They’re three!
Jan. 20th | Posted by Nicky
12 comments
You’re probably thinking “well, duh. That’s what you’ve been saying all along.”
Well, in Ethiopian adoption, it’s really common to have one age on paper and your kids be another age. Especially for kids older than 2. Certainly there is occasionally a little age fudging by birth parents, but much more common is simply not knowing the kid’s birthday. Birthdays just aren’t important in Ethiopia – only one in three people even has a birth certificate, - it’s kinda culturally irrelevant.
So when we got the proposal for Sugar and Spice, we noticed that they came into the orphanage’s care the same day as their birthday. Coincidence? I think not!
Well, turns out that wasn’t the day they came into care anyway – it was four months earlier. We found that out from the orphanage director himself. And we also got some other information on our trip that pointed to them turning four in the fall, not three.
Well, the bone density test came back this week, and it appears that they are three after all. And that seems to line up with how they act and interact with peers… although they are bright little three year olds (especially Sugar.) So their “birthday” will stay – and they will stay three years old.
Funny how one of those things you take as a certainty born in Canada can be so subjective somewhere else, isn’t it?
That must be a bit of a relief. I can’t imagine growing up and not really feeling sure about how old I was – especially as a kid.
I’m curious about the bone density test – how was it done, was it painful at all, how accurate is it (and how precise to the age – eg. closer to 36 months or closer to 48 months), and how long did it take?
Sorry for all of the questions. Great news though!!
Ruth
Happy “3rd” Birthday girls!
They really do look 3, and what bright lights they are… I forgot to ask, how did they like their big present from their mommy and daddy? Or did Santa bring the train? I bet they loved it.. I cant wait until twinkle is old enough to play with the one that I have had under my bed for ten years… glad to hear the girls are doing well..
Robyn
hi Ruth – the done density test is a simple Xray – so no pain at all
And yes, Robyn – they really like it. They only play with it for an hour or so and then we put it away again – I think they’ll play with it longer when they’re able to build track themselves…
Cheers
Nicky
Very interesting. I’m glad you got everything confirmed.
Awww, Happy Birthday girls!!!!!
Sorry – just to clarify – they turned three in the summer… we just learned that the age is accurate now!
Nicky,
we did the bone scan after our daughter had been home about 4 months – because we felt she was about 1 yr older than paperwork said.
At that time (Fall 2009)on paper she was 2 yrs old…..bone scan said 2 1/2 yrs old.
but we were told it is an estimate and depends on the person reading the xray.
and also told where there has been nutrition issues that it is best to wait and do the bone scan after they have been home a year – that it is more accurate.
were you told any of this information???
our daughter has now been home 18 months and out of curiosity we might repeat the bone scan – but we are not officially changing her age – so it would just be for our info
(she has grown 11 inches in the 18 months since she came home)
Coleene
oops……..I said Fall 2009 when we had the scan done should have said Fall 2008
But since the other info we have through observation / language seems to correspond, we think it’s a good estimate.
I think the malnutirion issue is a big one – for development overall. So I guess we are happy to conclude that we think they are developmentally three – and probably age three too!
cheers
Nicky
My daughter had bone scan that was in line with her Ethiopian birth certificate, which I have always felt was incorrect.
We got confirmation through the original orphanage and then through birth family that she is a year older than that. We have aged her accordingly.
There are pros and cons of both choices, good luck with yours.
D.
I think it’s great that you have a little more to go with now… the age thing is so interesting/confusing.
karen h