Happy Holidays

Good Day Everyone and Happy Holidays! Michelle and I would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday Season. We truly appreciate the support that we have received from everyone in the process. We Wish a safe and happy 2008 to each and all!

Good News!!!!!

Guatemalan legislators approved a new law Tuesday to tighten adoptions, while allowing
pending adoptions — mostly to U.S. couples — to go through without meeting the stricter requirements. The legislation had upset thousands of would-be parents who had invested their savings to adopt a child from Guatemala, which is second only to China in sending adoptive children to the United States. Many feared thousands of children would be left in limbo.

This is outstanding news for us as we are so close to the end in the grand scheme of things. This would have delayed us tremendously.

Click Here for Pictures

this link will take you to the newly posted pictures of James on his 6 month checkup with the doctor.

James Michael 6 Month Check Up!

Below please find the results of his 6 month check up.

Hello!

I hope you are doing fine, this morning I had the opportunity to assess
little Jose Manuel, he is now aged 6months and has been, the caregiver tells
me, doing fine in ht time since his last visit to my office, he continues to
shows a steady growth and development, a bright little one he is alert and
shows interest as well as interacts with what goes on around him will turn
to sound and responds to the sound of his name, is very vocal himself and
will make cooing and some babbling sounds of his own "participates in a
conversation", smiles a lot and also laughs out loud, makes his feelings and
needs be known as well. His motor abilities also appear to be coming along
nicely, he attempt to get hold of everything that is nearby and puts
everything into his mouth, will also kick and push with his feet, he is bale
to roll to either side and attempt to sit up, if put in the sitting position
he will keep it with support around his back. The caregiver shares with me
that this little one takes well his diet and is also receiving his ordered
vitamin supplement. Upon evaluation today I found this little one in good
health with no physical or neurological abnormalities, his weight is 15 lbs
10 oz, length of 65 cms and head circumference of 42.1 cms. Please find
his pictures attached.


Best Regards

Francisco

We are in PGN!!!

We received word yesterday that we have entered the PGN. This is an average 2 month step in the process. The steps after the PGN are not as lengthy as this one. We have read stories of people being trapped in PGN for months, however we have also read one family was in and out in three weeks. We are praying for the average or less. We will keep this upto date - this is the long part of the process. Really not much to write - just waiting.

On another note, the new President of Guatemala announced that he will not be stopping the adoption process with the US until April 30th 2008. In the US news, they expect to be ready to implement the Hague Treaty as of April 1st 2008. Guatemala considered stopping the adoption process as of January 1st 2008 until the US was ready to implement the Hague Convention. For more news than you really want about the Convention and its guidelines, visit http://www.jcics.org/Hague.htm

Finally - we are about a week or so from getting James 6 month update which will provide new pictures and a medical report. Check back later next week, early the following week.

PGN

We are waiting for news of entry to the PGN (Guatemalan Consulate) for one of the final major steps in the process. Keep your fingers crossed for a quick journey through the PGN!

Click Here for Pictures

Click the link to be directed to the pictures

James Michael 5 Month Check Up!

It is here! The 5 Month Checkup Report and Pictures - Checkup below and the pictures are at the link in the post above this one. Happy Reading!

Hi!

This morning I had the opportunity to see little who has now reached 5
months and has been, I am told, doing really well in the time since he was
seen for the last time one month ago, he is an alert and active little boy
who shows interest in what goes on around him will turn to sound and likes
to listen to music, he is also very vocal and will vocalize his laughter and
eagerness, if disrupted he will cry and interacts socially with the people
that surround him, he is now able to roll from his stomach and will try
really hard to roll over completely, he also tries to sit up, if put in the
sitting position he will keep it with full support around his back, he
reaches out and tries to grab things that are nearby and transfers objects
between his hands as well as putting everything into his mouth. He also
likes to kick and push with his feet. I am told that he takes well his
formula and is also receiving his ordered vitamins supplement. Upon
evaluation today I found him in good health with no physical or neurological
abnormalities his weight is 14 lbs 12 oz, length of 61.4 cms and head
circumference of 41.2 cms. Please find some pictures attached.



