May/June Journal

Grandma Nelsen fell in love with Christina at first site and Christina fell in love with Grandma:)

MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007 01:25 PM, CDT The kids have been waiting for so long to bring Christina to her first Barn dance. They had her outfit picked out before she came home. Do they look happy or what!! We had a great time. Mom and Dad had to finally call it quits at 2:30 AM. The kids were dancing all night and still didn't want to go home. Christina was an angel and she dance, smiled and cooed for everyone.

FRIDAY, JUNE 08, 2007 02:52 PM, CDT We are Home and we are so blessed with a beautiful, happy litte girl. She has been a dream. She has only had a couple meltdowns (Grieving-Screaming, shaking, and hyperventilating) since she has been with us. She sleeps 8 hours, wakes for a bottle, and then sleeps 2 more hours. She takes three hours worth of naps. When she isn't sleeping she's smiling and cooing all the time. At the airport she was talking with everyone on the plane and at the airport. Joe called her a "girl magnet". He was carryng her in the front pack at the airport when I was getting things organized and people were stopping and talking with her and Joe all the time. She was smiling at everyone and cooing.

We are soooooooooo happy. She loves the kids and the kids don't want to be out of her sight.

I will write more later when I have a chance.... Christina is hungry. Thank you for all the prayers. This experience has had its up and downs but it was all erased the first time we held our little girl. God Bless, Joe, Jean, Anthony, Michael, Maria and Christina Callens (Yes, we are a family of six!!!!!)

Here is a picture of a diaper cake that Kimberly, Nicholas, Anthony, Michael, and Maria put together for us plus they made us cards. It was so beautful and what a surprise.

SATURDAY, JUNE 02, 2007 06:49 AM, CDT Today is the big day. We are finally going to get our beautiful little Princessa. I was up until 3 AM getting things ready. Not like waiting until the last minute. You would think after all this time I would have been ready:) Please keep us in your prayers for a safe trip down and back as well as for Anthony, Michael and Maria. We haven't been apart more than a couple nights so it's a little difficult. They are excited for Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Kimberly and Cousin Nicholas stay with them which is making it easier. I will try to update as much as I can. Thank you for your prayers through this Adoption Journey we appreciated them more than you know. Signing the guestbook will be a great way to keep in contact with us in Guatemala:) THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2007 05:23 PM, CDT Yes, you read it right Christina is coming home!!!! After this long journey we will finally be a family. We were just notified that we have Embassy Approval (Pink). This will be our schedule: June 2nd-Fly to Guatemala-Leave Minneapolis at 2:45 PM arrive in Guatemala at 9:02 PM June 3rd-Christina will be placed in our arms forever AM June 4th-Embassy appointment at 7:15 AM number 2 on the list of 35...yayyyy!!!!! June 5th-Pick up Christina's Visa at 3:30 PM June 6th-Fly Home-Leave Guatemala at 6:25 AM and arrive in Minneapolis at 4:45 PM. We want to thank you for all the prayers!! We couldn't have done it without them. We are asking for prayers for a safe flight to Guatemala and back. God Bless:) MONDAY, MAY 07, 2007 03:37 PM, CDT It's Official..Christina Is Ours. We got out of PGN today. I still get butterflies when I think about it. We will be holding her within the next 4-6 weeks. I can't believe. it. She will be home for Father's day. The next step is for the birth certificate to be change to our last name, have everything translated into English, get Christina' passport and then submit to the the US Embassy. The embassy will then take a week to look everything over and will send us a pink slip telling us when our appointment is to get her Visa at the US embassy in Guatemala. The appointment is usually two weeks after we get the pink slip......yes, this is a pink slip that is good....lol. Thank you for all of your prayers. They helped more than you know!!!