16 October 2009

I am so, so sorry. I have been trying and trying to get around to updating the news, but life JUST DOESN'T WANT TO COOPERATE!

Theresa, who was helping us with the volunteers had to return to the US, and we are really missing her! Pippa leaves tomorrow to take Amy and Jesse to the Karate world championships in Cape Town and they will be away for about two weeks. Mom had a very productive ten days in Denmark in September, but as always we missed her at home!

We had some Dutch people here who were doing a documentary for Dutch television. It came out very well, and although some parts are in Dutch you are welcome to have a look.

Tommy was made a prefect at his school for the 2010 school year and we are very proud of him.

Pippa and Jerome were featured in an article in the Sowetan in September. It is available as a PDF if you would like to see it.

Tammy has helped by doing a great newsletter for the nursery, so grab your coffee cup and two or three nice biscuits, and join Tammy for an update...

Lots of Love to you all

Joanna

Nursery News...

16 October 2009

Hello everyone!

I would firstly like to apologise for the lack of news updates of late. We have had a busy few months but things are now settling down so I should be able to give you news from the nursery more often. That’s my plan anyway!

We have had 3 babies adopted recently. Grace was adopted by a lovely local family who have another child they adopted from TLC. Burke was adopted by a gorgeous couple from Denmark and Julian was adopted by a sweet couple also from Denmark. It is so nice to be a part of an adoption. It’s such a special day for everyone, and to see the families come and meet their new baby for the first time! It’s so amazing and very touching! It’s definitely an unforgettable experience.

 

 

 

Because it has been so long since I’ve written I would like to introduce the babies to you again from each of our sections.

Nest...

Our first section for those of you who don’t know is called the “Nest”. This is our newborn section and also where our premature babies are. We have 9 babies in the nest at the moment. I’ll start with our 2 smallest babies, Martin and Noel. Martin was born at 28 weeks and weighed 1.2kg. He was very weak and fragile when he arrived at TLC but he is now putting on weight and becoming a lot stronger. Martin is 5 months old and is the smallest baby in the nest!
Noel is 4 months old and was also 1.2kg at birth. He is such a sweet little boy with the most adorable face!
Our most recent additions are Nerina and Orlando. Nerina was born in September and we picked her up that same day!! Orlando was also born at the end ofSeptember and we bought him home to TLC when he was 4 days old. Pippa and I went to pick up both the babies and I held them in my arms in awe the whole way home, thinking to myself how amazing newborn babies are. They couldn’t be more perfect! They have settled nicely. Both babies are drinking very well and sleeping soundly.
Next is Lucy, a tiny little girl who is now 2 months old. She has the sweetest little smile and is very alert. She loves looking around at everything and loves cuddling. She is such a darling.
Then we have Ilana and Lamont who are both 3 months old. Ilana is such a beautiful little baby. She is very happy and smiley. She loves playing with the mobile and reaches out to get the mobile toys. She is also very alert and loves people talking to her.
Lamont is such a cutie!! He has a little round face and is just such an easy content baby. He is such a sweet little cuddly boy.
The next little girl is one of the happiest babies I’ve ever met! Her name is Karissa and she is 4 months old. She is so stunning and has the most beautiful pouty lips! Just glancing in her direction she smiles and giggles
Lastly we have the oldest baby in the nest. This little girl is so very precious. She is so tiny with a gorgeous head of hair!! She has such delicate fine features and the most beautiful hands. She does not miss a trick! She is very alert and content.

In the nest we have 5 bassinets that we have been using for over 10 years. And then we have those metal, hospital type cots. I have tried to wash our bassinet covers but they are not dirty they are just so old, faded and worn. I have been to a baby shop recently to price new bassinets for the nest. It is a dream for me to have all matching bassinets to put our precious little ones in. I found one that comes in pink or blue and costs R800 each. I would like to get at least 10. If any of you are good at fundraising or know of anyone who would like to fund this project, myself and the “Nesties” would be so very grateful.

Fledgies and Grubs...

Our next section is called the “Fledgies”. When the babies are strong enough to come out of the nest they move to fledgies. It’s usually around 3 months old but depends on if the baby was premature and also if the baby is healthy. We have 4 babies in this group at the moment. The youngest baby in the group is Kedrick. He is 3 months old and is the only boy. He is a very sweet little boy and he loves his dummy!!
So then we have the three girls, between 4 and 7 months old. Eloise is an ex-prem so she is still quite small. The girls are doing very well and are very healthy, happy and playful.

The next group are the “Grubs”. Usually once a baby starts solid food they move to grubs. But again this all depends on each individual baby. We have 9 babies in this section. The youngest babies of this group are both 8 months old. Ilario has such a sweet little personality and Cara is such a delight!
Then we have Farren, who is approaching 9 months. She is such a gorgeous chubby little girl! She is also very happy and smiles a lot.
Next we have the twins, who are just over 9 months old. They are doing so well. They’re eating well and filling out nicely. They are such happy and delightful little boys!! They are now sitting very well.
Then we have Keith and Henry who are both 11 months old. These boys are so much fun! They are into everything but they are such a joy! They are both pulling themselves up to stand and Keith isn’t too far off walking. They are so cheeky!! They are both such happy and content little boys.
Valentine is 13 months old. He is such a gorgeous little boy. He has Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and is in the hospital at the moment getting a shunt put in to drain the fluid from his brain. He is sitting so well and rolls and moves around so nicely. He smiles all the time! He has such a soft, sweet personality.
Lastly in this group, Sabrina! Sabrina is the oldest baby in Grubs. She is nearly 2 and a half. Sabrina is blind and also has some other learning difficulties associated with cerebral palsy which means her development is quite delayed. She is doing so nicely though. She is much more interactive with people and toys and seems so happy and content. She hums and babbles now and is constantly clapping her hands and smiling! She loves music!! She is always so happy whenever the music is on.
The Grubs are such a fun group! They all bring us so much joy. They are all just too cute!!

