Christmas is Coming

Dressed for the Concert

The last few weeks have been very busy getting ready for Christmas.  Last week the kids were busy at school with Christmas events.  The highlight was the Christmas Concerts.  There were two, one for the English program and one for the French Immersion program so I got to see two concerts.  Ricardo's Concert was first.  As you can see from the photo below, Ricardo did not enjoy the Christmas Concert.  In fact, the whole last week of school was highly stressful for him.    I think it was the constant practising of the song and then every day there was some event at school.  There was just no routine and he was stressed out about the whole thing.  I now regret putting him into school before the holidays.  I didn't realize that they would spend over a week celebrating Christmas.  It was just too much for him.

On stage

Singing the Christmas Song

Ali's concert was the next day.  I actually saw Ali in both concerts as she is in the choir.  Ali enjoyed doing her song.  However, most of Ali's week was normal I guess because she is in a higher grade.  They made cookies one day and that was it.

There was also a Christmas store at school.  People donated items and the kids could go in and buy a gift for a family member.  I spent the day at the school wrapping gifts the kids had bought for their family.  It was so cute seeing what they had bought their parents.  I was there when Ricardo came in and helped him shop since he didn't understand what he was supposed to do.

My sister also visited last week.  She had not met Ricardo yet as she doesn't often get weekends off.  She stayed 4 days and we visited the Milner Gardens Christmas light display.  We also went to a Christmas Play which Ricardo really enjoyed.  Ricardo really likes Tia Jackie as they both like the colour Orange.

Now that school is over, Ricardo is doing much better and he is looking forward to Santa coming.  Although, I don't think he really knows what that means and, since he is only speaking a tiny bit of English, I can't get an answer from him about what happened in Honduras.  I am sure he will enjoy Christmas Day.  Merry Christmas!

At Milner Gardens with Tia Jackie

Visiting with Santa

Ricardo and Ali

School

Ricardo has now completed two full weeks of school.  The first week was just for 2.5 hours a day so he could get used to the class.  We went in on Monday at 11:45, just in time to eat lunch with the other students.  When we arrived the class was in the gym so we had the room to ourselves.  We found a coat hook with Ricardo's name above it and a chair for him.  Then the class arrived.  The teacher had told the class that Ricardo was coming and that they all had to help him learn English.   I stayed and just watched.  The teaching assisant spent alot of time with Ricardo leading him around when they had story time and then centres.  He was happy to be there but did not interact with the other kids.  At recess, he stood alone for a long time and then a little girl came and led him around the playground.  Just before the end of the day the English as a Second language teacher came and found me and walked to her office and discussed Ricardo and she gave me another Education website for Ricardo.  At the end of the day, Ricardo was smiling so I guess he enjoyed it.

The second day I stayed for a shorter time and then the third and fourth day I left after 10 minutes.  Friday was a PD day so no school.  The teacher said that he did well on his own and that they were working with pictures with the word beneath to teach him English.  They had a card for chair and shoes and other items he would use in the classroom.  They also had a strip of pictures showing the morning routine - hang up coat, put on inside shoes, go to chair -  so he could learn the routine and the words to go with it.  The teacher said that he was very good at watching the other students to see what he was supposed to do.

Last week Ricardo went to school for the full day.  I didn't even go in the class but waited outside with him until the teacher came to let them into the classroom.  After his first full day he said "Fun, fun".  There were no problems the rest of the week and he was happy at the end of each day.

He really likes to get his stuff prepared for school each day and loves his homework.  The first day he had homework, he wanted to start it in the car.  I hope he maintains this enthusiasum.  He has a few more weeks before the Christmas break.  I am looking forward to seeing him in the Christmas Concert.  

Canadian Citizenship

Last week, I received Ricardo's Canadian Citizenship certificate in the mail.  This was the last big thing to happen for this adoption.  I have always felt that once I had this document, I would be finished.  The only thing left to do is to apply for BC Medical, since I needed the Citizenship card for this.  I have the form all filled out and will be taking it in this week.  Then I can get a passport and that will be the end of the paperwork.  Except post placement reports of course but I see those as something separate and not part of the completing the adoption.

