Sunday, February 3, 2013
Sunday
Robin and I went to the hospital this morning. Elena was cranky and we couldn't figure out if she was hungry or tired or what. The others did pretty well. A young boy from down the hall, Mircea, came in and entertained Luciana. She seemed to like him. Luca gets rocking on the see saw so hard that he practically moves it across the floor. Marius does not like one of the meals they serve and plays the game of spitting it out. This earned him a time out that resulted in a tantrum. He can be a challenge. Delia got cranky a few times but a walk down the hall calmed her. I think sometimes she gets overstimulated. Alina was Alina.
Stopped at the cafe above the Berlin market for a snack and walked back to the hotel. Looking forward to a quiet afternoon of reading.
Sun came back today and it is a bit warmer.
I had a dream about Gabi last night that he was at re hospital with us. Hope that is prescient!
Stopped at the cafe above the Berlin market for a snack and walked back to the hotel. Looking forward to a quiet afternoon of reading.
Sun came back today and it is a bit warmer.
I had a dream about Gabi last night that he was at re hospital with us. Hope that is prescient!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Hotel Moldova Tips
For future volunteers who will stay at the Hotel Moldova, here are some tips:
1. Internet works best in the lobby or the floor landings. It works ok in some rooms but not all or may work in the doorway. It doesn't work in the dining room so download messages before you go in. The signal tends to be weak.
2. Fresh fruit may not be available at breakfast but you can buy it at the market.
3. They are now used to volunteers bringing oatmeal and supplying hot water.
4. Most wait staff speak English. You can ask for a large coffee if you need that to get you going like I do!
5. If you like yogurt buy it across the street at the Penny Market. There is pistachio yogurt that is quite tasty.
6. Don't lose your breakfast coupon or they make you pay. (Happened to a team mate.)
7. If the bed is too hard put a folded blanket beneath the bottom sheet.
8. There are hair dyers in the room.
9. If the smoking in the main dining room gets to you there is a smaller non smoking room although then you don't get the window and view and it can be a bit claustrophobic.
10. There is only liquid soap in the bathroom.
11. There is a combined shower bath tub and the tub is quite high. There is a safety handle for those of us older people with short legs.
12. It takes about 25 min to walk to the hospital in the snow so probably a bit less in clear weather.
13. The bathrooms have an odd smell. It may be coming from the toilet tank but I for one do not want to investigate. I did but lavender air freshener at the market and put it in the bathroom, which helped a bit.
14. There are small refrigerators in the rooms for snacks etc.
15. There aren't many outlets in the rooms. You pretty much have to unplug something to charge electrical devices. If you are sharing a room you may want to bring a plug extender.
1. Internet works best in the lobby or the floor landings. It works ok in some rooms but not all or may work in the doorway. It doesn't work in the dining room so download messages before you go in. The signal tends to be weak.
2. Fresh fruit may not be available at breakfast but you can buy it at the market.
3. They are now used to volunteers bringing oatmeal and supplying hot water.
4. Most wait staff speak English. You can ask for a large coffee if you need that to get you going like I do!
5. If you like yogurt buy it across the street at the Penny Market. There is pistachio yogurt that is quite tasty.
6. Don't lose your breakfast coupon or they make you pay. (Happened to a team mate.)
7. If the bed is too hard put a folded blanket beneath the bottom sheet.
8. There are hair dyers in the room.
9. If the smoking in the main dining room gets to you there is a smaller non smoking room although then you don't get the window and view and it can be a bit claustrophobic.
10. There is only liquid soap in the bathroom.
11. There is a combined shower bath tub and the tub is quite high. There is a safety handle for those of us older people with short legs.
12. It takes about 25 min to walk to the hospital in the snow so probably a bit less in clear weather.
13. The bathrooms have an odd smell. It may be coming from the toilet tank but I for one do not want to investigate. I did but lavender air freshener at the market and put it in the bathroom, which helped a bit.
