Sunny Saturday

We have had a nice sunny day today so hopefully this trend will continue so we can take the babies outside this week.  I was tired and didn't post last night. We are working hard! I know anyone who is reading this who has been here knows how that can be especially with a small team. In fact, Mihaela says there are very few volunteers for the next 6 months - some teams with only 2 people and maybe even the risk of teams being canceled. I know it is difficult for people to find the money and time to come but it does worry me that they will have difficulty sustaining the program and of course we all know how it affects the babies when volunteers aren't here. 

Speaking of which, we went over this afternoon and so were able to help with both the 3:00 and 6:00 bottles. Petre, Daniela and Marius were in their cribs and not the mobile room so I brought them into the non-mobile room for a bit. They all started out pretty well and then Petre started hitting so I put him in his crib. Marius started throwing toys.  It is too bad because at first they were so interested in the toys and getting positive attention instead of being told "nu" for everything. I haven't gotten to see Marius walk yet but I haven't been with him much either. He seems to be in his crib and sleeping a lot.

We went to Barlad this morning to the open market. It was fun to see more activity than in the winter months. I bought a small bouquet of zinnias for my room. Then we walked up to both parks and again I don't think I've ever seen so many people in them. In fact, I think I've only been to the public garden park that is up and across from Berlin market once. Then we stopped at Plus market for a few supplies on the way back to catch the bus to Tutova. The bus was crowded both directions. There are only 16 seats and then as many people as they can cram into the aisle. Just like Muni at home.

I was glad to hear from my sister who lives in Millbrae that their friends in San Bruno weren't affected by the gas explosion and fire. What a terrible event. I checked the internet news and saw it before I checked my email and was glad to have an email from her with word that all was well with them.

Pictures of babies and then Barlad below!

Andreea

 

Daria loves to jump - She is doing much better eating after having her 2nd cleft palate surgery

Andreea dancing with Dan

Ana Maria already looks so much better

Costel doesn't seem to be crying as much - although maybe he would if he knew they had him in pink flowers

Lorraine and Cristi

I've been stealing Alina and bringing her to the non-mobile room

Mihaela - she runs for the camera as soon as she sees it so it is hard to get a good picture

Celine

Ion - thank goodness they don't cut those curls

Andreea and Alina

Paula actually seemed happy playing these two pianos

Roxana is using only one piano

Lorraine with Cristi and Daria

Cristi and his penguin

Gaby really likes this yellow ball

BIG bags of potatoes

Grain, beans...?

Peppers - about $1 a kilo

Market

Market

More peppers

Eggplant

Plums

Flowers

Keys

Cheese

Park

Park

Rain, rain go away

Yes, it rained most of today - a gentle rain but still my hopes for being able to take the babies outside are literally being dampened! With any luck it will clear and we will have some nicer weather before I leave.

Lorraine had a bit of tummy trouble so stayed back from the clinic today. So I was alone with the non-mobiles for part of the time although the aides and Mihaela were in and out. It wasn't too bad as there were a few fussy moments but mostly when they were tired or hungry. Mary Beth, I have led a chant of "sticla now" a few times already. (That means, bottle now, a trick Mary Beth and I tried last Oct. when they are hungry and bottles haven't come yet.)  I didn't get as many pictures as I was busier and didn't get to spend time with the mobiles.  I did go in to see Ana Maria and Costel after lunch. Costel seems to be always crying that pathetic little cry of his. Steve says he drank a full bottle at 6 pm so that is good. I got a few smiles from Ana Maria.

Delia came today with Mihaela. Delia is Mihaela and Dan's 7 year old daughter. She starts 1st grade next Monday and is quite excited although I think Mom is having a hard time with this milestone! Delia is so good with the babies as she has been visiting them for years now. She is much more confident speaking English and does very well with it. Oh yes, she is only about a head shorter than me which (I can hear it now) I know isn't saying much...

Mihaela's birthday was yesterday and she brought some of her chocolate birthday cake to share with us for dessert. It was delicious - so much for my resolution not to eat dessert. We had pizza for lunch - yeah! In case my personal trainer Janine is reading this I have eaten lots of vegetables and fruit and have been exercising every other morning. So my fitness regimen isn't a total loss.

