New Birth Certificates and Colombian Passports

It's official. The boys now share our last name. For Colombian purposes, they carry 2 last names- Diego Alexander Christy Rindfleisch and Jeferson Gustavo Christy Rindfleisch. We did not change their given first and middle names. Once we do the paperwork in the States, we will drop the Rindfleisch part of the last name, as this is not a norm in the US.

Cecilia and Mario, our driver, picked me up at 7:15 AM this morning. We headed over to the Notary in Downtown Bogota, to get the new Birth Certificates. After completing the paperwork, we were told that we could pick it up after 11:00 AM. So we returned to pick up the official birth certificates of the boys, listing us as the parents.

Next, we rushed back to the hotel, to pick up the boys, and go to the Passporte office to get their Colombian passports. When we arrived, we first had the pictures taken of the boys for their passports, doctor visit, and US VISA's. Then we moved on to completing the application for the Passport. When we arrived at the counter, the agent told us that our Sentencia documents did not include mine and Eric's Passport numbers, and this is a requirement! Apparently Court 15 does not put the passport numbers on the Sentencia documents. We had waited so long for this document, and I was very upset to find out that is was inadequate. After some convincing, Cecilia was able to get the passport office to agree to having the revision faxed over by the court. So, Mario, our driver, went back to the hotel to get the kids, as we had dropped them off at the hotel when we thought we were going back to the courts. Then, Mario headed back to the courts, to personally, fax over the copy of the revision to the Passport office. It was great how everyone worked together to get the passports for the boys. The office closed at 3:00 PM, and we walked out of their with 2 passports at 3:15 PM.

Next, we headed over to the Doctors office, for the boys to get a physical, which is required by the US Embassy to bring the boys to the US. This was also very interesting, as when our name was called at the clinic, we walked ourselves back to the doctors office, where he was waiting. His office was long and narrow, and it seemed like a mile to the other end of the office where the doctor was sitting behind his desk. It was somewhat intimidating and nothing like what you would find in the US. The children are healthy, and average for their ages. Diego had actually grown about 6 inches from earlier this year. They are currently in sizes 6 for Diego, and Size 4T for Jeferson, and I guess that this is average for their ages as well.

The one thing the doctor did say, is that they need to learn what "no touch" means. They were curious and touched everything in sight.

After about an hour, we were finished, with the papers in hand required by the US Embassy, to issue their VISA's. We returned back to the hotel about 6PM. This is by far the busiest day that I have had in Bogota. But well worth it. And just think, it was good practice for all of the future days that I will have, running the boys to school, and sports, and events!!!!

IT IS ALL WELL WORTH IT!!!! And I got so much accomplished. Tomorrow, Mario will be picking me and the boys up at the hotel, at 9:30 AM, and we will be going to the US Embassy for the children's VISA. We should then be able to return to pick up the VISA on Thursday.

We booked our flights, and we are scheduled to leave here at 9:30 AM on Friday morning, and arrive at Chicago O'Hare at approximately 6PM!!!! It is hard to believe only a few more days.
Although, I think that Colombia is a beautiful country with such kind people, I am ready to come home. We know we will be back to visit this wonderful native country to our boys.

Adios.

Joyce Eric Jeferson and Diego