14. There are small refrigerators in the rooms for snacks etc.
15. There aren't many outlets in the rooms. You pretty much have to unplug something to charge electrical devices. If you are sharing a room you may want to bring a plug extender.
Watch out for those puddles
Today, Robin and I walked around town visiting the open market and the history museum. A passing car splashed up some water and guess who got spattered? The weather was more overcast and colder than yesterday.
I'd never been to the history museum. It really isn't about history; it is more art oriented. A lady took us through it without speaking to us at all. At least we got a smile from her at the end. We got the feeling we were bothering her.
Spent a nice afternoon reading and resting. Dinner at the hotel in an overheated room. We couldn't wait to step out into the cooler lobby area and take advantage of the stronger Internet connection.
No pictures today but hope to go to the hospital for a few hours tomorrow so will try and snap some.
I'd never been to the history museum. It really isn't about history; it is more art oriented. A lady took us through it without speaking to us at all. At least we got a smile from her at the end. We got the feeling we were bothering her.
Spent a nice afternoon reading and resting. Dinner at the hotel in an overheated room. We couldn't wait to step out into the cooler lobby area and take advantage of the stronger Internet connection.
No pictures today but hope to go to the hospital for a few hours tomorrow so will try and snap some.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Puddles
The good news is the weather has warmed up a bit. The bad news is that in addition to slushy snow there are massive puddles to navigate around. That did not stop us from walking to the hospital this morning. Unfortunately we were minus one as Robin has come down with a cold and wisely stayed behind. We ran across to the pharmacy this am and got her the super duper Romanian cold medicine that worked well for me before.
The children mostly had a good day today. I feel so badly for Andrei the boy with hydrocephalus
as he cries and can not be comforted. He seems to be in worse condition than Cleo. Cleo did her calisthenics this morning and ate well. She definitely enjoys attention and once used to it can fuss when you step away. I try to sit in a chair next to her entertaining one child and holding her hand. She seems to like hearing our voices as well.
Speaking of voices my terrible singing voice doesn't seem to bother those kids. Out of nowhere Alina started singing Old McDonald Had A Farm and she can even sing more than e-i-e-io. Listen to the video of her as I had her saying Go Niners. This is now added to her repertoire that includes "ooh la la". I tell you that girl is smart as a whip. And she actually GAVE two toys to Luciana today. Such a spirit of generosity and kindness to the younger children is new behavior indeed. She even kissed Delia on the cheek!
Luca actually held on to the handle of a toy and was able to push it and walk on his own while holding on. He definitely has some autistic behavior but he can also be quite the cuddle bug. In the spirit of the Super Bowl I was raising his arms up and saying touchdown and go Niners. He must be a fan because he enjoyed the game.
Delia is saying mama and was dancing up a storm a few times today. She is being fussy about eating but superwoman Coca can get almost any child to eat. Same with Luciana who seems to prefer eating from a spoon than a bottle.
Marius is getting more comfortable in his surroundings. The first two days he wouldn't be venture more than two doors down the hall. Now he is going all the way down AND up and down the stairs. Almost like he now remembers where he is. I know he comes to the hospital less frequently.
Yesterday afternoon we tried to clean out the toys and Robin and Beth did a great job washing some while I kept the kids away from them. There are a lot of small blocks a Diego's and pieces of broken toys that no one plays with so we put them in a bag in the therapy room. Of course Marius found that bag today and started to get into it before he was stopped. He also had great fun this morning taking toys out of the bin and throwing them on the play pen. I was just glad to see him not self stimulating on a toy. I try to get him to play ball and walk and do other things. It is so good to see him after such a long time. Wish we could have Ion as well but I know he is a handful. I think he only comes to the hospital when there are enough volunteers to deal with him.
