Preparations...

This week has been a week of preparations. But how do you prepare a home for 2-3 more kids when you already feel claustrophobic with the 2 kids you’ve got? Well, I don’t know the answer to that, but here’s what we HAVE done. We’ve been doing a heck of lot of cleaning, organizing and purging. Not to mention that we’ve also been mentally preparing Jayden and Maya for the arrival of their siblings. I’d like the transition to be as seamless as possible for us all. Jayden is thrilled to be sharing a room with Antony and Maya is not going to like losing her roommate one bit. I can tell this will be hardest on her.

This week, I finished moving the office out of the spare room and into my living room. I thought this would be the end of the world (losing my office), but actually it turned out quite nice. I ended up finding a wonderful piece of furniture that I love. Here's my new secretary when it's not in use.
And here it is when I am using it.

We also purchased bunk beds for Antony and Jayden. Jayden and Maya have been beside themselves with joy at the new “toy”. Jayden has already decided that he gets top bunk and Antony will sleep on the bottom bunk. Esteban thinks this will suit Antony just fine. Except for the fact that this thing is huge, it's a pretty decent set. It includes the built in desk with three desk drawers. It also has 3 shelves and 5 drawers.

Can you tell it's a party? I already removed the ladder. hahaha

Here's Jayden taking his first official nap in the bed. Not the top bunk yet, but he seemed fine with it. PS When I went in to check on him, I found Maya in bed with him. It was so funny, but I separated them immediately. They don't have their afternoon naps together in quite some time. I don't know what she's going to do when he's not in the same room with her. I'm thinking of converting her crib to full-size just so that she feels like she got a grown up bed too.

We also purchased a small bedroom set for Ricardo. It will not fit in the bedroom with the boys, which leaves us with no other option but to convert space in the garage. My new project is to get some people out to look at the space and gather the estimates.

It’s an interesting process. The other day, I was talking to Esteban and I compared it to the nesting stage of pregnancy. I’m doing as much as I can to prepare and yet the more I do, the more unprepared I feel. As I’m going through the motions, I can’t help but feel like it’s the end of my life as I know it. And though it’s not so much the end as it is the beginning, I can’t help but feel sad. It’s as though I’m counting down the days. I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness as I think of all the things I won’t be able to do anymore or won’t be doing as much of. I can’t really say that my life will be better or worse, just that it will be different, but I sometimes feel a sense of doom. And yet, I'm totally excited that the boys will be coming and their years of moving around from one guardian to another will be over. I'm excited that WE will be their family from here on out, for better or for worse. I think about all the things I will be a part of, that their mother won't be around for. I'm secretly imagining what Christmas this year will be like and how awesome their birthday parties will be. Going to the beach, visiting at Disney, going to church together, New Year's Eve! Wow!!! Extracurricular activities, family gatherings and getaways, prom...

My emotions are across the board. Is that normal?

Mi Comai!

I get such a kick out of saying that! Comai is short for Comadre, which means Godmother. Judy, my best friend since the 5th grade, is Jayden's godmother and we went to visit with her just before Esteban's flight arrived. Here are Jayden and Ivanna playing the Wii. These guys are so funny together. I am shocked at how young kids these things up. He was awesome on that thing.
Maya is the observer, but she didn't seem to mind too much.

Ivanna, pretty girl with a pretty smile.

More pool side fun...

Everyone stops for a melon break! Maya, Jayden, Becky, Ivy, and Gabby

Yummo!

Weekend at Beth's

Every year, we go to South Florida and visit with my girlfriend Beth. Sadly, we did not get a chance to go last year, but this year, we went and had a great time! Basically we spent the entire time in the pool. We did leave once for dinner and once to shop, but it was just too beautiful not to enjoy the pool. Suits me just fine! Here's Sinclaire and Jayden.
Maya discovers a water balloon.

Jayden feels super confident with his noodle.

Maya appears to be doing the pee-pee dance, but she was just having a good time on the mat.

Just hangin' around.

These two are so funny!

My babies!

I know he can do it, if he gets over his fear of the water.

Water balloon madness...

Maya heads towards Beth.

Irv teaches them to pinch their noses.

