Week Three Update

This week I have been working in the non mobile room taking care of mainly Gabriela, Petre, Andreea, Roxana, Roxana, Daria, and for some of the time: Paula, Alexandra, Ionut, Alina, and Raul. My regular group of kids ranges in age from 5 months to 2 years, but the others I work with range in age from 4 months to 7 years. In the morning I am usually alone with the non-mobiles (with some help from Kristen, Jane or the aides occasionally), and in the afternoon we mix it up more since some children are in pre-school. My main group of children often take morning naps, and during that time I go visit the isolated non-mobiles (Alina, Ionut, and Raul), or the mobiles.

There is another isolation room with Denisa, Celine, Sammy, Ion, and Marius, but they are harder to visit as they all scream if you don't hold them specifically, and especially when you leave. Today they told us that the isolated children should be cleared by the doctor tomorrow morning to go back to the playrooms! Mihaela left Tuesday for "testing/evaluations" at Barlad Children's Hospital; hopefully she will be back soon! We saw Jelina, who used to be an aide, this morning for a quick visit at the clinic. She had surgery on her spleen earlier this year and will be retiring from work at the clinic. We have also learned that Sammy will be leaving in the next few weeks to go to the CPS facility where Ana-Maria and Maiastra were moved to. He will be able to attend a Down Syndrome day program, so hopefully that will help him adapt to his new life!

I have also been busy taking care of Raul. I have received lots of donations for him, which is great! I have been working with him on sitting and head control, and he is improving, however he doesn't really like to be upright. Today I brought over my laptop to play music for him, and he gave me lots of smiles. I also hugged him to my chest for the first time (usually I keep him pretty flat) and said 'mama', and he giggled : )

Day 18 Photos

"See Mama, they pin my clothes for a reason" (she took off everything, even the diaper)

Andreea is a big fan of ducks

Andreea and her new tutu

Posing for the camera

Twins dressed up in shirts from Jane

With Gabriela (and her ball)

Gabriela dressed up for the "Princess Party"

Our Sammy Boy is Growing Up and Moving On

Yesterday we were told by the head nurse that within the next couple days, Sammy will be leaving for the CPS run facility in Barlad (where Ana-Maria and Maiastra are). She said that he will be attending a day program for children with Down Syndrome along with other CPS children and children who live with their families. Hopefully going to that day program will help him not to regress in this new setting. We want only the best for our Little Man!

We've Got The Prettiest Babies in Tutova

Gabby playing with the babies

Gabriela

The non-mobile girlies!

Gabby

Daria

Roxana

Andreea

Roxana

Gabriela

Day 17 Photos

Non-Mobiles

Andreea's new shirt

Petre

Daria Bouncing

Twins: Roxana and Andreea

Babies!

Day 16 Photos

Andreea

Raul

"If I drop this will my mama pick it up AGAIN?"

"Being in isolation just cracks me up!"

Paula

Ionut

Maria Laughing

Roxana sleeping

Alexandra

Petre

Mihaela

Paula

Andreea

We currently have all the children in one playroom as they disinfect the others!

Hitting Milestones (Updated)

Here are some milestones that the children have been hitting the past two weeks:
-Ion is walking unaided, but has some new bad habits involving flinging himself to the floor when he is upset/angry, and head banging
-Andrei is walking unaided, and likes to "read" books
-Petre is sitting unaided and crawling across the room; he has had one visit from his mom and dad in the last two weeks
-Daniela can stand on her own for a few seconds, and walk a few steps unaided
-Celine has learned tons of new words and facial expressions; she has had one visit from her mom and grandma in the last two weeks
-Baby Denisa can sit unaided for over a minute
-Roxana and Andreea (twins) are eating very happily off spoons, and still working on sitting
-Baby Raul is smiling and holding his head up
-Mihaela has learned to climb to the top of the toy wall : )
-Cristi has been standing more often
-Gabriela has been playing with toys more, but still not happily standing
-Ionut can hold his head up during tummy time and stand in the jumperoo
-Alina has learned lots of new words and facial expressions (and is getting better at not hitting)
-Alexandra is working on walking with help again after having hip pain a few weeks ago, she also called me "mama" twice on Friday and cuddled in the pre-school room for half an hour
-Sammy is also learning new faces, but has been isolated AGAIN with a cold (it was great for him to have one on one attention our first week)
-Paula has been showing us (well mainly Kristen) her smile when blown loud kisses
-Little Roxana has gained better head control and is working on sitting
-Andreea is babbling more, and hopefully will learn some words soon
-Maria Cleopatra is smiling and laughing aloud more often, also eating better
-Marius is becoming more cuddly and loves playing with hard toys
-Daria Roxana is able to hold her head up, and likes standing with help; she has had two visits from her mom in the last two weeks

Day 13 Photos

Andrei

Mihaela

Dan and the mobiles

Mihaela

Andreea

Alex

Raul

Celine playing with Denisa in isolation

Denisa

Sammy

Marius

Ion sleeping in isolation

Celine

Petre is crawling now!

Alina

Ionut unhappily doing tummy time