HOMECOMING PHOTOS!!!

MEETING THE FAMILY AT THE AIRPORT!

AUNT JUDY & COUSIN CHELSEA PREPARE A WELCOME SIGN IN SPANISH!

GREETING DADDY WITH LOTS OF HUGS & KISSES!

MEETING GRANDMA LUIZA!

DANIELA ENJOYING HER GIFTS!

CATALINA ENJOYING HER GIFTS

CATALINA CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HER UNCLE FRED SPEAKS SPANISH TOO!

MEETING THEIR COUSINS: LIAM & KEZIA

LEARNING ALL ABOUT "BUNDLING UP."

THE GIRLS ENJOYING THEIR WELCOME HOME, WITH THEIR COUSINS LIAM & KEZIA!

MORE PHOTOS OF THE KIDS HOMECOMING!!!

ENJOYING LUNCH WITH THEIR NEW COUSINS!!!

COUSIN LIAM TEACHING PATRICIA HOW TO PLAY "GAME BOY."

KEZIA, CATALINA & DANIELA ENJOYING THEIR NEW PLAYROOM!

GRANDMA, KEZIA & CATALINA!

KEZIA, CATALINA, DANIELA AND ROSIE-POSIE!!!

PATRICIA ENJOYING SOME BONDING TIME WITH GRANDMA, OVER A PLATE OF GRANDMA'S "RICE & BEANS."

THE GRANDKIDS SNUGGLING WITH GRANDMA!

WELL, HELLO THERE!!!

So sorry that we haven't updated since our return, but as you can all imagine, as brand new parents the word BUSY is an understatement!!!

We can't believe that today is already the 1 month anniversary of when we first met our daughters and so much has happened. As y'all know we arrived back home on Friday 3/16 and were welcomed at the airport with a beautiful entorage organized by Michael, all carrying baloons, flowers and of course "Muchos Regalos." The girls were soooooooooooo happy to finally be home. The 3 days running to do all the legal/embassy stuff in Bogota, then having to wake up at 3am to fly from Bogota to Miami and then 5am to fly from Miami to Detroit was brutal, they were such little troopers, but right before we landed in Detroit, Catalina and Daniela both got very, very sick on the plane. Let's put it this way, I am now a PRO at handling 3 kids by myself on a decending plane, with 3 complaining of ear-aches and 2 "tossing up cookies" at the same time!!!! :>)

Daniela was overwhelmed and was sick again on the way back home, but once we arrived at the house, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and asked me: "Can we please stay here all day today and not go out? I love my home and want to saty here"! They acted as though a huge burden or weight was removed from their shoulders and they could finally rest; now it was all real to them, the dream became reality, all that we told them was true, they are finally HOME with their FOREVER FAMILY!!!

My brother Fred who had driven in from Canada with his family, treated us and all the guests to a delicious catered chinese meal and they had also bought the most delicious desserts and the most beautiful flowers. Then the door bell rang and a beautiful bouquet of gourmet cookies was delivered to our door, sent by a beautiful couple we know: Christina & Scott. Oh yes, Michael, my brother Fred, Michael's brother Stan and their families all decorated the home and the entrance with "USA and welcome home balloons, signs, banners and streamers." It was also wonderful to see our friend Claudia, who together with her husband Jeff are expecting their first baby. Our welcome home was just magnificent, we all felt soooooooooooooooooo loved, the girls specially, they asked us several times if this was all for them and after it all finally sank in, they kept saying they felt as though they were princesses living in their own castle - OF COURSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE!!!!!

