Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Guatemalan Zoo


Today we went to the Guatemala City Zoo! It's really super fun if you've got any extra time while in the city...and super cheap I might add!

Every time I visit Guatemala I get another machete as my souvenir. So, naturally I loved seeing these guys just working their machetes as they cleaned up the landscape!


Eliana slept through most of the Zoo...poor thing. She was just worn out!

When we took a break from walking both my girls shut down! Yeah, you could say they're tired.

At the end Eliana did wake up...here she's seeing a Giraffe for the first time! She kept reaching out wanting to hug it!

After the Zoo we had lunch at the nicest Pizza Hut you've ever seen! Then we hit the Embassy to PICK UP OUR VISA! Hip Hip Hooray! It's really done.

Now we're in Antigua to pack up Lindsey's house and say goodbye.

This whole trip still feels so surreal!

-Chris

Monday, September 29, 2008

U.S. Embassy Appointment Day!

It's done! Today was the big day and it was great! Everything at the Embassy went so smoothly! It felt so official and final (especially when we had to raise our right hands!) After the Embassy we spent the day relaxing and celebrating trying our hardest to believe that this is real! Our facilitators are the BEST! We love them dearly! We're so grateful that God provided them and that they could walk with us through this finish line!

Notice how as Lindsey happily poses with her beautiful dinner she is also accidentally pouring the sauce on the table cloth! We loved that.




Here we are with our facilitators celebrating after finishing our U.S. Embassy Appointment! We went to a great little bakery and had hand made cakes and fresh coffee!


Daddy and Daughter enjoying a good ole fashioned stair climb at the hotel!



Here Eliana is sporting her presents I gave her for her special day (the final staqe of her adoption)! I gave her a Dora the Explorer back pack so she could be prepared for our big trip Home! Inside the pack I put a little kitty cat stuffed animal which we named Diego!

I'm feeling more and more like her Daddy! It's slowly sinking in that this is not a dream but that my dreams have come true! Thanks for all your prayers, support and encouragement!

So much More to tell, so stay posted!

Grace and Peace,
Chris

Sunday, September 28, 2008

HE'S HERE!!!

Just wanted to write a quick note to let y'all know that Chris is here in Guatemala safe and sound!!! WE ARE HAVING A BLAST!!! Eliana has been laughing at him non-stop. We have our appointment early in the morning....and then we are headed to the zoo. We will post more later.

Love you,
Lindsey

Saturday, September 27, 2008

ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so mad right now.....I just cried the whole way back from McDonald's pushing Eliana in her stroller. People were staring at me and I didn't care. My purse was stolen at McDonald's.......STOLEN!!! I was so careful.....it really is unexplainable. I had set aside money to have in Guatemala City....and it is ALL GONE!! WHY???!! I lost my debit and credit card.....my i.d.....but the thing that makes me most sad is my camera. There were a lot of pictures that I was not able to load onto my computer (the reason why I never post pics). I AM SO MAD!!! If they needed money, just ask me. Don't take my memories. I know it is only possessions, so you don't have to remind me. It is just the fact that I am so tired of not being able to trust people. I obviously needed a good cry because I can't stop.

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. Chris comes tomorrow!!! That makes me cry a little bit less.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Our little Muneca (doll) is coming home......


It is amazing to see how much has happened in the 3 months I have been living in Guatemala!! I have looked through my pics and can't believe how much she has grown. She is a little girl. The sweet women that clean/baby-sit at our house call Eliana little Muneca all of the time. She is just like a little doll. I LOVE her so much....and can't wait for her to meet our friends and family!! Thanks for celebrating with us!! WE ARE BEYOND EXCITED!! Chris gets her in 4 days!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