Best Regards

Francisco

Pre-Approval

All - we have attained the Pre-Approval status today! This is another step in the path. It is approximately a month earlier than we thought. Next step is PGN - step or two after that is approval for our little boy to come home. It is still a ways down the road yet, but it is one step closer as of today!

Look for more pics next week :-)

Next Step

We have entered Family Court in Guatemala. This is the step where we gain pre-approval of adoption through the Guatemalan Court System. This step takes on average 70 days. Once approved we move into the PGN (Guatemalan Embassy in Guatemala City). This step is a precursor to the final steps. More information to come as we get it.

DNA - It's a Match!!

DNA - the marvels of modern medicine. The purpose of this excercise was to match the maternal mother's DNA to our child's DNA to amke sure that the woman who dropped him off is actually the mommy. In our case, she is!!!

Click Here for Pictures

New pictures available for James Michael. Please click the link to view

James Michael 4 Month Check Up!

Well - we have reached the 4th month of our little mans life. Please enjoy the pictures and information attached. He is getting bigger by the day.

Hello!

I trust you are doing fine, this morning I had the opportunity to review
little Jose Manuel, he has now reached 4 months of age and has been, the
caregiver tells me, doing well in the time since he was seen for the lat
time one month ago, he is very sociable and enjoys the company of other
people and especially to be talked to, he will responds to the voices he
hears and especially to the tone that is used, he is very vocal himself and
will make many cooing noises of his own, he will also produce a short
vocalized laughter and lets his feeling of pleasure be known. He shows
increasing control of his neck muscles and will keep the head pretty
straight in the midline when pulled to the sitting position, also when on
his stomach he is able to lift his head clear from the bed. He enjoys
holding his hands together and will also move his fingers in front of his
eyes to look at them. I am told that he takes his formula and vitamins very
well. Upon exam today I found him alert and active, with no obvious
physical or neurological abrnoalit4ies, his weight is 13 lbs 14 oz, length
of 60 cms and head circumference of 39.7 cms. Please find some pictures
attached.


Best Regards

Francisco

DNA Testing Has Begun

We have been given the green light from the American Embassy in Guatemala to proceed with DNA testing. It will hopefully be completed by the end of this week. Keep your fingers crossed!

Panorama Pediatrics Group

We have chosen a pediatric group for James Michael to visit when he arrives and into the future!

The link is above - our specific doctors name is Dr. Robert Tuite. He is a very nice person with some excellent outside committees that he belongs to. We look forward to working with Dr. Tuite as we proceed for the future.

Thank You Stacey Galante for the referral to this practice.

James Michael 3 Month Check Up!

Well - It is now month 3 and we have updated information on our little boy. As is listed below, we are in the wait phase of the adoption. We have turned in the paperwork, and we had one item get returned and two that we missed. It puts that portion of the paperwork behind by 2 weeks as it is being sent off next week to catch up with the rest of the paperwork. The INS sent us an approval letter that allows us to adopt up to two (2) children. That was also good news that has happened this past week.

The process is slow, but it is progressing so keep checking this site for updates. I will try to write at least once per week. In the meantime I have pasted the doctors comments about youn g James below - please keep this young man in your prayers as we will be on pins and needles until his arrival.

Hello!

I trust you are doing fine, this afternoon I had the opportunity to asses
little Jose Manuel, he is now 3 months old and has been, from what the
caregiver tells me, doing well in the time since he was seen for the last
time on month ago, he is a bright little one whose development and growth
appear to be progressing as expected, he shows interest in what goes on
around him will turn to sound especially to the sound of voices, he now
smiles socially and makes cooing noises of his own and cries of
socialization, he now shows voluntary control of his arms and legs and will
alternate opening and shutting his hands as well as kicks and pushes with
his feet, when on his stomach he will lift his face from the bed. The
caregiver also shares with me today that this little one takes well his
formula and is also receiving his ordered vitamin supplement. Upon
evaluation today I found him in good health with a normal physical and
neurological exam, his weight is 12 lbs 15 oz, length of 55.7 cms and head
circumference of 38.2 cms. Please find some pictures attached.


