Finally, an update!

Hi! I figured after4.5 months, I should try to update you on how everything is going! Honestly, I tried updating a couple times, but it wouldn't let me sign in for some reason!

Raelen is getting so big...and into everything! She's pulling herself up to stand & just learned how to climb steps! Needless to say we are utilizing the baby gates a lot lately. I can't believe she'll be 1 next month! The time has gone by so fast, partly because she's been such a good baby. She's been sleeping through the night all summer & sleeps 12-13 hours a night.

She's had a couple of ear infections, but I hope once we have her off the bottle in a few months that will help. Otherwise, she's been very healthy.

We spent last weekend in Chicago and went the zoo, aquarium, and to a Colombian adoption picnic. There were 12 children there from Colombia! It was really neat to share our stories with each other & reconnect with one of the families who were in Bogota with us.

This summer has been full! We went to several parades, the pool a few times, played outside in our pool, and much more. I will post new pictures soon, I promise.

The kids start school next week, so I'm ready for some sort of schedule again! I'll be working 3 days a week, so the other 2 days I'll be home with Raelen, which will be nice.

Anyway, that's all for now, so watch for more pictures!

Are we there yet?

So, I decided after all the stress and ups & downs we've been through with this adoption process to start a blog where you can read about all the drama!


For those of you who don't know (yeah, right), Donnie & I are leaving on Tuesday for Bogota to pick up our baby girl! I am excited, nervous, scared, and a bunch of other feelings all rolled into one. I'm definitely scared to leave Reese & Logan for up to 7 weeks, but I'm excited, because I keep playing over in my head what it will be like when we meet Raelen for the first time!

Well, today, like many days throughout this process, had it's very stressful moments. First of all, after calling the Colombian Consulate yesterday & today regarding our visas, and not getting a return call, I was very upset. I finally got ahold of someone, and she told us that she could not return our passports, because we had not sent a stamped, self-addressed envelope with them! Thank goodness Donnie's uncle saved the day and took an envelope to them. We are so fortunate to have him in Chicago! The funny thing is, he is leaving on Tuesday for an extended trip, so we were lucky to catch him!

Then our case manager calls tonight to tell us he can't find our fingerprint clearances from the FBI. I know I had sent them about 3 weeks ago, but somehow they've magically disappeared. Let's just hope they reappear before Tuesday!!!

Anyway, I'll keep you updated on our adventures in Colombia. Hopefully the next week won't be an adventure trying to get there!!! It'll all be worth it when we have little Raelen Marie home at last!