OUT - Approved!!!!!

Today has got to be one of the best days I've had in a LONG time. Many of you received a quick email to let you know that I am out of PGN but as promised, I will go into more detail as to what this really means and what's next.

Let me first back up and tell you about how this all came to be. Yesterday I had my really nervous stomach and didn't know what to expect. My friend Angie had her Embassy appointment in the morning so I thought maybe it was because of that. Who knows. Then today, I was anxious all day. I really wanted to hear some news. There were hardly any OUT-approveds on the forums I monitor. This was really bothering me. My neighbor and friend Darlene shot me an email this morning and said she knew I'd hear something today. I didn't think anything of it. By this afternoon, I was really anxious. I was wishing I could talk to someone - this is usually when in the past I'd call Angie. So, I tried to get some other work things taken care of. I began to look at the calendar and thought that if I don't get Out soon, I won't make it to Charlotte's first birthday. So, I decided to shoot my caseworker an email to this effect. I mentioned to her that if I wasn't out in the next 5 minutes (with smiley face) I probably wouldn't make it by her birthday and that I'd like to send her a gift. I asked if it was possible etc. Then I called one of our home offices to take care of some client customer service. After finally getting to a real person, my cell phone starts to ring. My cell rarely rings during the work day. I decided to see who was calling. It was my caseworker. I put the home office lady on hold!!!

My caseworker and I chit chatted about her drive home and the chance meeting. Then she said, "Are you sitting down?" I got nervous. She said, "you're out." I was waiting for her to say "with Previo" but she didn't!!! She said, "Sara, you are OUT-approved!!" I started to shake and my eyes filled up. She is now legally mine. If need be the US Government could step in and help me. I mentioned to my caseworker that I had just sent her an email about a birthday gift and she said yes I got it as I got your out. We laughed. I now had to tell my mom - she had to be first!!!

What's Next??
Well, the birth mother already signed off today (AGAIN) and my attorney has my file. It will now go to the Civil Registry of Mixco where her new birth certificate will be issued. She will be Leticia Wenzel, probably by Friday. After that is done, my file goes to the US Embassy (USE) for the 2nd DNA test - commonly referred to as "Orange". They will schedule this and send the sample to the same lab that did her first one in December. After the lab does the test, it goes back to the USE. Once the USE receives the results (if it's a match, which it will be) I will be issued a "PINK" slip. Now days it's actually an email but it once was printed on pink paper. The PINK slip is my scheduled appointment at the USE in Guatemala City. My estimation is that at the earliest I'll be going for a pick up trip the week of August 11 but more realistically the week of her birthday August 18!!!

I am soooo close now. I guess I better put the crib up this weekend. My 3 weeks will fly by and then life as I currently know it will come to a screeching halt. I can't wait....

Thanks again for all your love, support and prayers.

Sara and Charlotte
(I will post some pix this weekend of the nursery)