Hola!

Well, we are off and running (again). We have an attorney now. Turns out Derek's cousin-in-law is going to handle our adoption. Man, why didn't she take our case a year ago?! She's not an adoption attorney, so we're her guinea pigs, but she's already working our case before we even get the POA back to her. She's made contacts and trips and working her tail off already (she's got a lot to learn). It is SO nice having someone we trust, for a change. Derek's dad just returned from Panama the other day and he'd gone to the orphange where he used to play Santa Clause years ago. he had a long chat with the director. It must have been a sight. Derek's dad, his aunt, two uncles, and grandmother all went together to talk to her and had to squeeze into her tiny office. Anyway, D's dad said he learned that the youngest child at the orphange was 2 1/2 months old, that there are approximately 170 children there, and that if two get adopted one day, three more come in the next. And that Panama WANTS to find homes for their children. His dad also went to the DNA and outright asked if Panamanians get any special treatment (since D is Panamanian) and they said no, we're all treated the same. I won't lie and say I wasn't disappointed in hearing that since the BS we've been through with you-know-who. But, on the other hand, that is reassuring to know all countries interested in adopting from Panama are in the same boat. Our former agency made it sound like Panama didn't want to adopt out their children, especially to Americans (which I had found hard to believe since I know Panama and the US have had such close relations forever--in spite of tensions over the Canal and former Canal Zone). If our case number is any indication of where we are in the pile of applications, I believe we have a long wait. I had been told by our former agency that Panama didn't use case numbers, which is NOT SO. Got my case number to prove it. I encourage everyone to make sure they have their case number. I don't know what good it actually does to have that, but I feel better having it after the rigamarole trying to get any info from 'the other people'. I'm just blathering on...dunno if this post helps anyone. But I'm finally allowinig myself to get a tiny bit excited about this adoption again, so forgive me for babbling. Now I just wish the social worker we'd used for our homestudy would respond to my message so we can get things updated after our move! She is connected to our former agency, but they told us they had no probs with her updating our homestudy even tho we weren't using them for adoption. Anyone have to use someone else to update their homestudy or other forms? I'll update anytime I hear anything from our wonderful new attorney. Love to all! Robin