Should we stay or should we go now?

Friday, 12/6 continued

 

In the pictures below you will see what kind of supervision the children had from Brant while I was posting the last blog post.  We are never getting our deposit back from this apartment! Gavin tore the curtains in their upstairs loft area.  Dakota sewed them back up, thankfully.  Reese has peed on two couches (one time right in front of the property manager).  Don't judge, we are potty-training.  Considering blaming everything on the flood ;)

 

Friday we were invited to Jaime and Stella's house for an asado.  This is what we would call a barbeque. There were many more friends and family there which added to the festivity of the night.  I am not sure but I think they may do this every Friday evening.  This is the 3rd time we were invited for the Friday event but the first one we were able to attend.  The food was served family style and was a variety of meats, bunuelos, plantains, arepas and a cake which Brant picked up at a local bakery on his walk with Jude to their house.  Jaime picked the other kids and I up in his car.  Although our Spanish is terrible and Jaime and Stella do not speak much English, we managed to communicate.  Their son, Jaime, Jr., does speak English as well as another friend who was there.  So when we got stuck, we had help! 

 

 Stella and Jaime's 2 year old grandson, Sergio, was there as a playmate.  Our children had a great time.  Little One was very timid to begin with but throughout the evening warmed up, especially with Stella who gave her Coca-Cola, galletas and let her play on the cell phone :)  They treated our children just like their grandchildren.  Indulgences and all!!  The Bigs had an ipad at their disposal and the Littles had a porch full of toys, unlimited food of their choice and a bed to lay on to watch television.  They were in Heaven!  Jude became tired and cried a bit but I was able to lull him to sleep and put him down in a bedroom for a nap.  We stayed for several hours enjoying our evening with our new friends before splitting up for car rides back to the apartment.  I am so grateful for the hospitality we have been shown.  My New Year's resolution will be to extend more hospitality in my life.  This country and this family have been amazing examples to me. 

 

On the ledge between the first floor and their loft area. 

The result of the "fall"

Remember who was supervising these moments.

Porch fun a the asado

 

 

Saturday, 12/7

 

The first Saturday of every month in Medellin, there is a market held in Parque Bolivar called Mercado de San Alejo. It is full of vendors with mostly handmade crafts, food etc.  We decided to head out via taxi, metro and foot to visit the market.  We explored for several hours.  Dakota and I found some earrings we liked.  Gavin found a pendant with a stone of some sort.   Brant and I scored a neat handmade set of espresso cups with a wooden "tree" for them to hang on.  It was a definite change in culture from the more affluent area of town we are living in to this area.  The vendors were mostly made up of what many of you at home as well as the locals here would call hippies :)  The smell of marijuana was strong.  So the Bigs got a bit of an education on what that smell meant.  Homeschool on the rode!!!  There was enough nudity that I wanted to hide Gavin's eyes in particular several times and Dakota witnessed some pickpocketing. Overall though we really enjoyed experiencing another part of life here in Medellin.  Worth noting, there were port-a-potties at the market for public use.  And they had a PAID city worker there who would go in the bathroom and clean it between each occupant. Cleanest toilets ever.   We hit up a little pastry shop on our way back to the metro and waited out a rain storm there. 

 

Everyone was pretty exhausted.  I did a quick grocery trip while the babies napped.  Today is Dia de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles).  This is celebrated on December 7th which is the eve of the Immaculate Conception.  It is the day that unofficially begins the Christmas season.  On this evening, candles are lit everywhere: window sills, porches, sidewalks, parks!  They take over the city!  Trying to do our part, I scrounged up 3 candles that previous occupants left in the apartment.  We headed out to our driveway with a lighter.  We weren't sure what to do.  So we lit the candles, said a prayer, blew them out and had a photo op :)  Of course, the evening would not be complete without a little drama.  Reese decides to play with his candle after he blows it out.  While the hot wax was still in the candle.  He burns his arm.  While we are helping him, Jude does the SAME THING!!  Once again we enter the apartment with screaming children.  I am certain our neighbors hate us.

