Merry Christmas to Everyone

I just wanted to tell everyone a late Merry Christmas. I was planning on posting before now but I'm sure that everyone can understand how busy you get at this time of year. I also wanted to share a picture of the Christmas ornament that we got for Jacob. I got the idea from the Yeatons blog -Our Journay to Emersyn Grace - the ornament came from a web site called Mandy's Moon. It has lots of great stuff.

I also wanted to share a couple of Christmas pictures of us. We are so happy to finally be on the waiting list but I just know that the first Christmas with Jacob is going to be one of the best of our lives.

Alonzo and I with our baby Sassy.

And here with our best girl - Hailey

So, Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends and hope that you have a great last few days of 2007.

We Are Now a Waiting Family

Lisa and I got our Christmas wish! We came home on Monday and there it was.....THE letter! I grabbed it up and waved it at Lisa.....it was FINALLY here! Ripping open the envelope, we saw what we had been waiting on for almost 6 weeks....our I-797C form....Notice of Action.

The form was a notice of favorable determination concerning the application for advance processing of orphan petition. We were so excited to have it in hand!!!

We have now sent a copy of it to CHI...our adoption agency...and have been placed on the waiting list for a referral. We are number 251 as of today. That means that 250 others are waiting to adopt before us. Of course, that counts for boys, girls, special needs, etc. We are wanting to adopt a boy, aged 0-6 months and healthy.

We have taken another step toward having Jacob in our lives. This little baby has so much love going out to him...and he hasn't even been born yet!!!

The wait is going to be long...but at least we have a number to work toward. Let's hope that there are lots and lots of referrals in the coming months. Perhaps our magic number will come up faster than we think!

In Loving Memory

I have some very sad news - - On December 8, 2007, we had to put our beloved dog Pepper to sleep. Pepper was 16 years old and had become very sick. As her loving mommy and daddy we had to do what was best for her. We would have had her 15 years this February.

Trip to Nevada

Hey everybody. The Thanksgiving Holiday 2007 is now just a memory....but Christmas is on the way. Lisa and I are hoping for a great present...our 171 form! Hopefully it will come in the mail anyday so that we can get on the official waiting list. We are ready to be parents...and Jacob is getting closer to us each and everyday. Keep us in your Holiday Wishes and pray that we get our form before Christmas. Thanks!

Anyway, as the title of this blog entry suggests, I would like to tell you about our recent trip to Nevada over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Lisa and I traveled with our friends Rod and Corrinna Middleton of Morehead. We flew out of Lexington, KY on Sunday, Nov. 18th. We had a brief layover in Atlanta where we had a great breakfast at Chili's...yes, they serve breakfast! Our flight to Vegas was great. We had a flight attendant who was a laugh riot! She was saying things like "Welcome to Vegas. You will find slot machines right in the airport so that you can lose...um, gamble...your money at the earliest possible moment." Of course, I never play the slots at the airport as they are supposed to have horrible odds.

We rented a car and quickly drove to our hotel...the Excalibur. It was a very nice place...all made out to look like a medival castle. We loved it. The rooms were comfortable. I guess that the only thing that we didn't enjoy was the fact that the pillows were too fluffy! Usually hotel pillows are flat as cardboard....these were so fluffy that they bunched up around your face...LOL. I guess that you can't please everyone...people complain if the pillows are flat and if they are fluffy. Other than that, the hotel was nice. How often do you stay in your room anyway?

We did lots of neat things on our vacation. We drove out to the Grand Canyon one day. It was amazing beyond words. Just seeing it was breath taking! We also went to Hoover Dam. It was great. Of course we had to catch the Follies Bergere show. I love the 10:00 PM showing....wink wink. We were also lucky enough to get great floor seats to a showing of Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay. It was one of the best shows that I have seen. If you love ABBA music, you will love this show. I hear that there is a movie version coming out starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnon. I can't wait!

We gambled a little and caught some of the free shows the Vegas offers...like the fountains at the Bellagio and the volcano at the Mirage. The pirate show at Treasure Island was being repaired so we didn't get to see it....maybe next time.

We went to Freemont Street....and it was GREAT! I loved the whole atmosphere...like one giant party.

