The Mummaus: 20. Fall Approaches with Broken Hearts…Teeth

May 4th, 2006

My 30th birthday came like no other. Just before leaving the university in Virginia and moving to North Carolina, my colleagues surprised Kristina and I with a gift of a ticket to Guatemala in September for me, a Raggedy Anne and Andy blanket, and $500 toward the adoption. We of course were humbled, ecstatic, and grateful. However, later Kristina wept on the phone with me as the fact the ticket was for September indicated she wasn’t coming home. For all the sweetness of being together, it was bittersweet in that I was just “visiting.”

September did finally come shortly after Mia’s papers were received by our lawyer. He was in the process of compiling all of the documents needed to present to the US Embassy for Pre-Approval. There would be no DNA test, no birthmother interview, etc. because for all legal purposes, “the system” was her parents. We spent a wonderful week together in Antigua as I grew to know my daughter in a way that I never dreamed possible in one week. The moment I first held her we became close and the bond developed from there.

Progress was slow again in Guatemala during the month of September as they celebrate their Independence Day on September 15th. While we were still excited that things were further along by now, the lack of any progress began to weigh on Kristina. Unfortunately though most of the paperwork was completed, Mia’s birth certificate was never issued. It wasn’t until September 24th that the all of the papers were finally in his hands. Though people kept telling us things were being completed, we continued to learn to trust no one until we saw the evidence.

On October 17th, day 256 since the adoption began and day 225 of Kristina’s stay in Guatemala, Kristina woke up in intense pain. Having had a toothache earlier in the month, she knew something was seriously wrong this time. Let’s hear from her as she described it in her journal that day

Well guess what? My left wisdom tooth that was hurting broke in half last night. I am in pain but it is bearable. I called Marcelo and asked him if he knew an oral surgeon because I would have to get it pulled. He said he knew a dentist that is very good and he would call her and see if she can see me Monday. I just got off the phone with Marcelo and he said he will have to call her Monday morning so hopefully I will get to see her sometime Monday. This is such a pain to have to deal with here. My dentist told me last year that I would have to get all four wisdom teeth pulled soon. I actually had an appointment before I came to Guatemala in Feb. but I cancelled it because I didn’t want to deal with it before I came here. I think the saying goes “Don’t put things off for tomorrow that can be done today.” Another hard lesson learned.

I took 1500mg of Tylenol before Mia and I laid down for a nap and I slept better today than I have the whole time I have been in Guatemala. Mia also slept well. We went to sleep around 2:30pm and did not get up until 5:15pm. That is very unusual for her because she usually never sleeps past 4 or 4:30 for her afternoon nap. I guess God knew how much I needed the rest. I am exhausted from the pain I am in because of my tooth. I pray all of it will be gone tomorrow.

Believe it or not, November is actually going to be a good month! Come back tomorrow at 11:55am Eastern Time!

The Mummau Series
1. Choosing To Adopt
2. Why International? Why Guatemala?
3. The Call From Guatemala
4. The Process Begins
5. A Prelude To Mia
6. How Can You “Choose” A Child – Leaving Others Behind?
7. Peer Into The Heart – Journal Entries
8. Meeting Maria – Finding Mia
9. Leaving Our Daughter…is that…no way!
10. Rivers of Waiting
11. Mistakes, Intentions, and Naivety – How Hope Began To Die
12. Alone in Guatemala and Waiting
13. Time Marches On – Goodbye Mia for Now
14. Joyful Gringos in Quetzaltenango
15. Mia Mia
16. Abuela Comes To The Rescue
17. Doctors, Couriers, and Delays
18. Even So, You Won’t Believe This
19. The Summer of Frustration Ends
20. Fall Approaches with Broken Hearts…Teeth
21. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.1)
22. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.2)
23. Kristina Comes Home
24. Mia’s First Steps
25. December’s Momentum
26. An Angel In The Embassy? I
27. An Angel in the Embassy? II
28. A Christmas to Remember…and Forget
29. Daddy’s 2nd Visit
30. Clash at The Embassy
31. We’re In The PGN! OK Let Us Out!
32. Accomodations
33. The Pencil – Never Give Up
34. Exiting the PGN…sort of
35. Exiting the PGN…yet again
36. Daddy Has Enough
37. The Countdown Begins
38. Easter Brings Hope
39. Sit With Me in San Cristobal
40. T-Minus a few things and counting
41. My New Favorite Color
42. Hope Becomes Reality-The Embassy Interview
43. Mia Mummau Goes Home