 

 

Morning exhaustion from the late night asado

Catedral Metropolitana de Medellin

San Elejo Market

Earring shopping

The stolen, discarded wallet

She is sitting on nothing.  How in the world?

Drink Brant tried on our way to the Metro.  No like.

Me and my sweet girl

Our candle lighting

Watching the candles and festivities below.  I went to sleep at 2 am and the kids of the neighborhood were still playing outside in the street and the music was still loud and festive :)

 

Sunday, 12/8

 

Ciclovia day again!  Here is a link to an article if you are interested in reading more about the city's 6-hour shutdown of the street on Sunday to promote exercise http://gocolombiago.com/home/whats-hot/ciclovia-gets-medellin-moving For us, it is just a chance to easily push the children in strollers through town without worrying about sidewalks and traffic!  We walked from around 9:30 am until 1:30 pm.  We went by a store called Panamericano.  It was a bookstore/office supply store/electronics store all in one.  The kids enjoyed browsing through the books in the children's section for a little while.  Then we headed to the Santa Fe mall and made a stop at Juan Valdez (like our Starbucks).  Brant and I ordered grande lattes for us and desserts for all seven of us for $14.  Unheard of.  We ate outside the mall enjoying the city views.  A security officer with limited English finally communicated to us there is a play area in the mall that we could access for free by presenting a receipt showing we had spent at least $10 in the mall that day.  Yes.  Wear them down for the nap!

 

 

Later Sunday evening, our lawyer stopped by the apartment to update us a little on our process before he leaves to go back to the US on Monday.  Raul has been searching for pretzels for me for weeks.  Once he found out I love them but can't find them here, he has taken it as his personal mission to find me some :)  They do NOT exist here.  So he brought us a consolation prize.  A HUGE container of plantain chips.  Delicious.  They are Costco size and almost gone.  We have enjoyed them very quickly!

 

While Raul was with us, he indicated we may want to go ahead and book tickets to Bogota for the final leg of our trip.  We are still waiting on the completion of the adoption decree but he thinks it will happen by Thursday.  At that point, Brant will have to travel back to Valledupar to pick up the new birth certificate for Little One and our US Embassy part of the journey will begin.  If the signature happens Thursday and we were already in Bogota, Brant could get a flight to Valledupar and back on Friday.  We could also possibly save a couple of days of processing time by getting Little One's TB test on Friday instead of waiting until the following week.  He wants us to discuss tonight. 

 

As I was beginning to bed down for the evening, I received a series of precious messages from my friend Mary.  She has been through many adoptions and is currently in process again.  She encouraged me and made me laugh.  The Lord knew I needed that today.  Thank you, Mary!!

 

My Sunday morning.  What happens when a silicone filled disposable diaper is washed in the washing machine.  Fail.

Panamericano bookstore.  Little One gravitates to pink and sparkles!

Simply looking at the people below is not exciting enough for one of them.

Juan Valdez cookie

And giant muffin!!

Playset in Santa Fe before the worker told Reese the top of the caterpillar is off-limits.

 

 

Monday, 12/9

 

School day again!  Brant and I also discussed our travel options last night.  Our rental agreement in this apartment in Medellin ends on Thursday.  Our lawyer says we should have signatures by then or close to then.  We have decided to move on to Bogota.  Bittersweet.  Today while the babies were sleeping I went to the grocery store alone.  I was nostalgic about my walk and our time here.  In the midst of the chaos, I have truly enjoyed this city and its people.  I have tried to document some of the things I want to remember, but I know I am not getting them all recorded.  I so badly want to lock all the memories in my mind so I do not forget one second.  Well....maybe forget a few of them.  Nostalgia over. 

 

After the grocery store, I set out to book us tickets to Bogota for Thursday.  I booked them through Expedia so we could have the 24-hour no penalty cancellation policy if need be.  The flight we originally booked home from Bogota to Huntsville is scheduled for December 22nd.  We purchased an adoption fare so we have the option to change that return date without any penalty, although we would love to think we could keep that date!  I was reviewing our tickets to come home and realized that Delta did not have Little One included on the reservation.  Surely a mistake!  I spent 1 1/2 hours on the phone with Delta getting the problem resolved.  They told me I would need to pay $558 for Little One's ticket home. (that we were originally told we already paid for)  And they would need to issue it as a paper ticket that would need to be mailed to a US address. This would take 2 weeks.  For a flight on the 22nd.  The final resolution ended up being a $558 ticket with a $200 voucher to apply to it and they will have the ticket waiting at the airport.  Whatever at this point.  Whatever!!!!!