We really enjoyed our adults only vacation. It ended way too soon, but we wanted to get one last one in before Jacob arrives. Once he is here, we will be devoting all vacation time to him. I can hardly wait to take him to Disneyland, Kings Island, Universal Studios, Gatlinburg, etc. There is a whole wide world out there just waiting to be explored.

Until next time, here are some photos of our vacation. Enjoy! Check back soon for more updates!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Lisa and I celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday, Nov. 17th. We had to celebrate early because we were going on vacation over the Thanksgiving week.

We invited my mom and dad, Lisa's mom, my Uncle Junior, my Uncle Willard and Aunt Colleen, and Rod, Corrinna, and Hailey. It was a full house for us. Even Jacob was with us (in spirit anyway...since he probably hasn't even been born yet)!

We had a great menu: turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccolli casserole, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and lots of Cool Whip! It was a great dinner and everyone ate way TOO much...but that is what the holidays are about.

As I sat watching everyone eat, I wondered what it would be like to play the role of DAD at the holidays. That is something that I haven't done yet...but I look forward to it so much. I can imagine that the holidays at this time of year take on a whole new meaning when you have kids around. I can't wait!

Here are some holiday pics to enjoy!

On the adoption news, Lisa and I are still waiting for our I171 form. When we get it, we can fax it to Children's Hope International and get on the waiting list. Sigh..such a long process!

My Aunt Colleen and me

Hailey with a Thanksgiving Pumpkin!

The Three Amigos (Uncle Junior, Uncle Willard, and Dad)

Hailey and me in front of the tree

Uncle Junior

Adventures in Fingerprinting

Hey everybody! Well, we have the fingerprinting phase of our adoption over and done with. It went smoothly...sort of. We left school early on Wednesday, Oct. 10th so that we could get to Charleston, WV in the daylight and find the CIS office. The trip wasn't too bad...it took aboout 3 1/2 hours to get there from here. When we got to Charleston, we kept passing up the exit we needed to take! First we were going one way on the interstate...then the other...then we turned around again. LOL! We finally got off at the right exit. It turned out that the CIS building was one that I had been looking at each time we passed the exit. It was so easy to find.

We were there the next morning bright and early. We had stayed at the Ramada in Charleston. I will have to say that I slept very well there...the beds were wonderful. They also had a great breakfast...eggs, sausage, biscuits, gravy, fruit, cereal, danish, and even waffles. It was delicious!

At the CIS office, I was sneaking around taking pictures for our scrapbook of the adoption. I just knew that the security guard was going to think that I was up to something no good...a terrorist or something...LOL. I snapped a few quick photos and stashed the camera.

My fingerprinting experience was uneventful. They don't use ink anymore. They use a computer. The little lady in the room washed my fingers with water and put them on the scanner. It was a little uncomfortable when she was rolling them to get a complete print, but it wasn't painful or anything. I was out in about 10 minutes. I told my wife that it was nothing.

My wife went in the room to have her fingerprints. I kept waiting and waiting. She was in there for almost 45 minutes! Finally, she came out. Everyone in the room was staring at her. I even joked with her later that the security guard had gone for his gun...LOL.

It seems that they had a hard time getting her fingerprints. The little lady in the room finally started using stuff like witch hazel, corn oil, and even Windex on Lisa's fingers in order to get a good print...LOL! She was finally able to get a good set of prints.

That was on Thursday the 11th. On Saturday October 13th, we had our final homestudy visit. Michelle, our social worker, came to our house and took the grand tour. Everything was fine. Of course, we had been cleaning like crazy...but I think that everyone does that. You just want everything to be perfect.

We also finished up our Because They Waited DVD set that weekend and took the final online test. We just got the results back...we passed. Now, we just sit back and wait for the forms to process. Soon, we will be getting our form that gives us permission to adopt internationally (171). I can't wait!

We will keep you updated! Keep checking in!

Lots of News-----

Sorry we have been so busy and have not updated our blog. A lot has happened since our last post. We had our second homestudy visit with our social worker Michelle. We met with her on Saturday, September 15th. I think it went really well. We have our last homestudy visit scheduled for this Saturday, October 13th here at our house.

Also, we finally got our appointment for our fingerprints. We go this Thursday to the USCIS office in Charleston, WV to have them done. Then we have to complete one more module in our DVD Course and we will have that done. I can not wait to have this part behind us and to finally get on the waiting list. Then the long wait and the nail biting will begin.


