Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Every year RTC tucks away a little money to send to each orphanage we are working with so that the children can have a fun Chinese New Year celebration. This year we are working with Hangzhou Childrens Welfare Institute. The director used the money to create a wonderful party for the children. Here are some of the older children singing their hearts out. As I look at the photos, I see everyone dressed very warmly even though they are inside the building. Did you know that none of the government buildings south of the Yangtze River are heated? This includes schools and orphanages. All the children are kept very warm in layers of clothing. The babies are kept in no less than 3 layers and I've seen up to 7 layers in some of the foster families! The children in school wear their coats. The weather in Hangzhou gets quite cold in these winter months. Those of us who have adopted children from China have experienced the scolding mandarin of the older chinese ladies on the street when they think we are not dressing our children in enough layers. This makes me think of a wonderful gift that adoptive parents and volunteers could give to the orphanage. Since it is so cold in these winter months, the children often have chapped skin, especially the babies and the little ones with eczema which is quite common in the asian population. Children with Down syndrome also suffer with eczema and it is difficult to treat in the cold weather. If every volunteer and every adoptive family bought a large tub of Eucerin Cream to tuck in their luggage, the orphanage might have enough of this expensive cream to last a long time. Desitin Diaper Rash cream would also be very helpful. Simple gifts, but very effective. As our family celebrates Valentines Day and Chinese New Year, I know that on my shopping list today there is Eucerin Cream, Desitin Diaper Rash ointment and a big box of mandarin oranges! Happy Chinese New Year!!!!!!!

Forever Family Found!

One of our little friends from Hangzhou Orphanage has found his forever family! In the Netherlands!
This is a story about a very special little boy who happens to be missing his left arm. That certainly doesn't stop Hong Jie from doing all the things that boys his age love to do...running, climbing, playing with toys...and getting into mischief! When we examined him in October, we found him to be enchanting! He was living in foster care and his foster Nai Nai (grandmother) brought him in for us to see. Our doctor found him to be very healthy, our OT and PT recommended some therapies and our audiologist tested his hearing. Later that evening when I was updating our blog, I noticed a comment from a woman who said she was adopting a child from Hangzhou and was hoping our group saw him. This woman was Hong Jie's soon to be adoptive mother! Having already adopted a daughter with limb differences, the family had requested a child with the same special need. We were thrilled to send a big update and quite a few photos to the anxiously waiting family! Now Hong Jie is home. He has parents and a brother and sister who adore him! Last week the family had a welcome home party for their new son. I received an email from his mother to tell me they put a box by the door for donations to give to Red Thread Charities. By the end of the night they had raised over $700! RTC is so grateful for the amazing families that travel to China to find their children.
I love the mom's comments about her son: "We cannot imagine not having him in our family. He's so wonderful! We do not feel in the slightest that his special needs will slow him down. He is a goal oriented person and has the charm to pull off almost anything. Our guide in China told us he has the dangerous combination of being naughty and cute at the same time. He is the type of child that would put a sandwich in your DVD player as soon as you turn your back :-) That is Hong Jie, all right! A huge thank you to Hong Jie's family for the generous donation and allowing us to tell his story.