We're home and doing fine ....

Hola.  We're getting lots of calls and emails from everyone asking how the kids are doing.   Kids did great on both airplanes (we had a layover in Houston).  The entry into the US was a bit intimidating. No greeting, no smiles, no explanations.  We were told to stand aside and then were escorted to a room where they reviewed and processed the paperwork that the Embassy had given us.  Not exactly a welcoming experience but the Customs Official who finally told us what was going on was nice.   Once we were free to go, Scott and I reveled in the moment.  Of course, neither Evelin nor Jose could understand the significance  -- that they were now US citizens. 

Upon arrival to NYC, Tios Mitra y Chris surprised us at Baggage Claim with Bienvenidos (welcome) signs and gifties for the kiddies.  We had a great visit with them since we hit mucho, mucho traffico.  When we got home (after 10 pm), Grandma Leslie had welcome signs for them on the puertas and hanging from an arch in the apartment. 

It's been raining ever since, so we've only walked around the neighborhood a little bit.  And today, Jose has been un poco sick.  Low grade fever and another vomiting episode  -- first his orange juice across the breakfast table and then his oatmeal in the hallway on the way to the bathroom.  He's now in his PJs for the rest of the day. 

Evelin is coloring and has made paper collars for the dogs, paper jewelry for all of us and they both created paper plates that will be sent away to factory and made into their very own plastic plates ( a special gift from the Tios Mitra and Chris). 

We hope to get them settled in over the next few days while we figure out what they are actually going to do over the summer! 

    

A special gift ...

Evelin and I were searching the internet, looking for photos or videos of the hogar in San Ramon where she and Jose had lived for more than 2 years.  I couldn't believe it, but we came upon a video from 2011 that featured the children of the hogar. It was such a gift because by now I've heard so much about her life and friends there.  And by the way, most of the children in this video have been adopted. Check out Evelin at age 7 and Jose at 2.   

Our last day in Costa Rica ...

Our last breakfast at the piscina.  Our last goodbyes to all of the wonderful staff at the hotel who have supported us since our very first days.  And a lovely, lovely, lovely last day with Yolanda and her husband at their beautiful home, Tierra Fertil, right outside of Pacayas, Cartago.  It is high up in the mountains and situated between the volcanoes Irazu and Turrialba.  What a wonderful and relaxing day. Yolanda shared with Evelin something that she told us the very first time that we met with her more than a year ago.  She said, "Don't worry Scott and Stacey. Your children are out there and they are just waiting for you."  

Now, dear friends and family, we must finish packing. Thank you for following our blog during our stay in Costa Rica.  For those families who are adopting from Costa Rica, we want you to know that we are thinking about you and your children who are just waiting for you. If you have any questions at all, and we haven't corresponded yet, please feel free to contact me at samandsjg@yahoo.com. 

We're Coming Home ...

We got the children's passports this morning and our US Embassy was incredible. We have their visas.   Tomorrow, we are spending the day with Yolanda, our attorney, at her home in the country.  Then, on Sunday, we fly home.  Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey.   

We're about to turn the corner ...



Que lindo!
Playing and Posing

This morning, Scott took the children to the airport to watch the planes take off.  We told them yesterday that we might be flying home very, very soon. Jose did his little yippy hand flapping, clapping thing and Evelin, to our surprise, hasn't stopped chattering about it.  

We then spent the rest of the day hanging around la piscina because tomorrow is going to be a busy day.  We start out early at Migracion to pick up the children's passports.  Then it's off to the Embassy for our final meeting.  After, we take a quick trip to PANI to say adios to our favorite social worker, Ana Teresa.  Then hopefully it's back to the Embassy to pick up our visas.  We gave them almost everything that they needed in advance in the hopes that they can turn them around super, duper fast.  If they can't, then we'll have them early next week.  We really are about to go home soon ... 

Documents You'll Need for the US Visa

Here's what you'll need for your US visa applications for each child:

1. Costa Rican Passport
2. New Birth Certificate from the Civil Registry of Costa Rica
3. 3 photographs of each child
4. Original adoption decree or copy of adoption decree (with stamps on each page showing that they are copies of the original document)
5. A translated Article 23 letter (issued by PANI)
6. I-864W form for each child
7. Medical examination for each child
8. Immigration visa fee of $230 for each child

Migracion, Picsina y Volcano Paos ...

You know your spanish is really bad when the nice policeman at Migracion has to physically walk you over to where you are supposed to be and not where you want to be -- back in the office of the woman who messed up our application in the first place.  It turns out that Evelyn's photo was not "confused"  at all.  Now remember, my spanish is very basic, but I think the woman explained to me that she typed the wrong number into the application (via the computer) and she couldn't correct it without doing the whole thing all over, including taking the photo.  So that took us nearly an hour and then it was back to the hotel to let Evelyn swim in la piscina before lunch. After lunch, we drove to Volcano Poas and made it there just before they closed the park.  So, we had it all to ourselves!  Very cloudy and rainy, but still impressive.  Kids are excited to go to other volcanoes with us.