I want to thank everyone who wrote a letter of reference for us. This is such a long and stressful process and to see our friends and family really get behind us and give us such love and support is wonderful and a great help.


On Saturday, September 29th, Hailey, our best friends' little girl, had her 3rd birthday party. She is such a doll and she had a great birthday party. Her birthday is really September 30th, but Corrinna and Rod had her party on Saturday when everyone could come.

Hailey and Me

Hailey and Alonzo

Lastly, on a happy note, Jacob's room is finally starting to take shape. Jacob's room (formally our office) is now empty and ready for painting. Really we just wanted to get the office moved so that we would have a place to keep things that people are giving us for him. I'm trying to keep myself from doing too much to his room too soon. I will need something to do to keep myself from going crazy while we wait for our referral. I have bought some clothes and different things but Alonzo is keeping me in check. Alonzo and I have also picked out the paint color for his room but will not start painting till spring. Right now it seems like we have such a long time to go before we see our baby for the first time. It's like everyone says, it will be worth it in the end when we have Jacob in our arms and are finally a family.

I will let everyone know how the fingerprinting and the last homestudy goes this weekend. Everyone take care.

Completed Module 2 on the DVD series

Lisa and I just completed and passed Module 2 of the DVD "Because They Waited." This module dealt with the issues of need and unmet need. I found it very interesting that children from orphanages have had a history of unmet need (changing, feeding, etc.) that will impact their development.

In order to help the child overcome this, it is important that Lisa and I establish ourselves as the child's primary caregivers. However, day care is just a reality that we are going to have to face with Jacob. The good thing is that since we are both teachers, we will have his same school schedule while he is growing up. Also, we will have summers off with him. That is a blessing.

Lisa and I are anxious to get our little one and give him the constant love and care that he needs. I know that Lisa will make a wonderful mother. I plan on being the best dad that I can be. But first...we have two more DVD modules and a million pieces of paperwork to go. Sigh!

News

Well not much happened this week. We have an appointment to meet with our Social worker Michelle next Saturday for our second homestudy visit. We have been working on all the paperwork she gave us at our last meeting and had our medical exams done.

Alonzo and I have also started on our DVD and have taken one test. A 100% for both of us. We plan on watching the rest this week to have that done. We hope to hear from CIS about our fingerprinting soon and look forward to having this part of our journey done. Then comes the long, long wait.

Working on the DVD series

As part of our homestudy process, Lisa and I have to read a book called Adoption Parenting and watch a DVD series called The Heart of the Matter: Because They Waited. After each section of the DVD, we have to take a test. We watched the first of four modules today and took the test. I am happy to say that we each made 100%.

Here is our picture with the materials. We are as happy as one can be with study related material...LOL!

Completed Our Autobiographies

Lisa and I finally finished our autobiographies and sent them off to Michelle. It wasn't bad writing them...just a lot of details about growing up, married life, our beliefs on discipline, etc. Here is a bit of what I wrote:

Lisa and I have been married for 15 years now. It has been great. Of course, no marriage is perfect. You are always going to have your little squabbles, but we always work them out. We have never had any marriage counseling. We generally just talk things out when we have a disagreement. On the most part though, we get along really well. At home, we have three dogs that we care for very much: Pepper (cocker spaniel mix), Sadie (beagle), and Sassy (mini daschund). In the afternoons, we generally come home from school, rest a little bit, eat supper, clean up the kitchen, and then exercise a little bit. We either go for a walk or walk on the treadmill. Then we either watch TV or play on the computer. We have three televisions and two computers so we can do what we want whenever we want and not have to fight over what to watch or who is getting on the computer…LOL!

Lisa and I do not have any children. We always took the attitude that it would happen when it was supposed to happen. Of course, nothing ever happened. When Lisa got in her mid-30’s, she started getting worried about the age factor. We went to a fertility doctor in Lexington and everything checked out medically for us. We tried IUF but decided that we didn’t want to spend over $10,000 for IVF when we could use that money for adoption. IVF might not work. Adoption will almost certainly work. I have the belief that everything happens because it is supposed to happen. It also happens at the time it is supposed to happen. I truly believe that Lisa and I are meant to take this life journey of adoption. It was meant to happen just as surely as you were meant to help us along our path.

