Kobi's Bat Mitzvah

Our preparations started yesterday with a visit to the "shuk" for some wonderful fresh vegetables...then into the kitchen for a cooking marathon.

There were chicken skewers, chopped liver, chicken wings (by Talia), coleslaw (by Malcolm), and tons of other food...why do I always think there won't be enough?

Better than the food was the company. Savta participated in the celebration - for the first time in Kob'i life. He was very excited about this. Grandma and Grandpa were here (thanks to their tremendous help I was actually able to get everything ready! If you ever need staff to skewer chicken - let me know!). Saba Motti and both his siblings with extended family were in attendance. Itzik and Nava came (with a yummy Pavlova - Nava's specialty). Uvi, Arie, Ori and Yaeli with the kids all came. Both my sisters were here, missing only one niece - Sagy - who is under the weather - refuah shlema Sagy.

The weather was beautiful, Malcolm manned the BBQ with great talent and it seemed to me that everyone enjoyed the party, the company and just having the family all together.

We sang Happy Birthday to Mattan - who celebrated 6 years on Jan 25, and to Kobi who is "Bat Mitzvah". Definitely nicer to be doing so in 25 degrees Celsius and sunshine than all the other snowy, winter parties.

Matilda

For quite some time I have been looking for a car. Malc is driving a Chevrolet Vivant - not a real Chevrolet - they bought Daywoo and renamed some models. Anyway, it's a big enough car - with room for all five of us and some trunk space. More than enough to go anywhere with some "stuff".

Me - I wanted a small car. The roads here are mostly narrow. Drivers park all over (did you know that there are parking meters in no parking zones?), there is never any parking to be had. They all drive like maniacs....I wanted something small, efficient with gas, just room for me and the kids, not new - so I wouldn't worry about all the "parking scratches" (those are the big dents all over every body's car here.)

I really had no idea how to buy a used car. I could tell the color, but not much else. Anyway, my dad schlepped with me from one car to another, until we found Matilda. No one else in my family likes her. The kids find her "squishy" and "noisy" but me - I love her. She's just what I was looking for: a Dihatsu Charade, small, fuel efficient, has a working radio, drives like a charm, red...what else can you ask for? She takes me wherever I want to go and does it well. I feel like a kid again. Speaking of which, I keep telling Tamar not to speak ill of Matilda, as I am sure that in a few years, Tamar will want to drive her. By the way, did I mention that she's older than Oriya?

Special Visitors

We had a great treat during Channukah - and I am not referring to sufganiot! We found out in a very roundabout way that the Galpers were here in Israel. We organized a day to meet in Tel Aviv and to have Jeremy stay here for a sleepover with Kobi.
The day got off to a slow start, as Kobi had another gastroscopy. We already know all the nurses by name and they all know Kobi...it's just not funny anymore. Our second obstacle was Oriya - who caught strep throat. So....I took Kobi for his test, then back to Rechovot, piled into Malc's car. He took Tamar, Kobi, Oriya & I to Modi'in, to drop Oriya off at my sister's house. (BTW - Modi'in from Rechovot is in the opposite direction to Tel Aviv). We then set out to Holon, to pick up a co-worker of Malcolm then finally made it to Tel Aviv, where Kobi, Tamar & I jumped into a cab and met the Galpers.

It was such a great reunion. We had a lovely afternoon. We had falafel on the street, walked over to Dizengoff Centre to choose some music for the Galper's to take home and went to play in the sand on the beach and watch the sun set.

We had a great time. This is the time to add that this was Sunday, the day after the fighting in Gaza Strip began. A part of our visit on the beach was watching the air force air crafts flying overhead.

After the sun set, I took Jeremy and my kids and grabbed a train to Modi'in, where we had a short visit at my sister's house (which included a visit to the doctor for Oriya).

The boys had an amazing time. At 1AM, Malcolm & I were heading off to bed, when we heard the quiet whispering and realized that they were still busy catching up.....Amazing!!!!

The next morning, we had a house call from our favourite dentist - Dr. John - and his two boys. They came from Jerusalem for brunch at our house, and then our plan was to have the remaining Galpers meet us here and for us all to continue to the Ayalon Institute. You can read all about this fascinating place in the link I have attached. Recommended visiting for everyone. http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000012009.htm

The pictures included in this post are from our visit to the institute. I was amazing and everyone - big and small - enjoyed the visit.