UPDATE: Reuniting a Family

July 13, 2009: Shannel arrives in Honduras, after a hard and long journey from Guatemala, where she lives with her husband and child. All three of Esteban’s children are together for the first time since last year.

July 9, 2009: I received an email saying the appointments have been scheduled for July 16, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. I am in awe of God’s power, for only He could make this happen in this way. Thank you, God, for answering our prayers. We put in calls to all our relatives asking them to stand with us in prayer, that God will show favor on our petition and grant the kid’s entrance into the United States. Shortly after, I received a second email asking us to bring all forms and documents with us to the scheduled appointment.

July 8, 2009: I drafted an email in response to the embassy. I gave them Esteban’s cell phone number as well as Jerry’s number, who is now the boy’s guardian in our absence. I also asked if we should drop off the DS-230 part I and II while Esteban is in the country. I wonder if I will need to be there as the petitioner?

July 7, 2009: I got an email from the embassy in Tegucigalpa saying they were ready to set an appointment for August 2009 and they wanted a local number to reach them at. I am shaking. Could this really be happening?

June 30, 2009: I called the National Visa Center to get some clarification on the visa packet. We finally have all the forms, passports, photos and documents we needed and filled out the forms, but when it comes to the NVC, I like to make certain. They proceeded to inform me that our case had been expedited. I just have to take a moment to say Thank You GOD! Because, I know, that I know, that I know, that all this is happening because of his goodness and grace. They said they sent the file to the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras as of June 25th. I called the Embassy in Honduras and was given an email address to follow up with. I drafted and sent the email, the very same day. I’m hoping that Esteban can just hand deliver the forms to them while he visits.

June 5, 2009: We receive the visa application packet. The application doesn’t seem too bad. They are requesting a ton of original documents though. Many original documents, some of which we do not have. Luckily Esteban’s uncle was visiting in Honduras and he will bring us the children’s passports and updated passport photos. Because the kids are currently split up, he will only bring the boy’s updated passport photos though. Shanel’s photos and passport will have to wait until Esteban visits in July.

June 4, 2009: We send in our request to expedite the case, in Jesus name!

June 3, 2009: Things are getting worse in Honduras. Ricardito is in trouble and I am more desperate than ever to get him out of there and bring him home with us. I call immigration and they confirm they received the visa fee. The next step is the visa application packet. She tells me she will request for a packet to be emailed to me. I ask if there is any way to expedite the case. She said they will only expedite in the case of military or life and death. I explain our situation with the kids. She tells me to send in a request via email and submit a copy of the death certificate.

April 19, 2009: Esteban’s mother passes.

April 15, 2009: We sent in the visa fee. Transaction cost: $1207.99 Total spent: $2043.58

July 3, 2008: We received notification that they reviewed the documents submitted in support of an application for an immigrant visa but could not continue the case without the visa fee. We had two choices. We could send the payment, but Esteban would have to forgo his trip to Honduras. Or we could send Esteban to Honduras and wait to send the payment next year. At the time:
*Esteban had already skipped his trip to Honduras in 2007
*Esteban’s daughter bore a child out of wedlock and he was now a grandfather
*The children’s mother had decided to leave the country and the boys were practically on their own with their maternal grandmother
*Esteban’s mother’s health was declining
We decided that it was much more important for him to visit Honduras. The fee would have to wait.

June 23, 2008: I submitted the I864 and the I864A forms. I guesstimate that it took me a full two weeks of filling out applications, making phone calls, making copies, sorting through three years of financial data and organizing documents. Transaction cost: $12.45 Total spent: $835.59

April 25, 2008: We received notification that effective January 1, 2008, the immigrant visa fees increased from $380 to $400. Lucky us.

December 9, 2007: We received notification that they received the Agent of Choice letter but they could not continue until we submit the immigrant visa application fee of $380.

December 6, 2007: We sent in the Choice of Address and Agent form. This took a while because we were under the impression that they should be signed by the children personally. We later found out that because they were minor children, Esteban could sign the form on their behalf. Transaction cost: $4.80 Total spent: $823.14

September 3, 2007: We received notification to fill out the I864, Affidavit of Support. This was by far the most overwhelming application for me. I postponed the project many times and I considered giving up many times. This was my contract and promise to the children that I would be their sponsor. It was emotionally overwhelming. The directions alone were 11 pages long. The application was also 11 pages long.