PINK, PINK, PINK, PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We can't believe it....WE ARE GOING HOME!!!! Thank you Lord!!!! I decided to call the Embassy today just to see that our DNA had arrived. I talked to the sweetest lady...and she told me that it hadn't arrived but she would go and check. She gets back on the phone and says, "can you come in tomorrow morning at 7"!!! WHAT??!!!! TOMORROW!! Needless to say, Chris couldn't make it in time......but we are SO EXCITED!!! WE WILL BE HOME NEXT WEEK!!! I feel like I am in a dream. On a funny note, there is a wonderful bead store here in Antigua....I asked them to make a special bracelet for Eliana....and we all decided to do multi-colored. So, I go by the store to pick it up today....and they decided to do it PINK!!! IT WAS PERFECT!!! Isn't she cute in her little bracelet?! Thank you all for following us through this journey. We are so grateful for the prayers.

Love you,
Lindsey

P.S. We will post lots of pics from the appointment week!!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

DNA is headed to the Embassy!!!!

We found out today that it was a match....and the DNA is being sent to the Embassy!!! I AM SO EXCITED.....NOW WE WAIT FOR PINK!!!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

My daughter....the child that DOESN'T SLEEP!!


There is so much I could say on this topic. Our sweet child is 16 pounds of pure ENERGY!!! She does not require a lot of sleep....it has left me baffled. Literally, the three other boys in our house take great naps and are down for bed at 6. At this point in the night, Eliana is coming alive. I begin to feel the weight of knowing she has at least 5 more hours awake!! She usually goes to sleep around midnight (I am not lying). I have tried EVERYTHING!! I have rocked her, sung to her....I turn out all of the lights.....I have tried not letting her take a nap. The child is WILD at night!! She also does not love naps....Emily (our roomie) took this picture of Eliana when she was supposed to be taking a nap. Let's just say that I am SUPER tired....crazy tired!! I am in love with this child....just don't know what to do about sleep.

Love y'all,
Lindsey

P.S. Still haven't heard anything about DNA....

Monday, September 15, 2008

Best Brownie EVER!!!


I know I haven't posted much since I've been in Guatemala....it is because our sweet Eliana does not require very much sleep.....and LOVES to play with momma. Today is Guatemala's Independence day.....and I just had the best brownie ever. My roomies introduced me to a "new" restaurant in Antigua. It is a good thing I did not know about it sooner.....or I would be 1,000 pounds. If you are ever in Guat, you have to go to La Pena and order it!!

Now, we are just waiting for Eliana's DNA to be delivered to the Embassy this week....and then we should know soon after when we are coming home!! I can't believe I am even typing those words. This weekend has felt like 2 weeks long....probably because I am so anxious to hear something. Thanks for getting so excited with us!!

We love y'all!!
Lindsey

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I love ORANGE!!!!!


YEAH!!! We are orange. Eliana and I go into the city in the morning to have her final DNA and Embassy doctor visit!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey

P.S. She is really starting to feel better.....she is talking up a storm again!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Quick Update....

Sorry I haven't gotten to post until right now. We LOVED the doctor yesterday! He took such good care of sweet girl. To make a long story short....he said she suffers from hyper-sensitive bronchial tubes. He said that really anything can cause her to easily develop bronchitis...like change in weather, pollution, mold, etc.... So, basically, she suffers with bad allergies. He switched her meds and put her on an anti-histamine. She seems more alert and alive today!! She still has a gross cough and runny nose, but I am so thankful she is not so lethargic anymore. Keep praying for her little body. I know she has lost weight because she has thrown up anything she eats....and really isn't very hungry. We are on the mend though.

The passport place was an experience. I can't tell you how cute it was to see her little tiny face in a passport picture!! We are hopeful that we will be going to the city on Thursday for DNA and our embassy doctor's appointment....then we will wait for PINK.....I AM SO READY!!! Chris, get ready....I am going to sleep for a week when I get home. :-)

Love y'all,
Lindsey

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Pneumologists and Passport!!