Last week Michael and I were both very sick and I lost my voice. Thank God my Mom had arrived from Brazil to meet her new grandchildren and help us out, but a few days after we started getting better, she also got the bug. Needelss to say, last week. we were still very busy getting the kids enrolled in school, buying new shoes, clothes, school supplies and getting them familiarized a bit to their neighbourhood (the kids in our sub have been awesome, ringing the door-bell 100 times a day wanting to play - our girls are very shy, they prefer to cling to Michael and I, so we are working on them learning to reciprocate and socialize). Last Thursday, they toured their school, meeting the Principal and their teachers and Friday they started school. Tomorrow, they will start on the bus route with all the other kids from the neighbourhood. I can't believe that they are already in the swing of real American life, WOW!!! I must say, that it sure feels good to have them in school (HAHAHAHA)! :>)

Michael and I are rejoycing for we've been so busy since 2/26 (the day we got our beautiful girls), that last week when we got on the scale, he had lost 10 IBS and I had lost 17 - HALLELUJAH, WE FINALLY FOUND A DIET THAT WORKS!!!! :>)

Again, thanks for all your prayers and support. Please pray that they do well at school and are able to start learning english soon. The school does not have much experience with foreign students and does not have a well established ESL program, but the Principal and teachers are working really hard trying to help our girls and bring in the needed resources. For that we are very grateful!!!

*** We will post a bunch of new photos latter on today. We also have to buy a new digital camera, the kids "loved our brand new one to death" yes, literally, they broke it (another lesson learned the hard way: our expensive technical gadgets are not toys for the kids to use freely)!!! :>)

Hope you all have an awesome week!!!

THE GIRLS ARRIVE TODAY IN MICHIGAN!!!!

We are so excited the girls arrive today in Michigan!!!! The girls are on there way up from Miami right now!! They arrive via American Airlines @ 11:35 AM. We have a small entourage of family and friends that will meet them at the airport. I am sure the girls and Mami will be wiped out from all the travel. They arrived in Miami yesterday @ 12:30. Unfortunately Daniela still gets airsick and had to stay close to a airsickness bag in case she was going to throw up, especially during the planes decent. They went to immigration and had to present their sealed envelope from the US Embassy in Bogota. Immigration went over the documents and started to say that there were inconsistencies in the girls medical reports. They finally had to get a supervisor to "OK" the girls entry into the US. What a pain!!! Well they did it and they will be home shortly!!

We will update the blog soon with more pictures and how the homecoming went!!

Mami & THE GIRLS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO MIAMI!!!!

Well finally the family is on its way to Miami! Sharon and the girls got up at 3AM and left from Bogota at 8:25AM and are on their way to Miami!!

They should arrive approx. 12:30PM in Miami and the girls immediately become citizens of the USA!!

Once they arrive they have to pass through immigration and give immigration a US Embassy sealed envelope containing the girls Colombian passports and US visas along with a bunch of other documents. Then off to baggage claim.

Our awesome Floridian friends Chrystal & Valentine along with Kely & Nildo and the kids will be the first to meet Sharon and the girls in Miami. They will stay overnight in Miami at Chrystal & Valentines home and head out of Miami tomorrow morning for Michigan and home!!!! We cannot thank our friends enough for all the awesome hospitality we always receive when we are in Miami!! You guys are certainly "TRUE" lifelong friends!!!

We expect a small caravan to meet Sharon and the girls at Detroit Metro Airport at approx. 12PM and finally welcome them home!!! CANT WAIT!!!!!

MAMI & THE GIRLS WILL BE HOME FRIDAY 3/16/2007!!!!

Sorry, no pictures from Bogota since Sharon is having trouble accessing the wireless network and the hotel in Bogota but here is an update:

Monday 3-12

Sharon and the girls arrived safely in Bogota Monday afternoon. Unfortunately Daniela was a little sick from the planes decent and had to use an airsickness bag. After Sharon arrived in Bogota they went to the Hotel Paris (a hotel specializing in adoptions) and later in the afternoon she took the girls to a doctor in Bogota for their US Embassy physicals.

Tuesday 3-13

Sharon and the girls went to the US Embassy in Bogota to begin processing the girls US Visas for entry into the US. She was amazed when the Embassy accepted all of our documentation without the normal process of a Visa interview!! God really opens the doors! Sharon and the Girls will pickup their Visas on Wednesday afternoon at 4pm and then they are ready to return to the Good Ole US of A!!!!!

