Whose job is it anyway?

"Why didn't you tell her about the brit" my husband asked, when he realized that our daughter went home instead of joining us at the simcha (celebration), to which all our children were invited.

"It is such a haval (shame);" he continued, "her school is right around the corner."

I started to explain... then I stopped.

"Why didn't you tell her?" I queried in return. "You saw her this morning. Why didn't you mention it when you took her to school?"

We each had our reasons for why neither of us remembered to inform our daughter.

The question is, whose responsibility is it? Does the onus fall on one of us more than the other?

Moshe clearly felt that the burden of responsibility fell on my shoulders. Perhaps because I am our family's main "program coordinator."

On the other hand, I have a lousy memory (it was bad, even before chemo), and am notorious about forgetting to communicate information about our plans.

Furthermore, Moshe is often the only parent who sees the kids in the morning.

We ended the discussion with neither of us claiming responsibility, but both agreeing to try harder to make sure the kids are informed.

How do other families resolve this issue?



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Medical Update -- fingernails and chest pain

OK, so I want to clarify something here: my concern over blue nails is not "cosmetic."

I have to ice my fingernails and toenails to keep them healthy. If they turn colors, that is NOT a good sign. If they are not well, they are in danger of infection or falling out or both. Not a pretty sight, and not something that a little nailpolish can fix.

Today, I met with my oncologist and asked him if the cold pack gloves and slippers were really necessary. He said they were mandatory (for all the reasons mentioned above).

They are not fun, but now that I know what to expect, I can deal with it a bit better.

That said, they are downright unpleasant.

On a happier note, I did not experience any chest pain from the Taxotere today. The drip was fairly slow, so that might have had something to do with it, but I do not know. In any case, I am cautiously optimistic that I will not experience any more pressure.

Chemo day was long today (9:40 am - 4:20 pm), but much better than last time!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Need I Say More?

Seen on a bumper sticker in Phoenix, Arizona (March, 2009):

“Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

(thanks Dad!!)



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

10 Facts about Me

I am so tired, I did not know what to post. And then I noticed that A Living Nadneyda tagged me with the Honest Scrap Award. So, since I am too tired to post anything else, here goes....

10 Honest Facts About Me:


1. My favorite place in the whole world is Disneyworld. I could spend a month in Orlando and never get bored. I really want to visit again with my kids! I fantasize about staying in one of those cool Disney hotels!


2. My favorite place in Israel is Tel Dan. Along the path, there is a sign to "The Garden of Eden"
-- I wish I could live there. In my mind's eye, that is what heaven really looks like.


3. I am afraid of heights but I loved jumping off the cliff at Yehudiyah, in the Golan.

(Sadly, ther is now a sign prohibiting jumping. Moshe and I had our first big fight when I jumped anyway. We argued about it for the entire hike out of the valley. It turns out that there are jagged rocks just under the surface and several jumpers were seriously hurt. I had to promise Moshe to always follow safety signs, even when he is not there.)


4. I love cursing.


5. I have a green belt in Judo.


6. I love the water. When I was little, I wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up, so I could live in the water. I still wish I could live in the water. My zodiac sign is Aquarius. If I were an animal, I would be a dolphin. I have been teaching swimming since I was 12.


7. I was a hippy in high school. I wore long flowy clothes, a floppy hat, and often walked around barefoot. I attended an alternative high school. I played frisbee for gym and drew pictures instead of taking notes during class. I slept through history, even though there were only three students, including me, in my class. I went on Dunkin' Donut runs with my teachers. Our classrooms and lounge were in three caravans, about an hours walk from the regular high school. I was probably the only student who did not do drugs. I was always "high on life."


8. When I was little, I was really shy and quiet. That changed.


9. In 7th or 8th grade I started doing theatre. I developed a strong personality thanks to my involvement in theater. I wonder if Laurie Cohen, who ran the drama club in Teaneck, is still around. I should thank her.


10. I went to Barnard college and it was everything a college should be for me. I developed there on every plane: intellectually, religiously, socially, and politically. When I graduated, I knew that I could do anything I wanted and I planned on changing the world.


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Last time, almost everyone I tagged had been tagged already. I will try again. But this time I am tagging 7 bloggers I only recently met. Here they are, in alphabetical order:

Adena at Mother Thoughts
Cheryl at Adventures of a Somewhat Crunchy Mama
Daria at Living with Cancer
Kate at The Big Piece of Cake
Melissa at Sunbonnet Cottage
Noa at Giur, Israel, Volontariate und mehr.. (Noa's blog is in German, so I never actually read it)
and
You (if you have not been tagged yet)



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Please Daven (pray) for My Friend

We met in the chemo ward, but it turns out we grew up almost next door to each other. She was a bit older, so our paths did not cross back then. However, our brothers went to school together and our moms knew each other.

Over the last year and a half, we have become good friends.

My friend has a rare form of bone cancer that has metastasized. We often talk about the challenges of living with cancer and of raising children under these circumstances.

Recently, she travelled to the US for medical consultaions at Sloan Kettering.

On Wednesday, May 6, she is undergoing surgery in the US to remove tumors from her liver.

During her last surgery, for reasons that none of the doctors understand, her organs began to fail and her life was in danger. So, there is an added level of concern regarding her upcoming surgery.

She is a pretty amazing person. She continues to work part time in her profession as an occupational therapist. She is an attentive mom to five (or six?) kids and already has one grandchild!

Please daven (pray) for Taube Yehudit bat Tema Gussy.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

SOOOOOOO TIRED!

I am soooooooo tired!

I know it is from the chemo. I have only had one treatment so far, so I am not drawing any conclusions yet.

Meanwhile, all I want to do is sleep!!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Quick Technical Question

This is a quick question (or two) for those who are either Twittering me, Following me, or simply receiving posts via email.

When I make a change to a published post, either in the text or in the title, do you receive every single version?

If so, does it drive you nuts?

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I made at least three post-posting changes to my last post (get that?). How many did you receive?



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA