ADOPTIVE PARENTS. 5 YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT MY LIFE WOULD BE THIS WAY. I WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP FOR THE WORLD. WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ANOTHER CHILD INTO OUR FAMILY. WE ARE IN THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS NOW AND IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS WE SHOULD RECEIVE A REF FERAL AND PICTURE OF OUR BABY GIRL.
AFTER THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR DNA TESTING TO BE DONE ON THE BABY AND HER MOTHER TO MAKE SURE SHE'S THE MATERNAL PARENT. IF ALL GOES WELL WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO GUATEMALA TO VISIT WITH THE BABY FOR 3 DAYS. WE ARE SO EXCITED AND CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT SPECIAL DAY. HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE GREAT NEWS IN 6 WEEKS. TALK TO YOU ALL SOON. LOVE THE FORNICOLAS

STILL WAITING!!! & GETTING READY!!!

WELL WE MET WITH OUR CASE WORKER THE OTHER DAY AND WENT OVER ALL WE HAVE DONE AND HAVE TO DO. OUR HOME STUDY IS DONE AND IS BEING REVIEWED AS I WRITE. WE SHOULD HAVE ALL OUR PAPERWORK READY TO GO THROUGH IMMIGRATION WITHIN ABOUT 4-5 WEEKS. AFTER THAT WE SHOULD GET A REFERRAL AND PICTURE OF A BABY GIRL.

RIGHT NOW THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN GUATEMALA IS A LITTLE SKETCHY. IT'S A BUNCH OF POLITICAL B.S. BUT IT'S THERE IS GONNA BE A BIG DECISION TO MAKE COME SOON. IF THE PROCESS HASN'T BEEN AFFECTED BY THE TIME WE ACCEPT OUR CHILD THAN THINGS MAY GO SMOOTH. AT THIS TIME IT'S NOT A DEFINITE THING BUT WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND SAYING OUR PRAYERS. AFTER WE ACCEPT THE REFERRAL THAN ITS ANOTHER WAITING PROCESS AS ALL THE LAWYERS DO ALL THE PAPERWORK AND GET ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER. AFTER WE ACCEPT THE REFERRAL, WE CAN GO TO GUATEMALA AND VISIT WITH THE BABY FOR AS LONG AS WE LIKE. WE CAN BRING HER CLOTHES AND STUFF AND START TO BOND WITH HER FOR A LITTLE BIT. THAN IT CAN BE ANOTHER 3-5 MONTHS BEFORE WE CAN GO BACK AND GET HER. IT'S JUST A LONG, CRAZY PROCESS THAT WILL BE WELL WORTH IT IN THE END. IN THE MEANTIME WE HAD GINA COME DOWN LAST FRIDAY AND DO A BEAUTIFUL MURAL OF CINDERELLAS CARRIAGE IN THE BABY'S ROOM. IT CAME OUT SO NICE AND GOT US EVEN MORE EXCITED. THE ROOM IS PRETTY MUCH ALL SET AND NOW WE JUST HAVE TO SETTLE ON A NAME.

THAT WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE LAST MONTH BEING WE BOTH CAN'T AGREE.

WELL THATS ALL FOR NOW. HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT EASTER AND SOON THEY'LL BE A LITTLE EASTER BONNET TO GET. KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED AS THE INFO COMES IN..LOVE TOMMY & TONI

1 FOR THE MONEY. 2 FOR THE SHOW

The process goes on. Due to strict policies, we had to have our Jamaican marriage certificate updated. This meant driving to NY to the Jamaican Consulate and getting our certificate stamped. It was a pain getting through the city at lunchtime on a Friday but we made good time. After all that, they told us that they couldn't stamp it and they gave us some paperwork to fill out and send back in the mail. (more paperwork) Even know we were married in Jamaica 2 years ago they wanted us to have a US marriage certificate. The wedding bells rang again on Tuesday as we had to get married again at the Freehold Courthouse. It felt weird hearing all that stuff again. But i would marry Toni everyday if i could!!! The good thing was.. ( IT WAS FREE) Shoulda went there the first time..LOL.
So now we're just waiting for a couple more things to come in the mail and we should have all our paperwork in order.Our Home Study should be done soon too. We already have the baby's crib and bedding as well as carriage and stuff. Toni even got a little table and chairs for tea time. We also picked out some colors to paint the room. Were pretty much ahead of the game but its better to do it a little at a time than all at once. We will have a little party for her homecoming. We're still thinking of names but we narrowed it down to a few. I love Alexandra and Toni wants Emily and theres a few others. Well that's about it for now. Will keep everyone updated as the info comes in. T&T

CHANGE OF PLANS!!

