Please take a moment to say Tehillim and daven for:
Shoshana Yehudis bas Bracha
This is my good friend's baby daughter who is in the hospital with RSV in the PICU.
May little Shany have a speedy Refuah Shelaima. We're thinking of you and your family.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sleep Training......again?
I'm sitting here in my computer room, trying not to make a sound. I've turned off the volume on my computer, in case someone Skypes me. I've turned off the ringer on my cell phone. And I am praying no one calls on either of the house phones (American or Israeli #'s).
And I am listening to Sammy cry. And cry and cry and cry. Bedtime has been really rough lately. It could be because of so many reasons - I don't know which one to blame?
There is the general one - his life has been turned upside down and he is still adjusting. But I feel like he should be past that. He seems happy with his daycare, he is picking up some Hebrew here and there. And he has slept normally at times. So it's not like this Bedtime H*ll has been a constant for 4 months. It's been up and down.
There is the Ear Infection excuse. But it doesn't seem to bother him at all. We only knew he had an ear infection because he has tubes so the nasty infection leaks out. He's been on oral antibiotics and ear drops since Sunday and was on some different ear drops starting the Thursday before too.
There is the fact that I am Mommy - and he just doesn't go to sleep nicely for me. I don't know why but he always seems to go to bed earlier and nicer when Shu puts them to bed. Personally, I dread bedtime. I can't handle listening to him cry and scream. And now that he has finally decided to acknowledge us as Mommy and Daddy - his pathetic cries out for Mommmmmy and Daddddddy break my heart.
He seemed like he would go to sleep nicely. We did the whole bedtime routine, just like every night. Teeth brushing, book reading, milk drinking, and Shma, Hamalach, and Esa Enai. He lay down at first for about 1 minute. Then sat up and started crying. And that is where we are at...
The pathetic sad sounding cries have now turned into squawks "MoMMy! MoMMy!"
I'm trying to do the whole cry it out thing but come ON! I've already gone through this with him. When he was just a few months old and that's how we taught him to sleep. And he did a good job with him. We were so relieved to have a decent sleeper........after all, we had learned our lesson with Jonah. :)
And now I have to sleep train Sammy again???? Just when I am expecting another baby?? I can't imagine how Sammy will ever sleep once we have a newborn home. That's really going to throw him off.
Anyway - just thought I would post that complaint/concern out there.
Anyone with any advice? It is VERY VERY welcome!!!!
For those who don't know - Sammy and Baby will be about 21 months apart.
THANKS and wish me luck!
And I am listening to Sammy cry. And cry and cry and cry. Bedtime has been really rough lately. It could be because of so many reasons - I don't know which one to blame?
There is the general one - his life has been turned upside down and he is still adjusting. But I feel like he should be past that. He seems happy with his daycare, he is picking up some Hebrew here and there. And he has slept normally at times. So it's not like this Bedtime H*ll has been a constant for 4 months. It's been up and down.
There is the Ear Infection excuse. But it doesn't seem to bother him at all. We only knew he had an ear infection because he has tubes so the nasty infection leaks out. He's been on oral antibiotics and ear drops since Sunday and was on some different ear drops starting the Thursday before too.
There is the fact that I am Mommy - and he just doesn't go to sleep nicely for me. I don't know why but he always seems to go to bed earlier and nicer when Shu puts them to bed. Personally, I dread bedtime. I can't handle listening to him cry and scream. And now that he has finally decided to acknowledge us as Mommy and Daddy - his pathetic cries out for Mommmmmy and Daddddddy break my heart.
He seemed like he would go to sleep nicely. We did the whole bedtime routine, just like every night. Teeth brushing, book reading, milk drinking, and Shma, Hamalach, and Esa Enai. He lay down at first for about 1 minute. Then sat up and started crying. And that is where we are at...
The pathetic sad sounding cries have now turned into squawks "MoMMy! MoMMy!"
