Ecuador Day 39

Thursday Jan. 12th
7:30 Priscila came to pick us up and we were ready to go! Upon arriving at the civil registration we saw a VERY full parking lot and a TON of people waiting to go in the doors...Priscila just bypassed the long lines and told me to sit down...she went to get a number and we actually got 7! Thank you Lord as even with seven, it was still going to be atleast an hour wait. We finally got called up, then we had to do the upstairs downstairs path about 10 times and then finally got called to get her picture taken. We got her picture taken and when they tried to capture her fingerprints electronically it wasn't working. They had me wash her hands and try again...two men came over with magnifying glasses and looked at her fingerprints....turns out I guess our daughter doesn't really have fingerprints...what?! So they tried to ink all of her fingers to see if one could show up that way...and no such luck either. So they looked at her original Ecuadorian ID and saw that it was pretty much just a smudge then as well...so they just picked a finger and inked it onto paper that way and scanned it into the computer system..so. very. odd. Only my child! HA!

With her cedula we could now leave that dreaded building and go to the passport office...it was now almost 2:00..we walked into this office and they asked for the entire adoption file, which Priscila didn't have with her...so thankfully her wonderful husband came to the rescue with the file. We got approval to get the passport and it was a very quick process...I'd say less than 30 minutes we had her Ecuadorian passport in hand. Praise God! All three things were finally in our possision to head to Guayaquil for the exit interview and visa!

Santiago and Priscila drove us to our apartment and I gave them most of the toys we had either brought with us or purchased while here as the kids needed those books and playdough, etc..more than this kid did...We went into the court yard and took a picture of all of us and said goodbye...It's amazing how you become attached to someone when you spend so much important time with them and rely on them for so much. Priscila and Santiago had recently had a msicarriage..they were considering adopting as well...so many things that the Lord allowed for Priscilla and I to become friends. Thankful for facebook as I'm sure we'll stay in contact. Both Priscila and I shared a tearful goodbye and Adriana gave great big hugs to both Santiago and Priscila. So thankful for that family.

After they left, I got Adriana down for a late nap and called to see if John and Carmen wanted to go to dinner. John took us to this nice restaurant at a hostel he had stayed at when he first came to Ecuador. John told us he would take us to the airport the next morning so he could see us off. John has also been very insistent that we stay in touch and I'm sure we will...John and Zac had a lot of good conversations and I know they've already been emailing.
While we were at dinner, Santiago called to let us know our in country rep, Maria Jose was in Cuenca and was coming to our apartment..so we rushed home.

I got Adriana to bed and asleep...finally....and went to packing up as much as I could before I myself was too tired. Maria Jose still hadn't showed up so I thought I'd head to bed...right about the time I got my pajamas on the phone rings...so I let Maria Jose and the other person that was with her (a social worker from the Quito INFA office) came up to the apartment. Xavier, our apartment manager came up to help translate....

Maria Jose explained that she was in Cuenca for a meeting with INFA tomorrow and then would be back in Quito and was going to take Adriana and I to Adri's doctors appointment for her visa first thing monday morning....she also said she would take us to get Adriana's visa photo's taken. Then she went on to explain, that before we could go to Guayaquil we had to get this letter from INFA....of course...and since she was in Cuenca Friday, she couldn't get the letter until at the earliest Monday...so we're praying we get that letter on MOnday so we can go to Guayaquil on Tuesday and prayerfully fly out on Wednesday. She explained that she wasn't sure we'd be able to leave on Wednesday....seriously woman...so we are all asking for prayers that we get the letter Monday, go to Guayaquil Tuesday and leave on Wednesday. We do need the salida from our judge which is approval to leave..but from what Priscila told me, our judge was getting that written on Friday so Maria Jose should already have that....we'll pray.

I went to bed trying not to be discouraged and looking forward to the weekend ahead.

Ecuador Day 38

Wendesday Jan. 11th
Priscila picked us up at 9:15 and we went to the civil registration office. There was already a ton of people waiting in chairs in the building...we got a number and waited for a good 2 hours or so. The "doctor" as Priscila called her was upstairs and was helping us to bypass some of the steps of the system...so I'd say we went from upstairs to downstairs about 20 times throughout the day...then I found the elevator!

We first had to get Adriana's Ecuadorian ID and her original birth certificate canclled out of the system. The bith certificate was fairly easy after several up downs, we had the new birth certificate. Her Ecuadorian ID....of couse, couldn't be easy! They couldn't find the number on her old ID in the system. So finally at about 3:00 they told us they couldn't find it and we would have to drive to where the manual hand written books are located. THese books travel from different town...and luckily for us, they happened to be in a town close by...so Priscila's husband came and drove us to Balle to do the manual books. They were just finishing up a wedding in the office...so of course we had to wait a bit...but finally got it done. We got back in the car and drove back to Cuenca to arrive back at the civil registration office at about 4:45 so Priscila literally ran inside to see if they would now canccel out Adriana's old Ecuadorian ID so that first thing in the morning they could issue us the new one...

It was a long day...I was very car sick from the drive to and from Balle and had a major headache...and Adriana does NOT do well when she has to be confined to small offices or the stroller....and especially when she hasn't had a nap...so she was just being naughty...yelling at me...trying to hit me...good times!

So we just ordered pizza for dinner...I let her watch a Dora and off she went to bed. I
up was also exhausted and fell asleep with her...which was fine really as we'd have to be up by 6:30 the next morning as Priscila was picking us up at 7:30 to get in line back at civil registration for Adriana's Ecuadorian ID, otherwise known as a cedula.

It was this day that I realized it would be best for Adriana and I to just head to Quito for the weekend as otherwise, we'd have to take all of our luggage with us to Guayaquil...and going to QUito would help to pass the time since the two other families are there waiting as well..

