Last day in Bucharest

On Satuday, Dorel picked us up and drove us safely to Bucharest. Thank goodness he is a good driver because I swear people drive like they are on a race track. There is clearly no law against following too closely. It was also very foggy when we left Barlad and stayed that way for about an hour. 

Since we all had early Sunday morning flights, we were booked at a hotel by the airport. We arrived to see a contingent of Hells Angels with patches on their backs that said Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and I'm not sure where else. There was also what seemed to be a handball team staying at the hotel. And a wedding party.  Hot times at the Rin Otopeni. 

After arrival, we hopped into a taxi and went to the Village museum. I think this is my fourth time there.  I always enjoy being outside and seeing the houses and churches from across the country.  We were particularly lucky as they were having some kind of fall festival. So there were people selling crafts and food and lots of people in general enjoying the nice weather. 

We stopped at a little cafe at the museum for a late lunch. Then headed back to the hotel without too much damage to our wallets.  After a rest, we met for dinner in the restaurant. Clearly, we were hungry.  Mitchell says he has been hungry for 2 weeks but he is a vegetarian and a growing boy and they don't have his favorite Mexican food in Barlad.  We enjoyed the food and the ambiance, which included watching wedding guests arriving in formal dress.

Cora and I were on the 4 am shuttle to the airport on Sunday morning for our 6 am flight to Amsterdam. The airport was a zoo.  It took forever to check in, check bags,and get through security. We said good bye at the airport in Amsterdam as Cora wends her way home via Atlanta and Springfield. I am staying in Amsterdam for a few days.  I hope Shannon and Mitchell travel safely. 

What a great team. I would be happy to volunteer with this group anytime, anywhere! 

Pictures below are from the Village museum. 

Pa, Pa

Pa is the children's word for bye.  Today was our last day at the hospital.  The time goes by so quickly, except for when a fussy child can't be comforted. The children have been in pretty good spirits the last few days, except for Lavinia who may be teething and little Delia. I'm not sure if Delia is just being two or frustrated about her limitations.

On Thursday night, we had dinner at Dan and Mihaela's apartment. Cora had a sinus headache and couldn't join us but Mihaela packed up some cookies for her.  Their daughter Delia performed for us and showed us her dolls. We had a brief power outage but that was solved by candles.  A good time was had by all. 

Before we left for lunch, we had our good bye party with the staff. Ionuts was quite excited by the table  full of sweets and nuts. Surprisingly, Luca wouldn't eat anything but he may have been taken aback by the different room and circumstances. He sat in my lap most of the time.

In fact Luca likes to cuddle, especially when he wakes up. The last few mornings he has sat on my lap with his head on my shoulder. Such a sweetie. 

Since it was our last day today, Mitchell decided to risk having fish for lunch and a bite of Dan's hot pepper. He liked the fish and survived the hot pepper bite but didn't go for another.  Then again, neither did Dan. 

This afternoon we took the children outside all bundled up in coats and hoods or hats. They seem to enjoy the change of scene. Everyone got to swing but I think Delia and Alina liked it the most. They don't have bucket swings so we had to hold Delia. It was the calmest we had seen her all day. 

Mihaela was taking Lavinia and Georgiana back to the placement center after dropping us at the hotel. I think the others remain at the hospital with Coca and the aides but no volunteers. I know they do their best to get the children out of their cribs but there is no way they can give them one on one attention. 

Tonight Shannon and Mitchell are going to the high school where Mihaela teaches to watch the selection of the prom queen. Sounds like it is some kind of contest.  Cora and I are passing but I've told Shan to take pictures.  

Dorel takes us back to Bucharest tomorrow. Since there isn't another team, Dan won't be going with us. We are all staying at the same hotel by the airport as we all have early flights. We should arrive early afternoon so may go to the Village Museum in Bucharest. I've been there 3 or 4 times but the others haven't and it is always fun. 

Coca and a few of the aides asked when I am coming back! Who knows. 

    Ionuts likes the bean bag chair. So do I. 

    Georgiana is learning to pose for pictures. 

    Luca is happy eating yogurt. One bottle really isn't enough for him or for Ionuts. 

    I kicked this walker down the hall about 5 times today trying to keep Delia happy. We always do a wheelie at the end of the hallway. 