Best Regards

Francisco

Click Here for Pictures

New Photos of James are available with this link. He is now 3 months old and growing fast. Read the above information of his latest checkup!

James Michael Room Pictures

Michelle and I have begun to prepare James room. There are a few pictures of the progress, more to come by the end of the weekend.

Click Here for Pictures

Click the link to view the pictures that we have received to date. We will be receiving more hopefully around the end of the month. Enjoy and feel free to make comments in any of the posts I have entered.

Paperwork Has Left The Building

Good News! The paper work has been completed and mailed to the Guatemalan consulate in Manhattan for step one of the paper work expeditions. It will remain in Manhattan for approximately a week and then be returned to us.

After we receive it, we mail it to our case worker Dorene. She will take one last look over it before it is mailed to the Guatemalan attorney representing our case. He will check over the documents and turn them into the Guatemalan Family Court System as step two of the paper work trail. The time line is a bit sketchy from here on out as it can be knocked out (KO'd) for any number of reasons.

2nd Checkup!

Good Day All -

I have received the 2nd checkup report for our son. It is attached and some pictures are also attached. There are more if you follow this link to see them.

http://public.fotki.com/jmsutton/

Also below is the details of his latest checkup. Michelle and I are delighted to see pictures and get information, but a bit sad that he is not here with us yet. He is growing up so fast!

Hello!

I do trust you continue to do well, this morning I have just finished seeing
little Jose Manuel, he has now reached, as you are aware, 2 months of age
and has been, in the words of his caregiver, doing well in the time since he
was seen for the last time here in my office, he is an alert and active
little one who is now spending a good part of the day awake and starts to
notice his surroundings, will listen when spoken to and makes some initial
cooing noises in response as well as smiles in reply, she shows active,
symmetrical, mainly reflex movements of both arms and legs and will also
move his head from side to side. When on his stomach he will briefly lift
his face form the bed. I ma told that he takes his formula and vitamins
very well. Upon evaluation today I was happy to find him in good health
with no physical or neurological abnormalities, his weight is 11 lbs, length
of 53.7 cms and head circumference of 36.8 cms. Please find some pictures
attached.


Best Regards

Francisco

Francisco is his doctor in Guatemala - New information will be posted soon.

Paperwork Complete

The paperwork has been officially completed - we are waiting for it to arrive from Buffalo and then we will be ready to ship it to Manhattan to the Guatemalan embassy for approval. In the best case, we are about three (3) months away. In the worst it could be another year. Depends on the paperwork and how the system is flowing. We should be getting more pictures and an update in the next week or so.

Child Abuse Clearance

The child abuse clearance is that final piece of government supplied paper work that Michelle and I have been waiting for and it arrived this week. The next step is to get all of the paper work county certified and sent to the Guatemalan consulate in Manhattan for review. Then it is off to Guatemala City for their review. We are almost at the point that we have done everything we can from our side. It goes to different cities and governments until it has been approved by all. This is the long wait part.

James Michael Pictures

Meet James Michael Sutton. He is our first child and an adopted little one from Guatemala. We expect that he will be with us within the next 6 - 10 months.

New Blog

Good day everyone! I have created this blog to keep everyone that is interested in our family and adoption up to speed as it is very difficult to email every one of our friends and family. Also, because I am a big geek and wanted to see how this all works out :-). I always seem to forget someone and it I feel bad every time. So...read, write, enjoy, and most of all let anyone you think I have forgotten know where the blog is so that they can not feel left out. Thanks a bunch!

Jeff and Michelle