My Most Precious Gift from God!: Pictures!!!

Then & Now: Adoption Timeline

12.21.05 : Preliminary application approved!!!
3.11.06 : Formal Application sent
3.13.06 : I’ve decided on a name for my baby boy – Connor Fred Goheen – also a 2nd middle name will be his birth name; even though I have yet to receive a referral, it’s still special to have a name all ready for him as I pray for him before he’s even born!
3.20.06 : I got my passport in the mail AND my application was approved! YAY!!!!!
4.4.06 : case worker called to schedule our 1st meeting – it will be next Thursday 4/13 @ noon!
5.4.06 : Home visit today
6.20.06 : Home study complete! Starting on my dossier...
8.17.06 : Dossier State Sealed & ready for GR!
8.25.06 : Connor's birthdate! 5lbs, 12oz and 18.5 inches long!!!!
9.13.06 : I-600 to Guatemala
9.17.06 : I-171-H is here!!!!
9.21.06 @ 9:02am : REFERRAL!!! My case worker called me at work then emailed me 9-10 photos of my baby Connor!!!
9.28.06 : Acceptance docs sent to GR!
10.7.06 : Video came of Connor!!!! Sooooo awesome!!! In the video, he’s 5 days old, like in the referral pictures. He’s beautiful and wonderful and amazing!!!
10.17.06 : Medical & new pictures @ 5 weeks old! 7lbs, 12oz and 20.8” long!!! Dr’s appt on 10/6/06
11.8.06 : 2-month-old pictures & medical update came!!! YAY!! He’s now 10lbs and 23.2” long!!! Dr’s appt on Monday 11/6/06
11.16.06 : Received 7 NEW pictures of my baby!!! Getting chubby & just as adorable & precious!!!
11.16.06 : Case entered Family Court
11.28.06 : DNA authorization!
11.29.06 : DNA done! YAY!!
12.6.06 : DNA is a match!
12.8.06 : Received a NEW video from Guatemala!!! YAY!!!! It’s dated 10/6/06, which makes Connor about 5 weeks old in the video, like the 1-month-old pictures.
12.11.06 : His 3-month check-up with the doctor – now 11.4lbs and holding steady at 23” long!! This medical came on Sunday, 12/17/06
12.14.06 : 3.5-month-old pictures came today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s looking more like a little boy than a baby
12.16.06 : Hard copy of DNA results came in the mail along with a photo of Connor with his birthmother.
12.26.06 : Pre-approval for his visa!!! YAYYYY!!!!!
1.4.07 : IN PGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.5.07 : DNA document picked up by attorney & translated!
1.23.07 : Had doctor’s visit for 5-month check-up on 1/18; is now 14lbs and 24.8” long. FM’s bio children have chicken pox, so praying HARD that Connor remains healthy, no chicken pox!
1.30.07 : New pictures came today in my email!! 5-month-old pictures, sooooo adorable, as always!!
2.2.07 : Found out TODAY that the case was submitted to PGN on 1/4/07!!!!!! WHOA!!!
3.1.07 : Medical update came by email today! YAY! His 6-month check-up was done on Friday, 2/23/07. He weighed in at 15.6lbs and 25.2” long! YAY! And there’s a UPS sticker on my door that they tried to deliver a package while I was gone so we’ll see what it is in the morning
3.2.07 : Grabbed the package from the office this morning and it was a new video of my Connor!!!!!! It’s dated 12/11/07, which was the day of his 3 month check up, so it was very neat! This is when he got the package from me with the bear, also said that they spoke with the FM about starting to call him Connor and she will begin doing that. Also, she’s teaching him English and he’s starting to recognize English words. He’s on Lactose Free Enfamil, takes a bottle every 2 ½ hours. She says he’s aware more now and getting smarter every day, also that all he does is smile, he’s a “smiler.” He gets tummy time, no bald spots on the back of his head and follows objects with his eyes. It’s such a blessing to have these videos, that one day he’ll get to see them when he’s older
3.6.07 : Got Connor’s 6-month-old pictures in my email today!!! YAY!!!!!! He’s getting cuter & cuter every day!!! He’s a chunker, getting smarter! And then only an HOUR after opening pictures in my email, started to download them all… a knock at the door!! UPS guy has ANOTHER video for me!!!! This one is dated 2/23, from his 6-month check-up. He’s very very active, talking like crazy, has teeth, drooling, teething, he’s a mover and a charmer with his dimples and smiles and giggles. I cannot stop staring, smiling & giggling at his adorable, cute little smiles!! Awwwww!! I just want him home with me soon, Lord!
3.16.07 : Update – “still in PGN.” Sometimes no news is good news
3.19.07 : Sent package for Connor to another Bethany family who will be soon traveling to pick up her daughter, so she’ll carry his package & deliver it to Bethany there.
3.29.07 : Got his 7-month medical update & pictures in my email today! YAY! He saw the doctor on 3/22, weighing in at 16lbs, 6oz and 26” long!! Hopefully soon – out of PGN! Please, Lord, not much longer.
4.18.07 : Call from my case worker saying I need to write up a statement of guardianship, have it notarized & state sealed & sent to GR. DONE! Made an emergency trip to Lansing and sent that out, just in case PGN decides they need that. YAY. . .
4.19.08 @ 8:30pm : Call from my case worker that I got out with 1 objection, which means a KO (kick-out) occurred on 4/16… for some error in the social worker’s report. Should be a quick fix and back in hopefully next week
4.26.07 : Email came from GR that the KO actually happened on 4/16 and that the Guate SW “promised” to have it ready for 4/20, which didn’t happen but that sometimes they promise something and it doesn’t happen the way they expect.
5.2.07 : Back in PGN!!!!!!!!!!!! Found out on 5/9/07, Mom’s bday! Also -- New pictures of Connor came today!!! PRAISE GOD!!!! They’re dated 4/24, at 8 months old!!! YAY!!!! Sooooooo overcome with JOY!!!
5.22.07 : New Pictures take on this day, his 9 month old pictures!!!
5.31.07 : Received these 10 BEAUTIFUL pictures of my baby boy Connor in my email today!!!!!!
6.21.07 : Not out of PGN yet, but Mary Holtapp called to say that they’ve been seeing cases come out that were resubmitted mid- to late April and mine was resubmitted on May 2nd… YAY!!!! Should be soon!!!!!
7.3.07 : OUT of PGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7.5.07 : Got my call today from my case worker about getting OUT of PGN on 7/3! Also today, I got a med update that Connor's 19 lbs and 27.6 inches tall!
7.17.07 : Public Deed signed!
7.20.07 : Submitted to CR
8.3.07 : Out of CR! new GC BC issued!
8.9.07 : Connor's passport issued!
8.14.07 : Submitted to Embassy for ORANGE (auth. for 2nd DNA)
8.17.07 : 2nd DNA done, waiting for results
8.22.07 : 2nd DNA matched & overnighted to the Embassy
8.27.07 : call & email from agency about 2nd DNA
8.30.07 : PINK!!!!!!!
9.3.07 : Flight leaves from Detroit, to head to Guatemala City
9.4.07 : Gotcha Day!
9.5.07 : Embassy Day
9.8.07 : HOME FOREVER!
10.10.07 : US Birth Certificate is here!

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other.
One you do not remember, the other you call mother.
Two different lives shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star, The other became your sun.
The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it.
One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name.
One gave you talent. The other gave you aim.
One gave you emotions. The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile. The other dried your tears.
One saught for you a home that she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.
And now you ask me, through your tears,
The age old question unanswered through the years.
Heredity or environment? Which are you a product of?
Neither my darling. Neither.
Just two different kinds of love.
-Author Unknown