An Attempt at Updating

I haven't been posting much about the situation with Guatemalan adoptions because frankly it changes everyday, literally. One day we'll read something that sounds promising and within 24 hours it changes. The current status is that there has still not been a final vote on the Ortega Bill. This is the bill that will change the process of adopting from Guatemala from a notarial system (as our case is, using an attorney) to one going through a centralized government institution - similar to the China process. Obviously there are many pros and cons to both systems, the system through lawyers has been wrought with corruption and each case proceeds on its own time frame, often inexplicably delayed for minor reasons. The con to a centralized system is that the children would no longer be in lawyer-funded foster care, but orphanages. This is just one example of a very complicated situation.

The big question has been, when they enact the new laws (which they have said will take place 1/1/08) will the currently in process cases continue under the laws in which they began or will we lose our referrals and fees paid. Scary. We've been on the edge of our seats waiting for an answer to this question for over two months now.
First we heard that an amendments were being added to the bill and would be voted on 11/14. Well, each day since then, we've heard "they're voting today", "they're not voting today". It never seems to end. As of today, Guatemala's congress is on recess and is supposed to hold a special session sometime in the next two weeks to resolve the issue. It is a little disconcerting that they may pass huge changes to their adoption laws that go into affect two weeks later. At some point they wanted to change they date from 1/1/08 to 4/1/08 but our government (gee thanks) went down there and talked them out of it!!!

The good news is, it is strongly believed that the amendments will include a grandfather clause so that in-process cases will not be terminated. I just want to see it happen. The other good news, our case has been in PGN (the big-kahoona Guatemalan court) since 10/25 and we are on step 2 of 3 steps. If we don't get a "previo" or kick-out (we already had one) then hopefully we'll be "Out" soon. Once you're out, the birth mother must sign-off one last time, a new birth certificate is issued with our names as parents, and a final DNA is performed to confirm that he is the original child DNA-tested. Then, FINALLY, we go to Guatemala and bring Aidan home.

So please keep sending us your prayers and good-thoughts that not only do we get through the process soon, but that they pass the grandfather clause and no new requirements are necessary.

Here is Aidan's six month update picture. What a smile!