PreSchool

How is it possible that my baby girl is in preschool.  Where did last four years go?

Kassi's first day of preschool was on Tuesday.  She is going two days a week for two hours at a time.  We chose this schedule as we thought it would be best for her given that she has not spent much time without mom, dad, grandma or grandpa.  After watching her this first day I think she would be fine going all day.  She absolutely loved preschool.  She warned me early the first day that she was going to run from me right into her classroom and that she did.  She ran right in and started introducing herself to the other kids who were there.

After class I asked Miss Lori how she did.  She said she did great and then laughed and told me that Kassi told her she was ridiculous.  This is one of Kassi's new word.  Things are commonly ridiculous.  Such as finishing supper, having to wait for something or if someone is being silly they are ridiculous.  Fortunately the teacher was okay with it and thought it was rather humorous.

I asked Kassi all about her time at preschool and all she could tell me was there was just too much to talk about.  I asked if she would tell me a little and she said she could, but there was just so much that she just didn't know where to start.  She remembered a couple of the kids' names and remembered a song that they sung about cleaning up.

All in all I think preschool is a success.  She really enjoys the time with the other kids and loves to learn new things.  I hope she keeps this enthusiasm all throughout her school years.

Labor Day Weekend on the Big Horns

Last week we headed up on the Big Horns like we normally do for Labor Day weekend.  As usual Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning were rather quiet and there were few people up there.  Come Saturday of course there were tons of people, but it was still nice to be away from the house and town.  We also enjoyed some wonderful weather.  The nights and mornings were cold and the days were just perfect at around 55 degrees.

Wes got in a little bit of archery hunting for deer.  He had a couple of nice bucks picked out just never got in to where he could get a good shot.  He did get within 20' of some smaller bucks, but nothing worth wasting the tag on.

Kassi caught a couple of fish and got mad at Wes when he put them back.  She thought they looked really yummy and wanted Mommy to cook them for her.  She was also rather bummed that Daddy didn't shoot a couple of the deer we saw as she also thought they looked really yummy and would make a good supper.

The trip started out well and I enjoyed staying next to the creek and watching all the wildlife.  By the end of the five days though we had decided this was the last trip for this year.  This one got a little too expensive!

My asthma had been doing pretty good up there as the smoke was kind of subdued.  Then the smoke came in and I spent one whole night wondering if I should go see what all they had on the Bear Lodge Ambulance as there was no air flow in my lungs.  I made it through that night, but that then changes the way we camp.  This means no long hikes, no camp fires, watching for all triggers and making sure they are all avoided.  Then to add insult to injury we get home and the smoke from all the fires around here is so heavy I hurt and cannot go outside.  I'm sure this will all lead to a nice doctor's visit before too long.

On Saturday the battery on the pickup died.  I guess the cold was its final straw!  Add one new pickup battery to the tab...Next in the line of incidents...Minnie managed to get herself caught up in some barbwire.  I was able to take care of the wound up there and we only ended up coming home a little early.  When we got back in cell phone range I called the vet and was able to get a little advice  and avoid the call out fee, however she will have to go in today and have some work done on the wound.  Poor pup will likely have a huge scar on her front paw.  Fortunately it doesn't seem to bother her too much as long as she doesn't bump it.

So following the incidents of this camping trip we came  home and started unloading the camper for the winter!  No more camping this year.  One expensive trip a year is enough for us. 

Watching movies together first thing in the morning.  They both really like Beauty and the Beast.

Kassi controlling the camera.

Kassi controlling the camera again.

Too dark to really see, but this cow and calf moose spent their mornings and evenings right outside our camper door.

Kassi showing Daddy how big of a deer he should shoot.

Why do people have to be so hurtful?

It is not like me to be very open about my thoughts, about my feelings.  However this last week I have been following a story about our adoption agency and I cannot get over how cruel people are.  So I am opening up to the few of you who check in on us here. 

I am aggravated, I am hurt, I am astonished by the things people are saying.  What hurts the most is to think that if my daughter were older she could be reading these things and hearing these things too.  I have always known people could be very hurtful, but lately I am just so astonished at the things I am reading.  While they may not be directed at me or my family they are implying that their statements are true for all families built by adoption.

On Friday night dateline aired a story about a Virginia father who says he wanted his daughter even when his ex girlfriend did not.  I can say by having been through the entire adoption process that some of the things he states in his interview are completely false.  Utah law proved he did not file in the time frame allowed and the baby's parents were given permission to continue with the adoption.  He is now trying to sue the agency, which happens to be our agency, the parents and the parent's attorney for $10 million.  There are several things that Dateline did not mention and several things that people who have not been through this will never understand.  Each day now I read horrible things that people are posting on our agency's website and it makes me so sad.

While I agree that the 20 days putative fathers are given in Utah seems very short, especially compared to the six months that Wyoming gives.  I do not agree with several of the accusations people are making about the agency.  A Act of Love helped Wes and I to build our family.  They helped Kassi's birth mother.   They made sure both of us had legal counsel and understood the laws of adoption.  I can only say great things about this agency.

This week I have read comments from people saying that adopting is not natural and God did not mean for children to be adopted, comments about how people who used this agency "bought" themselves a baby, comments about how those who adopt a child without knowing the birth father has been contacted and agreed to the adoption are kidnapping, comments of how an adoptive parent is not a parent.  All of these things I have read make me cry. 

MY baby girl will always be MY baby girl.  She is showered with love and affection everyday and will always know how much she is loved.  She will always know she is MY baby girl.  I AM HER MOM.  We did not kidnap her, we did not buy her, we did not go against God...God brought us together.   We paid fees yes, we paid for counseling for Kassi's birth mother, we paid for all of her doctors appointments, we paid for her expenses when she was pregnant and I assure you had we chosen a surrogate we would have paid the exact same things.  We also paid to have the counselors by her side for the first few nights after Kassi was born.  We paid all of the necessary legal fees and yes it can be expensive, but then I ask how much did some pay for their pregnancies and deliveries? 

I have the utmost respect and appreciation for Kassi's birth mother.  She will always hold a special place in my heart.  Not only did she give me the greatest gift ever she gave Kassi the gift of life.  Kassi knows about her birth mother and her questions are always answered truthfully.  I will still say though that I am Kassi's Mom.  I know what it is like to have a mother and not a mom.  Being biologically related to someone in no way makes a person a mom or dad, a mother or father, yes, but not a mom or dad.

I fear that the day will come when Kassi will be subject to people's cruelty.  I pray that she always knows and remembers how much she is loved.  I know I cannot protect her from people forever, but I hope that I can at least help her to have the confidence to not be bothered by people's hurtful comments.      

There's no turning back now!

I finally gave in to the pleading by other members of the family to just get a puppy instead of an adult dog.  With this decision we showed Kassi a few puppies that were for sale right now and  let her have her pick.  She said she really wanted her own bird dog so she could hunt with daddy.  It just happened that one of the litters we knew about were Brittany's. 

 

We took Kassi up this morning to see if she really wanted one of these puppies and she instantly fell in love with one of them.  Being her first day home I think it is a little too early to judge her true personality, however she is very sweet and kind of lazy.  I have to laugh at her...Nina was a ball of fire from the very first night and Minnie is very laid back.  Two complete opposites, but Nina absolutely loves having a new play toy!

Here is the sweet little Minnie Mouse (of course Kassi got to name her).