Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday
Will post narrative tomorrow. And hope I can figure out how to put captions on pictures using this app.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Popcorn
We decided to skip dinner tonight and had popcorn and a bottle of wine. And this is after only 3 days!
The weather was a little less cold today. Snow melted a bit but still plenty of it. We walked to the hospital this morning. It took about 25 min. and wasn't too slushy and cold. A good start to the day.
A few words about the hotel. It is ok. I put a blanket under the bottom sheet so my bed isn't quite as hard. Internet doesn't work all that well in my room but works fine next door. Go figure. Food is ok and typical of other hotels here. The chef at Tutova is still the best. I think the rooms are a bit small for two people but is fine for me on my own. Also fine once I got the radiator turned off.
Before I forget I have to tell you what Marius did at the end of the day today. He took the small chairs and arranged them in a semi circle and a few in a line and then sat in them. I think they do some kind of school at the placement center so maybe he was recreating it? As a baby his eyes were blue but they are now more green. Still has the cutest dimples. Tends to fixate on a toy but can distract him. He is so thin and hasn't grown much in the almost 2 years since I last saw him.
Luca is a doll. Robin was whistling and he was entranced and laughing and almost trying to imitate her. He likes to rock on the teeter totter like toy but now also propels himself down the hall in the chair. We need to work with him on walking. We were told he used to sleep a lot during the day but he seems to be more active. I keep thinking he looks a bit jaundiced but who knows.
Luciana was fussy today. We hear she tends to sleep a lot but has been awake more so maybe she was overstimulated. Cleo wasn't quite herself and Andrei had some crying spells. We tried a pacifier with him which seemed to work but I don't think they want him to have one.
Delia actually said her name today! I missed getting it on video and of course then couldn't get her to day it again.
Elena seems to enjoy her physical therapy sessions with Dan. He has watched the PT work and is quite good at working with the children. Seems like there is more PT going on although it has been more with other children in the floor than with ours.
Alina and I had quite the adventure today. I took her up and down the stairs a few times. On the way up she started to run and did a face plant on the landing. There was so much blood it scared me to death. I ran with her up the stairs and the nurse got her under the water. Turned out she had a split lip and was soon fine and wanting to go back up and down the stairs. Suffice to say I thought we had had enough of that for the day. I actually had to wash blood off my slippers and shirt!
Today was the feast day of the three hierarchs and there was a service in the chapel at the end of the hall. Alina sat with Beth quietly for quite some time checking out what was going on. The ladies gave her a pretzel looking thing and an orange and apple. Everyone is always enchanted by Alina. I was at the doorway for a part of the service and prayed for a family for her and the other children. BTW, the three hierarchs are three bishops from the 300's.
I showed Coca pictures of Raul today and she was so thrilled and happy to see him and how he has grown.
We are walking to the hospital again tomorrow. I love it!
The weather was a little less cold today. Snow melted a bit but still plenty of it. We walked to the hospital this morning. It took about 25 min. and wasn't too slushy and cold. A good start to the day.
A few words about the hotel. It is ok. I put a blanket under the bottom sheet so my bed isn't quite as hard. Internet doesn't work all that well in my room but works fine next door. Go figure. Food is ok and typical of other hotels here. The chef at Tutova is still the best. I think the rooms are a bit small for two people but is fine for me on my own. Also fine once I got the radiator turned off.
Before I forget I have to tell you what Marius did at the end of the day today. He took the small chairs and arranged them in a semi circle and a few in a line and then sat in them. I think they do some kind of school at the placement center so maybe he was recreating it? As a baby his eyes were blue but they are now more green. Still has the cutest dimples. Tends to fixate on a toy but can distract him. He is so thin and hasn't grown much in the almost 2 years since I last saw him.
Luca is a doll. Robin was whistling and he was entranced and laughing and almost trying to imitate her. He likes to rock on the teeter totter like toy but now also propels himself down the hall in the chair. We need to work with him on walking. We were told he used to sleep a lot during the day but he seems to be more active. I keep thinking he looks a bit jaundiced but who knows.
Luciana was fussy today. We hear she tends to sleep a lot but has been awake more so maybe she was overstimulated. Cleo wasn't quite herself and Andrei had some crying spells. We tried a pacifier with him which seemed to work but I don't think they want him to have one.
Delia actually said her name today! I missed getting it on video and of course then couldn't get her to day it again.
Elena seems to enjoy her physical therapy sessions with Dan. He has watched the PT work and is quite good at working with the children. Seems like there is more PT going on although it has been more with other children in the floor than with ours.
Alina and I had quite the adventure today. I took her up and down the stairs a few times. On the way up she started to run and did a face plant on the landing. There was so much blood it scared me to death. I ran with her up the stairs and the nurse got her under the water. Turned out she had a split lip and was soon fine and wanting to go back up and down the stairs. Suffice to say I thought we had had enough of that for the day. I actually had to wash blood off my slippers and shirt!
Today was the feast day of the three hierarchs and there was a service in the chapel at the end of the hall. Alina sat with Beth quietly for quite some time checking out what was going on. The ladies gave her a pretzel looking thing and an orange and apple. Everyone is always enchanted by Alina. I was at the doorway for a part of the service and prayed for a family for her and the other children. BTW, the three hierarchs are three bishops from the 300's.
I showed Coca pictures of Raul today and she was so thrilled and happy to see him and how he has grown.
We are walking to the hospital again tomorrow. I love it!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I'm too tired to come up with a clever title for this post.
Also too tired for coherent prose so here are some highlights from the day.
Found out that the hospital director is going to get a second opinion on whether there should be further surgery for Cleo. The Dr in Iasi said there is nothing more that they can do. I like that Dr Magda the director isn't accepting this!
