August 2011

Friends,

Thank you for your continued love in action for Miss Ruby Joy.

Ruby has made good progress since discharge from the hospital a few weeks ago. While in-patient she was put on a medical formula, Elecare, that is amino acid based. It is pre-digested food allowing her body to absorb the nutrients without having to do any of the work of digestion. Ruby has started to gain weight on this formula, and it is the first weight gain that we have seen in a year (since weaning from breastmilk). The past year has been very difficult with every imaginable effort to help her grow. I had begun to lose hope that she would grow, and cannot tell you the joy I felt as the scale finally hit 12lb again (she was between 10-11lb for months). She is now 13lb 5oz, her all-time high - and more chub - and muscle - to come. :)! As Ruby is gaining weight, she is starting to move her body a little more. The movements are still very subtle, but to us they are banners of change as we have not seen her move herself in any regard for so long.

Ruby is still suffering with episodes of reflux/vomiting. The vomiting is the biggest daily challenge at the moment. It is difficult, sad, tiring. It is also restricting to us being able to take her out and do more as a family as it looks and sounds severe and is difficult to handle publicly.

Ruby continues to laugh and smile - increasingly - and her social interaction is improving. We definitely feel the gift of her life coming out of those dark days in the hospital. She really is a gem - we love her so much!

We continue to pray for Ruby's healing and wholeness on earth as it is in heaven - with expectancy - and real hope.

Thanks for your partnership in this journey,

Katie & Mitch.

p.s. Mitch lost his job last week. It's been another whirlwind for our family, difficult, but we do feel the grace and excitement of the wide open space before us. Please pray for us as we sort through present unknowns and future opportunities for our family.