Lisa and I live in a brand-new log home that we had built just last year. This is our first home that we have owned. We have rented up until now. We love our home and are very proud of it. The house is 30 X 40. It has a finished basement that serves as a family room and exercise room. There is also a full bathroom and utility / storage room. On the first floor, there is a living room, dining room, kitchen, full bathroom, guest bedroom, and office. When we bring our son home, we will have converted the office into Jacob’s room and the guest bedroom into our bedroom. On the second floor is the loft which overlooks the living room, a third full bathroom, and the large master bedroom. Everything is log, wooden, or beige. We have a very neutral color scheme that goes with just about anything. I would call our style of decorating as mountain lodge mixed with some country influences.

We have lots of space in and around our house for both of us and for Jacob. My parents live right next door to us. Other than that, we have lots and lots of space. There is a wooded area right behind us that stretches out for miles. My parents own several hundred acres of land on the road where we live and on the nearby coal mine which gives them some royalty income each month. I feel that Jacob will be very happy to have lots of space to run, play, and be a kid. We enjoy living in the country and hope to give Jacob this joy as well.

I want to adopt because I want to share my life experience. Lisa and I have a lot of love to give. We have a lot of interests and experiences to share. Lisa and I have been thinking of adoption on and off for several years. It wasn’t something that we just rushed into one day….like purchasing a candy bar. It was something that we knew would happen when it was supposed to happen. Also, as I have stated before, genetics alone do not make a family. Love makes a family. Sharing life experiences makes a family.

Lisa and I plan on telling Jacob about his adoption in stages as he is developmentally ready. I will always let Jacob know that I love him and that I am his dad and Lisa is his mom. Lisa and I will let him know that he was adopted because we loved him and it was meant to be. As far as his birthparents, I will let him know what I can, which will probably be nothing. I will let him know that they loved him but gave him up for their own personal reasons, which was probably poverty. Lisa and I plan on taking him to Vietnam to visit when he is older and can appreciate the visit. I want him to know where he came from biologically, but I want him to know that his family is here and that we love him. I can’t say that everything is going to work out perfectly. Nothing ever does. But, I can say that it will work out the way that it is meant to work out. All that I can promise is to love Jacob and to try and raise him to be the best person that he can be.

My biggest concern about adoption is that Jacob will feel that his parents didn’t want him. I don’t want him to feel like he was discarded. However, that is something that he will have to work out on his own. I can give him love and support. I can’t control his feelings. I only hope that our love and support will let Jacob know that his true family is right here in Kentucky.

Lisa and I chose to adopt from Vietnam because there are many, many children in that part of the world who need a loving home experience. It was a calling. It was meant to be. If it had been meant for us to choose another country, we would have. Everything happens for a reason. Although we were going to adopt from China at first, we switched to Vietnam because of the new restrictions that China has put into place. Now that we have switched, we know that it was meant for us to adopt from Vietnam in the first place.

We spent several hours today just looking at blogs and YouTube video of adoptions from Vietnam. I love the internet! We added a clock to this blog that shows the time in Vietnam.

Keep checking back to this blog for more updates! Send us an email if you want!

Completed Our First Homestudy Meeting

Last Saturday, Lisa and I met with our social worker, Michelle Satler, in Richmond for our first homestudy meeting. The first two meetings will be held at the public library in Richmond. The last one will be held at our house.

It was so nice to finally meet Michelle in person. We also met another couple, the Kirklands, who are adopting from Vietnam. They seemed like a nice couple. Lisa and I were wondering if we would all be traveling about the same time to Vietnam.

We now have a big packet to work through. I need to write my autobiography. Lisa is getting started on hers.

We have started planning how we are going to be changing our office into the baby's room. Jacob is going to have a neat room. I think that we want to go with a Winnie the Pooh theme. We saw a great set last weekend in Lexington. Lisa was really liking it. We will probably end up getting it because it was a nice maroon color and would go well with the color of our logs.

I think that it is so cool that we are planning for our son and he hasn't even been conceived yet...LOL. I can't wait for the day that we are "paper pregnant."

Completed Our Official Application

Well, yesterday we completed our official application/contract with CHI. Although we have already been approved to procede with the adoption process, this paperwork allowed the ball to start rolling for other parts of the adoption.