Speaking of which Dan said the number of volunteers last year was less than half of the previous year. They've gone from something like 200 to 65 a year. And there used to rarely be a time without a team, maybe occasionally in the winter, and now there are longer periods without volunteers. I'm guessing it is partly the expense and suspect also partly the change in the program from the clinic in Tutova to the hospital in Barlad. There are now fewer children and fewer babies. So anyone reading this who knows anyone who might be interested, pass the word on!
Will try and write more about the children's ages etc this weekend. I am not going anywhere nor is Robin. Beth went to the Painted Monasteries with Dorel our faithful driver and I'm sure will have a great time. I may go to the hospital for a few hours on Sun since the team is only 2 weeks whereas we used to do 3. To anyone who prays, pray that Gabi will join us next week. I miss her.
BTW, I am doing pictures from my phone as the signal is too weak from the doorway of my room to transfer the pix to my IPad. I brought a signal booster but neglected to notice that is isn't dual voltage and didn't bring a transformer. I am not good with details!
The children mostly had a good day today. I feel so badly for Andrei the boy with hydrocephalus
as he cries and can not be comforted. He seems to be in worse condition than Cleo. Cleo did her calisthenics this morning and ate well. She definitely enjoys attention and once used to it can fuss when you step away. I try to sit in a chair next to her entertaining one child and holding her hand. She seems to like hearing our voices as well.
Speaking of voices my terrible singing voice doesn't seem to bother those kids. Out of nowhere Alina started singing Old McDonald Had A Farm and she can even sing more than e-i-e-io. Listen to the video of her as I had her saying Go Niners. This is now added to her repertoire that includes "ooh la la". I tell you that girl is smart as a whip. And she actually GAVE two toys to Luciana today. Such a spirit of generosity and kindness to the younger children is new behavior indeed. She even kissed Delia on the cheek!
Luca actually held on to the handle of a toy and was able to push it and walk on his own while holding on. He definitely has some autistic behavior but he can also be quite the cuddle bug. In the spirit of the Super Bowl I was raising his arms up and saying touchdown and go Niners. He must be a fan because he enjoyed the game.
Delia is saying mama and was dancing up a storm a few times today. She is being fussy about eating but superwoman Coca can get almost any child to eat. Same with Luciana who seems to prefer eating from a spoon than a bottle.
Marius is getting more comfortable in his surroundings. The first two days he wouldn't be venture more than two doors down the hall. Now he is going all the way down AND up and down the stairs. Almost like he now remembers where he is. I know he comes to the hospital less frequently.
Yesterday afternoon we tried to clean out the toys and Robin and Beth did a great job washing some while I kept the kids away from them. There are a lot of small blocks a Diego's and pieces of broken toys that no one plays with so we put them in a bag in the therapy room. Of course Marius found that bag today and started to get into it before he was stopped. He also had great fun this morning taking toys out of the bin and throwing them on the play pen. I was just glad to see him not self stimulating on a toy. I try to get him to play ball and walk and do other things. It is so good to see him after such a long time. Wish we could have Ion as well but I know he is a handful. I think he only comes to the hospital when there are enough volunteers to deal with him.
Speaking of which Dan said the number of volunteers last year was less than half of the previous year. They've gone from something like 200 to 65 a year. And there used to rarely be a time without a team, maybe occasionally in the winter, and now there are longer periods without volunteers. I'm guessing it is partly the expense and suspect also partly the change in the program from the clinic in Tutova to the hospital in Barlad. There are now fewer children and fewer babies. So anyone reading this who knows anyone who might be interested, pass the word on!
Will try and write more about the children's ages etc this weekend. I am not going anywhere nor is Robin. Beth went to the Painted Monasteries with Dorel our faithful driver and I'm sure will have a great time. I may go to the hospital for a few hours on Sun since the team is only 2 weeks whereas we used to do 3. To anyone who prays, pray that Gabi will join us next week. I miss her.
BTW, I am doing pictures from my phone as the signal is too weak from the doorway of my room to transfer the pix to my IPad. I brought a signal booster but neglected to notice that is isn't dual voltage and didn't bring a transformer. I am not good with details!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
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