Better Information

One of the reasons the foster home's update was so great, is that now we have a much better idea of Ruby's medical history, and here are some details about her personality:


"The orphanage director asked if we would take Ruby because she was due for surgery when she turns one. So, Ruby came to stay with us in Beijing in December 2010. [when she was just 3 months old]  In March 2011 she had the lip surgery, and the palate surgery in November.  Both surgeries were successfully performed by the reputable Beijing University Hospital." 

[She's looking at pictures of us here, wearing the little outfit we mailed! See Noah's ark in the background?]

"Ruby's recovery was smooth and complete.  Now she can drink from a cup and use a spoon to eat by herself.  She can say a few words such as "jie jie" (meaning "big sister") and "ayi" (meaning "auntie").  She is very energetic and active.  She likes to play with blocks, cars and kitchen toys."  [Sapphire is eating that up--the fact that someone will be calling her jie jie!]

"She also likes to go outdoors, play with water and to play with balls.  She is curious and courageous, willing to try new things.  Being strong minded and tenacious is her tool for survival.  As with most toddlers of her age, she does not like to be restricted.  However, she loves being held and cuddled, swung around and raised up high in the air.  She loves attention from adults and enjoys playing chase and games with older children." 

Sounds like she'll fit in perfectly here!

Unexpected Update

Last week we got an unexpected update on Ruby (her blog name, not her real name). The social worker had asked for one as soon as we froze her file in April, but I didn't think much about it. The update had some really recent photos (June 2012!), plus kind, loving descriptions of Ruby's personality from her nannies:

"Her general health condition is good. Her body coordinated well. She is a active, clever and lovely girl."

We also got new photos, including:

:

 These are great, because they show her outside and experiencing real life, not just orphanage rooms. Some children never go outside, and that first day with their parents is so scary for them. It depends on the orphanage. We think she's in a pretty good place. One of the other blogs I've read shows photos of the interior of the orphanage (we haven't received any of those ourselves). It has many colorful toys.

The update makes all this process so much more real. After a trudge through the paperwork, the real child behind it gets a little two-dimensional. But here she is in all her one-and-a-half-year-old chubbiness.  She's 24 pounds, and her BMI is 24.1, which sounds great!

**Update: we learned some months later that Ruby was being raised in Beijing in a foster home, not in the orphanage that was in charge of her. So these are photos of Beijing's environs, not Inner Mongolia.