"Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone but still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn't grow under my heart - but in it."

Anna Olivia Martelo Schwertfeger

Born: November 24, 2002

Weight: 7lbs. 5oz. Length: 19 and 1/2 inches

Born in Bogota, Colombia

Journal

Sunday, February 9, 2003 3:04 PM CST

Hello. Sorry that I haven't written for several days. We have been busy with this and that. On friday Anna got her Colombian passport and visited the Embassy doctor who gave her the seal of approval. The view from the waiting room was very relaxing--- a beautiful view of the Andes mountains. It was alot of fun to take her out. I brought my umbrella stroller (reclining) so we took her around in it to get her passport. I would highly recommend a stroller for the waiting couples, especially in the airport. I couldn't understand what everyone on the street was saying but it seemed very clear to me that they thought she was very cute and commented on her white eyelet bonnet. Annette said that babies do not wear bonnets in Colombia. They wear a type of hood with scarf attached. Some days it is so warm here and a hood would seem like a bit too much. Everyone dressed babies very warmly here. They're always telling me that she needs more clothes. Oh well, when in Rome..... Alicia, the nurse watches all of the babies anytime that we request her. She charges about $12/day divided between three families. I would love to take her home with me!!! Anna has been doing very well. She slept through the night just once. She has been smiling more and more and really enjoys cooing. We had a relaxing evening at home and a great meal cooked by the maids. What a life! We all heard about the bombing at the El Nogal which is a very exclusive club in Bogota. Betty's masseuse, Peter works at the El Nogal and was on his way back to the club when the explosion occurred. He ended up helping the rescuers. Terrible!
Saturday we did some (alot) of shopping at Maku. We (Bob and Lisa Gorski and Laura Kowal )also met up with Mercede's daughter and granddaughter for lunch at El Corral. Antoinetta (7yrs old) loves American Girl dolls and talked about her doll all during lunch. We had a very enjoyable time. We had a relaxing walk home on a warm, sunny day. We walked through an area that was very beautiful with alot of flowers and trees (look like short palm trees). I thought that this would be a good place to take a picture. There was a guard or police or soldier in front of the place with camouflage uniform, high black boots and a machine gun. This did not seem unusual to me because you see this EVERYWHERE. When I pulled out my camera he perked up and started walking towards us looking very concerned. Bob then told me that some very important person (maybe a diplomat) lives there and in Colombia you are not permitted to take pictures of government buildings or soldiers. Well I put the camera in the bag and kept walking.
Today Laura and I walked to the LaFontanna Hotel and then to the Unicentro mall. Nancy,I found your PJ's. Anna is having a little bit or trouble with her feedings so Alicia will stay through the night tonight.
Tomorrow we go to the American Embassy to get Anna's visa which is the final step in the process---yeah! If all goes well we will be on the plane Tuesday morning. We have to be at the airport by 6:30am so it will be a very long day. There are new pictures posted. I'm not the greatest photographer (not like her daddy) but they're cute.
Must go now. Good night boys. I'll see you soon. Be good boys for daddy. Love you, Mom and Anna

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Email address  : keith_schwertfeger@merck.com

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