Another 2+ weeks in Pakistan . . . going on 182 days, 26 weeks, 6 months!
Say hello to the Monsoon Season . . . rain, rain, rain!!! It seems to only rains at night, which doesn’t cool anything down . . . just makes the next day extremely hot, humid/muggy.
Monday (7/4) – Happy 4th of July! Gracy dressed in her red, white & blue outfit (I brought for the USE interview) & Mama wore a blue, white & pink shalwar kameez (as close to r/w/b as I could get!). We spent a very quiet day at the guest house . . . unfortunately, we are not feeling that well. And, we ended up the day at Dr Rubina’s office. It seems that “something” is giving both of us a hard time!!! Actually, Mama has lost count of the times we have had dysentery. So, MG will go through some testing over the next 2-3 days to see what is going on in her tummy. Dr Rubina took Mama’s blood pressure & it is very low, so a saline/glucose replacement is now a must. Hopefully, we will be back to health soon!
Tuesday (7/5) – This is the week that the USCIS in New Delhi gave us as the deadline (15 days) for the final decision on MG’s orphan status (I-600 application). So far, we have not heard anything & hopefully, the Senator’s office will follow up to confirm the decision. I am waiting on pins-n-needles . . .
MG began intestinal testing today to see if she has any kind of parasitic infection in her tummy. Mama is suspicious of a parasite, called Giardia, that is known to plague orphanages & 3rd world countries. Of course, it could be just another simple case of gastrointestinitis (mama has had this, oh so many times over the last few months!). We have 3 days of intestinal sample testing 1st thing in the morning at a diagnostic lab about 15 minutes from the g.house. . . so today we started our early am taxi ride to the Islamabad Diagnostic Center (IDC).
Wednesday (7/6) – Another early am trek for intestinal sample at the IDC.
We also found out today that USCIS ND has finally responded to the 15 day deadline on our I-600 application . . . unfortunately, they are still not able to make an orphan status determination & have delayed the decision due to a “clarification” issue. We are not privy to what the issue is, just that there will be another delay. The S.office, on our behalf, is asking for a new timeline for this delay . . . we will see if USCIS will respond back with another estimated timeline. The S.office is diligently trying to help in every way possible, however, one has to be very careful with how you “ask” about an I-600/Immigrant Visa application case (especially in this part of the world). An applicant is not privy to the case’s specific details of the “process”. And, if there are any applicant “demands” this is considered “manipulation” by the applicant . . . & is against USCIS guidelines (in short, illegal & your application will be denied). Especially, in this part of the world & during the current events of US/Pakistan relations . . . everything is supposedly double & triple checked. So, we/S.office are being very cautious & careful on how we ask & what we ask for . . . I’m not sure how a 2 yo can place an entire country’s security at risk . . . but the policy of “process” is non-negotiable. So we Wait . . .
Thursday (7/7) – Marina Grace turns 25 months old!!!
Unfortunately, we are both not 100%. This is the 3rd day of intestinal testing for MG & appointment with Dr Rubina. As Mama had suspected . . . Gracy has tested positive for the intestinal parasite, Giardia. So, Mama probably has it as well. At least it gives us an answer on why over the last month we have become sicker each day with dysentery. We have medicine now! As much medicine as we have gone through over the last 6 months . . . thank goodness medicine in Pakistan is very economical!!! There is no way of telling where MG picked Giardia up . . . she could have had it all along . . . & passed it to Mama, who knows . . . We will have about 7-10 days of treatment & then MG will be tested again. Hopefully, our nasty “tummy friend” will be gone! :)
There is a young couple staying at the g.house for a couple of months . . . their baby girl & Gracy have become fast friends & love playing together. It is so nice to have a playmate for Gracy (MG is action packed & needs LOTS of activity). The sweet mother is a delight to visit with, as well. The family is from Karachi (far south). We have spent many evenings (the coolest part of the day) over the last month playing in the garden with Gracy & baby F.
The S.office is to find out the new timeline estimate for orphan status decision by Friday 7/8. It is a disappointment to be delayed, once again . . . & we are still just on the I-600 orphan status decision. There is still the immigrant visa process to go through after the I-600. I’m told by the USE/ISL the immigrant visa process will take 5-10 days minimum (without any issues). However, I’m also told the US/Pak relations have become so strained that the process will probably become even longer over the next 1-2 months.
