Day 43

BEST DAY EVER! so the orphanage was so incredible. Lumi was the worker today.. I think that I really like her because she really makes an effort to communicate with me. For some reason I can understand her romanian more than other people.. I think it is because she speaks slower with really good hand gestures when she is trying to get me to guess haha. She knows just enough words in english and I know just enough words in romanian for us to have a decent conversation in which i understand about 78% of what she is saying. Today the kids were a little rambunctious but Lumi is so great with the kids and they soak up her positive energy. Lately they have been extremely clingy to me but I think it is because I am pretty affectionate and they are starting to get pretty attached. It is a huge effort just to get through the door in the mornings now because I get swarmed! They have been getting really jealous and violent when I play with the other kids so I want to look into how I can address the issue without compromising the one on one time with the kids or the affection.

Lumi had a radio station on called Easy Listening Magic FM.. you know the type. All oldies and love songs like Bryan Adams Have You Ever Loved a Woman? Lumi loved it and we had a few slow dances break out with the kids. It was so fun. Lumi told me that she was playing this station for me because I must miss my boyfriend. Yes... but listening to love songs sure doesnt help it! haha... but yeah she was teasing me a little so I think that I am going to bring a picture of Brad and I for her to see because she asks a lot about him. I think a big reason today was so nice was because I felt like I was really helpful. The children dont exactly respond to my discipline as when I get after one of them and they see that it is me they laugh and run the opposite direction. Today though.. the kids were more responsive and I was able to help Lumi and Mihaela with little things like, while they were putting the kids down to bed and changing them, I was able to put the toys away and organize the closet while juggling the 5 minion boys haha. I also was able to fold a big load of laundry for them. I feel like I am getting the hang of 'how things are done' in my room and be able to better balance the kids needs vs. the workers needs. I am able to be more aware for instance... ok Lumi is cranky today so I should do this differently. Today Lumi asked if I helped my mom out a lot at home which was a huge compliment. Before the kids go to lunch, Lumi puts them all up (the ones that can walk) on a little couch and will sing to them or play a game with them. Christopher has cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair kind of facing the opposite direction. I wanted him to see Lumi so I turned his wheelchair to face her.. She asked how many siblings I had and told me I was very attentive with the children's needs. This made me feel like a million bucks. I like feeling like the workers see potential in me with influencing the children and dont just brush me off like a 'babysitter'. I think that Lumi is onto me... the fact that I absolutely love Jello (the child not the dessert!). Today they were all coloring and she was helping them. She helped Jello make a special picture just for me to take home. It was seriously the sweetest thing.. the picture he colored for me is at the top.

Some improvements with the kids: Jello's speech is rapidly improving. He can sort of say my name now and is getting better at communicating his wants... sometimes too well. Jello has been getting more aggressive when a child has a toy he wants or is playing with me and he gets jealous.. he has also started throwing tantrums. I am not sure if this is normal as he gets older or the stage of development he is in but he hit a girl today and I told him 'Nu-i frumos' or that is not nice. I told him to kiss her all better where he hit her and he did. I caught him kissing another child all better later in the day too. He really is a sweet heart. Darian is starting to walk! Now he can walk really well just holding onto one finger of mine with one hand. He can take like.. 5 steps on his own before collapsing so he is on the verge of walking! I am so excited to see his first unaided and confident steps! He is seriously the cutest boy.... you put the music on and he starts bouncing or rocking like crazy.

We decided that we should only spend an hour or so with the sisters Ioana and Elena because otherwise Elena will tantrum and scream almost uncontrollably. Plus the nurses typically come in and get frustrated with us even though all we are doing is playing with them and providing diapers. Megan and I split up so I went upstairs and played with the little gypsie baby I mentioned before. I was alone with her in the room so I starting to sing 'the ants go marching' while acting it out by bouncing her, kicking her legs, tickling her tummy with my chin. She absolutely loved it! She was giggling like crazy! It was such a great time! I also pulled out some little puppets and put on a mini show for her. When she giggles.. man! makes you so sad to think that her mother most likely will never come back for her and that this may be the most this girl will smile for a long time because on Monday starts her institutionalized life. The mother of another baby came in right when I was leaving which was perfect timing. She is such a great mother.. although she seems like she is getting really worn out. Her baby has bronchitis and I guess it is getting worse. When you show genuine concern it is interesting how many people will tell you their personal life story and hardships. I told her that I hope I see her tomorrow to which she exclaimed I hope not! oopps... yes ideally i hope your son gets better and you get to leave tonight but what I meant was it was nice to meet you. Goodbye's are always interesting in the hospital because you meet these people, they share life stories, you make friends with their child and then one day they are just gone. THe hard thing is when you have been playing with an abandoned child all week and then one day they are just gone. We do not see them in the orphanage so it makes you wonder where they go?

Elizabeth, Dani and I left the hospital a little early so that we could check out some of the Iasi days stands before it got too dark. We met up with Mihai, Petru and Radu. I was able to finish my Christmas shopping! What a great feeling! So there are dozens and dozens of stands all along the main road that runs past the orphanage.. and there are more stands selling mainly leather and fur goods behind the Hala Centrala mall but everything there looks like strait up Russian, Scandinavia over the top. I got a delicious kabob with some Romanian sausage type things called Mici (meech)... it was absolutely delicious.. especially when you dipped it in the spicy mustard type sauce. I have a picture below. Anyways.. it was one successful day! I feel like while there are hard times, tired times, discouraging times.. generally speaking each week gets better than the last. Tomorrow is the big day! The holiday dedicated to Iasi's Saint... her name is Paraschiva and her body lies in on the the churches here.. people make pilgrimage to touch her hand from all around Romania and Moldova. Tomorrow there will be fireworks and a live concert and Petru was saying that they will close off all the main roads. I cannot wait!