Danny's foster family - and photos!

There are many reasons Eric and I chose to adopt from Guatemala, but one big reason is that most of the children are in excellent private foster care. Many of the foster parents have grown children, and lots of households are multi-generational, so there are lots of family members to care for the babies. Foster families receive little money for taking care of these babies; most of what they get (which comes from the attorney fees we paid) goes toward formula, diapers, etc. Guatemalans in general seem to be big softies when it comes to kids, and I've heard that most of the foster families do this just because they love babies. Foster families are limited to having two foster children at a time, which ensures each child gets lots of attention. In fact, it's been the experience of many American adoptive parents that their Guatemalan children tend to reach developmental milestones later than we're used to, simply because they are held so much!

Eric and I have met Daniel's foster mother Rosa on several occasions. She and her husband Carlos have a teenage son and a 9-year-old daughter. They have been foster parents for the last three years, and are currently caring for another baby boy Danny's age. On our first visit trip, Rosa and her daughter brought Daniel to us at the hotel, and we first spoke through an interpreter. Rosa and her daughter surprised us at the hotel a couple of days later, bringing us another can of formula, some apples, and a cake! When we had to give Daniel back to Rosa, I was crying while trying to remember what to tell her, and translating in my head. (We didn't have an interpreter.) Rosa was very sweet, and comforted me, and told me that in a couple of months we'd be coming to take Daniel home. She's a teeny tiny woman, but has a huge heart! We talked some more on our second trip (through an interpreter, and also on our own, as much as we can with my limited Spanish). We have really bonded. On both trips, her husband Carlos has come with the car to pick Danny up, and he always gets out to give me a big hug and kiss, and shake Eric's hand. They all "coochy-coo" with Danny, and treat him with such love. It is only because we like and trust this family so much that we can bear to leave Daniel there.

Last time, when we had the interpreter, I asked Rosa if any of the other parent who have already taken their kids home keep in touch with her, and she said "No." I asked her if she would like us to stay in touch with her and send her pictures sometimes. She said "Yes," and seemed so happy. By the time we bring Daniel home, she will have spent the better part of his first year loving and raising him, and she has a bond with him. I want Danny to know about this wonderful family who took care of him before we could. Who knows, maybe someday we'll bring him to meet them on a trip back to Guatemala.

Here are some photos that Daniel's foster family has taken of him so far, with a disposable camera we sent down. (Whenever someone from our agency is going down to Guatemala, we're allowed to send a "care package" - It's amazing how much stuff you can cram into a one-gallon ziploc bag!) Danny is playing with toys we left with him on our first visit trip. The penguin is a present from his Grammy Jeanie.