Also,sounds like Delia is being evaluated for a prosthetic for her left arm where she has a small shoulder. Apparently she has to grow a bit. She definitely tries to use that little "wing" for things. She is so interested in everything. Nothing gets by her.
Luciana pitched a major fit when Dan tried to get her to sit. She can almost stand and can scoot on her stomach but doesn't seem to bend at the waist in a way that she can easily sit.
Luca discovered that he can propel himself down the hall in that little chair thing. He was smiling and quite pleased with himself. He had a good day. He definitely has some behavior that seems to be autism but isn't like some of the other autistic children we've had before.
Robin gave baths to Marius, Alina, Luciana, Luca, and Delia. Marius and Alina loved the water. The others weren't so sure about it. I didn't want to post naked pictures but am sure you can get the drift from the one of Marius that I cropped.
We got Elena, the girl with cerebral palsy out of her chair and Dan showed us how to exercise her. She also did some time on the floor. She is quite ticklish.
Cleo didn't seem to feel well today. Slept more than usual and was crying she we left. In fact we left Delia and Luciana crying as well.
Dinner at Da Vinci to tonight. We've decided to walk to the hospital tomorrow which is definitely needed after that meal, and dessert.
Am not sure why it isn't working for people to post comments. I'm doing this blog from the blogger app on my IPad so maybe that is the issue.
Found out that the hospital director is going to get a second opinion on whether there should be further surgery for Cleo. The Dr in Iasi said there is nothing more that they can do. I like that Dr Magda the director isn't accepting this!
Also,sounds like Delia is being evaluated for a prosthetic for her left arm where she has a small shoulder. Apparently she has to grow a bit. She definitely tries to use that little "wing" for things. She is so interested in everything. Nothing gets by her.
Luciana pitched a major fit when Dan tried to get her to sit. She can almost stand and can scoot on her stomach but doesn't seem to bend at the waist in a way that she can easily sit.
Luca discovered that he can propel himself down the hall in that little chair thing. He was smiling and quite pleased with himself. He had a good day. He definitely has some behavior that seems to be autism but isn't like some of the other autistic children we've had before.
Robin gave baths to Marius, Alina, Luciana, Luca, and Delia. Marius and Alina loved the water. The others weren't so sure about it. I didn't want to post naked pictures but am sure you can get the drift from the one of Marius that I cropped.
We got Elena, the girl with cerebral palsy out of her chair and Dan showed us how to exercise her. She also did some time on the floor. She is quite ticklish.
Cleo didn't seem to feel well today. Slept more than usual and was crying she we left. In fact we left Delia and Luciana crying as well.
Dinner at Da Vinci to tonight. We've decided to walk to the hospital tomorrow which is definitely needed after that meal, and dessert.
Am not sure why it isn't working for people to post comments. I'm doing this blog from the blogger app on my IPad so maybe that is the issue.
Monday, January 28, 2013
First Day!
We had a great first day with one exception. Gabi has the chicken pox so can't be with us. From Tutova, we have Alina, Marius and Cleo. I haven't seen Marius since Tutova closed. He doesn't seem much bigger but he still likes to throw balls and is ticklish. We had him laughing a few times. Cleo seems about the same and Alina immediately put up her hands for patty cake. She is talking more but also doesn't seem much bigger. Dan weighed her and she is 18 pounds. My team mate Robin called her a scamp and that is a good word for her. Out of nowhere this afternoon she said, "ooh la la." Too funny. She had me walking up and down the hall with her and we would alternate marching and running. So I'm eating some exercise.
We also have Delia, the little girl with missing limbs, who was with us last year. She is sitting up on her own and just so bright. The children that are new to me are Elena who appears to have cerebral palsy; Luciana who seems to have some delays; Luca who may be autistic but not sure about his issues and Andrei who has hydrocephalus. His head is even bigger than Cleo's and he seems worse than her. He doesn't seem to respond to anything.
Of course it was great to see the aide Coca. She immediately asked about Raul and I told her Carolyn is taking beat care of him and he is doing as well as can be expected given his illness. I need to figure out a way I can show her pictures from Carolyn's Facebook page. (The hospital doesn't have wireless.)
There is more snow than I've seen here before but it isn't terribly cold. I think it is in the 30s. The new hotel is all right. The rooms are really small and you have to be sure you don't rollover in bed or you might fall out. The shower is the kind with a combined bathtub which is so high that I have to be careful climbing in. Amazingly, unlike most showers in Romanian hotels that I've experienced, it doesn't leak!
I didn't want to take too many pictures today since it was the first day plus we were busy. I'll work on it though!
We also have Delia, the little girl with missing limbs, who was with us last year. She is sitting up on her own and just so bright. The children that are new to me are Elena who appears to have cerebral palsy; Luciana who seems to have some delays; Luca who may be autistic but not sure about his issues and Andrei who has hydrocephalus. His head is even bigger than Cleo's and he seems worse than her. He doesn't seem to respond to anything.
Of course it was great to see the aide Coca. She immediately asked about Raul and I told her Carolyn is taking beat care of him and he is doing as well as can be expected given his illness. I need to figure out a way I can show her pictures from Carolyn's Facebook page. (The hospital doesn't have wireless.)
There is more snow than I've seen here before but it isn't terribly cold. I think it is in the 30s. The new hotel is all right. The rooms are really small and you have to be sure you don't rollover in bed or you might fall out. The shower is the kind with a combined bathtub which is so high that I have to be careful climbing in. Amazingly, unlike most showers in Romanian hotels that I've experienced, it doesn't leak!
I didn't want to take too many pictures today since it was the first day plus we were busy. I'll work on it though!
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