Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Last day
Yesterday was our last day at the clinic. I posted after lunch because I was so excited after seeing Gabi. I still have the picture in my mind of her holding her arms up to be picked up as I was leaving. I forgot to mention that Ionut is at the placement center as well and about the same.
The afternoon passed very quickly. The high school girls who came last Friday came again and they are great with the children. They will come again in the upcoming weeks.
It was hard to say good bye to the children knowing that there won't be volunteers until March. There are none signed up for April and only 1 so far for May. I hear the policy is now that a team needs to be a minimum of 3 people. Mihaela asked me why the number of volunteers have dropped and I speculated that money is an issue for people as well as busy lives. I also told her that I think some people liked the babies and there tend to be fewer of them at the hospital. Having said that there are fewer children in general to take care of at the hospital which makes it easier.
We had a nice dinner at Dan and Mihaela's last night. Mihaela showed us some pictures of Tutova in the early days and some pictures of her and Dan in younger years. Delia showed us her pretty bedroom.
We took the train to Bucharest this morning. Unfortunately Robin had a stomach bug but she came to the Rembrandt hotel to rest for a few hours before catching her night train to Budapest. Beth and I walked around and among other sites saw an older lady with lavender colored hair. We also went into a combination bar and antique store. We had dinner at the Van Gogh restaurant next door to the hotel and dessert at the cafe where they serve breakfast at the hotel.
Beth leaves for home early tomorrow morning. I leave for a week in Berlin in the afternoon. I'll probably post on Facebook about Berlin. Once again it was great to be on a team with a friend made on my last team (Robin) and make a new friend (Beth). Another advantage of these trips.
The afternoon passed very quickly. The high school girls who came last Friday came again and they are great with the children. They will come again in the upcoming weeks.
It was hard to say good bye to the children knowing that there won't be volunteers until March. There are none signed up for April and only 1 so far for May. I hear the policy is now that a team needs to be a minimum of 3 people. Mihaela asked me why the number of volunteers have dropped and I speculated that money is an issue for people as well as busy lives. I also told her that I think some people liked the babies and there tend to be fewer of them at the hospital. Having said that there are fewer children in general to take care of at the hospital which makes it easier.
We had a nice dinner at Dan and Mihaela's last night. Mihaela showed us some pictures of Tutova in the early days and some pictures of her and Dan in younger years. Delia showed us her pretty bedroom.
We took the train to Bucharest this morning. Unfortunately Robin had a stomach bug but she came to the Rembrandt hotel to rest for a few hours before catching her night train to Budapest. Beth and I walked around and among other sites saw an older lady with lavender colored hair. We also went into a combination bar and antique store. We had dinner at the Van Gogh restaurant next door to the hotel and dessert at the cafe where they serve breakfast at the hotel.
Beth leaves for home early tomorrow morning. I leave for a week in Berlin in the afternoon. I'll probably post on Facebook about Berlin. Once again it was great to be on a team with a friend made on my last team (Robin) and make a new friend (Beth). Another advantage of these trips.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Breaking news
We went to the placement center late morning and I got to see Gabi! They said I had to take full responsibility for the risk of getting chicken pox since the children are isolated but I've had chicken pox so I figured I was pretty safe. I got to play with her for at least 20 min., maybe longer. She is walking and "dancing" and claps her hands. She says ba ba and me me. She is still eating solid food from a spoon but can not feed herself. And she continues to not do too well with chewing.
Mostly she was on my lap giving kisses and playing with my hair. She is still ticklish so I got to hear that cute Gabi laugh. She seems a bit taller and her face is a bit thinner but all in all she seems to be doing well. No signs of chicken pox on her face. Unfortunately pictures aren't allowed at the placement center so I'll do my best to transmit my mental images to you telepathically! And did my best to transmit your love to her.
I also saw Maestra who played with us a little and Ionica who wasn't at Tutova but has been at the hospital. Sami was in a crib and looked like he had a rash. I also saw Ema who I had never seen before but I know other volunteers have worked with her.
Robin, Beth and Dan went to the another house and guess who was there, Delia! Apparently she returned from Iasi to the placement center. Dan said she saw a variety of specialists and they are looking at prosthetics for her after her birthday in June.
They also saw Ion who Dan thought seemed to be doing better. He is talking more. He was apparently quite excited to see them and immediately got into Robin's purse and got his hands on her camera. Sounds like our Ion.
They also saw Cristian Andrei, the little boy from last year who had been found in a barn. He seemed to be doing ok.
We agreed the houses at the placement center are very warm and inviting. Lots of toys and decorations. Don't know how much time kids are in their cribs or in the common rooms but all in all it seems like a good place. Unfortunate we aren't able to volunteer there.
We did find out that Cleo and Luca will be going back to the placement center tonight after we leave. This will make it easier for Coca when there are no volunteers as she will have fewer children.