I'm trying to do the whole cry it out thing but come ON! I've already gone through this with him. When he was just a few months old and that's how we taught him to sleep. And he did a good job with him. We were so relieved to have a decent sleeper........after all, we had learned our lesson with Jonah. :)
And now I have to sleep train Sammy again???? Just when I am expecting another baby?? I can't imagine how Sammy will ever sleep once we have a newborn home. That's really going to throw him off.
Anyway - just thought I would post that complaint/concern out there.
Anyone with any advice? It is VERY VERY welcome!!!!
For those who don't know - Sammy and Baby will be about 21 months apart.
THANKS and wish me luck!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
To Buy or Not To Buy
I'm trying to decide if I should get these shirts or not.
It's really hard to buy clothes online but these are such a great deal!!
FunkyFrum - Classic Longsleeve Tee
I plan on wearing them as "layered" shirts (and obviously post-pregnancy). Hmmmmm.........
Also, I figured I would pass along the link to my friends! Maybe they want to buy some too. :)
It's really hard to buy clothes online but these are such a great deal!!
FunkyFrum - Classic Longsleeve Tee
I plan on wearing them as "layered" shirts (and obviously post-pregnancy). Hmmmmm.........
Also, I figured I would pass along the link to my friends! Maybe they want to buy some too. :)
Moving Sale
Our dear friends and neighbors in Detroit are moving and need to sell a lot of their stuff. They posted this on MI Shuls, etc but I figured I would post it on my blog too to try and help them out.
Please pass this along to anyone else who may be able to benefit.
They take good care of their things and the prices look really reasonable.
Here is their post:
Well, we're moving, and we need to sell a lot of stuff - quickly! Furniture, appliances, and other random items - in great quality and in good shape. Click here for pictures and prices ( http://picasaweb.google.com/yishaiyosef/GreatStuffForSale ) . Please e-mail us if you're interested in anything (yishaiyosef@gmail.com ), or call us at home. More stuff will be posted soon, so stay tuned! If you can think of anyone who might like any of our items, please forward this e-mail on to them. Thanks!
Yishai and Bellischa Mendelsohn
(Send me an e-mail if you would like their phone number).
THANKS!!!
Please pass this along to anyone else who may be able to benefit.
They take good care of their things and the prices look really reasonable.
Here is their post:
Well, we're moving, and we need to sell a lot of stuff - quickly! Furniture, appliances, and other random items - in great quality and in good shape. Click here for pictures and prices ( http://picasaweb.
Yishai and Bellischa Mendelsohn
(Send me an e-mail if you would like their phone number).
THANKS!!!
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Prayer for the Welfare of Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces
May He who blessed our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bless the soldiers
of the Israel Defense Forces who keep guard over our country and cities of
our Lord from the border with Lebanon to the Egyptian desert and from the
Mediterranean Sea to the approach to the Arava, be they on land, air or sea.
May the Almighty deliver us our enemies who arise against us, may the Holy
One, blessed be He, preserve them and save them from all sorrow and peril,
from danger and ill.
May He send blessing and success in all their endeavors, may He deliver to
them those who hate us and crown them with salvation and victory, so that
the saying may be fulfilled through them, "For the Lord, your God, who walks
with you and to fight your enemies for you and to save you", and let us say,
Amen.
Friday, January 02, 2009
I Believe
The rocket range has now been extended to 60km. No rockets have hit that far yet but Israeli intelligence believe they are able to. That adds in a whole bunch more cities - a whole lot more family and friends are now possibly in range. The war is coming closer.
But we sort of joke with our friends about it. And say that now we are the ones on the "safe" side of the Green Line. So many people did and still do ask us "Isn't it dangerous where you live? You live over the Green Line!! You have Arab towns all around you. Aren't you nervous?" Some people don't want to come visit us because of how "far in" it looks on the map. When really, we are only about 10-15 minutes from the Green Line.
