1-13-07

****If you were at the airport, please e-mail me some pictures!****
We were welcomed home by many of our friends and family! It was so wonderful to walk into the support and loved we felt when we saw all of you. Thank you for coming to the airport and being a part of Emma's special day. I, of course, was unable to take pictures and I really, really want some. I know the cameras were flashing...so please send some pictures so I can upload to this page.

Here are so pictures from our journey home and her first night in her crib. Also, a few from her first day HOME! We are so happy and still have that "is this really real---when are our feet going to touch the ground?" feeling. We just keep saying---"our little girl is HOME"...."can you believe we can pick her up and hug and kiss her any time we want to?" It is amazing...and she is a gift to us from God.

I promise a longer update as soon as I can and more pictures!










We are so glad to be HOME!

We are HOME

I promise to update you soon with pictures. Right now I can hardly think to type. But we are home safe and sound and ALL 3 of my babies are asleep in their rooms. Emma loves her new room and her crib.

Night!
Amy

1-10-08

This photo says it all!




We have all her documents.....we have her lap ticket for the plane....we have our LITTLE GIRL.....FOREVER!

I have so much to share from the last two days but not enough time. We are busy getting ready to go. We are packing up and buying our last things from Gauatemala to take home. We leave this hotel tomorrow around 12:00....and will arrive in Cinci late tomorrow evening.

We will return to Guatemala in 4 or 5 years. I want Emma to know how beautiful her country is....how kind the people here are....and how much she was loved by her first family. She is one lucky little girl to have the great start she had with Astrid and her family.

We cannot wait to get home!
(((HUGS)))) from Guatemala,
Amy, Drew, Emma and Becky

1-9-08 Embassy Appointmnet

Kimberly Yamileth Hxxxxxer soon to be readopted in OH and her name changed to Emma Liliana Hxxxxxer meets all the criteria to become a citizen of the United States of America. She will be a citizen as soon as our plane touches down in Houston on Friday the 11th around 4:30. We will be arriving in Cinci late on Friday evening. (If you are planning to come to the airport---everyone is invited---e-mail me for the specific time and location.)

The appointment was not at all what I expected. We had to go through security, much like the airport, to enter the Embassy. Hanging on the wall in the foyer are large pictures of President Bush, Vice President Chaney and Secretary of State Rice. There were 29 other babies and families in a small room with rows of hard blue chairs. Babies were crying or sleeping...lots of Moms and Dads tried to comfort their little one and make the time go faster. Emma was a wild little one for the first 30-40 minutes....then she went to sleep and slept through most of it...she woke up right before I had to sign the final papers and the man said "Congratulations Hxxxxxxer family. Your visa will be ready tomorrow at 3:30."
Carolina was with me and she was awesome. She had everything ready and held my hand through it all. She said do this, pay this, sign this..and it was done. Bryan was also there. He hugged and kissed me and Emma and congratulated us. It is weird...the feeling of standing there and knowing that it is offically over. After all the time, worry and stress our journey to bring Emma home is about to end. In 2 days, we will BE home....that is a miracle and something we thank God for every day.

Here are a few pictures from after the Embassy appointment. (We had to leave at 6:45 and neither Emma or I were up for before we left pictures. We were running around making sure everything was in order and we were ready to be picked up. We arrived "home" (yes I call hotels home now) around 9:30.

1-8-08

TURN UP YOUR volume and hit PLAY....we have BIG NEWS



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We are on our WAY HOME! Sooner than EXPECTED! We got our appointment moved up to TOMORROW Jan.9th. Then Emma's visa will be ready on the 10th at 3:30 and then we fly out on FRIDAY January 11th! Praise the LORD!
We are beyong happy here!

We are on our way home. I will post more about flights and times when I know. We will be flying into Cinci late in the evening! We cannot wait! Just a few more days and we will BE HOME!

1-7-08

Today was a better day for us. We were able to escape the hotel! First we went to the Marriott to see our friends Jennifer, Eric, and Daniel. They are visitng and we meet them on one of our earlier trips. We are praying they hear soon they are out of PGN and are able to start planning their pick up. Emma and Daniel are the same age...I think he is just a few days older than Emma. Mom, Drew, Emma and I went to lunch at the Marriott too. It was great to be "home". We got brave and walked back to the Westin. We stopped at a little store and bought several things home.






This evening my long time internet friend, Jaimee, her husband, Ted and Isabela took me and Emma out to dinner. We went to a wonderful restaurant with very authentic Guatemalan food. The girls were so cute. Ted had a band play a song for us and the girls loved the music and singing. Thanks guys for taking me out the hotel and the wonderful dinner! I really appreciate it!






Tomorrow we are planning a trip to the Central Market. I cannot wait to shop some more----poor Rob but I need something to do!

1-6-08

Another day in Guatemala that brings us another day closer to bringing Emma home. We are counting down the days. Days here are the same...really nothing changes. You get up, have breakfast, do something while they clean up the room, back into the room, showers, figure out what is for dinner, eat, watch some TV and go to bed. That is the typical day here.
Here are some pictures from today. We did have a pretty good day. Everyone got in the pool today for a swim. Swimming really helps get the kids sleepy and brings bedtime earlier! Emma LOVES the water. I wasn't going to put her in but after she saw me swimming with Drew there was NO keeping her from the pool with us!

We are trying to teach Emma to hold her own bottle. We have been practicing...but she will only do it towards the end of her bottle.




I am also practicing how to fix little girl hair! Emma was not pleased with my first attempt.




But in the end....she was as cute as ever!

Oh I almost forget there was ANOTHER smaller earthquake today! It wasn't very long or nearly as long and scary as the first one...but the floor again felt like it was rolling and the curtains were shaking....I wanta be HOME!