The best news is that I got all my documents back.  When I was in Guatemala, the immigration officer took all the original adoption documents including Ricardo's birth certificate.  I was worried I wouldn't get these back but they were all there in the envelope.  That was a relief because getting a new birth certificate costs $200 US and I doubt I would be able to get the new copies of the adoption documents.

When I showed Ricardo his certificate he said "Beautiful".  The blue document below contains the signature that took us so long to get.

A visit to the school

On Friday, after Ricardo played in the snow, we headed to see the prinicpal at his school. I had made an appointment so I could discuss Ricardo and his needs so he could make a successful integration into his new school.   The principal has known for a long time that Ricardo was coming and had been thinking about what was best and after our discussion she suggested that he should start in kindergarten. She felt that he would be overwhelmed in a grade 1 class and that in kindergarten they are learning the basics like numbers and days of the week which would be good for him learning English. The kindergarten teacher is one of the best teachers in the school and very experienced with the primary grades. The prinicpal also felt that kindergarten would be good because of this lack of confidence with other kids and his inexperience with things. The kindergarten room and curriculum also centres around play which is excellent for language development. She also added that we would assessment him in a few months and we could move him to grade one at that time. It will easier to move Ricardo up a grade then to put him in grade 1 and then have to move him back down if it proves too much. If he stays in kindergarten all year, they will then also look at putting him in a split class next year (grade 1/2) so he can gradually move to grade two if that is what is needed. The kindergarten class also has a learning assistant so there are two adults in the room which means that Ricardo can get some one on one attention.

Before the meeting, I had thought he would go into grade 1 but honestly, I was worried about how he was going to fit in.  He is shy of kids his age but will play with younger kids.  I think that kindergarten will be a better fit for him.  Plus, the school will keep reviewing him and will move him up if they feel he is ready.  I would rather that he feel comfortable then overwhelmed.

We also discussed the English As a Second Language support. Our school does have some but it would be maybe an hour or two per week. And this would continue for five years.

After our discussion we headed to see the classroom. The students were in the gym so we could walk around the room. It was colourful, and full of different play areas. Ricardo's face just lit up. The principal saw this and said, "He will be very comfortable in this room. It it much better for him at this time to be in a room like this."

Then we headed to the gym. The kids were dancing with coloured scrafs and Ricardo was given one so he could join in. He was nervous (because now there were other children) but he followed along. Then we met his teacher, Mrs. D, that's what all the kids call her, and we arranged to start Ricardo on Monday. She felt that afternoon would be best as it is more play based after lunch and this would make an easy start for him. I am going to stay in the class with him for the first few days.  The teacher is also teaching some Spanish in the class so that will make him feel comfortable.

And what did Ricardo think? Well, a few weeks ago when I mentioned that he would go to school in a month, he said, "NO! Six months." He didn't want to go. But we have spent some time at the school when we pick up Ali, getting him used to the space. On Friday when we came back from the school, he ran to his room and grabbed his backpack. I had given him a small bag of popcorn for a snack. Instead of eating it, he put it in the bag and said that it was for school and then he placed the bag where Ali puts her school bag each day. He talked about going to school all weekend and the last thing he said tonight before going to sleep was "School tomorrow!" so I guess he is ready to go.

First Snow!!!

Yippee! Snow!!  Ricardo experienced his first snow fall today.  We woke to a few centimetres on the ground.  After we took Ali to school he took his first steps in the snow.  He just stood there for a while and then finally decided to touch it.  He didn't want gloves on.  After these photos were taken he changed his mind and wanted gloves.  He said "Frio!!!"  (cold).


First Touch of snow



First Snowball

He then spent an hour outside before we had to go out.  It was really wet snow so he was soaked and cold when he came in (I need to get him some snow pants).  And he didn't want to go back out for a while.  But by afternoon, after we walked to the mail box, he was ready to play in the snow again and he is still out there.  He keeps saying "Snow is funny!" Which is his way of saying that snow is FUN.  

