This is how my day started on Friday...can't get any better than the two cutest dogs greeting me on the porch!!! They are just too adorable and have really made this trip so special. After a major playfest with the pups and a yummy breakfast, it was back to the clinic for my last day. I went in expecting the usual, planning on going to the baby room, but I did a little walk around first as the babies were still asleep and quiet. As I walked by one of the playrooms, I saw Alina, Roxana and Andrea, with Cristi, Ionutz, and Daria. There was a whole lot of crying going on in there and poor little Ionutz was getting his hair pulled by one of the twins, while getting a few slaps in the face from Alina. He was fine after a little consoling but I decided to stay awhile and I am so glad I did!! It turned out to be a wonderful time. I feel like my experience was complete as I finally had yogurt and milk all over my scrubs, as Steve often did and I just would not feel right leaving the clinic without that being done:) Alina also gave me a huge surprise when I saw her soup that was in the bottle spilled all over the floor and on the door!! As I was cleaning that up, Daria decides it is her time to get some lovin', but that's exactly when the twins came over and it was all over...Dan later told me he saw me in there and just saw a whole lot of cryin :( I'm sure that was quite a scene to watch...I really wish I had an extra pair of hands and another lap for them to all sit on then.
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| i should have known when she was not taking her bottle like the others...darn! :) |
After the initial excitement, things did quiet down quite a bit, especially as one of the aides took out the twins to join the older toddlers. Alina and I had our little ponytail time, where she played with my ponytail from each side. We also had our little gangsta rap/hip hop session and our language classes. She can say so many words now!! I'm so proud of her. Cristi and I shared some quiet time. He really liked just draping himself over each of my shoulders and just hanging. My kind of guy. Ionutz and I had some sweet moments together, which was the best going away gift ever because he has been so hard to read all these weeks. It was so nice to finally be able to hang out with him without stressing him out and to actually be able to make him happy. He likes massages but not the up and down way but side to side across his body from back <-> to tummy and really likes his head massaged while being held too. Since he was doing so well, we worked on sitting and standing as well:)
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| This girl is non-stop fun!! |
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| Ionutz reaching out and grabbing my hand...I was so touched! |
Finally made it to the baby room later in the morning only to find that they shaved Cleo's head!! I was so shocked...poor baby, it's a good thing she's so pretty...I don't think I mentioned it before but they tend to give the kids short hair, both boys and girls, because it's easier to maintain and keep clean, or if they need to find veins for I.V.s. They started with the haircuts Thursday. Even little Raul got one!! I love how he's keeping his hands together in this next pic-but maybe it's because he's scared of the "bzz, bzz" of the clippers?!
After lunch, the staff had a little going away party for us. It was so nice of them and we all loved it, especially the toddlers. The afternoon was spent as usual for me, spending some quiet quality time with the babies. Nico was feeling a whole lot better and talkin' up a storm as usual, which has been great for little Maria, who is now talking just as loud and started with some cute little screams. Cleo has started with the talking too, and I was so surprised to hear her say a "RaRarar" kind of thing. Nico. Best teacher ever. As the afternoon progressed, it really started to hit me that I won't be seeing these kids everyday anymore. I did my best to just try and take in every minute of it, and Cleo must have known something was up because she kept crying until she finally fell asleep on my chest again. The twins, Andrea and Roxana, Daria, Alina, and I played our little game of saying good-bye while they hung out in their cribs and then I went in for one last dance session with the older toddlers. They made it a good one!! As we were dancing, they noticed a car pull up and we saw that little Andrada was back!!! She looked great, felt like she lost some weight, but apparently that's common with hospital visits according to Mihaela. Either way, it was wonderful to be able to hold her and hang out with her just like I did the first week. Still the happiest baby ever :) Couldn't help the tears as I said good-bye to everyone, and sweet Andrea, aka Best Little Snuggler ever, the first one who greeted us as we entered the clinic 3 weeks ago, gave me the best hug ever on my way out. Too sweet.
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| yummy yummy!! i love their chipmunk cheeks:) |
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| even alex was partying!! |
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| Celine givin' me a little break ;P |
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| Andrada!!! |
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| Best Little Snuggler piggy back ride!! |
It has been an emotional roller coaster of a trip, starting with talks of clinic closures and animal traumas, and ending with goodbyes to the amazing children that I've grown to love and care so deeply for. I am so glad that I made it out here and would do it again in a heartbeat! I am so grateful to Global Volunteers for the scholarship for making it all possible and for giving me the opportunity to learn so much more about the program. This invaluable experience of serving in a foreign country has been one of the best of all my travels. I learned so much about Romania's history and culture from all the wonderful people who were so open about sharing their stories and so welcoming. It was so much more educational and meaningful than sitting and reading about it or watching it on T.V. at home. Most importantly, this trip was an affirmation that there are good people all over the world, doing their best to take care of those in need. I witnessed firsthand that love is recognized in any language and no words are needed to see it, feel it, or give it. Just like compassion. I am just glad that I was able to be a small part of it.
Lastly, thank you to my wonderful family and friends who have always been there to support me through my adventures!! I know I'm crazy, thank you so much for sticking by me always. I owe everything to each and everyone of you. Love you all so, so much. A huge thank you to my work peeps for holding down the fort while I took the time off. I'm well rested to face the madness on Monday!!! Bring it on:) Also, thanks to all the people following this blog that I haven't had the opportunity to meet yet. Your encouraging words, enthusiasm, and support has helped me in ways you'll never know! I was so excited to meet Caroline, Caroline's dad, and Robin today. I feel so much better knowing the kids will be in such loving and caring hands. I wanted to also ask you all to please, please give Bobby and Oscar (the hotel pups) love and hugs from me too, thank you! They are also so dear to my heart. Go team 161! I will be watching out for your updates:) Oh, and how could I forget my awesome teammates of team 160? You guys rock. Here are a few unforgettables just for us: Crap means different things to different people; Romanians don't flirt-they just stare; tall white guys make awesome dance move advisors...for babies; if staff someplace in Romania can't find something- for instance, like apple juice, just tell them to look harder; "this is CHICKEN!!!" "no, no chicken, no chicken! i call dan"; "yo, whass up?"-complete with the swagger and hand motions; always stock up on Milka caramel chocolate from Tiff's, or your roommate might just beat you to it; and never, ever attempt to say lemon in Romanian!!
Pa, Tutova!! Multumesc from the very bottom of my heart. xoxo
