king family adoption journey

A few pics of Caroline

2008-07-17T19:21:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Attached our a few pics from her first days home. Enjoy. She is still doing great and becoming more adjusted to us everyday. Love to all, Sarah and Jamey

Caroline is Home

2008-07-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Caroline has been home now for a little over 72 hours and she is doing great. It is like she has always been here. I was so afraid that she would be scared and would not adjust well to our family and she has been a perfect angel. She is eating and sleeping well and Harrison is very proud to have a baby sister. He wanted to take her for show and tell at school. :) I promise to post pics soon, we have just been very busy since she got here. Love to all, Sarah and Jamey

The Best News of All

2008-07-02T18:31:00.001-07:00

She is finally coming home!!!!!!!
Jamey and his mom are leaving on Monday morning to head to Guatemala City to bring home our daughter. That sounds so great to say that. They will have her final appointment for her passport and Visa on Tuesday morning and then they will be able to pick everything up on Wednesday. They will be on their way home on Thursday at noon. She will be in our home forever at 10 pm on Thursday evening. I can't believe this journey is finally coming to an end and opening a new door to a wonderful beginning. We are all hoping and praying that baby King stays put at least until Dad gets home next Thursday. I promise to post her return photos once she is here. Thank you all who have prayed for her and followed this journey.

Love,
Sarah and Jamey

An Adoption Poem

2008-06-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

I found this today and I thought you all might enjoy reading it. We are hoping to hear by the end of the week that Caroline will be here by then of next week. We have been very busy getting ready.

Legacy of the Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other,
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make yours one.
The first gave you a need for love and the second was there to give it.

The first gave you life and the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.
One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

One gave you up, it was all that she could do.
The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears, the age old question through the years.
Heredity or environment, which are you the product of?

Both, my darling, both.
They're just different kinds of love.

- Author unknown

Just a few more weeks

2008-06-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

We have received a few updates from our agency in the last two weeks since exiting PGN. On June 3rd our final adoption decree was signed which legally makes her ours. We then received our new birth certificate on 6/13 and then we received our orange sheet today. Our agency is hoping that her DNA test will be taken by the end of the week which could put us receiving our Pink sheet sometime toward the end of June. Right now I am guessing that she will be coming home the week of 7/7. I will let you all know as soon as we hear. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Sarah and Jamey

Caroline is Coming HOME!!!!

2008-06-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that we finally are able to share this news with all of you. Yesterday evening I was doing some work while Harrison and Jamey were on a bike ride and the phone rang. It was my coordinator from our adoption agency calling and she was in Guatemala. She had the most amazing news. We have finally been released from PGN and in the eyes of Guatemala, Caroline is ours!!!! We now have to wait for the US Embassy to issue her a new birth certificate with our names on it and a passport and then they will send us an e-mail telling us when our appointment is. That should be sometime between 4-6 weeks. Of course with our due date approaching as well, I will not be traveling to Guatemala with Jamey. Jamey's mom, Pam has been so wonderful to offer to go with Jamey to bring her home. I didn't get much sleep last night, my mind was going with all that we need to do. We will keep you all posted once we know the exact date, but right now I am guessing sometime between the 4th of July and the middle of July.

With Love,
Sarah and Jamey

Finally some Positive Information

2008-05-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

In addition to some new pictures of Caroline, I have some positive information. With the battle taking place in PGN, they have decided to bring back all the birth-mothers and interview them again to make sure they entered into this adoption voluntarily. Our interview occured last Wednesday and our birthmother continued to support her decision. I was very nervous about this because I was worried she might chang her mind after seeing Caroline. I also spoke with our foster mother tonight. Caroline has 6 teeth, she weighs 18 lbs now and she eats everything they put in front of her. She is also cruising all over the house in a walker and can open doors and cabinets. I heard her laughing in the background and it brought tears to my eyes. We still don't know when she will be here, but this is a huge step in the right direction. Keep her in your prayers.

Love,

Sarah and Jamey

Political Battle in Guatemala

2008-04-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Just a quick update and unfortunately it is not a positive one. There are some political battles going on right now in Guatemala. The new president has decided to replace the head of PGN and we all think that is a great idea because he is letting people get stuck in PGN for months like we have been. The problem is that the old director is not wanting to leave and there are legal battles going on right now to determine who is going to be the director. Until this gets settled, PGN is not releasing any files. So basically we are being held hostage in PGN and have no idea now when we will get out. There is word that sometime next week they will have this problem resolved, but we really don't know. I hope to have good news soon that we are done with PGN and on to the last step in getting her home. Please keep Caroline in your prayers.