    Shannon reading an Elmo book to Alina for the 100th time.  

    Alina combing Shannon's hair for the 100th time. 

    Mitchell had Alina playing a "noapte Buna" (good night) game the last two days. She took it quite seriously. 

    Shan ranks #2 with Lavinia, after Cora. 

  

    Another bean bag chair fan. Coca had to cover the zipper with tape as Georgiana opened it one day and there were little white beads everywhere. 

    Luca likes to crawl under things. We do our best to coax him out. 

   Ionuts with his best bud, Mitchell.  

     Ms. Delia and one of her many balls. 

   Little Andrei. He was so quiet I checked to be sure he was still breathing. 

   Another bean bag chair fan!

   

    Michell's grandmother made these dresses. Alina liked this one best and wore it all day, with the sunglasses of course. The girl is all about accessories. 

   Delia has started singing the yo Gabba Gabba songs. 

   Sign on a car outside the hospital. 

   Cora saying good bye to Coca. 

    Shannon and the children outside. 

   Happy Alina on th swing. 

    She doesn't look it, but Delia is actually quite content. 

    Luca is pretty in pink. He even has pink shoes. There are so many clothes at the hospital. I don't know why the kids end up in the same old thing sometimes. 

Inspirat

This morning, as I was walking down the hall with Delia in the walker, we stopped to say hello to a boy named Bogdan. He looks to be about 13 or 14 and has a cast on one foot. As we walked back he said, "Inspirat" which means inspired. I'm not sure precisely what he was referring to but figured that was a good thing.   

Yesterday and today were quite a bit warmer. I think it was in the low 70s yesterday and a bit cooler today. Yesterday, we were able to take the children outside. Shannon wasn't feeling great so stayed back for the afternoon and Cora gives her bones a rest afternoons so it was Mitchell, me, Mihaela and her daughter Delia.  We managed to keep control of the children for the most part.  Alina went down the slide about 20 times. Ionuts found a dead frog. And Georgiana decided to pee in the grass before I could get her inside.  

Delia, MIhaela and Dan's daughter, is 10 but looks about 13. Thank goodness she hasn't passed me up in height yet, although that will happen soon I'm sure. Her English is vastly improved and she carried on quite the conversation with Mitchell and Shannon at dinner last night. 

I keep forgetting to mention that little Delia makes a rolling r sound and practically purrs when she is happy. It is so cute. I asked Dan today about prosthetics for her.  She has gone to the hospital in Iasi several times to be evaluated.  Dan thinks they may give her a prosthetic for her left arm at some point but sounds like that may be the only one.  Of course these things are never quite clear so who knows. Kind of discouraging. 

I also wanted to mention that I've been writing Ionuts because that is how it is pronounced but the spelling is actually without the s and with a comma under the t. I have improved my Romanian vocabulary this trip. I now know to say "nu I voi" (not sure of spelling) which is said to the children and means something akin to it is not allowed. I heard it said a lot so finally asked. It is a quite useful phrase         at times. 

We had a good day today. The afternoon started off with an impromptu game of volleyball using the inflated ball that I brought. Coca, Nicoletta and another aide were sitting with us as the children were waking up and being brought into the playroom. Next thing you know the ball was flying. I'm not sure who had the most fun, the aides or the children.  Everyone was so happy that they didn't even make us close the window. 

The BIG news is that Luca took about 5 steps on his own today. We used the trick suggested by Shannon of giving him something to hold on to that we then let go of. He kept going until he realized he was on his own.  Great progress. 

Ionuts can walk holding one finger, although he is a bit shaky. And Luciana is pulling herself up to standing. She is also getting into the one unlocked drawer and knows how to crawl around any obstacles. Lavinia likes the ball on her and had quite the giggling fit yesterday. Delia sat in the chair today looking at herself in the little mirror and pretending to be singing the Yo Gabba Gabba song, dancing, and generally admiring herself.  If only I could get pictures of all of these moments! But we get too busy playing with and corralling children. 

I always hit a point in each trip where I get so sad and frustrated about the lack of opportunities for many of these children. Then I try and get back in the moment and hope that the love and attention volunteers give them while they are here will make some small difference. I used to cope with leaving by knowing another team was right behind us. Unfortunately this doesn't happen as much anymore and it looks like the next team won't be until December. Sigh. 