Personally, I feel we are in one of the safest parts of the country right now. We're Bli Iyin Hora, out of rocket range. Even if we were in rocket range, we are surrounded by Arabs and since they don't aim those rockets well, I imagine they may not want to risk taking out their own people. Although Hamas doesn't seem to be too bothered by using children as human shields, not sure if they would really be bothered by killing a few of their own.
We live in a city that has a security fence around it and has a security gate to get in. There are soldiers 24 hours a day watching who drives into our city. History has shown, Bli Iyin Hora again, that we haven't had many security problems or problems with our Arab neighbors.
And since we don't have a car, we won't be driving down the 60 or going anywhere where we feel at risk. We even did the responsible thing last week and did NOT drive down the 60 or go to the Old City of Jerusalem the day after the bombing in Gaza started. We're watching out. We're being as careful as one can be here.
People have always asked when told about my time spent in Israel or told about my plans to move there - aren't you scared? Isn't it dangerous? Again, when we moved to the Shomron, we were asked, aren't you crazy? Why would you move there? Is it safe?
Bottom line - and I believe this about everything in my life. It has been proven again and again. G-d is in charge. G-d ultimately decides what will happen. Granted, I wouldn't go dancing in the streets of Ramallah. But we moved here because we believed it was the right choice. We felt that it was the best place for our family , for our children. And we know that we are doing the right thing. As hard as it is at times. As much as we miss our dear friends and family that we left behind. We are confident in our decision and have moved a step up in our lives. We made Aliyah.
I have faith that Hashem will keep us safe. I pray that He keeps us safe. That He keeps our friends and family safe. I know that He is the mastermind of it all. He has a Plan. Yes, I sometimes question that plan. And I have a list that of things I will ask about after 120 years. :)
But ultimately He is in charge. He is in charge of where the rockets land and of where car accidents happen. My brother in law mentioned that there are probably more car accidents with injuries on Highway 2 than there will be people injured by rocks thrown on the 60. We didn't stop driving (when we had our Chanukah Car). Just like people are way more likely to be killed in a car crash anywhere than in an airplane crash. Yet so many people are way more afraid to fly than they are to drive.
G-d's in charge. We have to remember that and we have to believe in Him. Sometimes it's as simple as that.
May we have a quiet, peaceful Shabbat and Hashem should continue to watch over us all.
But we sort of joke with our friends about it. And say that now we are the ones on the "safe" side of the Green Line. So many people did and still do ask us "Isn't it dangerous where you live? You live over the Green Line!! You have Arab towns all around you. Aren't you nervous?" Some people don't want to come visit us because of how "far in" it looks on the map. When really, we are only about 10-15 minutes from the Green Line.
Personally, I feel we are in one of the safest parts of the country right now. We're Bli Iyin Hora, out of rocket range. Even if we were in rocket range, we are surrounded by Arabs and since they don't aim those rockets well, I imagine they may not want to risk taking out their own people. Although Hamas doesn't seem to be too bothered by using children as human shields, not sure if they would really be bothered by killing a few of their own.
We live in a city that has a security fence around it and has a security gate to get in. There are soldiers 24 hours a day watching who drives into our city. History has shown, Bli Iyin Hora again, that we haven't had many security problems or problems with our Arab neighbors.
And since we don't have a car, we won't be driving down the 60 or going anywhere where we feel at risk. We even did the responsible thing last week and did NOT drive down the 60 or go to the Old City of Jerusalem the day after the bombing in Gaza started. We're watching out. We're being as careful as one can be here.
People have always asked when told about my time spent in Israel or told about my plans to move there - aren't you scared? Isn't it dangerous? Again, when we moved to the Shomron, we were asked, aren't you crazy? Why would you move there? Is it safe?
Bottom line - and I believe this about everything in my life. It has been proven again and again. G-d is in charge. G-d ultimately decides what will happen. Granted, I wouldn't go dancing in the streets of Ramallah. But we moved here because we believed it was the right choice. We felt that it was the best place for our family , for our children. And we know that we are doing the right thing. As hard as it is at times. As much as we miss our dear friends and family that we left behind. We are confident in our decision and have moved a step up in our lives. We made Aliyah.
