3 / 18 / 2004
Today was Daddy & Daughter day! I got sick (flu) late on the 17th and was really miserable by the night of the 18th. It's been awful not being able to tend Ruby Jia Le, and I worry about getting quarantined due to a fever come flight time not to mention vomiting in public.. Ruby loves her Daddy! The night of the 17th was her first night in a smaller bassinet style crib that we got. Dan has a wonderful ability to sooth her. He says she was a little show off during the fieldtrip yesterday. We need to continue her antibiotic for another two days and continue to deal with teething pain as best we can, but this little darling is now a happy girl much of the time. It's so helpful to know that she is feeling better. Her big laughs have us grinning ear-to-ear. Naturally, she's not immune to the occasional meltdown. You can add us to the ranks of adoptive parents who say they were matched to the child who is perfect for them!
The 3 of us started the day with a successful in-highchair breakfast experience. A highchair that fits and food that she likes makes a big difference. She ate cheerios, a little congee, banana, a few noodles, and later worked on a bottle of formula with a little rice cereal mixed in. Our 10:30 fieldtrip was postponed until 2:30 due to rain. Our guide/facilitator, Richard, frequently cautions us that we can't treat these kids as we would children in the U.S. because they are of weak health. Thus, taking them out in the rain was frowned upon.
(Dan taking over here) Since the field trip was postponed and Julie wasn't feeling well, I decided to take Miss Ruby for another walk in the baby carrier. We borrowed an umbrella from the front desk and took off. First stop was the photo developing place where I had dropped off film the day before. They gave me back one roll undeveloped and indicated that something was wrong with it, It was a roll that the orphanage gave me the night we got Ruby. I figured I would take it home and have it processed. Unfortunately I put it in what I thought was a pocket on the baby carrier. Turns out it wasn't and I lost the roll. :-( I had our guide Richard write out a quick note for me explaining what happened. I went by there today and I think the woman was trying to tell me that there wasn't any film there to be developed. I guess we will never know for certain just what happened.) After the film shop we just wandered around and went into a big department store. Ruby was getting grabby so we didn't stay long. I've been taking her for walks around the lake so I decided to do that. Mostly we were just trying to give Julie a chance to sleep in peace.
After we got back to the hotel we rested a bit until it was time to go out on the field trip. We went to a museum that was about the opium wars. Since I had Ruby by myself I couldn't pay attention to the history of the wars. Ruby was really having fun walking around with me holding her and mugging with the ladies who worked there. She let out a few major giggles which was fun to see. After the museum we walked around the neighborhood which resembled the Hutong neighborhoods in Beijing. Ruby did very good since I had to hold her much of the time. I had to wrap a blanket around her though as I got scolded a few times by old ladies for her legs showing. They really wrap up there kids here.
Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou!
(a few observations by Julie) She seems fascinated with her shoes. We brought a pair of Robeez that fit her perfectly. Her shoes from the orphanage were about an inch too long. We also think she's not accustomed to having so much access to her body since we're not padding her up in the same way. Nearly all of the clothes that fit her are the 6-12 month size. Being so thin, she doesn't always fill her clothes out so well. In addition to on her bottom, back and shoulders, she has Mongolian spots on her arm and wrists. She is much more content during diaper changes now. She was used to split pants during the day and cloth diapers at night. Taking her clothes off so frequently was probably scary for her, in addition to not feeling well and so much that was unfamiliar to her.
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| Above left: "I want that!" above right: Kara with Ruby at museum right and below left: Self portraits at the museum below right: playing in hotel room |
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