Happy Birthday, Sweet Elvisito!!!!!!

I love you all the way, all the time, no matter what! You are a beautiful and precious gift, and we are praising and thanking God that you were born 4 years ago :)

Te tendre en mi corazon SIEMPRE!

Momma's Little Monkeys

I love these babies SOOOOOOOO much!

Parker forces the love :)

Mynor looking extra handsome dressed up for "Yellow Day" at schoolSweet angel baby PG has a shiner --
Man, she looks tough! You do not want to mess with PG!

My Visit with the Boys

I am so far behind on this blog that it is absolutely ridiculous! I have good intentions, but intentions don't seem to create actual posts . . . maybe I will catch up someday. At least I am posting something today :)

I went to visit Gerson & Elviz this past week. We had a great time, and I was so happy to get to see them. It was incredibly hard and heartbreaking to leave (again), but it is so worth it. I love these guys so much!

They loved their toothbrushes from GG --I mean LOVED them!

Such handsome little guys :)

With beautiful smiles :)

We took pictures using the timer on the camera . . .

Having fun in a bubble bath --

Playing at the pool -- Awww -- they are just so sweet . . .

Handsome GersonLittle Elvisito

Elviz was so funny. He told me that I should call him "Elvisito", and that he would call me "Mamasita". I was happy to oblige, but when I did slip up and call him Elviz (or Elvi is what I call him a lot), he would quickly correct me :) He also tried to tell me that I should call Gerson "Gersito", but Gerson wasn't going for it. He is happy with his name just the way it is :)

About our adoption -- Well, we just aren't sure if we will ever get to bring our sweet boys home. Of course, we are still hoping and praying that they will be our sons, and we are fortunate to have an attorney who is not giving up! It has now been over a year since our file was submitted to PGN for approval, but that approval is just not coming. So, our case is going to take a little detour. We are going to try to get a court ruling to remove the prior legal issues that have held us up. If we can get that ruling from the judge, then we will go back to PGN and hopefully they will finally approve our adoption. *Many* things will have to go our way in order for all of this to happen, so we will just wait and see. I am waiting and praying and hoping . . . yes, that reckless kind of hope that I have talked about before!

Gerson & Elviz -- October 2008

Prayers & Positive Thoughts for Evan

Our heart buddy, Evan, is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. Please pray for Evan and his family during this stressful time and for his heart to be completely healed. Evan is an incredibly brave little guy, and I just know that he is going to do so great!!!

Stop by Evan's blog at http://www.evanbraveheart.blogspot.com/ to let him know that you are praying for him and wishing him a very quick recovery!

My Little Jabber Jaws

Parker G has been a talker from the start. She will repeat almost anything, and her sweet little voice is very cute. She is starting to put 2 words together, too. She says about 35-40 words that she says on her own and are recognizable to other people. My favorite is when she says "cars". She really draws it out :) Her favorite word must be "shoes" because she says that one a lot!

Brayden has always been a quiet guy. A little over a month ago when he started preschool, he only verbalized 2 words on a regular basis, "Mama" and "Dada". Yesterday, he had 6 recognizable words. Tonight, I think he probably has about 15 . . . the child repeated all kinds of words today! It was so much fun :) He even said (a version of) "spaghetti" for GG this evening. I am very proud of my boy!

My sweet Doll

My sweet Super

FFF - Holding Hands

Brayden & Parker really do love each other very much. She calls him "My-nah" (Mynor) or "nuh-ner" (brother), and he is just starting to say "Pah-pah" (Par-Par). I just love that these babies have each other. They fight and beat and wrestle just like all siblings do, but they also play and giggle and love. . . and they are so sweet together.

A Day with the Pish

Yesterday we went on a family outing to the aquarium! Whoo-hoo! Yes, this is exciting because 1) Momma did not have to work, 2) Daddy did not have to work, 3) We never go anywhere as a family and 4) My babies LOVE fish (or "pish" according to Parker). We had a great time!

Here are a few pics from our family day --

The kids were so good all day! They walked around and pointed and played :)Brayden was super happy. . . this boy loves fish!

(Doesn't he look tall in his jeans? So cute.)