August 22, 2007: We sent in the fees. Transaction cost: $214.65 Total spent: $818.34

August 6, 2007: We received the I864 processing fee bill for $70 each. We also received the Choice of Address and Agent form.

July 3, 2007: We received the I797, Approval Notice. We were thrilled.

June 16, 2007: We sent in the copies and translations. Transaction cost: $23.88 Total spent: $603.69

May 7, 2007: We received the I797E, requesting evidence. They wanted copies of the children’s birth certificates and notarized translation copies.

January 26, 2007: We received the I797, which is like a receipt. It confirmed that they received the petitions and the fee.

January 22, 2007: We sent in the I130 (immigrant petition for relative). At that time, these were $190 each. Transaction cost: $9.81 Total spent: $579.81

January 22, 2007: We sent in the I130 (immigrant petition for relative). At that time, these were $190 each. Transaction cost: $9.81 Total spent: $579.81

Trip to the Library

I am so happy to be able to say that I joined my niece, Caitlyn, on her first trip to the library. She was very happy and couldn't believe that you could take the books home. We sat there for a long while and read books, did puzzles, and played computer games. Then we picked out books to take home. Caitlyn picked out a princess book and Leslie picked out a book on sharing. haha. I got a couple of books for Jayden and Maya along with two movies. I picked up "Maya and Miguel" because we are trying to reinforce the use of both languages at home. I also picked up "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly". This is one of my favorites so I picked up the book for the kids, but I thought the cartoon version would help them visualize it.

Here is Titi Weh reading a pop-up book with Maya.
Jayden and Caitlyn are super happy practicing their mouse skills, letters, and shapes on the computer.

Caitlyn is intent on the material being presented.

Puzzle time!

More stories while Maya wanders off to pick out a board book...

Jayden's Progress with Letters and Numbers

Jayden is doing so well with his letters. This week, we started him on letter tracing and he's taking to it quite well.

Here, you can see the difference one day made. His letters are not as shaky. He's getting more and more confident with the marker.

He even wanted to try his numbers. I'm so proud of my little boy.

July 4th

I was so sick. I was so alone. I was so sad.

I made the effort to dress us all in red white and blue. But now that I think of it, I don't think I ever took the time to explain to Jayden or Maya why. Once we got dressed, I took the kids out for a ride in the wagon. I took Rio with me too. It was so hot and so humid, but I didn't want to short the kids. In the end, they decided they didn't want to finish our walk so we went back to the swings and hung out there. Here they are in the clubhouse, or crackhouse as Jayden calls it.
My new sunglasses...

Notice the bead of sweat on Maya's face...

Jayden - Peek-a-boo

Then Jayden decided he wanted to pack it up and move to the pavement, but the sun was beating down on us and I became aware of the fact that I didn't put sunscreen on the kids. But then I remembered that we removed the carpet from our screen room temporarily so I moved them in there and they had a field day. I had two fans going and I knew they were happy. Look how dirty my little chaulk monster is.

At the end of the night, we did baths and I started to put them to bad, but that awful guilt started to creep up inside of me as I heard the fireworks outside so I took them out to the screen room to see the lights. Not the best view, but I was worried about mosquitos. Guilt. I was gypping them. They could hear the booms, but couldn't see them. So we moved to the driveway and Jayden and Maya were beside themselves with joy. They were screaming and squealing and calling out their favorite colors.

Jayden remembered that last year, we went to my cousin's house because as soon as he saw the lights he said, "Mommy, I want to go to Cathy's house." Inside my heart I wanted to cry because Esteban wasn't with us. I wanted to cry because we were "celebrating" alone. But I smiled on the outside for Jayden and Maya's sake. Poor Maya was sad to come in and crossed her little arms over her chest, put her head down and started to pout. She looked so darn cute. I carried her off to bed. "Bye fireworks, bye firecrackers," they said as we went back inside. They must have been completely overwhelmed because they fell asleep in 5 minutes.