Mostly she was on my lap giving kisses and playing with my hair. She is still ticklish so I got to hear that cute Gabi laugh. She seems a bit taller and her face is a bit thinner but all in all she seems to be doing well. No signs of chicken pox on her face. Unfortunately pictures aren't allowed at the placement center so I'll do my best to transmit my mental images to you telepathically! And did my best to transmit your love to her.
I also saw Maestra who played with us a little and Ionica who wasn't at Tutova but has been at the hospital. Sami was in a crib and looked like he had a rash. I also saw Ema who I had never seen before but I know other volunteers have worked with her.
Robin, Beth and Dan went to the another house and guess who was there, Delia! Apparently she returned from Iasi to the placement center. Dan said she saw a variety of specialists and they are looking at prosthetics for her after her birthday in June.
They also saw Ion who Dan thought seemed to be doing better. He is talking more. He was apparently quite excited to see them and immediately got into Robin's purse and got his hands on her camera. Sounds like our Ion.
They also saw Cristian Andrei, the little boy from last year who had been found in a barn. He seemed to be doing ok.
We agreed the houses at the placement center are very warm and inviting. Lots of toys and decorations. Don't know how much time kids are in their cribs or in the common rooms but all in all it seems like a good place. Unfortunate we aren't able to volunteer there.
We did find out that Cleo and Luca will be going back to the placement center tonight after we leave. This will make it easier for Coca when there are no volunteers as she will have fewer children.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Tutova children
Some people asked about some of the Tutova children. Here is what Dan and Mihaela know:
Andreea (formerly known as little Andreea when big Andreea was there) went to a good foster family. Coca keeps in touch with them and says she is doing well.
Ion is at the placement center for children with disabilities. Unfortunately he is banging his head really hard when he gets frustrated and sounds like they can't manage him at the hospital anymore with the volunteers. This makes me sad. He would be doing better I think if he could have been placed with a family.
Alexandra with brittle bones is with her family in Tutova and Coca says she is doing ok.
Cristi went home to a single father but no one knows how he is. I said I was surprised no one had seen him at the hospital given his frequent respiratory problems but Dan said they live some ways away from Barlad.
Petre is with a foster family as far as we know but no one knows anything about him.
Mihaela is with a foster family but not sure how she is doing. They had Gabi as well and sent her back to the placement center which makes me wonder.
Celine went home and the family rejected any follow up and offers of help. No one knows how she is doing. She is smart and in my experience with children when I worked with CPS is that quality goes a long way in helping kids to survive and cope.
Ionut is at the placement center as is Gabi. I'm not sure if they bring Ionut to the hospital at all. I think Gabi is often with the volunteers except for this episode of chicken pox. (Damn!)
Andreea (formerly known as little Andreea when big Andreea was there) went to a good foster family. Coca keeps in touch with them and says she is doing well.
Ion is at the placement center for children with disabilities. Unfortunately he is banging his head really hard when he gets frustrated and sounds like they can't manage him at the hospital anymore with the volunteers. This makes me sad. He would be doing better I think if he could have been placed with a family.
Alexandra with brittle bones is with her family in Tutova and Coca says she is doing ok.
Cristi went home to a single father but no one knows how he is. I said I was surprised no one had seen him at the hospital given his frequent respiratory problems but Dan said they live some ways away from Barlad.
Petre is with a foster family as far as we know but no one knows anything about him.
Mihaela is with a foster family but not sure how she is doing. They had Gabi as well and sent her back to the placement center which makes me wonder.
Celine went home and the family rejected any follow up and offers of help. No one knows how she is doing. She is smart and in my experience with children when I worked with CPS is that quality goes a long way in helping kids to survive and cope.
Ionut is at the placement center as is Gabi. I'm not sure if they bring Ionut to the hospital at all. I think Gabi is often with the volunteers except for this episode of chicken pox. (Damn!)
Next to last day
The most amazing thing happened today. I was walking down the hall with Alina and Luca in the walker and saw big Andreea's grandmother! Big Andreea was one of my favorites at Tutova and she went home to her grandmother and father. I had actually brought a few pictures of Andreea and planned to mail them to her grandmother from here. Instead I got to hand them to her! And of course I got to see Andreea. When I gave the grandmother the card (with a little something extra), she started to cry and of course I couldn't tell what was going on. I asked Dan to talk to the grandmother and found out that Andreea had a serious seizure this morning that lasted a long time. They were giving her meds in an IV.
It is interesting to me that Alina often brings me the book, The Bossy Bee to read to her as she is definitely the boss of the playroom. She keeps asking me to sing Old McDonald and to liven it up the farm now has lions and monkeys and snakes. And bees. Who knows what will be next?
It may be wishful thinking but I do think the children adjust to the new routine with the volunteers and start to become more active after there has been a break. Of course it makes me feel extra badly that there isn't another team until March.