Sharon and the girls will head for Miami on Thursday morning (arriving @ 12:30PM) and leave for Michigan on Friday Morning and arrive at Detroit Metro Airport @ 11:30AM!!!

Yeah!!!! Finally everyone will be home!!!!

GOOD BYE MEDELLIN - AT LEAST FOR NOW, WE HOPE TO VISIT YOU AGAIN SOME DAY!!!

It was a beautiful day in Medellin today and we were all very happy, for it is our last day here!!! Tomorrow, Michael will leave the hotel for Miami then Michigan at 4:30am and the girls and I will leave for Bogota at 8:45am. Please pray that all will go well for us in Bogota, that I can handle travelling alone with 3 kids (for the 1st time - YIKES) and that the kids will be OK flying for the very first time!

As I mentioned before, we will be going to the embassy doctor tomorrow afternoon and hopefully the embassy on Tuesday. Oh how I am dreaming that we will be home on Wednesday or Thursday!

Today was pretty busy, packing for 5 and making sure we divided all the weight among the cases (I hate the new regulations of only allowing 50 IBS). We are only sooooooooooooooo sorry that we couldn't meet our beautiful new friends Maria Elena & Mauricio again today, they wanted to meet for lunch, but the "packing" got the best of our day!

We tucked the girls in for the night and although they fully understood that Papi won't be going to Bogota, they were a bit sad about it. Of course I feel the same, for my buddy and helper won't be with us! :<(

Oh yes, we're really happy that another American couple arrived today, to adopt 2 little brothers, that is just wonderful!!!

Hopefully, we'll still be able to update from Bogota, if not, we'll catch up as soon as we're home!

Love to all and much gratitude for all the support and specially, the many prayers!!!

OUR LITTLE GOOFBALL PERFORMERS (a bit dark due to filming with digital camera rather than video)!!!

SATURDAY PHOTOS!

THE THREE "PUNKIN HEADS"!

OUR GIRLS WITH THEIR NEW LITTLE FRIEND: MARIA CAMILA, WHO WILL BE TRAVELLING TO GERMANY SOON WITH HER NEW MAMI & PAPI. WE CAN'T WAIT TO VISIT THEM !!!

DANIELA & PATRICIA ENJOYING THE "PUEBLITO PAISA" A CUTE LITTLE HISTORICAL COLONIAL TOWN!

HAPPY SATURDAY EVERYONE!!!

MARIA ELENA & MAURICIO TREATING THE FAMILY TO A MARVELOUS DINNER!

BEAUTIFUL MARIA ELENA AND US "THE GIRLS."

Last night we went out to dinner with a wonderful couple: Mauricio & Maria Elena. They are friends & business associates of my brother Fred and they live in Medellin. We had never met them before, but after spending 5 minutes with them, we felt as though we had known them for years. They were so kind, picking us up from the hotel, taking us to an awesome Italian restaurant and treating all 5 of us to a delicious dinner. We can not wait for them to visit Canada or the US this summer, so we can reciprocate their generosity!!!

On a different note, yesterday, the girls already signed their new Colombian passports and we received all the official documents from our attorney. So we are all done in Medellin, which is absolutely incredible, a whole process for 3 children completed in less than 2 weeks. On Monday, first thing in the morning, Michael will be leaving for the US and I will be flying with the girls to Bogota. Please pray that the girls will be OK, they have never flown before and Daniela usually has motion sickness when we go for long car rides, so we hope that the plane ride doesn't bother her too much.

We already have their doctors appointment (required by the US embassy), scheduled for monday afternoon, so if all goes well, we should be applying for their visas at the embassy on tuesday and then, we should be flying home on wednesday or thursday. If that happenes, it means the entire process will be completed in less than 3 weeks, WOW!!!

