Normal kid...Normal Mommy

I met Maria Renee today...she is the Minister of Mi Familia. The head honcho...El Jefe!! She sits at the head of the Consejo and we met with her this morning at 8:30 AM. I have been to the offices of Mi Familia probably 20 times in the past 3 years - the visits historically make me feel very uncomfortable. I walk into a room, meet people who have the authority to "allow" me to bring my daughter home and I have to be careful with every word I use to ensure I don't push too much....not too aggressive....don't say the wrong thing. I find it extremely stressful and leave feeling completely frustrated!!

Today was very different for me. First, I had my husband with me - this usually is not the case. I had all my children and it was the first time I met with them as a united front - familia unido. It felt good and I felt strong. I wasn't nervous at all - only apprehensive of what this meeting would result in.

Our understanding was that Maria Renee had the authority to sign off on our adoption papers - we found out that this was not the case - that we had to, by law, go again before the Consejo to receive our final approval. She did however, check a computer to find our specific cases...seriously, I was beginning to wonder if we were in any computers!!! She read the letters we submitted last week and knew how important it was for our families to finish this process and get our children home in order to start school on time. She was professional, very warm and assured us that the Consejo would meet this Friday!

I am sure you are probably thinking the same thing I am...."how many times have we heard that before?" I think it's actually been 6 times that I've heard the "June" Consejo would be meeting - it is now the middle of July and still no Consejo. I also hate when they say "Friday" - why can't it be Wednesday or Thursday?!?!? Why do I have to wait around all week for Friday to come - not get a call and then strategize over the weekend what I will do the following Monday to make that week different from the last? But I feel differently about this time - I feel united and strong and that has never been my feeling in the past.

We are planning our celebration dinner Friday night with our friends, The Tomczak's and will keep busy for the remainder of the week - so I am not sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. So keep all your body parts crossed and I'll keep you posted!!

After our meeting, we all went to the airport to send my husband home. I never enjoy this activity - I just wave and cry and wish he could stay with me. He brings me such a feeling of calm and security - I know that I am not here on my own and he is my partner in this - miss him so much when he gone. He got into Dulles at midnight - has to go to work first thing in the morning - live in an empty house and work his tail off so we can continue to live in Nicaragua - he has, and continues to do, so much for our family!!

To top our day off today - we had a goodbye dinner for our friends, The Diven's. They go home tomorrow with their daughter, Sarahi. Their situation is very different from ours, they met Sarahi just a few weeks ago - she was ready to be adopted and their family wanted to adopt - so they met and started the process. A total of 6 months!! What a difference!! I am so happy that they are going home but it makes us a little sad to be left here behind...still struggling.

When we first came to Condo Allyson in May - there were 6 families here adopting - now there are only 2 of us left!! It is always sad to see our friends leave and to keep strong to continue living here. Lucie felt more sad than most of us, she had a good friend in one of their boys and she was telling me how much she will miss him. She came to me when we were home and gave me a big hug and said "Mommy, I want to be a normal kid and I want you to be a normal Mommy, and I want to go home". I just hugged her and told her I knew exactly what she means and I too, so want to go home but we are on an adventure...a special vacation that will be over soon. I hope I am telling her the truth.