Week 2, Monday

I had a clever title for this posting that I thought of earlier in the day but it now escapes me. 

Some non-clinic news: Dan and Mihaela's 7 year old daughter Delia started 1st grade today. The proud "tata" (father) Dan showed us pictures when he arrived at the clinic. Apparently this was the first day oIn f school across the country. Delia's school has 19 1st through 4th grade classes and 19 5th through 8th grade classes with about 30 kids per class. So you do the math.  I may not have this exactly right but they have the same teacher for 1st through 4th grade and then starting in 5th grade they have different teachers for different subjects. On the first day of school all of the children bring flowers for the teachers.  Can you imagine 30 bouquets? The children who finished with the teacher at the end of 4th grade hold their bouquets in an arch and the new 1st graders walk underneath. A nice touch.  Delia goes to school from 8 to 12 and then starting next year will go for 5 hours, the following year 6 hours. On our way to the clinic we saw one of the aides, Coca, walking her two children to school, bouquets in hand.

Random observations from today: Ana Maria is eating well and I'm hoping she will be out of isolation next week. Costel didn't eat so well today. Raul is doing fine although he had a large blister on his face. Steve continues to be sure Ana Maria, Costel and Raul get attention each day. We had Maria Cleopatra in the playroom with us morning and afternoon. She was crying when we arrived this morning. I got Marius to walk down the hall with me holding only one hand but couldn't get him to completely let go. Celine spent some time with us in the non-mobile room this afternoon and I think she had fun with new toys and new babies. She is so smart. When Andreea tried to take the toy Celine had, Celine distracted her with another toy. I hear Dan actually had the mobiles holding hands in a circle this afternoon. I would have liked to have seen this. Usually it is pure chaos in that room.  I make brief forays into the room and am sure disrupt everyone and then leave. Andreea was very fussy before lunch time and didn't eat at all. We found out she had a low fever and is teething. She was back to her cheerful self in the afternoon. Gaby continues to practice walking.  Cristi had a fair amount of lap time today and wanted to be picked up - somewhat unlike him. The weather started out sunny but got cloudier and windy in the afternoon. So no outdoor time with the babies yet.

Ionutz

Gaby

Lorraine and Andreea

Maria Cleopatra

Mihaela - uncharacteristically still

Ionna and Ion

Ramona and Miha

Marius

Gaby and Maria

Daria

Mobiles eating pieces of apple

Gaby enjoying the jumperoo

Cristi Daniel

Steve surrounded in the mobile room

Lea Celine

Walk in the village

The day started out nice and sunny so I went for a long walk in the village. I even found the church! I just looked for people dressed nicely. I must have gotten there right after the service so it was open and I went in and got the ok to take some pictures. It was much nicer than I expected for a small and relatively poorer village.

I didn't go to the clinic today although Steve and Lorraine did. I'm sure the babies were happy to see them!

Tutova village church

Inner door to the church

Altar

Walking home from church

Don't want to be rude so I take a lot of pictures of backs of people or when they aren't looking!

House, garden and the ubiquitous satellite dish

Flowers and grapes

Apt. in the same building as the Tiff market has US and EU flags - wonder why?

Village house

One of the shrines scattered in the village

The soccer game had a big crowd of onlookers

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