 

This evening, Jaime, Jaime, Jr and his wife, Sara and son, Sergio, came to pick us all up in two cars to see some Christmas lights.  Some amazing Christmas lights!  We parked the cars and spent some time strolling through the displays.  Jaime bought the kids blinking Christmas pins for their shirts and treated us all to helado (ice cream) at Mimo's.  Also as a highlight of the night, Little One and I walked in on a man using the restroom but not the door lock in Mimo's :)  The whole family has been so gracious to accept us in their routines.  So selfless.   We took a drive by the river to see the huge displays which did not disappoint!  Heading back there tomorrow night to walk the river lights. 

 

Late arrival and babies in bed around 10:45.  Overall the behavior was good or maybe that was just because I was in the car with Dakota and Little One.  Brant had the boys in the other car.  A cause to rejoice!

 

Jude's accidental cheeto attachment

And Reese's intentional decoration

One of my favorite views on the way to the grocery store

Did I mention the scuffed up walls?

Christmas lights!

Jaime and his grandson, Sergio who laughs whenever I speak.  English is funny to him :)

Lots of party buses running around town with foam shooter thingies!

Jaime Jr helping push Jude

 

Tuesday, 12/10

 

School.....again.....

 

During school, Brant took a phone call from our lawyer Raul.  He came to bring the news to me shortly after.  The document will NOT be signed this week.  We may be spending a long time here.  We are waiting on the State Attorney's signature (which I thought we already had, btw). I knew we had some trouble getting it last week because he was out of town on vacation.  Then we find out his office is closed all this week for the staff to attend some training in Bogota.  They are not allowed to sign ANY papers under orders of the government during this training week.  The best case scenario we have is the paper being signed on Monday.  Our lawyer in Valledupar insured our lawyer here that this WILL happen.  We had to make another hard decision.  We had until 3:00 pm today to cancel our flights to Bogota on Thursday without any penalty.  We know the earliest Brant can go to Valledupar for the birth certificate will be Monday (if the adoption decree is signed on Monday).  We would also start our US Embassy to-do list on that day. And that is best case.  Any signature after Monday pretty much seals the deal on us not making it home for Christmas.

 

Little One's sickle cell anemia makes the higher elevation of Bogota a potential health disaster for her.  Our lodging expenses will also be much more there.  So we would like to only be in Bogota for the required week to finish the process.  It is a gamble to move on there with the possibility of not finishing the process until mid-January.  But we had to make a choice.  We kept the flights.  We will be leaving Medellin on Thursday.  Please, please pray that we get this signature.  We are enjoying our time here so much but the kids, especially, are missing home.  There is nothing like your own bed, family and friends! 

 

We miss and love you all.  Keep on praying for more mountains to be moved!!!!

5 weeks in and 10 years in

You should know this blog is a labor of love.  As accomplished as I feel once each post is completed, I struggle to sit down and get anything compiled.  My thoughts are scattered, we are all exhausted and maybe a teeny bit stressed.  I know one day I will be so thankful to have these memories recorded.  So on I trudge!!!

Friday, 11/29

This is last day with Nana and Papa to help us!  We have been so blessed by them being here.  The kids were spoiled and Little One really began warming up to them.  She is still a bit confused about Papa being called Papa since that is so similar to what she calls Brant.  For several days, we just pointed to him and said "abuelo" (grandfather) to avoid the confusion.  We will miss Nana's lasagna, pancakes, rice and beans and all the other meals.  The kids will all miss playtime with both of them.  They will be leaving behind some things we were glad to get from home: granola bars, brownie mix and gummies for the kids and a 3-lb bag of salted almonds and Pam cooking spray (which costs $8 a can here) for all of us! Nana and Papa also blessed us today with a huge container of ice cream which we have refused to splurge on.  A 1/2 gallon is around $10.  I won't even ask what they paid for our bucket!  We love and miss you both!!

