Happy Chaya

Chaya is asleep and I am at the computer, looking at the new Kollel website, watching one minute shorts and feeling nostalgic. I really miss the Kollel. I really miss the community in Vancouver. My community in Vancouver, which is made up of so many different people and places. I had another one of those moments yesterday where I came home feeling dejected, as happens so many times for me here in Israel. We took Chaya for an immunization at the public health clinic and the nurse happened to be from Canada. This was really nice for me, to be able to speak to someone who could understand me, not just in words, but culturally as well. I asked her about things for children, babies, things to do here in Ashdod, hoping that there might be something. Nothing. Nothing for babies. Except a baby massage course which she will enroll me...FULL. Of course. This is how it always is here. I get my hopes up that perhaps there might be a solution and then BAM. Hopes dashed. It is so very frustrating.
Really frustrating.
Chaya was fine when we came home from the clinic. She went to sleep, but when she woke up she was crying hysterically. In pain. Her little leg was a little swollen and red and hot hot hot. I put her in the bath, put a cold water cloth on it, bounced her, tried to feed her, she didn't want to eat. We gave her some tylenol and eventually she calmed down and slept and was happy for the rest of the day. She did, however continue to be hot, so I repeated the bath and gave her more tylenol later on in the day. She was in a really good mood yesterday, smiley and happy, she even laughed out loud once. She is getting more fun. Today, she is a little fussier, doesn't really want to stay asleep. This is more normal behaviour for her...
I love her so much.
It is amazing how you can love someone this much. It is a hugely different love than what you feel for a husband, boyfriend, mother sister brother father. She is amazing and delightful. She loves me. She sees me and her face lights up and she gives me the little gummy grin. No matter how upset or depressed I may feel at that moment, to see that, I can't help but smile myself.
Amazing.