Over the next few days . . . Mama & Gracy are still pretty weak from the Giardia. Gracy is bouncing back quicker than Mama . . . I’m so thankful for the g.house family, they have stepped in to help with childcare while Mama is, let’s just say, battling Giardia :)
Saturday (7/9) – The Tulsa Little League Baseball All-Star tryouts are today! For the 2nd year, Nicholas tries out . . . we will see if he makes 1 of the 4 All-Star teams. When Mama talked to him over skype, Nicky assured mama that he had a great time & he did a “great job”! Nicky sounded so excited about his efforts & Uppa D concurred that Nicky did a great job . . . of course, we think he is an “all-star” regardless of the outcome!!!
Mama felt well enough to go shopping with Shelina (g.house owner’s daughter) in Rawalipindi (sister city to Islamabad). “Pindi” is very close to Islamabad, takes about 50-60 minutes by taxi. It isn’t the miles, it is the TRAFFIC! I have never experienced traffic like this . . . cars, motorcycles, bicycles, carts w/horses/mules/oxen, rickshaws . . . all on a 2 lane highway trying to pretend it is 4-6 lanes! Honestly, it was simply amazing. On TV/magazines, I have seen/read many times about the traffic in India, China, Hong Kong, etc . . . but never have experienced it. I now can say I HAVE! The congestion with horns & shouting & people . . . simply amazing! And . . . then the markets . . . another entirely amazing experience. People everywhere!!!! Little shops that seem to go on & on forever, twisting/turning this way & that way. One “mall” (large concrete building divided into tiny little shops) may be for clothing (women & children together in a mall, men’s clothing in a separate mall; got to keep those genders separate, lol!), another for furniture, another for cosmetics (yes, 1 entire mall for cosmetics!), another for carpets, another for . . . you name it, it is in Pindi! Everyone goes to Pindi to shop! We were at the market for over 7 hours, shopping for Shalwar Kameez suits for Shelina (she has a new job!) & of course, Mama had to get in the shopping action as well (I bought a few, as well!). Anyway . . . the entire 7 hours we were at the market in Pindi . . . I never saw a foreigner. I was the lone one! Of course, by now, I am so used to the stares & whispers back-n-forth . . . I don’t even notice it!
Monday (7/11) – The S.office is diligently trying to find out some kind of update on our case . . . so far, no news. So . . . we are back in the Wait. Such a familiar place, yet so very frustrating to be faced with the “unknown” once again. I’m trying to keep the stress/worry/strain/tension at bay . . . but it is difficult since we have been living in Pakistan now 6 months. What will another month bring? . . . I do know that God has a plan . . . Trust & Faith!
Right now the days are slow & steady . . . the Heat is constant, Giardia is intense, the Wait seems forever, . . . but we know, this too shall pass J In the meantime, Gracy has become the g.house “Greeter” (sort of like the Walmart Greeter!). Lately, she has spent a great deal of time with “Papa” Karim (since Mama has not been feeling too well). So, Gracy “greets” anyone coming or going from the g.house. She makes sure that they shake her hand 1st , then she waves “bye-bye” or “hello” & gives them a “fly kiss”. (mental note to self – I have to get a video of this!) Papa Karim & everyone are so surprised at her sweet confidence at only 2 yo. She is fearless/strong & yet so sweet! Our Marina Grace is a very delightful, special child . . . full of Promise!
Gracy’s New Words . . .
"Now" – Hmmmmm, I wonder where she has heard this one! :)
"Va Va" – In Urdu, this means “very good”. Papa Karim has taught Gracy this word! She walks around saying it over & over . . . along with “Wow”!
“Done” – She lets Mama know when she is “done” with anything . . . eating, bath, book reading, etc.
“Outside” – Gracy longs to be outside, playing in the garden, with KeeKee (kitty) or just sitting in her stroller watching the traffic go by (She loves big trucks/buses & shouts/waves to them as they go by). She also loves to go on walks, although we have minimized these lately due to security risks.
We are diligently praying & hopeful for good news . . . any day.
Take care . . . talk to you soon!
Love & Blessings,
Nancy (Mama) & Gracy
A Touch of Justice
11 years ago
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