Dante

We know a lot more about him now. We visited him at the end of July/early August. We had a great visit, but more about that below the photos...enjoy!

Photos of Dante
Photos received on March 2, 2006
Photos received on March 2, 2006
Photos received on March 31, 2006
Photos received on May 15, 2006
Photos taken on our trip in August.

Photos yet to come

In the beginning all we knew was that he was born healthy, passed all of his medical tests and is being cared for in an orphanage along with about four other children. He gets bi-monthly visits from a doctor and has 24 hour care. He will remain there until we are given the adoption decree by the Guatemalan government and his US visa to travel home to the States. Our projected time - very tenuous, to say the least - is around September or October.

Our visit was great! We stayed at the Marriott hotel in Guatemala City. They brought him to the hotel the day after we got there. We met the lady who is taking care of him. Her name is Jacqueline; she is a very nice lady and seems to really care for him. He stayed with us for five nights. We did not leave the hotel as there have been several incidents of foreigners being hassled by the police. Usually they claim that you are kidnapping the child and it takes a fair "price" to get the matter to go away. Anyway, we had a wonderful time getting to know him.

He is a very bright, happy and heavy little boy. As you saw in the photos he smiles and is quite happy. Except when he wants to be fed! They feed him every three hours, day and night! That made for a bit of a long trip, and lets us know what we'll have to correct when he comes home. We think he is probably held a lot as he seems to be pretty needy in that area. That was OK by us while we were there! Then we had to leave...when we gave him back to Jacqueline all four of us cried. She even commented how she had seldom seen a baby bond that quickly. That was a rather bitter-sweet comment.

As for when he will come home, well we have no idea. The case is in the last major Guatemalan stage, the court (PGN). They have to clear the paperwork and then it will go on to the US embassy for their final approval and visa. After the case gets out of PGN there should be a wait of around three weeks. PGN, unfortunately, can last as little as five days to as much as a year, or more. There will be more info to come, but we just don't know when. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

My Stats