I have faith that Hashem will keep us safe. I pray that He keeps us safe. That He keeps our friends and family safe. I know that He is the mastermind of it all. He has a Plan. Yes, I sometimes question that plan. And I have a list that of things I will ask about after 120 years. :)
But ultimately He is in charge. He is in charge of where the rockets land and of where car accidents happen. My brother in law mentioned that there are probably more car accidents with injuries on Highway 2 than there will be people injured by rocks thrown on the 60. We didn't stop driving (when we had our Chanukah Car). Just like people are way more likely to be killed in a car crash anywhere than in an airplane crash. Yet so many people are way more afraid to fly than they are to drive.
G-d's in charge. We have to remember that and we have to believe in Him. Sometimes it's as simple as that.
May we have a quiet, peaceful Shabbat and Hashem should continue to watch over us all.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
War Dreams
Well, I had my first War Dream in Israel.
As far as war dreams go, this was tame. There must be a part of my subconscious that is scared. Scared for the people who are already affected by this war. Scared because, as I wrote in my last post, these rockets are hitting places which I always considered safe. Especially for the year that I lived there!! Beer Sheva and Ashdod. We were always "safe" in those cities. During the 2001 Intifada.
I talked to my Mom for a loooong time last night. And reassured her that we are safe. Ariel is far away from rockets. And there are probably too many Arabs around us for them to want to launch rockets at us anyway. :) We're the ones who feel like we are on the "safe" side of the Green Line now. People that are leaving Sderot are coming to Ariel.
I've been doing some reading of people's blogs and watching videos of what happens when a "Code Red" siren is sounded. I read on the Homefront Security webpage about how close people have to be to a shelter in case a siren sounds.
Residents of towns adjacent to the frontier, including the city ofSderot
Residents of towns located within the 10 km. radius are instructed to remain in places that allow access to protected spaces within 15 seconds.
Residents of towns located within 10 to 20 km. radius, includingAshkelon , Netivot and the surrounding areas, are instructed to take cover in protected spaces within 30 seconds of hearing an alert siren or a blast.
Residents of towns located within 20 to 30 km. radius, includingAshdod
Residents of towns located within 30 to 40 km. radius, including Beer-Sheba, Yavneh and Gadera, are instructed to take cover in protected spaces within 60 seconds of hearing an alert siren or a blast.
Schools and kindergartens are closed in these towns, except those operated inside bomb shelters. Public gatherings are generally prohibited. Only shopping centers located in hardened structures are opened. People should refrain from loitering outdoors and try to stay indoors and within reach of protected spaces, as much as possible.
Once again, for my family and friends outside of Israel that may not be aware. These are all instructions to people in the South. People in cities that are currently being hit by rockets or within rocket range. The threat is very very real. People have to continue day to day living but what a weight they have on their shoulders.
I reassured my Mom that we do have a sealed room in our apartment and the nearest public bomb shelter is literally across and down the street from us. I would say within a 15 second range. But please G-d, we should never ever ever see the inside of it. Maybe that's what sparked the dream. The thought of hearing a siren and having to get the kids down the stairs and run down the street to the bomb shelter with them. Getting inside and waiting until the rocket hits. It totally freaks me out. And people ARE living like this right now. The people of Sderot have been living like this for 8 years!!!!!! There are kids whose entire lives have been spent running from rockets.
Where was the outcry then? Where was the world sympathy then?? Are people only sympathetic to the residents of Gaza?? Many of which are Hamas terrorists???
Ok, I'm not going to go down that road right now.
Not sure the point of this post. Maybe just to get my thoughts out. I was surprised I had a war dream. Didn't realize that I actually was scared. For the safety of my family, my unborn child, myself. And feeling so helpless for the people down south that are living what I fear.