Ahhh, my sweet babies :)I guess Park was looking for Prince Charming

Our official "Full Day Together With No One At Work, Going to Work, or Sleepy from Working the Night Before" Photo (yea, those days don't happen too often)

Gerson & Elviz - September 2008

Mis hijos son muy guapos!!!

Update

I know there are several of you waiting for an update. Out of respect for the privacy of others (mainly Gerson and Elviz), there is not much that can be shared.

What we had hoped might happen today did not happen.

What we feared might happen today did not happen.

Barring an unexpected miracle, we are looking at a process that will take a very, very long time to bring our boys home. . . and even that will take quite a fight.

At the end of the day, I am thanking God that the boys are safe. They are safer today than they were yesterday, so that is a major blessing.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers!

Reminder - Meeting is Thursday!

Please pray for our boys tomorrow.

The meeting is at 10 AM (12 pm EST).

PRAYERS NEEDED!!!

We need prayers. We really, desperately need prayers! This Thursday, September 25, there is an important meeting regarding our adoption. This is extremely serious, and extremely real, and extremely scary. This is a make or break point.

If you know me at all, you know how I feel about Gerson and Elviz. I love them. I love them. I love them. I want what is best for them, and I need you to help me make that happen by praying for the following --

- Please pray that during the meeting, everyone involved will feel an overwhelming compassion and concern for Gerson Misael and Elviz Eliezer.

- Please pray that every personal motive (including my own) will be removed and that every decision will be based solely on what is best for these boys.

- Please pray that only the truth will be spoken during Thursday's meeting.

Thank you for joining me in prayer for these 2 precious boys!!!! I know that God will hear us, and I know that He will protect Gerson and Elviz!

The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever He pleases.

Proverbs 21:1 (NLT)

Gerson & Elviz -- August 2008

These clowns are absolutely adorable!!!!!!

He's THREE!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Brayden Boy!!!

You are a beautiful, sweet, perfect boy:)

We love you all the way, all the time, no matter what!!!

Fun with Friends

We had another fun-filled Saturday, but I did not take many pictures. Brayden is a wanderer and Parker is a runner, so that might have something to do with it . . . hopefully Linda and Jenn will post their pictures soon (hint, hint).

We went to a great park in Richmond and met up with some wonderful families who have children that lived in the hogar where the boys are. I just love these kids, so it was amazing to get to see them with their families. . . not to mention the fact that I have been email friends with some of the mommas for a looooong time, and it was great to actually talk to them in person!

I cannot wait to show this picture to Gerson . . . he will be so excited to see his friends!David & Sara are master English-speakers! They are doing great!Sweet Sara - I love this girl so much! She is SUPER SMART, beautiful, funny, and such a giggle-box. . . and she is so sweet. I can't wait to show this one to Elviz. He loves Sara so, so much.It was great to get to spend time with these families today. Of course, I was a little sad not having my boys there, but there was far more joy -- to see these children be so loved and to see these families doing so well was a real blessing!

Thank you E Family, B Family, A Family, & H Family for a fun day!!!! You are all doing such a great job as parents to these wonderful children :)

FFF - Having a Ball

This weeks FFF theme is Having a Ball, and I instantly thought about Brayden and all of the fun that he used to have with the ball pit (aka the hamster wheel). Man, oh, man - he loved that toy!

You can see more FFF links here at Sarah's blog!!!

A Whole Lot of Handsome

Here is a whole lot of handsome all in one post -- all of these pictures were taken during July.

Ziploc kisses . . .

always make them smile :)Elviz hangin' with his posseHe finally got the Transformer that he asked for!

This picture was taken right after Gerson came to the rescue when a girl tried to take Elviz's toy. . .

Yeah, you don't mess with my little brother!

I love the ripped jeans look . . .

5 days later and he's still carrying around the bag???Gerson is growing up!!! He is incredibly beautiful :)Elviz is a little charmer . . .

Isn't he, ladies? :)

HermanosJust look at those eyes --
This one cracks me up -- such a Elviz face!These boys are too cute!

Gerson actually ran and changed into this shirt for this picture -- he wants to look good, you know!

Thank you so much to Jane, Peggy, and Linda for taking these pics!