Adoption

Friday Weigh In

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 5 Comments

Well, I did okay with my weight while I was in Ethiopia.  There wasn’t that much time for eating and I was mostly very busy and very tired.  I then came home with a bit of a stomach bug and didn’t eat much the first few days home, as well as I was so tired that I readily went to bed before dinner.  I am not back to being hungry, but there isn’t a lot of time to cook healthy food, while I am adjusting to this whole two-kid thing.  It is hard when you have a two-year-old and an 8-month-old.  They both need a lot of attention and work and I don’t always have time to eat something that is good for me and low in calories.  But I am recommitted to doing so starting today–I can’t wait for everything to fall into place, I have to make it happen. 

I am down a total of 9.2lbs since I started WW 5 weeks ago.  I am pretty happy with that. 

September goal– lose 25lbs by 9/27–16 more pounds to lose. 

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Well, my excitement with Peepers sleeping last night was short lived.  She woke up at 12:30 and then again at 2:30.  At 2:30 she just wouldn’t settle back down and I am really on the edge of going insane if I don’t start to figure her out and reach some sort of comfort level with her soon.  This is not a tongue and cheek comment.   I mean it.  I am tense and high-strung to the point of being wound so tight that it won’t take much for me to completely unravel with a speed so fast that someone loses a head or eye or something.  I am trying to find some peace and some balance, but I forgot what it was like to have someone need you every minute of everyday.  It was different with Minnow because he was the only real demand on my time.  Now I have Minnow and Peepers and I had really started to recently enjoy some of my own time while Minnow was playing contently at home.  It is a big adjustment to lose your time and I don’t know that I was fully prepared for it to happen. 

I have been really lucky with Hubby being home this week, but this week is over and come Monday he goes back to work and  I am on full-time mom mode.  I am not sure how it is all going to go. I am so happy to have my baby girl home.  I know that everything will work out and it will all be great.  Eventually. 

Thank all of you for your continued support.  It means so much to me.  Oh and when Peepers smiles at me and giggles.  I know it will all be okay. 

The Haze Is Beginning To Clear

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 7 Comments

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I knew this transition from one child to two would be hard.  Boy oh boy, did I underestimate just how hard it would be.  I am sure the difficulty is made worse by my own fatigue and stress about about the new baby, etc.  I have found myself completely at my wits end when it comes to dealing with the new baby.  I love her completely, but I just don’t know what she wants half of the time.  I am beginning ot figure it out–if completely by accident–tonight is a perfect example.  I was feeding Peepers her bedtime bottle.  She was falling asleep while eating–YAY–but then would wake up when I put her down.  She’d start kicking her feet and giggle a little.  I was getting so frustrated after three times of this eating, falling asleep, laying down, waking up thing, that I just put her down and walked away.  Well, Hubby went in to check on her three minutes later and she was fast asleep.  Unbelievable.  I was so happy to finally have figured something out. 

Minnow is adjusting better than I could have expected.  Part of his easy adjustment has to be due to the fact that we have not in anyway pressured him to hang out or spend any time with Peepers.  He is beginning to get a lot more curious and interested in her.  It is really cute.  they are going to be buds–someday. 

We are beginning to settle into a routine–a loose routine, but a routine and it is welcome.  Peepers napped twice today for the first time and the naps were of a good length.  I know it will take time, but I am happy to see everything moving towards the direction of manageable. 

I know I haven’t really posted about the trip to Ethiopia but I haven’t had time to really sit down and write.  I have been so tired–which is why I really wish I would have taken my laptop to Ethiopia with me.  I will write about it and post about it soon.  I promise.  In the meantime here are a few pics of Peepers in Ethiopia–I have lots of pictures since we have been home, I just haven’t loaded them onto my computer yet.  I will, I promise.

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But for now–we are just surviving. 

Home Loud Home

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 6 Comments

It has been pure chaos here at Casa de Minnow y Peepers.  Minnow is not so sure about this whole baby sister thing.  He wouldn’t really look at her at all on Saturday and has slowly been warming up to her a little bit.  A very little bit.  At this rate, by the time she goes away to college he’ll have fully accepted her. 

She is teething and it is excruciating.  She has been crying for hours today non-stop and isn’t sleep which means I am not sleeping.  So, I am very very crabby and very very tired.  And I don’t have anything really positive to say right now.  I have been told that Minnow was just as bad when he was teething, etc.  But I don’t remember that at all. That must be why I was so excited to have another kid.  I hope to have some time (aka-energy) tomorrow to post pictures, etc. 

We are going to the Dr. tomorrow–Peepers came home with and ear infection and a rash.  It’s been really really fun around here.  More positive and happy updates forthcoming.  I promise.  Okay, I don’t promise, but I certainly hope. 

Where Has All The Sleep Gone?

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 7 Comments

Oh the diapers….I am not sleeping much. She doesn’t like to have anything on her legs when she sleeps and it only took me until about 3:30 am last night to figure it out.  Then she slept tucked in the crook of my arm–which means I couldn’t sleep.  Needless to say that I haven’t gotten much sleep since Monday.  But she is so cute and amazing and I am so very tired.  I think I said that already.

Tomorrow we go to Nazret and it should be a great trip.  I look forward to finding more out about our little baby.

This time is so different.  She is so different from her brother and it is like having to learn a person all over again.  I am having to learn what she likes and doesn’t.  I am not doing that great at figuring it out yet and that I sure has to do with the fact that I am so exhausted I can barely see straight.

I will hopefully have time to do a more in-depth post tomorrow.

Danielle and other EOR members.  I managed to spend all the money.  That store was awesome and I could have easily spent about 3 times the money I had.  I was slightly overwhelmed with the choice and really had a hard time knowing what to buy.  My taste in jewelry is very simple.  I bought what I think would sell well.  More on that later.

Well Peepers is crying and my dad is doing his best to not let us disturb everyone is the business center.  More later.