If you read my last blog early this morning, you might want to reread it as it has been fine tuned and edited. My friend and fellow blogger Sandra and another friend and fellow adoptive parent Julie, were kind enough to point out a few, shall we say, type errors and inaccuracies. This is the result of blogging late at night (actually it was early morning), my spell check wouldn't work, and I couldn't get it to work probably because I wasn't as clear headed as I am during daylight hours. Thanks again to these two busy pals who took the time from their busy schedules to lend a hand.

Today I sat down with daughter’s babysitter and arranged for some help next week. That way I can blog during the day while wee Ella is running full speed around the house, climbing on everything, removing her pullups at the speed of light, eating crayons, and generally enjoying life exactly as every child should. Ella is so attached to her babysitter that she will play with her while I'm sitting in the very same room without running to me every two seconds with a complaint or demand.

So now that I’ve shared that with you, I will admit that I eagerly await a reply from the author of the article I responded to in my blog yesterday, just as I’m still waiting for a reply to my email from Eduardo Stein, the Vice-President of Guatemala: yes, the infamous politician who claimed that some adopted children are used for their body parts. It is not that I think I’m so important that they should respond to me; I just want a dialogue with these people.

Meanwhile, the “March Against UNICEF” has been put on hold for now. Here is part of the letter posted by Hannah Wallace of “Focus on Adoption” on guatadopt.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOUR FOR YOUR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF OUR MARCH AGAINST UNICEF ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2007. TO DATE WE HAVE OVER 2,000 PEOPLE EAGER TO BE PART OF THIS PROTEST!
HOWEVER, UNICEF HAS RESPONDED TO OUR INTENDED DEMONSTRATION WITH A REQUEST THAT WE CANCEL THE DEMONSTRATION AND MEET WITH THEM. WE’VE DECIDED TO TRY TO DIALGOUE OVER THE ISSUES THAT ARE OF MOST CONCERN TO US ABOUT UNICEF’S POSITIONS …

You can read the whole letter if you follow the link. I do hope that their dialogue will be fruitful, but I’m skeptical. As I’ve said before, UNICEF has talented word smiths among their employees.

Recently I read that some of the missing children of Casa Quivira have been located in an adoption home somewhere in Guatemala. When I searched for that link today, I couldn’t find it. If anyone has seen it, please be kind enough to send it on to me.

Casa Quivira, an international adoption agency with a children’s home in Antigua, Guatemala was raided on August 23rd, 2007. Two adoptions were allowed to be finalized and the children brought home. The other forty children were taken to undisclosed locations, some after they were hospitalized for illnesses that occurred after the state took over their care. And to think that in a few short months all the children that may (and it is a BIG may) be available for adoption will be under state care and not with foster mothers "thanks" to the Ortega Bill passed in the Guatemalan legislature recently. Shocking…tragic…and downright scary…

On the Casa Quivira website I found this compelling appeal for help on "you tube." I strongly recommend that you take five minutes to view it and have something handy to wipe your tears as you do. How tragic for the children, the prospective adopting parents, and the birth parents who thought their children would already be in the US with their adoptive parents by now.

Now on a lighter note, let’s move on to toddler etiquette or lack thereof. Miss Ella has become a talented nose picker. When she competently removes the contents, she gives them to someone she loves, or on one occasion, deposited them in someone’s beverage. I was horrified to say the least.

I’ve tried everything to get her to stop; if you have any ideas, please share. One caveat, I don’t slap or spank.

If you’d like to read more about “nose picking toddlers,” may I recommend Carla’s humorous blog from October 26th.” I promise you’ll laugh.