With love,
Sarah and Jamey

Update Photos-Kicked Out of PGN

2008-04-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

We just received these from our agency. It is so great to see how much she is growing and how happy she looks. We received the unfortuate news this week that we were kicked-out of PGN on Monday. There was an error in one of the documents that came from the US Embassy and it had to be re-done. My attorney was able to get it and we were re-submitted back on Tueday. The downfall to this, is that we now go back to the beginning and this probably just added another month to our process. So after many tears, I decided that Caroline will get here when she is supposed to as hard as that is for me to swallow. I just hope that she is here before baby number 3 comes into our world. Enjoy the pics and please pray that PGN is good to us and lets us out, so she can come home.

Love to all,

Sarah and Jamey

New Pictures from our Foster Mother

2008-03-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

I received two cameras back from my foster mom this week. When I looked at all the pictures, it brought tears to my eyes. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope you all enjoy them. We are about 3 weeks into PGN this time and are hoping and praying to be approved soon. The red dress was her Christmas dress, I am so glad I was able to see her in it. We hope she gets here soon!!!

Love,

Sarah and Jamey

New Pictures of Caroline-Officially back in PGN

2008-03-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

We found out today that we were submitted back to PGN last Tuesday. Families have been getting out in 2-3 weeks recently. I can only hope that we could be that lucky. Once we are approved, our adoption is complete in the eyes of Guatemala and she will be home shortly there after. Enjoy the pics, she is such a ham that she is closing her eyes and smiling!!!

Good News and Bad News

2008-02-22T18:10:00.000-08:00

Well, the bad news first: We have not been re-submitted to PGN like I had thought. This is something that has to be done for us to move forward. Now the good news: PGN informed our attorney that we have what is called a previo. Basically it means they found something they want redone in our file. Fortunately all they are asking for is a new copy of Caroline's birth certificate. This has to come from the courts so it can take a few days, but our agency said that hopefully we should be back in next week. Why is this good news, well we are hoping that PGN thoroughly reviewed our file and that when we get re-submitted we will sail right through and get approved. Because remember once we get approved, she will be coming home in about 5 weeks. Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers. The baby that was with Caroline's foster family came home this week and the family who picked her up are bringing the disposable camera's that I sent to Caroline's foster mom. I can't wait to get the cameras and get a bunch of new pics to share.

A Few Updates

2008-02-13T16:45:00.001-08:00

Everyone has been asking us where we are at this point. It has been a long winter and the waiting has been agony. We were kicked out of PGN on 1/22 because we did not have our approval from the US Embassy at the time of submission. We have also been waiting for Guatemala to put together the new Central Authority to register our adoption. All of that was complete this past weekend and we don't have the official word, but I think we might have been re-submitted to PGN this past Monday. If I spoke spanish it would be so much easier because I have been trying to call down and find out myself. If we were put back into PGN, we now have everything we need to be approved and hopefully will be out by the end of March. With all that said, who knows, I learned a long time ago that I am not in control. We will keep you all posted. On Caroline's end, she is doing great, she is over 14 lbs now and likes to suck her thumb. She also is trying to roll over and push up on her knees. Maybe she will be mobile by the time she comes home. We will keep you updated with more, hopefully very soon!!!

Caroline at 4 mos

2008-01-31T16:27:00.000-08:00

These just came through today. I guess she didn't want to wake up and smile for us. She looks like a precious angel. Hopefully we will be holding her soon!!!

Finally, our Pre-Approval

2008-01-19T19:43:00.000-08:00

After 47 very long days, we have received our pre-approval from the US Embassy. We need this to let our case officially move forward in PGN. We now have all we need to get PGN to approve us. The downside to it all is that we will have to start over in PGN because it can't be added to our file. PGN can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks on average. Once we have PGN approval, we start packing!!!!!! I hope they are good to us and keep moving us along so quickly.

Happy 4 mos to Caroline!

December Photos

2008-01-03T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Look who is finally awake and smiling!!!!! I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see her with her eyes open. I sent this outfit down to her and the big pink bow has reared it it's ugly head again. We also found out yesterday that we have entered PGN. That is the final step in finishing up our adoption. It can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks. Yeh!!!

Happy 3 months to Caroline-and we are out of Family Court

2007-12-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
What a great Monday. We received word today that we have been approved through the family court system in Guatemala. Now all we are waiting on is pre-approval from the US Embassy. Once we are issued that, which could take another month unfortunately, we will be entering PGN. PGN is the final step on the Guatemalan side and can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. When we are approved through PGN, we will be bringing her home in 5-7 weeks. If everything continues to go our way, we could definitely be going for a spring pick-up trip!!!!!!!