We have offered to a couple of the people that we know down there to feel free to come to us. Spend a Shabbat with us. If they just want to get away, we are happy to have them. But for the most part, they are staying put. They believe that is where they belong. That is where there homes are. They aren't going to run. They aren't going to let the terrorists win. I'm proud of them. I'm impressed by them. And I pray for them.
Pray for them. Pray for the soldiers - who are kids. 18 year old kids doing their jobs. Protecting their country - our country. Putting their lives on the line. Everyday.
May we merit Moshiach coming soon, and peace for everyone!! May we have a quiet and peaceful 2009. Only simchas and brachot for us all!!
As far as war dreams go, this was tame. There must be a part of my subconscious that is scared. Scared for the people who are already affected by this war. Scared because, as I wrote in my last post, these rockets are hitting places which I always considered safe. Especially for the year that I lived there!! Beer Sheva and Ashdod. We were always "safe" in those cities. During the 2001 Intifada.
I talked to my Mom for a loooong time last night. And reassured her that we are safe. Ariel is far away from rockets. And there are probably too many Arabs around us for them to want to launch rockets at us anyway. :) We're the ones who feel like we are on the "safe" side of the Green Line now. People that are leaving Sderot are coming to Ariel.
I've been doing some reading of people's blogs and watching videos of what happens when a "Code Red" siren is sounded. I read on the Homefront Security webpage about how close people have to be to a shelter in case a siren sounds.
Residents of towns adjacent to the frontier, including the city of
Residents of towns located within the 10 km. radius are instructed to remain in places that allow access to protected spaces within 15 seconds.
Residents of towns located within 10 to 20 km. radius, including
Residents of towns located within 20 to 30 km. radius, including
Residents of towns located within 30 to 40 km. radius, including Beer-Sheba, Yavneh and Gadera, are instructed to take cover in protected spaces within 60 seconds of hearing an alert siren or a blast.
Schools and kindergartens are closed in these towns, except those operated inside bomb shelters. Public gatherings are generally prohibited. Only shopping centers located in hardened structures are opened. People should refrain from loitering outdoors and try to stay indoors and within reach of protected spaces, as much as possible.
Once again, for my family and friends outside of Israel that may not be aware. These are all instructions to people in the South. People in cities that are currently being hit by rockets or within rocket range. The threat is very very real. People have to continue day to day living but what a weight they have on their shoulders.
I reassured my Mom that we do have a sealed room in our apartment and the nearest public bomb shelter is literally across and down the street from us. I would say within a 15 second range. But please G-d, we should never ever ever see the inside of it. Maybe that's what sparked the dream. The thought of hearing a siren and having to get the kids down the stairs and run down the street to the bomb shelter with them. Getting inside and waiting until the rocket hits. It totally freaks me out. And people ARE living like this right now. The people of Sderot have been living like this for 8 years!!!!!! There are kids whose entire lives have been spent running from rockets.
Where was the outcry then? Where was the world sympathy then?? Are people only sympathetic to the residents of Gaza?? Many of which are Hamas terrorists???
Ok, I'm not going to go down that road right now.
Not sure the point of this post. Maybe just to get my thoughts out. I was surprised I had a war dream. Didn't realize that I actually was scared. For the safety of my family, my unborn child, myself. And feeling so helpless for the people down south that are living what I fear.
We have offered to a couple of the people that we know down there to feel free to come to us. Spend a Shabbat with us. If they just want to get away, we are happy to have them. But for the most part, they are staying put. They believe that is where they belong. That is where there homes are. They aren't going to run. They aren't going to let the terrorists win. I'm proud of them. I'm impressed by them. And I pray for them.
Pray for them. Pray for the soldiers - who are kids. 18 year old kids doing their jobs. Protecting their country - our country. Putting their lives on the line. Everyday.
May we merit Moshiach coming soon, and peace for everyone!! May we have a quiet and peaceful 2009. Only simchas and brachot for us all!!
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