The girls are very excited about going to Michigan, we believe they feel as we do and are already tired of living off of suitcases in a hotel. Yes, Michael and I are big babies, we long for our own home, bed, food, etc., etc., etc. Oh yes, and clean clothes that doens't cost LITERALLY an arm and a leg to have laundered!!! :>)

We are amazed and humbled at God's kindness toward us, supplying for all our needs and caring in such a loving way for our children. It just never ceases to amaze us how they have gone through so much, yet the Lord has kept their hearts soft to receive and give love. Yesterday, Catalina asked us: "If you ever had a baby, would you forget about us and not want us anymore"? So we explained to her that she is our first and oldest daughter and will always be such, no one can or will EVER take her place. We told her that in our hearts, God created a special place that is just hers, no one else can ever take her place. She started to beam and was so excited that no one would ever take her place!

Then, all 3 of them asked us if after they learn to speak english and we have been a family for a while, if we could get them a "baby" , a little sister? Of course, that is the farthest thing from our minds right now and poor Papi, he is already terribly outnumbered with 1 wife, 3 daughters a mother in law, 3 female dogs and a female cat!!! :>)

WE HAVE THE GIRLS PASSPORTS!!! HERE IS CATALINA & PATRICIA SIGNING THEIR PASSPORTS!! NOW OFF TO BOGOTA!!

MORE PHOTOS OF OUR GIRLS!!!

A VERY HAPPY PATRICIA - SHE LOVES THE LITTLE PARK AT THE HOTEL!

PATRICIA & DANIELA SHARING A RIDE AT THE AMUSEMENT PARK!

DANIELA RELAXING ON MAMI & PAPI'S BED!

CATALINA RIDING A BUMPER CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE!

AMAZING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, we are absolutely thrilled to share with you some amazing news, as you know, on Monday we had our "Integration Meeting," then our paperwork went to the judge on Tuesday and it ended up being reviewed by the judge and admitted the very same day (something that usually takes 3 to 5 days), then we thought we'd wait about 10 days for the sentence. Well, low and behold, this morning we were just about to sit down at the hotel restaurant to eat our breakfast, when our attorney called and said she'd be there in 10 minutes, for the judge was ready to give us the sentence TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, the 5 of us went crazy, praising God and jumping up and down at the restaurant. I gulped my cup of coffee and ran to meet our attorney, Michael was able to stay with the girls and I went to court. It was just wonderful, I signed the judges order & sentence, making Michael and I once and for all Catalina's, Patricia's & Daniela's Mommy & Daddy, for ever and ever and ever AMEN!!! :>)

Our attorney is amazed, for it's unheard of to have it all done in less than 2 weeks, she and her para-legal were also in awe, how the judge allowed me to go into his quarters for a "thank you hug" and a photo op. They said, that is never done here, for it's never allowed. I told her, that with God going in front opening all doors, nothing was imposible! :>)

So, now all we need to do is wait to receive all the official and notarized copies of all the documents, then the girls will sign their Colombian passports tomorrow, if all goes according to plan, we should be leaving for Bogota on Monday, hopefully we'll get them to the embassy doctor the same day (afternoon) and then we'll apply for their American passports early in the morning on Tuesday, that way we can possibly still get them the same day (later in the afternoon). If it all works out, we could possibly be flying home to the US on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. This is unbelievable, an entire process for 3 children done in less than 3 weeks!

Right now, Michael is already downtown, notarizing a bunch of documents, so tomorrow, we can finish everything else and hopefully, finish all we need to leave for Bogota on Monday. The girls are relaxing on our bed and watching cartoons after the whole morning at the pool. They are so happy that they now have our last names and are our daughters, forever. They absolutely CAN NOT WAIT TO GO HOME!!!

Thanks for all your love, support and prayers, PLEASE continue to pray that we can all be home, safe and sound very soon!

SWEET LITTLE DANIELA BEING A KID & HAVING FUN!

