The "Five O's" Grows!

As I sit and reflect on all the changes our family has had in the past 3 months, I realize it is nothing compared to the changes that Ruby has endured in her two years of life. Tomorrow marks three months since we left for our trip to China. Three months ago we knew this transition would change our lives but words cannot describe how incredible the journey has been. Three months ago we left our busy lives to go half way across the world to finally meet the little girl we have been praying for long before she was even born. Ruby was abandoned. She was left on the front steps of a government building, found by police, and taken to the orphanage. She was only three pounds and we were told by several people in China that it's a miracle she survived. "Three pound orphans in China do not survive." She spent several months at the orphanage and then was taken to a foster home. A few months later she got very sick and had to be in the hospital for over a month. Then she went bac...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!!!!! Yesterday we celebrated Ruby's 2nd birthday. It was such a fun celebration and I am convinced she knew the day was about her. She had a lot of fun playing with her cousins, opening presents and eating 'Ruby-O's' that her brother gave her for a gift. She was very good about sharing them as well and shoving them by the handful in our mouths. And thanks to the girls she was able to sport 4 different outfits during a 3 hour party!! Every time they brought her back to the living room she was in a different outfit! Girls!!! Ruby enjoyed opening the gifts and was surprisingly good at it. I cannot imagine they got too many presents in the orphanage. I would like to say she enjoyed her big piece of cake with lots of frosting, but I decided I didn't want to be up all night with her and an upset tummy so she just had two scoops of coconut whipped cream (dairy and soy free). She seemed to enjoy it ok, but is not too fond of sweet ...

Ruby lost 5 ounces again but they still let us go; not that I was going to stay anyways, but it's nice to not have to leave against medical advice. I was very grateful that my mom came down to keep us company as the discharge takes forever! She helped feed and play with Ruby so I could pack up last minute items and get discharge information. I was also grateful for her help while I stopped at the pharmacy and with loading up all our stuff. I sent a lot home with Steve last night but somehow there still was a lot! Ruby waved at the nurses as we were leaving and waved at everyone in the skywalk as we left. It was pretty funny. We could read her mind, "I'm outta here!!!" We are finally home and it feels sooooooooo good!! Ruby was very excited to have room to run and play! She did lots of exploring inside and out. And smiled more than I have ever seen. Our game plan for Ruby is to love her, feed her and watch her grow. We will have to continue to giv...

Today was another good day. Ruby's job was to eat, drink and grow! She did just that and the scale worked in our favor today and she was a whopping 11 pounds 6 ounces. Yeah Ruby!!! We spent the day playing and for those that have met Ruby, she plays hard and probably burned off all the calories she ate! We had another wonderful visit from friends Carrie and Megan, Papa and Nana Olson and Steve. She wasn't as fun for Papa, Nana and Daddy's visit because she was tired. In rounds today, they said she could go home tomorrow if she continues to gain weight and drink. I told them she will and we WILL go home tomorrow. All the testing is done and we can work on growing at home. She will need to go home with the NG tube and I'm fine with that. Her goal is to drink 14 ounces of liquids/day and if she doesn't make it, I will need to supplement through the tube. Not too concerned about it. They are setting up home health to check on her and to have some...

Wow! One week in a hospital and counting.....counting down the days!! Ruby has spent more time in a hospital than all 5 of us combined! When she was 10 months old she was in the hospital for 31 days all alone. That thought makes me sad. A lot of the things I know she has been through in her short 23 months of life can make someone sad, however it is all those things that have made our little Roo the beautiful, amazing, sweet, girl that she is. She is confident, funny, happy, content, curious, fascinated, busy, fast, strong and full of joy. She continues to amaze me everyday as I fall more and more in love. Today was a great day! It started off bright and early with lab draws. That was it for the yucky stuff! She got a bath finally now that the IV is out. We had a visit from the physical therapist and occupational therapist. Those visits are fun because they just play with her (so she thinks). They gave me some good suggestions for exercises but do recommend outpatient PT and OT...

Oh sweet little Ruby. Another tough day. It started with being NPO (nothing to eat or drink) since midnight again. They put an NG tube (feeding tube in through the nose) in for her to be able to do the  upper GI test because she has not been drinking and they need her to drink for the test. Well, she was so hungry by 11am that she drank for the radiologist and he didn't use the tube at all! After the GI test we had enough time to get a little lunch in before heading to audiology. I think her hearing is fine but it is part of the genetic workup. She did not want to play with the audiologists today so we had to schedule an appointment as an outpatient. Ruby and I had another special visitor today. My friend Megan Ramspott came and brought me dinner and dessert!! Yum!! Ruby was very playful with her since she didn't have any needles or a stethoscope! The GI doctors came in to tell me that Ruby does not have anything structurally wrong with her esophagus, stomach an...

Today was another great day! Ruby and I were blessed to have several visitors so the day went nice and quick. First grandma and grandpa Flynn came again. When Ruby saw them at the door she stood up and shook with excitement! Then Steve and Elliana, Aunt Becky, friends Jen and Emily Nowak and my co-worker/friend Jess. They are all so sweet and shower Ruby with gifts and me with chocolate!! She caught up on her sleep too and took two naps-one with her older sister, Elliana. Rounds were similar to yesterday except for me politely suggesting a full GI workup. I really would like to get to the bottom of these episodes and why she is not gaining weight. They informed me that she will need to stay in the hospital until she starts gaining weight. She is currently 11 pounds (with the wrist splint on). That is the same weight as yesterday. They capped the IV late morning and want to see if she can keep the weight on without help from the fluids. A capped IV=happy girl and mom...