Yesterday Alina went to the endocrinologist in Barlad. Apparently he said she needs genetic testing, probably to determine what type of dwarfism she has. She is so bright. I wish she was with a family. She seems to be doing less pinching and is gentler with the other children.
We brought bananas today and between that and yogurt and biscuits and a bottle of tea Marius's oral fixation and/or hunger was satisfied today. He seemed to be on more of an even keel. We call him the busy bee.
Luca is so cute when he sucks both thumbs. He has intervals of lap time but hasn't been napping as much as he apparently used to do.
Special thanks to Pat B for sending the surgical gauze. Coca was happy to have it when she changed Cleo's head bandage today. I was feeding Andrei as she was doing it and could see that it is a very difficult task. And Cleo has some sores that they are treating. Coca was being so careful and Cleo seemed to handle it ok.
I got out the bubbles I brought and it was some new tangled thing that I couldn't figure out. Of course Dan did so the children enjoyed a bubble fest. You can't see the bubbles in the pictures but I'm sure you can guess the ones where they were looking at them. One even landed on Cleo's head bandage!
No Gabi yet. Every day I hope she will appear. If nothing else I hope we can go see her at the placement center tomorrow.
At dinner at the hotel tonight two women heard us speaking English and came over to talk to us. They are with an NGO in Barlad called Bridge of Love that works with abandoned children. They have a summer camp and sounds like they may work with foster families. Not really sure but we will ask Mihaela and Dan about them tomorrow.
For volunteers who send packages, a reminder to address them to both Mihaela and Dan. If Mihaela's name is on it the new procedure at the international post office in Vaslui is that she has to pick it up and Dan can't do it for her.
AND last but definitely not least thank you to the people who gave me donations. Global seems to have a budget now for diapers and wipes etc. so Mihaela asked that we use the money for some cabinets for the children's clothes. She got a deal on someone making them in the same colors as the cribs! And to Coca's delight they have locks. They were installed today and the first thing that Coca did was scrub the insides. Now it will be easier to find clothes that fit the children as many of them are in locked suitcases that are hard to access.
Better go pack. I went to the landing on our floor to get a better Internet connections so am posting this from my IPad. It was easier to transfer pictures from my phone with a stronger signal.
It is interesting to me that Alina often brings me the book, The Bossy Bee to read to her as she is definitely the boss of the playroom. She keeps asking me to sing Old McDonald and to liven it up the farm now has lions and monkeys and snakes. And bees. Who knows what will be next?
It may be wishful thinking but I do think the children adjust to the new routine with the volunteers and start to become more active after there has been a break. Of course it makes me feel extra badly that there isn't another team until March.
Yesterday Alina went to the endocrinologist in Barlad. Apparently he said she needs genetic testing, probably to determine what type of dwarfism she has. She is so bright. I wish she was with a family. She seems to be doing less pinching and is gentler with the other children.
We brought bananas today and between that and yogurt and biscuits and a bottle of tea Marius's oral fixation and/or hunger was satisfied today. He seemed to be on more of an even keel. We call him the busy bee.
Luca is so cute when he sucks both thumbs. He has intervals of lap time but hasn't been napping as much as he apparently used to do.
Special thanks to Pat B for sending the surgical gauze. Coca was happy to have it when she changed Cleo's head bandage today. I was feeding Andrei as she was doing it and could see that it is a very difficult task. And Cleo has some sores that they are treating. Coca was being so careful and Cleo seemed to handle it ok.
I got out the bubbles I brought and it was some new tangled thing that I couldn't figure out. Of course Dan did so the children enjoyed a bubble fest. You can't see the bubbles in the pictures but I'm sure you can guess the ones where they were looking at them. One even landed on Cleo's head bandage!
No Gabi yet. Every day I hope she will appear. If nothing else I hope we can go see her at the placement center tomorrow.
At dinner at the hotel tonight two women heard us speaking English and came over to talk to us. They are with an NGO in Barlad called Bridge of Love that works with abandoned children. They have a summer camp and sounds like they may work with foster families. Not really sure but we will ask Mihaela and Dan about them tomorrow.
For volunteers who send packages, a reminder to address them to both Mihaela and Dan. If Mihaela's name is on it the new procedure at the international post office in Vaslui is that she has to pick it up and Dan can't do it for her.
AND last but definitely not least thank you to the people who gave me donations. Global seems to have a budget now for diapers and wipes etc. so Mihaela asked that we use the money for some cabinets for the children's clothes. She got a deal on someone making them in the same colors as the cribs! And to Coca's delight they have locks. They were installed today and the first thing that Coca did was scrub the insides. Now it will be easier to find clothes that fit the children as many of them are in locked suitcases that are hard to access.
Better go pack. I went to the landing on our floor to get a better Internet connections so am posting this from my IPad. It was easier to transfer pictures from my phone with a stronger signal.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)