28th Day in Romania/Friday at the Clinic

After lunch we said our goodbyes to the 13 people who are going to Transylvania for the weekend. Although they paid quite a bit less than Becky, Leigh, and I did I am so glad that I went with Becky and Leigh. First as I said this group has 13 going -- and everyone knows I prefer small groups. Second, Radu is on a 3 week vacation around Europe and will not be their guide... he is worth the money! :-)

I am so mad at myself for not going to the clinic this morning. I missed Ionela's mom! She came to visit Ionela today and stayed all morning! WAHHH!! She has been calling and talking to Mrs. Maleeka the preschool teacher almost daily asking when Ionela's 2nd surgery for her cleft palate will be finished so she can take her baby home. Maleeka told us she was coming to visit but I didn't know what day. Becca and other volunteers said they got pictures of them together and that Ionela and her mother definitely have a bond. That makes me so happy!

My room mate Stephanie and her co-teacher Trent

I have already given you Trent's blog address but thought I would share Stephanie's as well it is:
www.romanianreverie.blogspot.com

By the way.. at this moment I am the only team member with an up-to-date blog!! WOO HOO LOL That is what they get for leaving me for the weekend!!

Saying good-bye out back at the Raluca Hotel

After the one-week-ers and I said our goodbyes we walked over to the clinic. (Although I laid out of work this morning I did a 4 hour shift this afternoon to make up for it!) All the babies in Salon 3 (Room 3) were still sleeping. As I took pictures though I woke Gabriela up. :-( She was a little cranky until bottle time.

Ema-Elena... I have never seen this kiddo so relaxed out of someone's arms. This pose is what prompted me to take sleeping baby pictures!

Alina... thumbalina... apparently she threw up her breakfast bottle this morning :-( She didn't seem quite herself all afternoon.

Gabriela.. she did go back to sleep for a few minutes after this... I was glad she stayed awake through the afternoon though.. she sleeps almost as much as I do LOL

Marius

Cristi in the cute T is for Tiger onesie

Petre finally dressed as a young man in this happenin' polo styled onesie

Before the 3pm bottle... Nicole, Cassi, and Shirley in the room while we checked on other babies

I think I mentioned sweet Ema's bug bites... I decided to take pictures so I can compare them myself each day and let the nurses know if they are truly getting better. The huge bite on her knee was not hot today... but it was still red. Her foot though was HORRIBLE! Obviously swollen and very red... no heat though... As soon as Mihaela arrived I asked her to make sure they were still treating her leg. The nurses had been putting ointment on it and took her for more ointment. They ended up wrapping her foot so the ointment wouldn't rub off. She looked pitiful!

Maria-Cleopatra in a beautiful summer dress enjoying the sun and breeze

Daniela

This picture just doesn't do this moment justice. Delta has been caring for Daniela so we haven't gotten to play with her a lot. She is such a darling girl and loves to be around the other kids. She had a blast doing tummy time outside and showed us how she could roll over from front to back -- an amazing feat in those huge diapers!

Nicole multi-tasking with Maria, Alina, and Marius

Nicole told Marius that no girl would like him with his icky long toenails LOL So she gave him a pedicure. I asked her to help Gabriela out too! Marius enjoyed his pedicure more than Gabriela!

Daniela sleeping in the swing... we need a life size swing for the volunteers to relax in also!

This was one of those "I am so blessed" moments... Sweet Ionela has come so far... she used to hit and bite the other kiddos and now when they cry she gets this look on her face and "pets" their head as she says, "my-my". She then lays her head against their head like she is cuddling the baby. I love it! She is going to be a great momma some day!

Ionela with her rock collection

Alina exploring in the grass

I love this little girl so much! It is so great to know that she recognizes my voice. I am constantly saying to her, "Hai Alina.. hai Mama!" ("come, Alina.. come to Momma" -- which is what the aides and nurses call themselves and what the babies call all volunteers. She always looks around to find me and then toddles over.. or if she falls then she crawls over. She always has a huge smile on her face and loves to be praised! I am going to miss her!