The tv news was full of a story tonight about some tv mogul who got arrested and held for 24 hours on a charge I've yet to understand. Apparently he is at odds with the current President of the country so the arrest was politically motivated. Mihaela told us the conservative President that was elected in the last election won based on votes by people who live out of the country, especially Romanians living in France. Quite interesting.

Oh yes, Mary Beth, our favorite male newscaster who used to wear the pastel colored v neck sweaters is now wearing pastel colored polo shirts. So far this week there has been white, lime green, turquoise and I think a kind of peach color. And the weatherman who wore the awful plaid jackets is wearing some pretty awful looking shirts, including a plaid one today.

We skipped going out to dinner tonight since Lorraine was under the weather. So it was a long day and I'll post a few pictures and say "pa" for now. (P:a - the baby's way of saying bye.) Apologies for any repeats!

Gaby walking!

Roxana - or is it Andreea?

Ionutz enjoyed being tickled today

Daria likes the mirror!

Cristi likes the mirror too

Nicoletta feeding Andreea who was pretty in pink today

Paula likes the piano

Cristi cracks himself up sometimes

Delia holding Daria

New Babies!

Yes, there are two new babies at the clinic, both from Vaslui. Ana Maria arrived yesterday and her birthday is Feb. 10, 2010.  I think she weighs something like 6 pounds. I believe she has a genetic disease that is preventing her from growing as well as a heart problem. Yesterday she looked like a shriveled little monkey and today her face looks much better. I wonder if she was dehydrated.  The other new baby arrived today, a little boy named Costel born April 16, 2010. Is think he is about the same size as Ana Maria. If I understand correctly he has some congenital malformations and not sure what else. Details aren't always clear at the beginning so some of this info may change. As to other comings and goings, Daniela went to the hospital in Iasi today for testing. I thought she would be gone for several days and she was back after lunch! Dan said her parents want to take her home on Friday and it depends upon the results of the tests done today. We shall see what happens. Unfortunately little Nicoletta has bronchial pneumonia and went to the hospital in Barlad today. I read in her journal she had been treated quite recently for the same thing.. 

I must have brought cold weather with me from San Francisco. We had some rain yesterday and today it is much cooler and overcast. I see the weather report shows Bucharest as having weather in the 80s but Iasi (north of here) as rainy and in the 50s so there must be a cold weather front affecting us here. Hopefully it will get a bit warmer so we can take the babies outside. A few of the mobiles got outside in strollers yesterday before it rained.

I didn't post last night as we went out to dinner and then shopping for the babies and I was tired when we got back. The good news is so far my tendinitis in my arms and carpal tunnel in my wrists isn't causing any problems but my back isn't used to all of this getting up and down off the floor especially with babies! Thank goodness for ibuprofen.

Steve got money donated as did I so last night I bought some medicine and Steve bought more baby shampoo, wipes, diapers and yogurt. I'm sure we will be buying more of those items before we leave. Oh yes, we also bought boxes of facial tissue for the rooms. This is a new request but certainly better to wipe runny noses with soft tissues than diapers as we have in the past.

Gaby decided to demonstrate her walking skills yesterday and today. She fusses when we put her shoes on but sometimes actually seems to enjoy walking. At first I had to push her legs with mine a bit but then she took off more on her own. Well, not quite on her own, you have to hold both hands but still she knows to put one foot in front of the other. Amazing progress!

I asked about Mihaela going home and they have said that the parents have said they want to bring her home but who knows what will happen. So nothing definite. Dan also said Alexandra's parents talk about taking her home.  Info is often sketchy so who knows. I asked about the children at the home for disabled children in Barlad and apparently they stay there until they are 14-16 and then go to a home for disabled adults.

Daria isn't crawling but scoots along on the floor and can stand for a really long time. I put her in the jumperoo and she loved it - didn't even need a stuffed animal behind her to prop her up. Ionutz was much more animated today, rolling over and chattering away. I wish he would stop grinding his teeth! Cristi was more reluctant about walking today - maybe tomorrow. I took twin Andreea to the pre-school room when it was empty at one point today and she was so curious about everything. Oh yes, Dan put the mobile I brought on Maria Cleopatra's crib. It plays "Greensleaves" - hope she likes it. It is hard to tell what she can see or hear  but she does seem to react well when it is on.