For starters, we are now having our homestudy started. We meet with our social worker this weekend. She called and set up a time. We will meet with her twice before she comes to our house for the final visit. I have read on other people's blogs that the social worker asks a lot of personal questions. I guess that it is important to make sure that an unstable person or couple is attempting to adopt. However, since both Lisa and I work with children all day, I don't think that we will have an issues.

I am a little nervous. I know that having a baby in the house will change our entire life. However, I am ready for it. I never felt ready before, and therefore, I never wanted kids. That is all different now. I feel ready. I am ready. I guess that it is different for everyone. Some people have kids in their early 20's. I waited until my mid-30's. But life is like that....it is a different experience for everyone.

Wish us luck on our homestudy visit. I'll blog more later! :-) If you haven't had a chance to donate to our adoption fund, visit http://www.alonzofugate.com/changingalifeforever.htm . Thanks and God Bless!

Order Some Brownies....Help Us Raise Money for Our Adoption!

Hey guys! I know that there are some major chocolate lovers out there. I found a website where you can order some amazing brownie mix. It is called Mississippi Muddles Brownie Mix. Just listen to this description

We’ve muddled this mix with dark and white chocolate chips for an outrageously good, dark and fudgy brownie bar. Named first-place winner for best cookie mix by Food Distribution magazine, our dry Mississippi Muddles brownie mix lets you whip up rich, warm delights in minutes. Just add egg and butter to the prepared mix and bake—makes 2 dozen cookies. Lower-fat preparation instructions are included. No refrigeration required; this 16-oz. peanut-free dry mix stores for up to one year.

The best part about this is that when you order from this company, they will send us 50% to go toward our adoption! It is the best of both worlds! You get to satisfy that sweet tooth....we get money for a sweet baby! And since this is for a good cause, I'm sure that there won't be any calories...LOL!

Of course, there are other items for sale as well....gift items, cards, wrapping paper, and other nice things. Just take a look through their online catalog. Shop to your heart's content. You can choose from loads of reasonably priced cards, gift wrap, gifts, candy and treats, even popular magazine subscriptions.

Here is how to do it. First, go to: http://currentfun.com/product.asp

Second: SHOP! This is the fun part! Order early for Christmas! LOL!

When you check out, select:

State: Kentucky

Organization: Alonzo and Lisa Fugate Adoption Fund

That is all there is to it. The company will send you your order and we will get funds toward our adoption. It is so easy!

Thanks so much and God Bless!

Application for Adoption Has Been Approved!

Great news! I just checked our email. Our application for adoption has been approved! Here is a copy of the email we received from Children's Hope International.

July 31, 2007

Dear Alonzo & Lisa,

Congratulations! Your application for adoption has been approved by the Program Director.

We will be mailing out your approval packet today or tomorrow with instructions on how to proceed. Also, Children's Hope has Yahoo! groups available to provide adoption and parenting information and support to our families in all stages of the adoption process. These CHI groups are for the exclusive use of CHI application approved families. You will be receiving instructions in your approval packet on how to join.

We are very excited for you, and wish you well as you begin your adoption journey!


The Intake Department
Children’s Hope International/St. Louis Home Office

Needless to say, we are VERY excited by this news. It is a long road ahead of us still, but this is one of those hurdles that we had to cross. Now...on to the next one! :-)

Received letter from Children's Hope International!

Today, we were thrilled to get a letter from Children's Hope International. It was a welcome letter from Sara DeMerchant, the Vietnam Program Specialist. She stated that they were delighted to work with us and will be calling us upon final approval of our application.

Sara DeMerchant will be working with us and will be our personal assistant through the adoption process. It is great to actually have some names to contact when we have specific questions. I feel like this is really starting to move! Of course, we are in the very beginning stages of the adoption process.

Mrs. DeMerchant sent us an I600A form to fill out and file with Citizen and Immigration Services. It is necessary to apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to bring an adopted child to the U.S.

We will work on filling out this form and filing it this weekend. It is $545 plus $70 per person in the household. It is good for 18 months. Hopefully, our adoption will be completed by that time.

Keep praying for us! It is a long journey, but it will be one that is going to change our lives for the better. We have so much love to give.

Donations for our adoption are starting to come in. Thank you to all those who have found it in their hearts to give the gift of love. If you would like to help support our adoption, please visit http://www.alonzofugate.com/changingalifeforever.htm . God Bless!

