You can do anything you set your mind to, man

The past 24 hours or so have been so much fun!! It is like everyone says, but you never believe them until the end, that just as you are starting to have fun your trip will be coming to an end.
Last night we all went over to the girls house and had pizza and talked about what we liked, thought could be better, or suggestions for the future about volunteering in the Hospital. Then after that Mary made some delicious cookies!!! I was so happy. I pretty much ate the entire tray. I loved them haha. Jenna, Hollie, and Jen and I all squished onto the couch together and we just felt so comfortable with one another. We told stories, relaxed, & made each other laugh, it was the perfect last night with Hollie.
Apparently Hollie and Jen had been reading my blog and read about the karaoke night when I said I wanted to rap Eminem. They made me promise that before Hollie left that I had to rap for them. I upheld my end of the deal. I turned the lights down low to set the right tone of the song, found a jacket and put the hood on, and Jen started the music. With my back facing all of them, I let everyone know that they only have one shot and one opportunity to seize everything they have ever wanted.....
.... I know that they captured it and didn't let it slip, because they have it all on camera.
Odds are I looked like a fool; but hey, it was Hollie's last wish before she left! I had no choice!
We already miss her so much. She promised to come out to California, so this time she better hold up her end!!
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Today we worked the morning shift, which was a little hard to wake up for after staying up late the night before. But it was totally worth it!
Working the morning shift with Jenna and I was Joe, Manu, and Tamsin. And we all had so much fun together! We were all joking around and making each other laugh and just having a really good time. Joe and Manu like to be gentleman (or just like to feel in charge), and carry everything (diapers, the backpack with wipes, etc), while the girls stand there and feel useless. We kept trying to tell them that we could help them carry everything, but they were very persistent in saying that "it's okay, we've got it". Finally getting fed-up Jenna and I tried making up jobs that we could do. I became the hand-sanitizer carrier and distributer & door opener. And they let Jenna hold one pack of diapers. It was pretty funny. As we went up and down the stairs to the different floors distributing diapers I had to make sure that I was the first one so that I could open the doors for everyone, but of course Joe and Manu made even my small task difficult by blocking me up and down the stairs.
On one of the floors some of the kids were a little sick so they had us wear masks and gloves when going to change diapers. I wanted to try and get some pictures of everyone in their masks, but of course, yet again, they told me I was slacking at my new task of changing diapers. It made the morning shift, which is usually not as fun as the afternoon shift, enjoyable and exciting. It also made the time fly by!!! The morning shift normally ends at 12:30 but we were all having so much fun we looked at the time and it was 1:00 before we knew it! I did get some cute pictures of everyone and also some of the babies. But my favorite might have to be the video I got of Joe trying to make-up a song to a little baby name Laura-Dawna. Trying to rhyme things with Dawna became pretty amusing. To name a few that were used: sauna, momma, trauma, cabana, banana, and... rowanda?! Hahaha.
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Today in the hospital was one of the most rewarding type of days. Jenna and I were sent to the 3rd floor in the beginning of the shift and the play therapist had us both go into one room and said to work with 2 of the kids in there. One of them turned out to be that same little boy that I worked with on my first morning shift. Do you remember the little boy that they said threw toys, didn't eat, and barely slept? It was him again! I was very excited to get to work with him again. He is so sweet!
And HERE is when I saw that what I personally am doing here is truly making a difference. It made me feel so good to know that so much that I have learned from my family & friends, in life, and in school, is paying off.
Before I get into more details about my time working with him (I still don't even know his name, but I do know that I have impacted his life positively, as well as he has mine), I have another mini-story to tell.
The other day as we were leaving our afternoon shift with Raelene; we were all up in the Volunteers room changing, bundling up, and getting ready to leave, and Jenna asked Raelene how her shift went. She responded with, "It was good! Haha, I worked with this little boy who kept just kissing every toy I gave him." My eyes lit up with joy, and I said, "HEY! I taught him that!!!" It was one of the coolest feelings in the world. I have taught so many kids a multitude of different things, but this time it stuck. It was a feeling that I will never forget.
So back to my time with the little boy- I walked in to arms reaching up at me with tears in his eyes. I picked him up and he just conformed completely to me, resting his head on my shoulder, just wanting to be held and loved. After he had calmed down, he pulled his head back and sat up, put his finger to my cheek, and made a little kissy sound. I couldn't help but smile. We played with big block legos and a little truck, and everything had a kissy sound. It was the most precious thing ever. I set up the video camera on one side of the crib and was able to capture it all.
We even learned a few new things today!! We learned to wave hi, blow kisses, make the click-clack sound with our tongues, and give high-fives!! And the best part is that I have it all on video to watch over and over and use as a constant reminder of what was accomplished here. I want to edit all the footage I have of him learning everything and send it to Sarah and just let her know that they really have created such an awesome organization here. And that hopefully she can see this footage as proof of the good that is being done.
After playing and laughing for about an hour, his eyes started to get a little heavy. So I picked him up, held him tight, patted his back, and swayed side to side with him in my arms and his head on my shoulder. It wasn't long until he was fast asleep (and snoring loudly I might add!!). I sat down in a chair and closed my eyes, just focusing on trying to send as much love as I could into his little body. And then, here is my FAVORITE part of the story- as we were both laying there with our eyes closed, him sleeping and snoring, his arm started to twitch a bit. I assumed it was just normal sleep-type twitching. But instead, 3 times, while sleeping, his arm moved up to his mouth and he made the kissy sound. It seriously was such a wonderful feeling.
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Jenna is out taking pictures right now, while I am sitting at the little bakery with free wi-fi that we found. It has become like a little meeting spot for everyone. It reminds me of the coffee shop in Friends where one or two of them will be there and then all of a sudden, without a phone call or warning, the others walk in and join them. I love it.
We have to get to bed early tonight because our driver is picking us up at 3:30 AM to take us to the airport for our 8am flight to London!! It will be very early, but so worth it!!

I love you all :)