Chasing Daisy

 

Daisy

 

Enjoying his first snow



Swimming Lessons

Ricardo started swimming lessons this week with Monica.  He was so exicted when I told him the night before but tears came the next morning when it looked, to him, that we weren't going.  His experience of a pool is that we all put our bathing suits on, grab a towel and walk to the hotel pool.  Instead I was putting his suit and towel in a bag and Ali was collecting her stuff for school.  I tried to explain but the tears continued until we had dropped Ali off and were half way to the pool and I keep repeating that he was going swimming now.  He was nervous when we got to the pool, which must have looked strange to him as it was in a building and there were no palm trees.  And because I work for the local Parks and Rec Departmen everyone knew who he was when we entered the building.  They were all excited to see him. 

Once he saw Monica on the deck, his nervousness began to fade.  And there was no problem in the pool.  He was smiling the whole time. 

Today, he was excited that we were going to the pool again and there were no tears.  He knew that we would go once we dropped Ali at school.  This time, as we were driving, he kept saying, "the pool's not here."  And I would respond that it was still 5 minutes away.  This conversation continued until we reached the pool. 

He made great strides today putting his head in the water and even swimming on his own for about 15 seconds.  Again, he was smiling the whole time. 

Happy Birthday Ali

Yesterday Ali turned 8 years old!  We celebrated her birthday on Saturday.  We (or maybe I should say "I") decided against having a big party.  I didn't think I could handle the stress of organizing a party and that a house full of screaming girls might be a bit much for Ricardo.  So instead she invited her frient Hannah over for two days.  We started out with some free playtime followed by lunch and cake.  We then headed to Nanaimo to see Puss in Boots, 3D.  Ricardo had never been to the movies before and he was really excited.  The movie even had some Spanish words in it.  Ricardo is still talking about the movie.

After the movie we had dinner at a local restaurant followed by 5 pin cosmic bowling.  I haven't been bowling in years.  My first time up I got a strike but I quickly went down hill from there.  Hannah won!  Ricardo had never been bowling and both girls coached him.  He had some pretty good shots. 

Hannah stayed the night and the girls (and myself) did not get much sleep.  Sunday was spent playing in the morning and then we headed to the park and the beach in the afternoon. 

Ali enjoyed her birthday and was not upset at not having a big party.  It was much easier on me, no stress.   I think we will do something similar for her birthday next year. 

Monica

The first week home, I introduced Ricardo to Monica.  Monica is from Mexico and, of course, she can speak Spanish.  She chatted with him about Canada and what he was feeling.  One thing that was confirmed is that he doesn't want to speak English.  I think because it is all he has left from his other life.  Everything was taken from him and all that is left is Spanish.  He told us that he misses home especially the other foster kids.  This also explains the crying spells.  They have been short but they come out of no where.  All of a sudden he cries. They happen when I turn my back for a second so I am not sure if something happened. I thought it was home sickness but I had Monica confirm that it wasn't something else.  Did he hurt himself or did I do something to upset him? Monica confirmed that he wasn't hurt. He said that he doesn't know why he cries. When she said that I knew it is because he misses Honduras. He has to grieve for what he has lost. I am sure all of a sudden he thinks of something and the tears come. She also confirmed with him that he knew that he was in Canada to stay and that this was his family forever. He knew this but of course he misses his other family. Monica asked him what he liked best about Canada and he said "the toys".  She asked him what he thought of the cold weather and he said "No problem, you just put a coat on". 

I am glad to have Monica and her family.  Ricardo gets really happy when ever I mention Monica's name.  I am sure she provides comfort because she speaks Spanish.  This week Ricardo started swimming lessons with Monica (she is a swim instructor at our local pool).  He loves the pool and he will get to spend time with Monica. 

First Week Home

Its just over a week that we have been home and things are going well.  We are settling into a routine and recovering from the stress of the last few weeks.  We haven't done much but stay at home.  I am really amazed at how well Ricardo is doing.  He has dealt with tremendous change over the last few months but he still has a big smile on his face most of the time. 

Ricardo's experience of life in the foster home was pretty limited.   Most of Ricardo's life was spent in the living room watching tv.  He had never been to a park or grocery store or even played outside on the street.  His companions were the other foster kids who were 3 and 4.  His only glimse of the outside world was when the foster mother walked him to school.  She treated him like he was young in fact he was still sleeping in a crib at the foster mothers.  And he is almost seven. 