Brant took the boys to get haircuts nearby the apartment while Nana and Papa explored a bit on their own.  In the afternoon, Nana and I had manicures and pedicures before they began packing up their suitcases.  Later in the afternoon our lawyer, Raul, and his brother, Eduardo, came by our apartment.  Raul had some adoption process updates for us but also wanted to introduce us to his brother who attends a Christian church nearby that we have been wanting to visit.  We spent a little while in the apartment chatting before they suggested we drive to a nearby restaurant for some dinner.  Nana and Papa agreed to get the boys to bed while we took Little One with us. 

We ate at a restaurant called Fireburger in Sao Paulo Plaza.  The burgers were great and so was the company.  Little One could teach her brothers a thing or two about behavior in restaurants.  She easily allowed us to have some adult conversation.  Hope that behavior lasts! We found out from Raul that last week the judge signed our petition to adopt!  One more piece of the great adoption puzzle under our belts.  The next steps are a bit confusing to me, but I think these are the basics: the state attorney, the regional lawyer and the minor defender have 3 days to sign off on the petition to adopt.  Then it is passed back to the same judge who has 10 days to sign the actual adoption decree.  Once that is signed, one of us can travel back to Valledupar to pick up Little One's new birth certificate.  We will all relocate after that to Bogota to complete the US Embassy portion of the adoption which includes medical examinations for Little One and the processing of her US Passport and visa.  Are you exhausted yet???  The good news is we might actually make it back home by Christmas.  I cannot believe it!

Reese eating pineapple faster than Nana can cut it.

Crying because I won't let him eat the green Playdoh.  Go ahead.  You can laugh.

After haircut rewards

Balloon time with Papa

Saturday, 11/30

Nana and Papa headed out around 5:30 am for an early morning flight :(

We explored and toured and walked our fair share the past few days.  Today, we decided to lay low. The furthest most of us ventured was across the street to the park for a walk and some playtime with the kids.  During their nap later, Dakota and I went to pick up groceries and have a little bit of girl time complete with a stop for a snack one of our favorite restaurants in La Frontera.  Brant has been a trooper about missing a lot of his favorite season: Football!  But he asked today for me to put out a public plea for access to stream the Alabama vs Auburn game.  Access granted!  Pretty sure Brant regrets making the request. 

Tonight is what Colombian's call "La Alborada".  At midnight, the entire city sends off fireworks to celebrate the beginning of December.  And they do not stop at midnight.  All. Night. Long.  When I woke up at 5:30 am, people were still sending them off.  There is always something to celebrate in Colombia!!

Got to strengthen her little legs.  She struggles a bit with her endurance and agility.

Like the rest of us, Reese is wondering what in the world could be wrong this time?

Everyone loves football time with Daddy!

Dakota captured some great shots of the boys being thrown into the air.

The view on our way to the grocery store.

Sunday, 12/1

Today we attended our first church service in Colombia!  Eduardo, our lawyer's brother, picked us up in the morning and escorted us throughout our day.  It was a special Christmas service of music and skits for several combined congregations in Medellin which they held in the auditorium of a Catholic school.   When we arrived, they passed out little bags with crayons and paper to each of the children to keep them occupied during the service.  The thought was nice.  I wonder if they will regret that when they see the amount of coloring Jude did to the back of the auditorium chairs while the lights were down during the performance?  About 30 minutes into the singing, Reese told me he was ready to go to his Sunday School class.  Which they were not having.  I alternated between trying to entertain them and sending them down the row to their father hoping they might not come back for a while!  I really enjoyed the music even if the skit was nearly impossible for any of us to follow. 