SANDBOX FUN!!!
TOO COOL WITH PAPIS GLASSES!

BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE OF THE MEDELLIN COURT MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS!

THE PLAZA AND SCULPTURES!

THE COURTHOUSE PLAZA!

OUR 1ST STEP AT THE COURTHOUSE ON MONDAY (3/5)!

ENTRANCE TO THE MEDELLIN COURTHOUSE!

OUR ATTORNEY NORA & MAMI IN FRONT OF COURTHOUSE!

PAPI WITH OUR ATTORNEY NORA SIGNING ALL THE ADOPTION DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT TO THE FAMILY COURT!

MAMI WAITING IN LINE TO FILE THE DOCUMENTS!

ONE STEP CLOSER!

Here we are, at the pool again (they never seem to tire of the pool - we certainly do)! :>)
We promised to take them to a movie this afternoon, there are a few good Disney movies showing, so that will be a nice treat.

Yesterday, we were up early and at the courthouse at 7:30am to sign some legal documents for the court assignment, it all went really fast and in the afternoon we went to the Integration meeting with the ICBF director, psychologists and social workers. The girls were a bit anxious asking us many, many times if that would be the very last time they would ever have to go to the ICBF, we reassured them and then they wanted to dress up in the pretty little dresses we brought. The meeting was a success and we were given the release, so our paperwork already went to court first thing this morning. We were assigned court #2 which supposedly is a "good one" whatever that means! We are hoping to have our "Finalization Hearing" within 10 days, then we can go to Bogota for just 3 days and finally go home, oh how we miss home!!! It's amazing, how when we're home we long for a nice vacation in a beautiful hotel, but now that we've been here for over a week with 3 kids, we long for home - the kids are so cute, they long for their new home also & keep asking: when are we going to "Meeetchigaaan???"

Papi is returning to the US next monday, we already told the girls and they weren't too happy, but they got excited when I explained to them that Papi leaving meant that he's going early to clean the house, take care of the doggies, prepare their rooms and fill the fridge with food to wait for their arrival!

*** On a different note, we are very impressed with the staff at our hotel, there are 3 in particular that we've become very close to: Olga, the lady that cleans our room, is the sweetest thing, she goes out of her way to even bring flowers everyday and she's just soooooooooo incredibly kind to our girls. The girls always make sure they give her chocolates and a tip everyday and she just beams. There is also "Guillermo" one of the waiters at the restaurant we eat breakfast every morning, he already knows what we love "Arrepas con quesito y chorisso," it's a delicious little local bread with a yummy spreadable white cheese and a local sausage. The cute thing is that they do not offer it to the guests everday, but for us, he always runs into the main kitchen and makes sure we have some anytime we want. Then there's Leonardo, a gorgeous Colombian young man (we all think he should be a model), who always helps us with taxis, groceries, etc. and sometimes when we tip him he says, not today, for I am not doing this for you for money, but because I like you and you are such a beautiful family. Oh yes, I better not forget our translator/guide: Margarita, she told us yesterday after we left the ICBF meeting, that she wants to prepare a special dinner for us at her home before Michael leaves, with "empanadas" and all kinds of delicious local foods, she told us that she has only done that for a very few other families before, for she's really not supposed to, but when she loves the family, she has to welcome them in her home. Needless to say, we are just so grateful, the Lord is so kind to us all, even providing wonderful, decent and kind people to help us while we're here. He is just sooooooooooooooooooooooooo faithful!!!!!

By the way, thank you so much for all the wonderful comments, they are so encouraging to us and really put a smile on all of our faces!

MORE PHOTOS!!!

DANIELA THINKING ABOUT "REGALLOS/GIFTS!"

CATALINA BLOWING KISSES FOR MAMI & PAPI!

GIRLS EXCITEMENT OVER THEIR NEW DOLLS!

THE THREE SISTERS ENJOYING A DAY AT THE POOL!