Getting Ready for School to Start

Today I spent some time in my classroom. Well....technically it isn't my classroom anymore. I'm moving next door to the new computer lab. I am going to be the school's technology resource teacher this year. I am really excited about the new change.

My mom and dad came around to our house for my birthday the other day. They brought some really great food. We had steaks, baked potatoes, green beans (from their garden), tomatoes (from their garden), and fresh coleslaw….made with cabbage from their garden. They also got me a fantastic chocolate birthday cake with vanilla ice cream. It is a good thing that calories don’t count on your birthday! That is just a little gift from God.

So, we celebrated my birthday. It was a good day. There are so many exciting and thrilling things to do in this world. There are many new and fascinating places to visit. But sometimes, it is the comfort of family and home which reminds us of who we are and keeps us grounded in reality. I love my family and today was just a great day to be alive.

My beagle, Sadie, got bitten by a copperhead the other night. She came running up to Lisa and wanted to come into the house. We noticed right away that she was shaking all over like she was scared to death. I checked her out and called my dad. He came over and looked at her. By that time, her snout had started to swell up. We all knew what that meant. For second, I thought that she was going to pass out…poor little thing.

My mom and I ran down to the garden and pulled some cocklebur leaves. Mom tore up the leaves into bits and put them into a silk cloth that she keeps for times when the dogs get snake bit. After pounding the leaves lightly with a hammer, we poured milk over the cloth and wrung out the juice of the leaves into a pan. This turned the milk green! Sadie didn’t want to have anything to do with it, so we had to force it down her. We sometimes use vinegar and brown paper to draw out the poison, but we didn’t do it this time because it was so close to her eyes.

We have always used this remedy for our dogs when they were bitten by copperheads. It keeps the swelling down. Sadie was feeling better by the next morning and was completely well in two days. She has a little sore place on her snout where the snake bit her, but she is completely fine now. I’m glad that my parents knew which leaves to gather to help her out. This only works with copperhead bites though. Rattlesnakes are another thing entirely!

Lisa and I are just awaiting word from Children's Hope International. At least going back to work will help fill some time so that I'm not just sitting and thinking about the adoption. Keep checking back to this blog. I will keep it updated!

Mailed Out Our Application

Well, we finally got that initial application in the mail. We had to send it in with 2 pictures of us together as a couple, one picture of the outside of our house, and 3 pictures of the inside of our house. We kept the printer busy printing out all of those pictures! I wanted to make sure that we got the best shots that we could!

It was so exciting to put that envelope in the mail. It has officially started now folks! We should get our official forms in about 2 weeks so that we can start completing our dossier. I spoke with a representative from Children's Hope International on the phone. She stated that it takes about 3 or 4 months to complete the dossier. Once everything is logged in, it takes about one and a half years to get a referral for a baby.

Once we get a referral, we will travel to Vietnam to adopt our baby. We will stay about 2 or 3 weeks.

I am so excited. I know that it is a long wait and that there is a LOT of paperwork to do...but it has started now.

We will keep you all updated on our progress. Keep checking back to this blog!

Filling Out the Forms

Today, we worked on completing our initial application with Children's Hope International. The form was very extensive. It covered everything from medical background to financial stability. It this is the just the initial application, I wonder what the other paperwork will look like! Everyone says that the paperwork for an application is how adoptive parents feel "labor" pains. LOL!

In addition to the application, we had to take two seperate photos of ourselves (as a couple), one of our house (outside), and three of different rooms in our house (inside). I guess that they want to see that we are not living in squalor! Our house is a log house in the country. There is lots of land all around...a great place for kids.

I am anxious to get this initial paperwork sent in so that we can get started on the real stuff. I'll keep you all posted!



Remember, you can help out with our adoption by visiting http://www.alonzofugate.com/changingalifeforever.htm . Thanks for your continued support of our adoption. Share our experience with us through this blog!

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first entry of our adoption blog. If you got here from our donation website, then thank you for your support while we work to complete our family. If you haven't had a chance to donate to our adoption fund and would like to do so, please visit http://www.alonzofugate.com/changingalifeforever.htm .

We will be posting as much as we can on this blog. We hope to take you on our journey of love with us...from beginning to final adoption. We will post often and hope that you can share in our joy. Come with us as we complete our family.