AFTER A LONG WEEKEND, WE FINALLY CAME TO AN AGREEMENT TO SWITCH FROM KAZAKHSTAN TO GUATEMALA. THE MAIN REASONS WERE THE 16 HOURS OF FLYING TIME AND ALL THE LAYOVERS IN BETWEEN. ALSO THE 26 DAYS WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO STAY THERE. HAVING A BAD BACK, I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE IN MY BEST INTEREST TO FLY THAT LONG AND WITH ALL THE EXPENSES WE'RE GOING TO IN CURR WITH THIS PROCESS, WE COULDN'T BOTH AFFORD TO BE OUT OF WORK FOR A MONTH. ALSO IT WOULD BE HARD TO LEAVE THE BOYS AND THE DOGGIES FOR THAT LONG. THE FLYING TIME TO GUATEMALA IS ONLY 5 HOURS AND WE ONLY HAVE TO STAY 4-5 DAYS. THE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MUCH NICER AND THE FOOD MUCH BETTER. THE CLIMATE IS MUCH WARMER AND THE CULTURE IS MUCH MORE INTERESTING. AS OUR DAUGHTER GETS OLDER IT WILL BE EASIER TO TAKE HER BACK TO HER BIRTHPLACE TO EXPLORE HER CULTURE. OUR HOME STUDY LADY ADOPTED FROM THERE AS WELL, AND HAS A BEAUTIFUL 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NAMED ABBY. SHE ALSO WORKS FOR THE AGENCY WE 'RE USING. THE AGENCY IS CALLED HAPS ( HOMESTUDIES & ADOPTION PLACEMENT SERVICES) YOU CAN LOOK THEM UP ON LINE.
ACTUALLY SHE WAS HERE YESTERDAY TO DO OUR 2ND SESSION. SHE SPENT AN HOUR WITH ME ALONE AND THAN AN HOUR WITH TONI, THAN AN HOUR WITH THE BOTH OF US TOGETHER. SHE ASKED ABOUT OUR CHILDHOODS AND HOW WE DISCIPLINE THE CHILDREN AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SHE WILL BE BACK FRIDAY TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME WITH THE BOYS TO SEE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT US AND WHAT WERE DOING. IM SURE EVERYTHING WILL GO SMOOTHE.
I'M LEAVING FOR TAMPA TOMORROW FOR 2 WEEKS TO GO WORK ON A DEMOLITION IN A BIG POWERHOUSE RIGHT ON THE TAMPA BAY.
I WILL BE HOME FOR 2 WEEKS AND THAN GO BACK FOR 2 WEEKS TO FINISH THE JOB.
AND LUCKY ME CAUSE THE YANKS JUST STARTED SPRING TRAINING TODAY AND I HAVE ALL WEEKEND TO GO TO LEGENDS FIELD AND TRY TO SCORE SOME AUTOGRAPHS. I'M BRINGING MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND MY LAPTOP SO I'LL SEND ANY GOOD PHOTOS TO ALL THE YANKEES FANS. ALSO I'M GONNA TRY TO GET A LITTLE FISHING IN TOO. MYS WELL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRIP RIGHT. ITS ALL PAID FOR..LOL..WELL I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT AND NOW THE BALL IS ROLLING. I WILL KEEP UPDATING THIS SITE AS THE DETAILS COME IN.
TALK TO YA ALL SOON...KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS..GO YANKEES!!

FIRST VISIT

TODAY WAS THE FIRST VISIT FROM THE HOME STUDY LADY AND ALL WENT WELL. SHE SPENT AN HOUR WITH US AND JUST ASKED VARIOUS QUESTIONS.
LIKE HOW WE MET, AND HOW THE KIDS FEEL ABOUT THE ADOPTION. WHY WE WANTED TO ADOPT, AND IF GENDER OR AGE MATTERED.
SHE ASKED WHAT MADE ME WANT TO MARRY TONI SO QUICK AND I SAID BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU MEET A BEAUTIFUL, CARING, SHARING, GREAT GIRL THAT'S SINGLE. I TOLD HER IT WAS LIKE LOCKING IN A GREAT INTEREST RATE. LOL. ANYWAY, SHE WILL BE BACK MONDAY TO SPEND AN HOUR WITH ME ALONE AND THAN TONI. THAN SHE WILL SPEND ANOTHER HOUR WITH US BOTH TOGETHER. SHE WILL THAN COME BACK NEXT WEEK TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE KIDS AND WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE.
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT ALL GOES ON THE NEXT ROUND..SEE YA SOON..T&T

HOME STUDY

MOVIN ALONG..THE HOME STUDY LADY IS COMING OVER TOMMORROW AT 4:30 PM.HAVE TO GET THE HOUSE CLEAN AFTER HAVING NO POWER FOR 2 DAYS DUE TO THE ICE STORM WE HAD. ALSO HAVE TO GET HOLE IN ROOF PATCHED FROM FALLEN TREE LIMBS.ANYWAY, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO GET THE BALL ROLLIN. WILL LET U KNOW HOW EVERYTHING GOES. T&T

OUR FIRST BLOG

Hello everyone we would like to introduce ourselves, we are Tom and Toni from New Jersey. We have just begun the long, long loonnnggg process of adopting from Kaz. We've been reading all the blogs and find them very interesting and informative. My wife has even spoke to Kim Penman who has been a wealth of information. I'm sure down the road we will speak with others who have used this agency and look forward to hearing all about your journeys. We have 2 sons age 5 and 7. 4 dogs- 2 chocolate labs, a maltese, and a yorkshire terrier. You can say it is a pretty full house, but it is missing 1 thing. A baby girl, and that is what we plan on getting , hopefully. We have sent in our application and completed our paperwork for the home study so were really in the beginning process. We are very excited and nervous. As it seems to be a long and stressful journey ahead of us. We look forward to sharing our entire journey, start to finish with you. Please feel free to forward any helpful information. Talk to ya soon. Love Tommy&Toni