Family

And The Award For Crappy Daughter Goes To…

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Me.  Yesterday was my dad’s birthday.  The man who helped create me.  The man who worked 2 jobs to support and raise his family.  The man is the most awesome grandpa to our son.  It was his birthday yesterday.  No, I didn’t forget it was his birthday.  That I remembered.  What did I do then you ask?  Well, I totally forgot to call him and wish him a happy birthday.  I cannot believe I forgot to call him.  I feel like a complete asshole. 

Sorry daddy.  I so totally love you. 

On the adoption front…we have now been waiting 32 weeks for our referral.  UGH!!!

Dogs, Beads and Big Bird

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

What a fun-filled, action-packed day Minnow and I had today.  The festivites started with Minnow waking up at 4:45 am ready to go for the day…well at least ready to go until 6:30am when he fell fast asleep in the middle of playing with his legos.  This is the weekend before the big Mardi Gras celebration in our city and the weekend before the Mardi Gras weekend is the Mardi Gras dog parade.  Yes, I did say dog parade.  Upwards of 8000 dogs attend with their owners and then there are thousand more of us watching the dogs prance around in their costumes (yes the dogs dress up) and watch the wiener dog derby.  People throw beads and drink and reveal in a pre-Mardi Gras warm up.  Minnow had a blast and it wasn’t long before he was screaming for beads and clapping for the dogs and handing our high fives. 

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He was tuckered out after all of his Mardi Gras Partying and needed to be rested for Sesame Street Live. 

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Minnow had an absolute blast and now Mommy is tired and wants to go to bed.   Childhood is awesome and being a parent is even better. 

A Little Random Info

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

Well first off let me say…why didn’t I think about totally playing dumb about getting the email homework?  Really?  There were only about 6 or so of us who prepared something official for the class while everyone else lied through their weasley little teeth about not getting the email…LIARS! 

I am not really happy with my self-portrait I created, but you know I had nothing at 2 pm yesterday and I had to have it done and be ready to leave my house by 4:45.  It is what it is and I think it give a quick snapshot into my life.  I certainly could have added in more pictures of Minnow.  I mean I now have over 5000 of them.  Yes you saw that right.  I also just got two new lenses for my camera so you know there will be more. 

I have deduced from my sharp detective skills that there are two families ahead of us waiting for a baby girl (there could be one more, but I don’t think so…Becky correct me if I am wrong).  That is so very exciting.  I keep thinking, if only I had gotten that paperwork done a little faster.  But it is only in jest, as I know that the child that was meant to be ours will be.  Minnow is a great testament to the power of fate. 

A commenter (Hiya Jess) asked a very good question about how I am going to lose this weight.  Well, I am doing it the old fashioned way.  I am watching what I eat and exercising.  I have tried lots of different diets, etc and have been successful in the short term.  I finally decided that I needed something long term and I needed something that worked for me.  As, I posted a while ago, I signed up at myfooddiary.com.  It rocks.  I put in my goal weight (140 lbs) and what I weigh now (a whole hell of a lot more than 140) and it calculates for you how many calories you can eat to lose 2lbs and 1.5lbs a week (this is customizable).  It calculates fat/carb/protein/fiber/sodium/calcium/vitA&C/and iron.  It is great.  I have PCOS and I really should (but don’t) watch my carb intake.  This really helps me see what I am eating, exactly.  I think weight watchers is a great program and I used it previously at one point, but I am not a program girl and I finally have to admit that programs like that don’t work for me. 

Oh and Minnow was up last night with a stomach bug.  I was puked on not once, not twice, not even three times–yes ladies and gentlemen I was graciously puked on 4 times in the span of two hours by my little baby who only wanted “mamammamaaa ” (yeah he really says it like this) to hold him.  He woke up feeling great today and didn’t stop eating all day.  He is a resilient little guy. 

Happy Wednesday!

