$$$$$

Well, should I give the good news first?  

We have the birth certificates!  YAY!

The bad news follows pretty immediately, though -- which is that we are not allowed to see the birth certificates because the attorneys in Guatemala haven't been paid from our agency.  Our agency demanded us to pay all of our money up front.  Then no one ever saw it again.  They owe us money; they owe the folks in Guatemala money.  Anyway, the bottom line of the situation is that our guy in Guatemala is requesting the second portion of our money, which is $18,000. We're going to have to send that money tomorrow and then begin proceedings to get that money back from the agency.  Ray talked with the FL bar association today.

Our guy in Guatemala did ask for $110 to pay for the DNA test, which is the next to the last step of the adoption, so that means they're on it and us paying may mean we can finish the adoption ASAP.  I hope so.

Anyway, that's the news from this end. 

I'm trying to keep positive, but I feel like buckling over and sobbing.  What a mess.