Our plan was to continue to Tel-Aviv afterwards with the Gasners. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day, Oriya was still under the weather, Malcolm had to continue to work, and we were warned the previous day by the cab driver not to go to Yafo due to the security situation.

We said good-bye to our friends at the Institute. The Galpers continued to Tel-Aviv, and from there to Ramat Gan, to pick up their bags and go home. The Gasners went to walk around in Tel Aviv. We went home, happy to have had a wonderful opportunity for a special visit with our friends.

(Covering Dec 28 & 29, 2008)

It's been so long.....

Hello Everyone,
It's been so long since I sat to write on this blog. First, I was waiting for a picture...big mistake - I have since learned to write while things are fresh in my mind. Then, I wanted to put everything chronologically, so I kept waiting....Then, I just got so backed up, I didn't write anymore.
My sincere apologies. Please bear with me while I add a number of postings - they may not be in chronological order - but they are all our stories.
I hope you enjoy,
Michal

First Candle 2008

Happy Channukah

This afternoon, I realized that Malcolm was at work, Tamar was at school, and I don't have a car. It was going to be Kobi, Oriya and me for our first candle of Hanukkah. Oriya was really upset by this notion, as we always had a houseful of people to light candles on Hanukkah.

I called my sister who had three girls under the weather and explained my predicament. Avital convinced everyone to come to our house as "Even when Kobi doesn't feel good - and he's a lot sicker than us, he comes to our house". Within the hour, we had a party. I ordered pizza, made a salad and the best latkes ever (according to Malcolm who got home at 9:15PM).

The kids were all so thrilled to be together to celebrate the holiday. It's our first ever Hanukkah together. It was so wonderful. We decorated paper dreidles to fill with candy for another evening we have planned. All the kids got into it and really enjoyed the decorating. Even Mattan participated.

Malcolm called to say he was finished work and would love it if we could wait for him for candle-lighting. By the time he came home, the kids were ready to light candles, the sweet latkes were ready and we were busy celebrating one of our best Hanukkahs ever. Thanks to all the Masri's for coming to be our party!

On a completely different note, it's so funny to be so removed form the Christmas theme. We don't feel "the season" and need to remind ourselves sometimes that it's winter holidays back in Toronto.

We miss you all and wish that we could be celebrating with you, too. Our Hanukkah was always such a special time to be with friends and family, get together and enjoy good friends, good food and good times. You are all in our hearts!

Kobi's Health

We are down to the last half hour of waiting, before we leave the house and go to see the paediatric gastro. I think that by now we've all had enough of doctors, hospitals, tests and medication.

What started last year as a one time deal came back again this year, taking us to doctors, who eventually hospitalized Kobi. He went through blood tests, urinalysis, Barium X-Rays, Ultrasound gastroscopy and colonoscopy at the hospital. We were released when he stopped vomiting and were still on a quest for the answer for these problems. The doctor prescribed some medication to reduce the acidity in his stomach.

Unfortunately, Kobi started vomiting again 12 days ago. It's not as violent as it was before. He managed to keep the episodes down to once a day. Unfortunately - he stops eating and drinking. We've managed to keep him hydrated - no small feat - but food is a tough one. He isn't interested at all. Last Motzei Shabbat, we were at a family gathering and my cousin Yael's husband - Danny (who specializes in Family Medicine) had a look at Kobi. He wanted to get some more tests done and asked me to bring Kobi to him in the morning.

Sunday was a long day for Kobi and I. Malcolm, by the way, was working in Bulgaria over the weekend and "missed" all the fun. Anyway, back to Sunday. Kobi and I went to see Danny in his office. After checking Kobi, he sent us for more blood work and X-Rays and Ultrasound.....then back to Danny for another assessment. Danny looked at all the results and based on that sent us to a CT scan. He also spoke to the specialist who had seen Kobi at the hospital and arranged an appointment for us today.

So, results in hand, we are waiting for the appointment. Kobi doesn't look so hot. He is in good spirits most of the time, then he drops as he is overcome by pains. Once they and the nausea pass, he is good again. He doesn't really eat much and we push him to drink. He isn't vomiting but has a lot of pain.

We are all praying....Refu'a Shlema Kobi!