Have a Merry Christmas Everyone,

Sarah

DNA Results Received

2007-12-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

We received Caroline's DNA results today from the lab. This is what is needed for the US Embassy to give us their final blessing to finish our adoption. This is called PA and could take up to 60 days, but they seem to be averaging around a month. Once we receive this, then we will be submitted to the second Guatemalan court system. We also received a beautiful picture of she and her birth mother and she is wearing one of the outfits we sent to her. I will always cherish it.

Love to all,

Sarah and Jamey

What a Doll!

2007-11-30T15:59:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Enjoy the updated pics of Caroline. Again, she doesn't look like she wants to be disturbed but it is so great to see how she is growing and she appears to be very well taken care of.

Updated Measurements on Caroline

2007-11-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

We also received updated measurements of Caroline.

1 month 20 days:
length: 51 cms.
weight: 8 lbs., 4 oz.
head circum.: 34 cms

She was 7 lbs at birth, so she is putting on weight. I think alot of that is in her cheeks :)

DNA Test and Birth Mother Interview Complete

2007-11-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

What another great Monday! Can you tell we get our updates on Mondays from our adoption agency. I was informed today that sometime in the last couple of weeks that Caroline's Birth Mother had her interview with the court system where she explained why she is giving Caroline for adoption. This is where she signs off one last time to her parental rights. The DNA test was also complete and these results are required by the US Embassy. At this point, we should be out of the Family Court system in 2-6 weeks. Once that happens, we will be submitted to PGN which is another court system within Guatemala. I am so happy for how quickly everything is moving. We will keep you all updated.

Love,
Sarah and Jamey

Entered Family Court

2007-11-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

What a surprise today. We found out that we entered the Guatemalan family court system on 11/12. We have already been in a week. This part of the process can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks to complete depending on the social worker who is assigned to our case. This is where the birthmother will be interviewed. We are excited to see movement on our adoption. Happy 2 mos to Caroline. We will keep you posted as we hear more.

Love to all,
Sarah and Jamey

Entered Family Court

2007-11-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

We entered Family Court

2007-11-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

What a wonderful surprise. I was just notified that we entered family court today. This is where the interview with Caroline's birthmother will take place. Family Court can usually take anywhere from 6-12 weeks. This is usually the longest of the 4 steps. I have heard that they try and clear all cases before the end of the calendar year, so if that happens, that would be great and may take less time. This is step 2 of the 4 step process, so we are moving right along. I will keep you all updated and as always thank you for your love and support. Happy two months to Caroline.

Love to all,
Sarah and Jamey

We entered Family Court

2007-11-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

We just received a surprise e-mail from our adoption agency. Our case was submitted to the Family Courts today. This is where the final interview with Caroline's birthmother will take place. Family court can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks depending on what social worker we get assingned to. I have heard that they try to push all cases through before 2008, so hopefully we will get stuck in the group and be out in less time, but I am just happy to hear that we have made it in. This is step 2 in the 4 step process. I will update you all as we hear more. As always, thanks for all your love and support. Caroline is officially now two months old.

Love,
Sarah and Jamey

DNA Authorization Received

2007-11-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Our case is moving forward. We received word today that we have received authorization from the US Embassy to have Caroline and her birthmother's DNA taken. This will hopefully happen sometime in the next couple weeks which means our paperwork has now been officially submitted. She will be two months old on Saturday and her foster mother has now received two packages from us. We have sent clothes (pink of course), rattles, blankets, a disposable camera to have pictures taken for us, and a photo album with all of her family members. I translated everything to Spanish so her foster mother knows who we all are. We will keep you all posted as we make more advances in this amazing process.

Love to all,
Sarah and Jamey

2007-11-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

On Friday I logged on to my e-mail and found updated photos of Caroline. I would guess she is about 6 weeks old in these photos, but I am not totally sure. She doesn't seem too happy about the bow on her head but at least we finally have a picture of her with her eyes open. Enjoy!

Waiting for DNA Authorization

2007-10-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Many people keep asking us, if we have any updates on our adoption. Now that we have been paired with Caroline, we can officially begin the process to adopt her. The first thing we are waiting for is authorization from the U.S. Embassy to obtain a DNA test on Caroline and her birth mother. That will take place once our file has been submitted to family court. We are hoping to hear about that within the next week. We will keep you all posted.

1st Attempt at a Blog

2007-10-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the King Family Adoption Journey Blog. I am not very technical, so you all will have to forgive me, but this is our story thus far. We began our adoption journey this spring, March to be exact. On October 9th, we received the call from our adoption agency, FTIA with information on our daughter who was born on September 17th. Her name is Caroline Maria King and we can hardly count the days until we bring her home. We hope all of our friends and families enjoy watching our journey along this website.