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

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. 

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 33

Today was our last day in Honduras.  We didn't do much.  We spent some time in the sun on the roof and then headed to the Multi-Plex Mall.  We hadn't been to this mall yet and I needed a few things.  It is the biggest mall I have seen here so there was lots to look at.   Ali and Ricardo ran and ran which they needed to do.  Then we headed home to pack and fill out forms for Immigration. 

Ricardo and his picture

Ali in our room



The roof



While I am happy to leave Honduras, I am sad to leave this little apartment.  It has been so cosy. 

Waiting for the taxi

Tomorrow the lawyer is coming in the morning to give me all the documents for Immigration.  And then we will just wait until its time to go to the airport.  We leave at 4:35 and land in Guatemala City at 6:00. 

Day 32

What a wonderful day!  The first day where there hasn't been stress over strikes, directors begining fired, or constantly delayed meetings.  Its all done. 

We finally had a chance today to go Valle de Angeles.  This is one of the places I have wanted to visit while I was in Honduras.  I rented a taxi for the day and it took us about 50 minutes to get there.  Valle de Angeles is a little town in the mountains with lots of stores selling Honduran articles.  There was a market going on today so the town was busy and full of venders so there was lots to look at.  I was finally able to get some things from Honduras for Ricardo and a few things for myself.  The kids were really good and Ali enjoyed seeing the horses in the town. 

Town Square

Church

Street

Another street

Small store



A house along the way

Tomorrow is our last full day here.  I am not sure what we will do but we may just rest and get ready for the trip on Monday.  Ricardo is very happy that he is going on the plane although I don't think he understands that we have to go to Guatemala first before we can fly home to Canada.

Day 31



Ricardo with his passport

 AMAZING!!!  WE HAVE FINISHED EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY!!! WE CAN LEAVE HONDURAS!!!
I have our flights booked for Monday for Guatemala City.  We have a few days there to get the Canadian Visa and then start our trip home on Friday. 

The lawyer has been saying for the last week that she was working with everyone to get the registration and new birth certificate done quickly.  (Once the adoption is done they issue a new birth certificate with the child's new name).  It usually takes between two and three weeks after signing the adoption papers to get these two things done.  My lawyer said on Wednesday that she thought we would be done in a few days. Yesterday she told me that she was hoping to do the passports today but she would call and let me know.  She called last night and said that there was a problem but she would call by noon.  We stayed in all morning waiting just in case and at 12:30 she called and told me to get a taxi to immigration right away.  We were there half hour later. 

The passport was easy.  The other family went first and about 50 minutes later we went in.  I think it took 20 minutes for them to enter in Ricardo's information and to scan all the documents.  We then had to go and wait while the passport was made, about 45 minutes.  And we were done.  I had the final document in my hands. 

I am amazed that the lawyer got everything done so quickly.  I think this is because I am here with the other family.  They adopted three children and now are a family of seven, living in a hotel room.  And they needed to get home due to work issues.  I think she was working really hard to get everyone home.  And I am so thankful.

Just a few days left in Honduras now and we can enjoy them without worrying about signing dates and paperwork.  Just one step left in Guatemala! 

Day 30

FINALLY, WE HAVE SIGNED THE ADOPTION DECREE!!!!!!!!!  What a relief.  This has been such a difficult and stressful time.  The waiting and waiting at IHNFA has drained us all.  Ali has not been sleeping, is home sick and has been very difficult.  Ricardo is upset everytime we go to IHFNA.  I am just so thankful that this is now done.  I sincerely hope that no other family has to go through this. 

We were downstairs and waiting for the lawyer at 8:30 this morning.  At 9:00 she had not come so I decided to walk to IHNFA since it only takes 6 minutes.  The lawyer was there and I did not see the other family so I assumed that they were already signing the documents.  We played paper airplanes again for half an hour when Ali had to go to the bathroom.  We had to walk through the room where the other family was and they were sitting there.  They had not signed and they were not sure what was happening.  We went back to waiting in the lobby when the head of the adoption department walked by and told me in Spanish that we would sign today and gave me the thumbs up sign.  We waited until almost ten when the other family emerged.  They had signed!  What a relief! 

The "official" photo (taken by Ali)

It was my turn.  We went back to a room with a big table.  The head of the Commission was there and some other officials and my lawyer.  I signed one document and had to put a finger print on it.  They then checked my passport, read out a document in Spanish and then had me sign four copies of the decree.  We finished off with photos.  This all took less then 10 minutes.  All these weeks of waiting for 10 minutes.  The only emotion I felt was relief.  We can now start thinking about going home. 

Next, we went to get the photos done for the visa.  We drove there, had the photos done and were back before 12.  My lawyer discussed with me that they were working to get everything done quickly because we have waited so long.  I know that for week she has been discussing the issue with the other offices involved so that we can get the registration, birth certificates and passport done in record time.  We will know more by the end of tomorrow. 

The kids have been waiting all week to go to the children's museum, Chiminike so after lunch we took a cab and spent a couple of hours there.  The kids loved it and I was happy that they got to do something fun after the week we had.  It is a great museum full of hands on activities.  They both loved the giant nose that sneezes and the big operation game.  They were too fightened to try the bed of nails though. 




Tree house



Giant operation game



Big nose



Water room



Climbing

 

Fun with masks

I had arranged for the taxi to come and get us at 4:30 but after 20 minutes of waiting it hadn't come.  The museum was almost closing and I didn't want to waiting alone so we walked to the street where there was a beat up old taxi.  Smashed windows, ripped seats.  But it was our only option.  He didn't know where our hotel was (and of course I had forgot the card from the hotel) so in Spanish I had to direct him.  We got back fine and I was really glad that I knew how to find my way back to the hotel.