I just wanted to give a quick update. Sweet Eliana has been on breathing treatments and an antibiotic for 3 days now....and does not seem to be getting any better. I have just hurt watching her be in so much pain. She has coughed her lungs off...and has barely eaten anything in 3 days!! Not to mention, I have slept a maximum of about 4 hours a night (maybe). We are both completely drained. Her little lungs are working over-time....her breathing is crazy fast. So, we are headed to the city tomorrow to see a respiratory specialist. Please pray that they will find what is going on. I am a little worried it might be pneumonia. I think because she is so tiny...it just makes everything worse.

On a happy note, we go tomorrow to get her passport!! I haven't seen her smile except when she sees Polly on Skype....so I hope she smiles for her passport picture. :-) I will update more tomorrow night.

Love y'all,
Lindsey

Saturday, September 6, 2008

We can't believe you're 14 months old!!!


This was our first picture of you....at 3 months old!! Eliana, we are so proud of you. You have the sweetest little spirit. We love every part of you....even the night owl part. You were such an unexpected gift to us.....the Lord knew that you were to be a Wheeler. We can't imagine life without you now. We love your smile and your kisses. You are so tiny.....but we already see how strong you are. You have fought through a lot in the past few months. We love your little independent spirit. We are honored to be your parents....and very humbled. Thanks for being the most amazing little 14 month old girl ever!!

We love you,
Mom and Dad

Friday, September 5, 2008

Bye-Bye RENAP!!!!!


WE ARE OFFICIALLY OUT OF RENAP!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it....after 6 weeks, we are OUT!!! Thank you Lord. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. This really feels surreal. Eliana and I could be coming home in 3-4 weeks!!!!! I was in the middle of the grocery store when I found out....and I screamed "thank you" to our facilitator over and over!

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. Eliana has another bad case of bronchitis. The doctor has put her on an antibiotic and breathing treatments. I am really praying this helps her!! It is so hard watching her struggle for breath.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Highs and Lows.....


Highs.....I ABSOLUTELY LOVE OUR NEW HOUSE!!!! We have a big room and our own bathroom. It feels so homey! The bed is bigger than a twin....we have a t.v.....and wireless internet. I feel like we are living in luxury. I spent most of tonight putting our room together and thanking God for this blessing. I love you Casa #5!

Lows......Eliana is SO SICK!! Her poor little body is just going through the ringer. We are heading to yet another doctor tomorrow. I am going to ask if she needs breathing treatments. Her cough is so bad, she can't keep anything in her without throwing up. Her fever was 103 this afternoon. Just pray for her!! I hate watching her be so sick. I am so ready for her to go to a pediatrician in Tennessee!!

UPDATE: I have been awake since 3 this morning monitoring sweet girl's breathing....it is so rapid. Just pray that the Lord would give me and the doctor's wisdom. It is a little scary not knowing when I should be worried or not. So, I am just going to sit up all night and watch her.

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. I am trying not to stress about RENAP.....but please be praying for us tomorrow!! We will find out if we are finally out.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Both me girls are sick...arrgh!


Please pray for both Lindsey and Eliana. They've both been throwing up...Lindsey was up all night feeling sick and now Eliana "don't feel too good." Eliana also had a bit of a temp.

My guess is they just both miss me so terribly they're bodies are revolting!

Seriously pray that they get over this.

They move into their new/next home tomorrow (Thursday)! I'm so glad for Lindsey to have roommates again!

Thanks for all your encouragement.
Grace and Peace
Chris

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Oh RENAP.....what are we going to do with you??!!!


Eliana and I both want to wrap up in blankets and sleep until RENAP gets it together!!! Every day, this new system for birth certificates changes something. Now, they have decided to not tell if you are approved or not except for on Fridays. So, again.....we wait. Please pray for a miracle this Friday. I know that the Lord is in control....but we are both so homesick. I miss my husband, my family....and my old roomies. It is just pretty lonely. Eliana turns 14 months old in just 4 days. CRAZY!!! SHE IS AMAZING!!! Even though there are very hard days....I am so thankful that I am here with her.

Love you all,
Lindsey

P.S. I am really stomach sick right now....please pray!!!