FuXia taking his first steps !

Many of you know FuXia from the 5.5 years he spent at Blue Sky, before joining his adoptive family in the summer of 2010.  We are so proud and happy to share this video that his parents took of him walking his first steps after corrective surgery and therapy over the last year.  

The Caudills are such an amazing family and we are so thankful that they have given FuXia and TianYou (whom you can see slapping his daddy's behind in the video) such a wonderful loving life to thrive in.  

Outing to Chaoyang Park

20th April 2012 - After a long winter, what better way to welcome Spring than to have a picnic at Chao Yang Park. The weather was not in our favor though; it was a cold and foggy morning but it certainly did not dampen our spirits. Blue Sky was abuzz with excitement early in the morning and the children waited in anticipation for the outing that they had been waiting for quite some time. 

We flew kites, admired cherry blossoms, went on joy rides and enjoyed our picnic amidst the beautiful blossoms. It was indeed a refreshing Spring outing. The joy on the children's faces explained it all and we could not ask for more. 

View our pictures on facebook here

Happiness amidst some sadness....

What a week it's been for us at Blue Sky....
 Sadness....
Starting with the not so good news.... we did not win our battle with an orphanage to have Xiao Bin remain in Blue Sky's care until his next cranial-facial surgery.  Xiao Bin, who turns 4 years old this October,  had major cranial and hand repair surgery in Singapore in 2010, and has been progressing so beautifully with physical therapy for his hands, general development, and even attended kindergarten.  His orphanage required him to return, despite our pleadings and doctor's letters that he will thrive better in our home, and still needs constant monitoring for his condition.  The event has reminded us that the children are still wards of the State Orphanage, and are not ours.  Though, we feel they are.  So it breaks our hearts to lose them so easily.  We will try to keep monitoring him while he is in their care, and hopefully the staff will be responsive to our requests for information.  His adoption paperwork is apparently processed and he is "available", so we can only hope that he will be chosen soon by a family.  Below are pictures taken the day before Xiao Bin left last week.  He is pictured with Xin Le.

Happiness....
Double whammy for one little guy.... First, we are so happy to announce that Xin Le has been matched with a family for adoption !  He will hopefully join them once all the paperwork is in order. This is amazing news for a little boy that came to Blue Sky in March 2010 at 8 months old, for clubbed feet repair.  We discovered after a few months at Blue Sky, that he wasn't responding to sounds, and tests confirmed that he was deaf.  It was suggested that he could be a candidate for a cochlear implant, but it was just too expensive for Blue Sky to afford.  Miraculously, a group of local volunteers decided to specifically raised funds for XinLe and in January this year, he had the hearing device installed.  He has been going for therapy after the surgery, and sounds are slowly being introduced to him.  The success rate of the surgery was less than 20%...
Second, this video shot on 4th April says it all.... and you cannot imagine how it felt for some of us to see this....

If the video doesn't work, see it here:  http://youtu.be/cYek7UMChO8

Blue Sky Alumni updates !

WenJie (our famous "sumo wrestler" on our website) - was our 5th baby at Blue Sky arriving at age 8 months old (in 2004), and leaving Blue Sky at almost 4 years old.

"Here is a recent shot of our Wen, who, at a B-day party, is wearing a faux moustache! He is now 8 years old, and has so many friends. He is enjoying reading & knitting, & is a little soccer star." Wen's mom. 

Libbie (Dang Xiao) - "Tania and the Loving Staff of Blue Sky,
Let me start by saying that Libbie (Dang Xiao, adopted July 5, 2010) is a true gift to us, thanks to the loving care she received from you.
As you probably remember, Libbie could not walk as her knees were dislocated. Also her feet were clubbed. Since bringing her home in July 2010, she has had  5 surgeries and is WALKING! She (and we), couldn't be happier.
I have attached some photos of us and Libbie."