I saw Alexandra walking today and she is doing so much better - her legs were much straighter than I've seen them before although turned out. I know she walked and then stopped walking for awhile so it is good to see her making progress again. She is still quite reluctant to pose for the camera unlike some of the others! I read in a journal that someone is paying for an afternoon aide for Alexandra. I did see Coca with her this afternoon and I think yesterday. Mihaela seems to know a whole bunch of words and can repeat what is said to her. She understands a lot too. I walked by the mobile room at one point and saw Miha had climbed on to the radiator. So I went in and said "Miha, jos" (jos means down) and she got right down. Of course as I started to leave she headed back for the radiator so I said it again. I'm sure it lasted for all of 5 seconds after I was out of sight.

Steve told me at dinner tonight about the volunteer work he does several nights a week at two separate hospitals holding the small babies. He is so great with the little ones, always going in to see Raul and now the new little ones. And his mother Lorraine is great as well and so easy to work with. I hope I have her stamina at that age! I could have fallen asleep on the play room floor or in the rocking chair this afternoon.

Ok, let me see if I can get some pictures posted on this blog!

Ion eats with a spoon now!

 

 

 

 

Mihaela

 

Marius

Lea Celine loves to pose for the camera

Ok, a picture of me - and Gaby

Steve and Raul - who doesn't like the flash

Alina

New baby - Ana Maria

Toddler beds

New baby - Costel

Alexandra

Ion

Miha

Lorraine with Andreea and Roxana

Lorraine and Alina - pretending to be a baby

Gaby entranced by her reflection

Steve and Ana Maria

First Day at the clinic

Our intrepid team of 3 headed off to the clinic this morning and quickly got back into the routine.  Even with children I've worked with before there is always something new about how they are eating or developmentally what they are now learning. What follows is random observations about the children and clinic. I tried to get as many pictures as I could today as I know former volunteers are anxious to see the children but I couldn't get to everyone.  We were busy!

I was excited to see Petre and Daniela walking and Ion eating by himself with a spoon! It is like they used to do with the toddlers, they bring the mobiles out to the entry area and seat them at a little table. Petre and Daniela and I think a few others still need to be fed but still progress.  The twins Andreea and Roxana are eating better than they used to and they no longer have rashes on their faces. Andreea is farther along than Roxana but I'm sure Roxana will catch up. Andreea walks while you hold both of her hands and Cristi is walking with assistance as well. I had read about Gabriela putting on shoes and standing and walking a bit but she was having none of it today.  Daria will stand holding on to something for the longest time and is so curious. I almost applauded her today when she took a toy away from Andreea! She was bound and determined to get that toy. Andreea is quite the musician and was playing the drum most of the morning.  We made sure that Ionutz and Maria Cleopatra joined us in the play room and got some attention. I didn't get into see Raul in isolation but Steve did.  When I went to see Marius and Alina in isolation, Alina promptly slapped my face. Hopefully they can join the mobiles tomorrow.  I spent a bit of time in the mobile room and Daniela seemed really cranky. I read that she has fairly frequent crying fits.

They have new carpet in the play rooms, in fact the new carpet in the non-mobile room went in today at lunch room and we had that new carpet smell this afternoon. I was so warm that between that and the smell I finally cracked a window open (usually frowned upon I know but what are they going to do, fire me?!) The carpet isn't  patterned like the other carpet but at least it is new and was clean for about 15 min. until Roxana spilled a bottle on it and Daria spit up.

It took me all morning to notice the diaper table is gone from the hallway. They are changing the babies in the bedrooms.  And they have 5 toddler beds in a room with Mihaela, Ion, Celine and I can't remember who else in that room. Must be quite the party room after hours.

We saw Dr. Delia and got the usual tour although this time we saw the new building by the pediatric clinic with the laboratory and day treatment rooms. Dr. Delia said the hospital was at risk of being closed but the decision was made to keep it open, only they lost 5 beds in the adult section.  Apparently there is a real problem with doctors and nurses leaving the country to work abroad, especially going to England. Of course pay is a big issue. A starting doctor makes under $300 a month.  And apparently due to Romania's economic difficulties all government employees took a 25% pay cut. This includeIs the clinic staff and Mihaela's teaching job.  Dan said it will be really hard for people this winter when heating costs go up.