Hard to believe we only have two more days with the children. 

  Yet another fashion statement from Ms. Alina. 

   After Alina posed, Georgiana had to pose as well.  

    Luca enjoying th ball being thrown around. 

    Luciana is a happy girl. 

   Delia can be quite stylish as well. 

    Ionuts and Luciana in the Thomas the tank engine inflatable toy. No one was hurt. 

    Cora taking excellent care of Lavinia. 

  Shannon teaching Alina sign language. 

   Apparently they like playing with empty water bottles. A bit blurry but so cute of Luca. 

   Mitchell and Ionuts

   Luciana laughing her had off about the ball being thrown at her. 

   Mihaela and Delia outside.  Delia got so excited seeing the dogs aka hum hums. 

    Luciana enjoying the leaves. 

   These two are inseparable. 

    Georgiana giving an "enthusiastic" hug to Luciana. 

   Alina getting ready to go down th slide. 

    Delia loved this ballon until it burst. 

   This bean bag chair is popular with children and adults. 

   Coca figured out this set up and Delia loved it. 

    A tickle fest. 

Monday madness

We were happy to see the children this morning and I think they were happy to see us. Looked, and smelled, like they had all gotten baths and were in clean clothes. Before we got too hot and sweaty, I asked Mitchell to take this picture of me, Shannon and Alina. 

The children mostly had a good day. Mitchell is a huge hit, particularly with Alina, Ionuts and Georgiana who he throws around with abandon. He had Georgiana on his shoulders and she was saying "go horsie" (in Romanian of course.) She actually spent the afternoon with us rather than down the hall with the teenage girls.  She is a smart little girl. I hope she goes to a foster family. 

Lavinia loves the attention she is getting from Cora. In fact, she notices if Cora leaves the room.  She seems so much more active and alert than the first few days when we were here. 

Delia had a pretty good day although she still demands a lot of attention.  There was a new aide Nicoletta (not the Tutova Nicoletta) who was in and out and great with the children, especially Delia. 

Luca is so much closer to walking on his own. He stood for about 2 minutes without holding on to anything.  He was very happy today when he got to drink the bottles that others didn't finish. 

Luciana was a bit fussy today but latched on early to a pearl necklace and that seemed to keep her amused. I was surprised that Alina let her wear it. 

Shannon had great success doing the chicken dance song with Alina. I did a video but for some reason can't attach it here. I put it on my Facebook page. 

We weighed Alina and she is 20 pounds with her clothes and shoes on so probably about 18 pounds without them. And she is 6 years old. She grows so slowly. 

Ionuts survived Georgiana's hugs where she basically tackles and smothers him. I'm sure she means well, or not. Mitchell had Ionuts laughing so hard he could barely breathe. He is a sweetie.  

I finally got the energy to walk back to the hospital after lunch. Maybe my walks this past weekend helped. It only took about 25 min.  Hope I can keep it up the rest of the week. 

Time is going so quickly, 

 

Ms. Georgiana before Luciana got a hold of the pearls. 

Shannon multi-tasking. Neither Delia or Alina like to share attention! 

She flies through the air with the greatest of ease...

Delia is always looking for something to out on her arm. 

Luciana and her pearls. 

The latest hair do. 

Delia refuses to say "minge" and still says ball. The problem is knowing which ball she wants.

   Ionuts had a good day. 

 

  Can't separate a girl from her pearls. 

   Tummy time for Delia. 

   Andrei had a hard day. Wasn't eating much and couldn't comfort him. I kept putting this giraffe next to him that plays sounds.  The giraffe was donated by Oliver James Marsay who is 15 months old and very generous. 

  I finally convinced Ionuts to crawl out of the hole in this rather than me picking him up. Although picking him up definitely counts as an upper body workout. 

    I eventually give in and let him rock on the see saw. 

   Ionuts and his best bud. 

 

     Happy campers. 

 Alina takes a selfie. 

    Working on walking. 

 

  Dan and Georgianna. 

     Ms. Delia and one of her many balls. 

  

Coca feeding the children cookies from her secret stash. 

    Shannon and Lavinia. 

  

    Lavinia loves rolling on the carpet. 

   Ditto for Delia.