Ecuador Day 37

Tuesday Jan. 10th
37 days here....wow...kinda crazy when you think about what all you can do back home in 37 days...Adriana slept in until 9:00! I was worried she was going to wake up with a fever or something, but she woke up same as normal, just seemed more tired...wondering if she didn't sleep well last night...but I slept like a rock and didn't hear a thing!

Once we finally got up and ready for the day it was almost 10:30..we walked into downtown up the huge flight of stairs next to Magnolia's...I have a picture to post here just to show the large set of stairs..Adri and I were both winded by the time we got to the top!

We walked to the Panama Hat museum on Calle Larga and looked around...very neat to see all the different kinds of hats and how they make them! Little known fact is that the Panama hat actually originated here in Cuenca! Hats range from $10 - $100 depending how much time and material went into the hat...very interesting!

We then walked down to Parque Calderon and went to a couple of my favorite shops in case we don't have another day to shop in Cuenca...(still praying we may get to go to Guayaquil Friday)..it was fun to walk around...very warm and sunny here today...Adriana did so well and seemed to enjoy being out and about today. We headed over to Raymipapas for lunch as her and I both were getting hungry...of course Adri had the Locro de Papas and I had a chicken crepe that really wasn't that great...big disapointment! Oh well.

Right about the time we left the restaurant it was starting to cloud over pretty fast so we hoped in a taxi and about that time it started to DOWN POUR!! I've noticed the taxi drivers are much more sociable with Adri and I since Zac is not with us...he must have intimidated them with his size. LOL...this driver asked where my spouse was...which kind of made me nervous...but I think he was just trying to be sociable...if you show an interest in learning more spanish they'll really start to talk to you! I just couldn't remember the name for rain...and then he started asking me all these questions! I had to really listen to understand what he was saying, but I was quite proud of myself for doing so well!

Adri took a good nap while I continued to sort through stuff and get organized for packing..I am so not a good packer...really need my big sis here to do as she's the pro! LOL

Priscila is going to be here tomorrow at 9:00 to head to the civil office to start all of our processes to get the three things we need to leave Cuenca...Praying all goes well and smooth!

Ecuador Day 36

Monday Jan. 9th

I fell asleep with Adriana last night at about 8:00 and we didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning! I guess we were both tired!

I got a message from Priscila letting us know that Saturday counted as day one for our waiting period...so we're already on day 2 of our 3 day waiting period! Priscilla and I will go to the civil registration on Wednesday morning...she said to plan on a very long day....but we will apply for Adriana's new birth certificate with Zac and I's names, her Ecuadorian ID with her new name, and then go to get her passport! Priscila said that most times, the birth certificate takes 8-10 days but that the people in the civil office are going to help us...so pleae pray that they help us and get us all that we need on Wednesday!

Once we have the birth cert, the Ecuadorian ID, and her passport, we then go to see a doctor for a medical exam for Adriana's visa. Once we have that we can then fly to Guayaquil to go to the US Embassy to get Adriana's visa. Once we have that in hand we wait for written clearance from our judge and then we're free to leave!! So a lot will start happening in the coming days...

Today we headed down to Parque Calderon again and looked around the shops and waited to board a tour bus. It is a double decker bus with the top level open air...and it wa so much fun! It was only $5 for the 2 hour tour and it also took us up to Turi where there is an amazing view of all of Cuenca...I know..I so wish I had a way to get the pics off my camera!!

Anyways, by the time the bus tour was over Adriana was pretty much done and was ready for nap...as I'm sitting here typing I'm quickly realzing that I got a little sun..I can feel it on my cheeks and arms...Adriana is fast asleep and guessign she'll remain that way for another hour or so...

After naps we headed over to the Mall del Rio to go to the supermaxi as I was hoping to get some small things to keep Adri busy when we go to the Civil registry on Wednesday as Prisciala had said it would be a long day of waiting around...but no such luck...just going to pray that coloring books and her doll will keep her entertained..

When we got home we went downstairs to the common area to talk to the people down there...the place here is OK, but pretty much everyone here is retired couples who are looking to move here...but of course that just gets Adriana lots of attention! Several people were heading to Magnolia's for dinner, so we went along as well. I was very proud of Adri as she walked the whole way to and from the restaurant. I let her stay up a little late, hoping to get to talk to Zac, only to be VERY frustrated with the internet connection flaking out...I probably wouldn't be so darn homesick if I could actually talk to Zac and Addie...but such it is...so we'll deal with it! LOL

Ecuador day 35

Sunday jan. 8

We got up early to say goodbye to our Ohio friends....not quite sure Adriana really understands...poor kid has got to be some confused! Later in the day she went running into their apartment thinking they were there, only to find Angelita, the maid, cleaning. Poor kid.

We stayed in our jammies for a good portion of the morning and then had to wait a little bit longer until there was hot water for a shower...

Right before naps we saw a parade coming up our street (celebrating the three kings thing from last friday) YOu will find that during this time of year, you can find a parade somewher in the city almost every day...crazy. We went out and sat on the sidewalk and watched and took pictures...Adriana just wanted to jump in to start chatting with all the other kids!

After naps our neighbors brought us some flowers, they said to "brighten our day". They had heard that our we weren't going to get to leave early like we thought...they are anxiously waiting to move into our apartment when we leave...I guess it's the most wanted apartment here...wierd...anyways...it was nice of them!

I am really starting to miss church badly. I found myself being jealous of Zac this morning knowing that he got to go to church...I know there is so much worship I can do from my apartment..but there is just something about our church...the people, the message is always good...I just really miss it.

Zac said when he picked Addie up from sunday school today she kept saying Jesus...manger...talk about a tear jerker! I love that our girls will grow up with such a supportive church family with great teachings..both for Zac and I and our girls!