PAPI & HIS THREE AMIGAS!!!

A PICTURE OF THE GIRLS IN FRONT OF A TOURIST STOP AND A BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL IN THE MOUNTAINS

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!!!

We can't believe that tomorrow will be 1 week since we've had our girls, boy oh boy how time flies when you're having fun!!!
Actually, tomorrow we are already going to court at 7am to sign some papers with our attorney Nora, then in the afternoon (4pm), we have our "Integration Meeting" with the Director, Psychologists and Social Workers of the ICBF. Please pray that all goes well and we are given a favorable assessment and decision. We think all will be well, for our bonding seems to be progressing without any major hitch, but one never knows what the professionals will say.

If all goes well, then our paperwork goes to 1 of 13 courts (it's picked by a lottery system) and hopefully, we will be going before the judge within 10 days after that, for the "Finalization Hearing," once we have that, the girls will become our REAL DAUGHTERS FOREVER, and their names will be changed to our last names. Then, we can leave for Bogota, for the medical exam and then the application for their american passport and visas (hopefully, we won't be in Bogota more than 3 days), then we FINALLY fly back home to the good old USA!!!

We are enjoying Colombia very much, but we REALLY miss home!!! Mostly because due to the girls situation, we are not allowed to go out alot, so all the "Turist Spots" we wanted to visit, we were told not to go. The hotel is very nice, but after being stuck in it for a week, Michael said he doesn't feel like a guest, but an "Inmate!!!" :>)

Yesterday, we finally got to leave the hotel for about 4 hours and went on a beautiful trip to the mountains, we were about 7000 feet above sea level and it was absolutely gorgeous, we stopped to eat lunch at a place with a beautiful water-fall flowing right from the mountain. We were all so peaceful and relaxed, the girls seamed to really enjoy themselves. The girls slept all the way back to the hotel and the altitude did not bother them, but it did get to us a little, Michael had a nose bleed and diziness and I had a bit of nausea. Today we are all back to normal (hey, whatever that means)!!! :>)

We will post some photos of our trip to the mountains soon!

By the way, thanks for all the very encouraging comments and emails, it's just so incredibly wonderful to have such support during this time. Like little Daniela says about everything: "QUE RICO!!!"

CATALINA'S BIRTHDAY PHOTOS!!!

THE PERRY BUNCH CELEBRATING CATALINA'S 10TH B-DAY!!!

OUR WONDERFUL NEW FRIENDS HELP US CELEBRATE CATALINA. FROM LEFT: NORA (OUR ATTORNEY), ANDREAS, GUDRUN & BABY MARIA CAMILLA (A BEAUTIFUL GERMAN COUPLE WHO RECEIVED THEIR LITTLE DAUGHTER THE SAME DAY WE RECEIVED OUR 3), MARGARITTA (OUR TRANSLATOR/GUIDE). THEY WERE SOOOOOOOOOOOOO KIND, ALL BROUGHT LITTLE GIFTS FOR CATALINA, SHE FELT SO SPECIAL!!!

CATALINA BEAMS AS SHE CUTS HER CAKE. COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A CAKE MADE SPECIALLY FOR HER (BY THE WAY, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS, LIKE TIRAMISSU)!!!

OUR NEW FRIENDS FROM GERMANY GUDRUN & ANDREAS AND THEIR BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL MARIA CAMILLA!

CATALINA'S B-DAY TABLE, OF COURSE SHE WANTED PIZZA FOR HER PARTY!!!

THE BEAUTIFUL AND VERY DELICIOUS CAKE MADE BY THE HOTEL BAKERY!

MAMI GIVES CATALINA HER "REGALLOS/GIFTS!"

CATALINA REJOICES AS SHE OPENS HER GIFT WITH THE HELP OF HER LITTLE ASSISTANT DANIELA!

EVERYBODY IS POOPED AFTER MUCHAS FIESTAS!!!!!!