Olivia's Birthday

Olivia was left at the orphanage gate on June 19, 2003. She was said to be in poor health (due to her heart condition?) and I suspect her parents surrendered her in the hopes that she'd get some much needed medical treatment. I feel bad for her birth parents and can't fathom being in such a predicament.

Though she only weighed seven pounds, an orphanage doctor somehow determined she was about four months old and gave her an official birth date of Feb 1, 2003. I'm sure it's no coincidence that that date was was the very same date that marked that year's Chinese New Year--their biggest holiday. The Chinese are very big on symbolism and luck, so I'm sure giving her Feb. 1 for her birthday was a way of wishing her good luck.

We will probably never know her real birthday or how old she really is, but for the official record, she will be four. I wonder if she even knows. Orphanages don't acknowledge or celebrate birthdays, but now that she's in a foster home, I wonder if she'll know. Perhaps it's not even part of their culture...but it is part of ours :) She will not have any unnoticed birthdays in our house! I'm sad that she had to have another birthday without her family, but soon, hopefully soon, that will change.

Hey, I just realized that since China is 15 hours ahead of us, it is her birthday right NOW where she is. Hope she's having a good day even if she doesn't know it's her special day.