In the first few days with him, I could see that he had never experienced much outside the home.  I had to watch him all the time and explain many things to him.  But what amazes me is that he has greated most new situations and new places with great enthusiasm.  He loved getting to new hotel rooms, going out in the taxi or going shopping.  He also liked the flights as well. 

One of the few things that he hasn't been keen on is meeting other children.  He is naturally shy so backs away from groups of kids.   I think he also feels intimitated by other children his same age as they have so much experience and therefore they seem more confident.  I know that school is going to be an issue.  When we took Ali back last week we walked through the school yard and I explained to Ricardo that he was soon going to go to school too.  He said, "No, I don't want to go". 

He is getting on really well with Ali.  She is also very happy because now she has a living person to play with instead of a doll.  Once she taught school to the dog and a doll.  Now she has Ricardo and Ricardo, being easy going, does what ever she says.  She directs him to write out letters, then to pack up his books because school is over and she marches him back to his room.  She even had him doing yoga yesterday.  And he is totally happy playing along in whatever roll is assigned. 

He is not talking much English at this point.  He still using the words "swimming" and "bubbles" and has added "all done" and "Sit down Daisy" for the dog.  And is favourite words are "mini golf" which is uses everytime we pass the place with the pirate ship and the giant shoe.  I have been trying to get him to speak more English but I was getting the feeling that he doesn't want to speak English.  One day he told me that his family speaks Spanish so he doesn't want to speak English.  I tried to explain that his foster family spoke Spanish but that his new family speaks English and he will have to learn English too.  I wil see how he progresses in the next week.

So this week we will stay home again and rest up as I am still tired.  Last week I was totally exhausted but I am feeling a little better this week.  I am going to start getting Ricardo out more next week.  I need to build up his confidence in dealing with the outside world.  Sitting here at home is similar to what happened in Honduras and I know that he needs to take some steps forward because he is going to have to go to school at some point.  I am going to look into some activities for him that we can start next week.

Halloween and the first day home

I was hoping for a quiet day today but it ended up being a busy day.  It was quiet for the first two hours but then we had to head out.  First, I needed clothes for Ricardo.  He was down to one pair of jeans and one pair of socks.  So he was in is glory getting new clothes and pjs and slippers.  When we were trying clothes on he said that everything fit perfectly even if it didn't.  I guess he wanted everything no matter what. 
Second, I needed Halloween stuff.  Make up for Ali, candy etc.  We had to go to a few stores to get Vampire teeth since some stores had sold out.  Ali already had a cape and Ricardo had a costume that Ali wore a few years back.  He put it on as soon as he got up. 

And then Third, I wanted to get the final papers done for the Canadian Citizenship Certificate.  This involved a short form and a letter to explain that the Embassy in Guatemala had taken the photos from me and that I wanted all my documents back.  Of course my printer died so I also had to go somewhere to get documents photocopied and the letter printed off before heading to the post office.

Then it was time to go home to carve the pumpkin.  Ricardo was not sure what we were doing but he soon caught on and helped to clean out the insides.  Ali carved one pumpkin and Ricardo and I did the other.  Then it was time to get ready.  Ali did her own make-up and then wanted to do Ricardo's. 

Ricardo with the pumpkins



Ali the make-up artist




All set to go out trick or treating



We headed out the door at 6:30.  Ricardo must think he has landed in a fantasy land.  You wear costumes all day and then go out at night and get candy.  He wasn't frightened by anything and was really fasinated by the flash light.  And once he got the first candy, he was running from door to door.  We headed towards the local park where there was a pumpkin walk through the park.  Hundreds of  pumpkins are set along a trail in the woods.  The kids liked it but were getting tired so we headed home. 



Pumpkins in the woods


Hopefully, things will be calm now for the next few weeks.  Ricardo has just been so wound up with everything and then we had Halloween on top of it all.  Ali is going back to school and I will have the first time alone with Ricardo.  We need to establish some routines and some guidelines.  This is my focus for the next few weeks. 