As we were leaving the building, people were outside passing out cookies, juice boxes and chips to the kids.  They are so sweet about catering to the children.  We loaded up again in Eduardo's vehicle and headed out for a "typical" Colombian lunch at a local restaurant with all of Eduardo's family.  We were quite the large group!  We ordered a huge platter of different meats and plantains for our family to share.  It was delicious as we expected it to be!  After our lunch was complete, we drove further out of Medellin to Caldas where Eduardo and his wife have their weekend cottage.  During the week, they reside in an apartment about 2 blocks from ours.  But every Friday afternoon, they leave the city for their weekend retreat which they built in 1981.  Eduardo's two daughters, his future son-in-law, Raul, Blanca (another sister) and her husband also came along.  It was such a pleasant, peaceful, and beautiful home.  The kids romped and played while we were treated to coffee, cake and some relaxation away from the bustle of town.  Jude napped on a bed inside until the family's cat snuggled up with him and woke him.  Reese spent the afternoon trying to escape their three large, but friendly, dogs.  He was not impressed by their friendliness.  We could tell the rain was heading in so around 4:30 we started back for our apartment.  Two miles from home, Reese could no longer play nice.  The pleasant ride ended with him laying in the floorboard of the back seat on top of all our feet screaming at the top of his lungs.  This was not long after Eduardo commented on how well-behaved the children are :)

When we arrived at the apartment and stepped off the elevator on our floor, we stepped right into a HUGE puddle of water.  There was not a dry spot between the elevator and our door.  We waded through as best we could.  Actually, Jude stomped through.  Thanks Jude.  It was even worse when we got in the apartment.  The bathroom that had previously had a leak in the ceiling had a much worse leak.  Completely flooded.  It didn't stop there.  Our master bathroom, also completely flooded. And the rain was actually pouring in the ceiling of the master bedroom.  I attempted to call the manager of the property and could not get an answer on any of the phone numbers I had for him.  I shot off a quick email.  He responded saying he was on his way to Sweden.  It  might be Monday before anyone could come out.  The upside, we did not even need the sound machine that night in the  bedroom.  Natural sound machine from the rain hitting the hardwoods.



Jude during church

 

The auditorium for the Christmas service

Eduardo and his buddies!

The pictures of their home do not do it justice.  It was exquisite.

 

Monday, 12/2

Woke up this morning to a loud crash.  That would be part of the master bathroom ceiling falling in.  Happy Monday morning!  Schoolwork with the Bigs took up most of the day.  During the baby's naps, Brant and Gavin did the grocery run and picked up this week's penicillin for Little One. 

Later that evening, Dakota, Gavin and I were picked up by Eduardo's wife to head to a local mall, El Tosoro, for a Christmas concert sponsored by the Medellin Rotary Club.  I was so tired before we left, I really dreaded going.  But afterward, I was so pleased I went.  There were 9 vocalists (one who danced for some of the songs), a conductor/violinist and a second violinist who is the conductor for the Medellin Philharmonic.  The music was beautiful.  Much was familiar, but some were traditional Colombian Christmas songs that I was happy to become acquainted with.  We had wonderful seats on the 3rd row thanks to Raul arriving early to save them for us.  I was surprised how many young children were there for a 7:30 performance of classical music.  But Colombians include their children in all events.  And no one minds if the children wander up to the stage, dance around or talk during the performance.  They are allowed to be kids and the parents are not judged.  Love that. 

My Monday morning wake up call

 

Worth mentioning that I just love the parking system at the mall.  Each entrance tells you how many parking spaces are available in that section of the garage.  You can also look down each row and see if there is a space open based on the green or red lights above the cars instead of having to drive down the row searching for a space! 

 Tuesday, 12/3

Decided to try out a 3rd mall today in the city just to get out of the house for a bit.  Stir crazy does not begin to describe the feelings of us all!  Today's adventure was a walk to the Oviedo mall.  We found Dakota a skirt and Gavin a shirt since we are all tired of seeing each other in the same 3-4 outfits!  I also happened upon a music store where I purchased a children's Christmas cd with some of the traditional Colombian music I had heard the night before.  We want to incorporate Little One's traditions into ours.  This is a great way to start! We ate lunch in the food court and then found a playset for kids in a courtyard of the mall.  The kids ran off some steam before we caught a taxi back to the apartment. 

Brant opted out of his Tuesday night tejo tonight.  He is feeling my stress and was probably afraid to leave me alone with the children tonight!!!!! 