A New Semester and Maybe A New Chapter

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 8 Comments

Winter break is officially over.  I start back as a teacher today and as a student.  I am happy to be teaching one class again this semester.  It is of course a new class, so I have a lot of preparing to do, as I can’t really use what I did last semester.  Not that I would want to, as I was just trying to survive last semester.  I am exciting about the upcoming semester.  I am going to be doing some fun things with my students and hope to really get them thinking and interacting.  Last semester, the class I taught was soooooooo boring and not a great class.  I applaud those who stuck out the entire semester.  I certainly didn’t want to.  I was able last semester to have a great assignment that made me construct a unit of study for the class I am teaching (I could have done any class, but since I am teaching I wanted the assignment to be something that I could use).  It is a great course idea and after talking to my  supervisor, I am excited to know that my classroom is my classroom and to go for it.  YEAH!!!

Well, this week our agencies will be giving out referrals of the babies that they have in their care.  I am of course hoping that we get our referral this week (but am not counting on it).  But what I am really looking forward to is moving up the list and knowing that we are that much closer to getting to meet (even if virtually) our little girl. 

We have also decided that we are going to undergo IVF this fall.  I am excited and nervous about that.  I am committed to losing 40-60lbs before we undergo IVF.  I know that is a tall order, but I am committed and once I commit to something, I am pretty tenacious about it.  I want very badly to have a brood of children.  We will adopt that brood without any regrets and will enjoy our large family.  I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to get pregnant (at least once) and have a biological child.  I would also be lying if I didn’t say that I have come to terms with my infertility and I am just as happy to adopt all of my children.  It has taken some time to get to this place and I have to say that I love where I am at. 

I have made no resolutions this year except for one.  I want to be a better person.  I am going to do better.  I am going to be better.  So far so good. 

We Now Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Program Already In Progress

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

I have been in a bit of a funk lately. Post-Christmas let down.  I love Christmas and the excitement that builds up to it and then in one quick moment (kinda like the first time) it is over and you are left with only the memory.  My Christmas was awesome and I certainly wish it could last longer.  I know our bank account is happy it doesn’t last longer.  It isn’t the gifts part I wish lasted, it is the holiday cheer that infects everyone.  It is the time off and the getting together with friends and family.  It is too bad that regular life gets in the way.  Oh well, until next year. 

Another contributing factor to my funk has been my laziness.  I have been busy running errands, etc., but I hadn’t seen the inside of the gym for nearly 14 days and that always makes me feel crappy.  Put on top of that all the crap I have eaten and the fact that I stopped journaling my food has made me feel–well like shit and fat.  I did get back on the horse and go spinning today and I am back on track with my food consumption.  Oh how unfair it is that we just can’t eat everything we see and not blow up like an overfilled balloon. 

Hubby has also been a little funky lately and he has a powerful aura about him.  If he is down in the dumps the whole house is buried in his depression and gloom.  He is feeling better–I am not sure but I think it is safe to say that the 72 degrees yesterday and round of golf might have contributed to his overall feeling of happiness. 

So, things are slowly getting back on track and Minnow is growing and growing and just does not stop.  He runs everywh…pardon me for this interuption, but my little Minnow just spilled a little water and then ran off and came back with a kleenex.  Wiped it up. Said “all gone” and handed me the wet kleenex.  Where did this kid come from? 

Anyway.  Minnow is all action all the time.  I have been trying to de-TVfy him.  So far, so good.  Yesterday he watched no TV at home–only a little bit at grandpa and grandma’s house.  The day before, we watched 2 episodes of Spongebob before bed.  Today so far, he has watched none.  It is going to be 73 here again today so hopefully he and I will get out and enjoy the day and he can be TV free again. 

There has been no adoption news yet.  Our director posted on our email group yesterday that there are about a dozen new babies who will be available for referral soon.  So, we could hear as early as next week sometime.  Even if it isn’t our time yet, I know we are certainly closer. 

Thanks for hanging in there.