Home

Finally, we are home!!  Three days of travelling, 4 flights, two hotels and hours in airports.  Our first flight to Costa Rica was only 1 hours and 15 minutes but we spent a total of 6.5 hours between hotels either in lines at airports or waiting for the hotel bus.  Our flight from Costa Rica to Toronto was two and a half hours late which means we didn't get to the hotel until after midnight and then we had to get up at five.  However, the kids didn't seem tired at all.  Especially Ricardo.  I think he was so excited to finally be in Canada that it over took any feelings of being tired.  I was glad to get home and I was welcomed by flowers and balloons from my friends Sandra and John!



Ricardo and Ali did great through all the travelling.  I am sure that Ricardo was starting to think that we live in airports and hotels.  When we finally got home, he was so excited and ran around the house pulling out all of Ali's toys.  I only had a few toys for him in his room as I didn't want to over whelm him but I forgot about Ali's toys.  Actually, I had imagined that things would be calmer but it was crazy.  He was running wild and Ali was leading him along from place to place.  I was still coming up the stairs when he found his room.  Within half an hour, he had a costume on and it stayed on for the rest of the day.  The house looks like a bomb hit it.

One thing that I was worried about was the dog.  The foster mother told me that Ricardo was frightened by dogs.  And my dog will bark at strangers who are in our house.  But there was no problem.  The dogs never barked and Ricardo liked the dog.  In fact, he is very interested in her.  He keeps pointing at her and watching everything she does.  He thought it was very funny when she went and slept in her dog bed.  There were no pets in the foster home so it must seem odd to him to have a dog in the home. 

I am exhausted.  It is going to take me days to get organized.  And weeks to get over the stress of the trip.  I think a big crash is coming for all of us. 





Day 37

Today we visited the town of Antigua, about 40 minutes outside of Guatemala City.  It is a beautiful town surrounded by volcanos.  The town is colourful and behind some of the doors are beautiful courtyards.  There are also many ruins in the town from a earthquake in 1773.  The town was established by the Spanish in the mid-1550s and it was the capital of the central america area.  But there were several major earthquakes and in the 1700s the capital was moved to Guatemala City.  The site is now a world hertiage site. 

One of the many ruins in the town

Church near central park

The Central Park

A court yard

The arch of Santa Catalina built in 1663

A view of the buildings

View through the arch

Another view through the arch

A beautiful Church

All the windows in the town had these grates around them and were often full of flowers

A side street

Tomorrow we start our long journey home.  I can't believe that this adoption is final complete after 3 long years. 

Day 36

Ricardo with his visa at the Embassy

Ricardo has been granted Canadian Citizenship!!! We can come home!!!!! 

At 8:30 the phone rang.  It was the immigration officer and she let me know that she was going to grant Canadian Citizenship.  She said that I could come back to the Embassy at 11:00 with the other papers I had to fill out.  It was such a relief to get this phone call.  I was impressed that she followed through and called and first thing in the morning as well.  I thought I would have to wait all morning to get the call. 

At the Mall

So after breakfast and some resting up, we headed back to the Embassy.  We waited just a few moments for the immigration officer.  She took my papers and said to come back in two hours.  So we headed back to the mall.  At 1:00 we headed back again to the Embassy and a few moments later we had his passport back with the facilitation visa.  Although Ricardo was granted Citizenship, he is still travelling on a Honduran passport as it would take many weeks to get a Canadian passport here in Guatemala.  So, the extra papers we filled out were for a facilitation visa which will allow Ricardo to enter Canada with the Honduran passport. 

Yesterday the immigration officer took all my adoption papers including Ricardo's birth certficate.  She told me she was going to keep them.  I asked today about getting them back.  She responded that she needs to send them to Sydney, Nova Scotia where the Canadian Citizen Certificate would be issued.  When I returned in the afternoon, she gave me some copies of the documents with a stamp and her signature on them and a letter saying that citizenship was granted.  She said that if there were any issues entering Canada, to show the letter and the stamped documents.  She said that Ricardo was now entered as a Canadian Citizen in the immigration system so I shouldn't have any problem.  She went on to mention that she had included a letter with my file asking the staff in Sydney to return my original documents to me with the Citizenship Certificate.  So hopefully, I will get all my documents back. 