Paula still loves the jumperoo

Cristi

So here are some pictures. I promise more as the days go by!  (It was overcast and cooler today so we didn't get to go outside.)

Nicoletta and Daria

Roxana's hair is longer than Andreea's

Andreea, drumme girl

Petre - mobile!

Daniela - pretty as ever

Andreea playing three instruments at once

Daria loves to stand

Lorraine and Nicoletta

Maria Cleopatra

Gaby

Ionutz has gained some weight!

Romania in September

Toys in Romanian!

The road beside the hospital

t(Don't ask me how some of these pictures ended up at the top of the post - I need to figure out again how to do this.)

I'm nearly in shock being in Tutova with weather in the 70's, trees in bloom, and greenery everywhere. So different from the bleak winters I've experienced here before. For those of you who have been on teams with me in the winter, I'm attaching pictures of a different Tutova.

I had a day in Bucharest at the start of my trip. Went to the Patriarchal Cathedral on top of a very small hill, the only hill, in Bucharest. It was quite beautiful and definitely more ornate than some of the simpler and poorer Romanian Orthodox churches I've seen elsewhere. I also went to the Unirii shopping center near my hotel to look for things for the babies. I found two fisher price "learning" toys that have sounds and language, in Romanian! Too cool. I hear some of the older children like Mihaela and Celine are learning words so this will be great for them.

We are a team of 3 - me, Steve who is on his 12th trip, and his mother who is here on her first trip. Steve is a banker from Pennsylvania and was actually on the 2nd or 3rd team here. We are something like the 149th team. He comes every Sept. and has seen lots of changes. Lorraine, Steve's mother, and I will work with the non-mobiles and Steve with the mobiles although we will be back and forth. They are here for 2 weeks so I will be on my own for the last week. I know some of you out there who are reading this have done it so let me know your tips! I definitely will need to stay healthy and keep my energy up.

There are 19 children now about evenly split between the two groups.  Only two new children since I was here last: Nicoletta the premie who came at 3 months weighing under 2 pounds and is now something like 9 months and 9 pounds; and Raul who has the skin disease, EB, that Caroline Ruhl has written about. Caroline I haven't had a chance to ask too many questions yet but sounds like they are working on the appointment for his passport so he can come to the US for treatment. I will try and get more info for you and ask more about what needs to be done.

We had about an hour with the children today so not much news to report. I can tell you that the mobiles now include Mihaela, Celine, Alexandra, Ion, Marius, Andreea, Daniela, Petre, Alina, and sometimes Cristi. The non-mobiles are Andreaa and Roxana (the twins), Gabriela, Ionutz, Maria Cleopatra, Nicoletta, and Daria.  Paula is sometimes with the non-mobiles and sometimes doing her own thing whatever that may be. Raul is non-mobile but mostly in the isolation room due to his susceptibilty to infection. We will have to be sure to get in to visit him. Right now Alina and Marius are in isolation after having been at the hospital for check ups but hopefully will be out on Tuesday. AND, it looks like we don't have to wear masks partly because it isn't flu season and partly because I think they don't have any.  Have done a quick read through recent entries in the journals and it sounds like everyone is making progress albeit slowly for some. Still, every little bit of progress is success and thanks no doubt to all of the wonderful volunteers who have preceeded our team. 

Despite the difference in weather, many things are still the same: the clip clop of the horses and carts, the roosters crowing, the dogs barking, and oh yes, the showers leaking. I think pretty much all of the water from my shower leaked out from underneath it on to the bathroom floor. Thank goodness I remembered rubber sandals for in the bathroom instead of cloth slippers. I did forget my clinic slippers but see two pairs I left on previous visits are in the closet at the clinic so I'm good to go. Oh yes, I'm in one of the single rooms with a double bed and while it has less space than the rooms with two twin beds it is fine. 

Here are a few pix - will try and get some of the children tomorrow although I'm sure we will be busy.

The path to the clinic

The house behind the hotel

The Raluca, complete with outdoor tables

Stay tuned for my next trip

Yes, I'll be back in Romania for the team beginning September 4th and ending Sept. 25th. So if the internet keeps working at the hotel, there will be more baby news and pix starting then. Time to start practicing my Romanian.