Playground at Oviedo

Wednesday, 12/4

Enough staying at home all day!!!  The smell of the dampness in here is overwhelming.  Sent a nice but insistent email requesting the stench and water be removed!!! Today we set out via taxi and metro to Parque Explora, the aquarium in Medellin and Jardin Botanico, the botanical garden.  We arrived at the aquarium at the same time as a group of hundreds of children on a field trip.  Schools here are already out for Christmas, but these children are a part of a camp that sponsors children from impoverished areas of Medellin.  I am pretty sure they enjoyed our family being at the aquarium much more than any fish they saw.  We were surrounded by sweet children asking us questions, staring, following us from tank to tank and asking us to adopt them!  Every time this happens, I am taken aback by the openness and friendliness of the kids.  Even the preteens and teenagers seek out conversation with adults.  They are just so genuine and happy.  At first I was a bit bothered by the crowd and maybe a bit overwhelmed.  But I realized how much they were enjoying themselves talking to us and I began to enjoy myself too. 

After finishing up with the inside part of the aquarium, we found a Dunkin Donuts!  We all had a treat.  My choice: arequipe.  Wow.  The visit continued with hand-on science type exhibits outside before we left the aquarium and crossed the street to the botanical gardens.  While I found the aquarium a bit pricey on admission compared to other places we have visited in Colombia, the botanical gardens was FREE!  It was a nice stroll while Jude and Little One took naps in their strollers.  Jude's nap ended suddenly when I accidently tipped the umbrella stroller back too far and dropped the stroller.  Trip to the gardens over.  Metro to apartment with full Jude tantrum. 

When we got home from the day's activities the manager of the property had sent someone to clean up the apartment.  We can once again use the bathrooms.  They also pulled up the wet carpet in our master closet.  The smell is getting better or has at least been temporarily masked.  I'll take it.

Grocery trip ALONE for me.  I walked very slowly.

Our new friends

Tarantula

The upside to the evening included my find of these at the grocery store.  A bag for each of us.
 

Thursday, 12/5

More school.  More tantrums.  We are all done.  Brant escaped with Little One and Jude to two different malls in search of another shirt for Gavin.  Yesterday, he got blood on his brand new shirt he was wearing. I had him take it off so I could stain treat it and I put it right in a puddle of bleach the cleaning people had left on the counter of the laundry area.  Brant was wonderful enough to try and make the world right again by finding the replacement shirt.  Mission successful!!! 

I escaped to one of the bedrooms this afternoon for a nap.  I'm sure every one else in the apartment appreciated that as much as I did!  It was as apparent that I needed one as it is when a toddler does.  Tantrums and all.  *blush*

We were able to Skype with my parents a little while this evening.  Babies were tired though so they missed out on most of that.  Hoping for a better day tomorrow!

Friday, 12/6

Today, Brant and I have been married for 10 years!  We always wanted to take a big trip for our 10th anniversary.  I guess this can be considered big since we are 5 weeks into a trip to South America :)  Reese and I grocery shopped together today while the Bigs got started with school.  He loves to be the one chosen to have alone time with Mommy.  It is hard to get one on one time right now and they all know it!  The Littles have had a relatively better day today.  Everyone had nice naps which enabled me to do this blog!  We are heading out in a bit for Jaime and Stella's house for an "asado" which I am guessing is a cookout of sorts!  Excited to celebrate our anniversary with a new adventure.  I'm sure I'll have good stories tomorrow about our evening since it begins at the Little's bedtime.  Bring it on Jude and Reese!!!


One anniversary gift I received today was a phone conversation with Raul, our lawyer.  He said the minor defender, regional lawyer and state attorney all signed off on our petition to adopt.  Now we are only waiting on the judge to sign the actual adoption decree before we can move on to Bogota and the final steps of the process.  This is answer to prayer.  We could actually be in Bogota as soon as NEXT THURSDAY!!!  That is great news.  I am praising the Lord for these developments.  Continue to pray with us for fast processing.  We still have a chance at Christmas at home!!!

Please continue to prayerfully consider donations to our process as our expenses continue.  You can make tax-deductible donations via credit card, PayPal or check at  Adopt Together.  Thank you!