... Creepies and Lions

The next section is called the “Creepies”. Once the babies are walking they move to creepies or once they are around 1 years old. We have 7 babies in this group.
Our youngest Creepies are Alexis and Anna. They are 13 months old. Anna is so very loving! She runs up and gives you a big hug the moment you walk in the room! She’s such a cutie and has the best laugh!
Alexis is just so sweet. He’s not walking yet but is pulling himself up to the standing position so I don’t think it will be long.
Jill is 15 months old. She is a recent addition to the group and has settled in so nicely. Jill is such a funny little girl. She has such a cute personality, she’s a real character. She pulls many different funny faces and has a smile to melt any heart. She loves cuddles and is taking steps now. She will be walking everywhere very soon!

Warren is 16 months old and has started walking this week. He now walks very well. It’s amazing how quickly they do things!! This little boy is so special to me. I remember the first day he arrived at TLC. He was 5 months old and so malnourished; I have never seen anything like it in my life. You would never know him to be the same child! He is so chubby and happy now! He is truly delightful and brings us so much joy every day!
Melanie is 17 months old. She is our little delicate princess. She is such a little girl. She is so sweet! She eats like such a lady and doesn’t get one bit of food on her face! Such a gorgeous little angel!
Faye is 20 months old. This little girl is just amazing! She has cerebral palsy but she is doing so well. She is now pulling herself around on her tummy, using her arms. I think it won’t be long and she’ll be crawling! I just adore her and am so proud of her!! She has such a soft sweet personality and a smile that lights up the room!
Rowan is the oldest in this group. He is 3 years old in November. He also has Hydrocephalus and the development in this little boy since he has been at TLC is remarkable! He crawls properly and sits up on his knees and gives you a big cheeky grin! He’s so happy now and he can hum the whole nursery rhyme “twinkle twinkle little star” and also do the actions!
The creepies are such a fun group! Now that it’s nice and warm they are spending a lot more time outside and they LOVE it!! They also love swimming in the little blow up pools now it’s so hot! What a privilege it is to see these babies grow and develop into their own little personalities. These babies are just so adorable!

Lions...

Our final section in the nursery is the “Lions”. Normally around 2 they move to this group. We currently have 8 babies in this section. The Lions attend preschool or “structured play” during the week from 8:30 until 1pm. They love it at preschool doing things like drawing and painting, reading books, playing at the play ground, dancing, singing and lots more!!
Frank and Iver are you youngest in this group. Both 22 months. Frank has just moved up to Lions and he loves it. He’s such an easy and carefree little boy so he’s settling into the change very well.
Iver is just the cutest little boy and the most loving little boy! He has a very strong will and is very determined!! He’s lots of fun and loves to explore!!
Emma and Kelly are both 2 years old this month. Nadia is 2 years and 3 months old. Nadia is so fun! She is such a happy and energetic little girl! She is talking lots and is just such an easily pleased, lovely little girl.
Samuel is 2 years and 5 months old. This little boy is such a character!! He is SO cute! He is very strong willed and determined and very cheeky, in a cute way. He is very playful and makes everyone laugh! He is so much fun! Sam is also talking a lot.
Solomon is 2 and a half. Solly is so adorable! He loves doing anything that he shouldn’t do!! He is such a sweet boy though. He has a very fun and lovable little personality. He has the sweetest smile and is a real little helper
Patty is the oldest in this group. She’s 3 years and 3 months old. Patty is such a sweetheart! She is so shy and so very sweet! She also has such a soft little personality. She loves playing outside with her friends and she is doing very well with nappy training!

I hope this news hasn’t been too tedious. I just wanted to give you a fresh update on all our precious babies we have in the nursery at the moment and a little bit about each one. As I already mentioned the weather has warmed up and it is so nice to be able to take the babies out side. They love it so much! It’s such a fun time of the year for us. Picnics outside, lovely walks, running around and exploring and swimming in the pool!

I often have people asking me if there is anything we need so here are a couple of things that we need:
Bottles (Regular 250 ml size- the long thin ones, and the smaller 125 ml ones)
Teats (regular teats and also bubble teats for newborns)
Dummies (all different sizes)
Sippy cups
Burp cloths
Clothes for the lions so 2-3 years (summer and winter)
Summer pajamas for all ages (from 3 months to 3 years)
Summer shoes (for Creepies and Lions)
Blow up pools (the one we have has a hole in it)

I trust this newsletter finds you all well and happy.
With love from Tammy and all the babies at TLC xo

(The babies names have been changed for legal reasons :-) )