The rest of the day we spent in the pool.  This hotel has a nice pool and a kids pool which is one of the reasons I picked this hotel, the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel.  Plus the fact that it was only $75 and I got free breakfast.  I have to pay for the kids but it is a big buffet breakfast so we eat lots and then only need a small lunch.  The hotel is nice but a ten minute drive from the Embassy.  Our room looks out to the Pacaya Volcano which erupted in May of last year sending think ash all over the city.  It also causes small quakes.  I had just read this and we had a small quake making Ali sit up in bed and ask me why I was moving her bed.

Ricardo in the kid's pool

Ali in one of the hot tubs

The kids in the glass elevator. Great fun!

Lobby and inside of the hotel

Coming back from the pool

View from our window - Pacaya volcano

 

Tomorrow we might hire a taxi to go somewhere.  I would like to see something while I am in Guatemala and not just a mall.

Day 34 and 35

Final Picture in Honduras

It was a busy morning for me as I had to finish packing, confirm hotels and the flight.  I also met with the lawyer at 10:00.  She gave me all the documents I will need for immigration.  These include the court documents, old and new birth certificate, and the adoption order.  I then used these to finish filling out the forms for Canadian Immigration.  We did visit the roof one more time before the lawyer came back at 2:00 and we headed for the airport.

At the airport, the lawyer took me to the immigration room.  The officer looked at all the adoption papers and our passports.  It only took a few moments.  Then we checked in, paid the airport tax and went through to the gate. 

The plane was 50 minutes late leaving.  It was a tiny plane, like a Dash 8.  Ricardo was excited and was no problem during the flight.  I did have to tell him to leave his selt belt on as he kept undoing it. 

Ricardo on his first flight

When we landed in Guatemala, they pulled all our luggage onto the ground and we had to walk a long, long way with it.  Luckily I only have a small amount of luggage.  I am glad I didn't have big suitcases.  Once through immigration we headed out and waited for our shuttle to the hotel.  By the time we got there and had dinner, it was nine so it was a late night for the kids.  And I was tired too. 

In Guatemala with our small amount of luggage

Day 35

Today was immigration day.  I set the alarm for 6:30 so we would have time for breakfast and then could be at the Canadian Consulate by 8:00.  Just before we headed for breakfast I read an email asking me to call my agency but she was not available.  So after breakfast I tried again.  Still no answer so we headed off at 8:30. 

We arrived at 9:00 and met the other Canadian family there.  They arrived on the weekend and had spent Monday getting the visas.   They told me to head downstairs first and start there.  So I headed down to the main office and explained what I wanted and ten minutes they said to head back up stairs to start the process.  I waited there only a few minutes and they gave me some new forms and an example of an international cheque that I needed to get.  They instructed me to go to the bank across the street.  I did this but the bank would not do the cheque so we walked a kilometer down the road to a bank that would do it.  When we were back, the immigration officer came out and I gave her all my documents.  She told me she would call in the morning and I could go and bring the other forms back tomorrow.  

It was now lunch and the kids were tired.  I looked across the street and saw this in the mall. 

Ali and Ricardo are on the top so they are hard to see

Dinosaur at the Mall

So the kids had a ride and then we strolled around and got some lunch before heading back to the hotel.  Then I did what I have been doing for days.....tired to arrange all the flights home.  The travel agent was working on the last one from Toronto to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  However, the fare had gone up and it was going to cost me 1,200 more then expected.  So I discussed with my parents flying to Vancouver and then taking a bus and a ferry.  This will only add 5 hours to the trip that is going to take 3 days - Costa Rica, overnight, Toronto, overnight and then to Vancouver.  So my Mother spent the morning with the travel agent and they got the cost down by almost half with one option flying to the island.  I decided that it was worth taking the more expensive option - 160 more to fly to the island and save the five hours of time.  So now the flights are settled. 

Then it was a long discussion with the agency about immigration.  All I can say is that I am so thankful for Skype!  At least through all of this I could talk to agency when need and with my parents for hours when things were rough. 

Finally, we headed to the pool for a few hours and then dinner and bed.  We are all tired.  Tomorrow, I will wait for a call from immigration.  I am going to sleep with my fingers crossed that we get the visa!!