big day for the boys

Yesterday was a very big day for the boys.  They had three important appointments.

The first was with a post-pardum center, where the boys and mommy got checked out and all got high marks.  Over three days at home each of the boys gained around two ounces.  They continue to eat and sleep well.  Their calm demeanors continued to impress the staff.  Mommy is healing well and is doing a great job feeding the boys.  Grandparents asked lots of question and all of us got complemented on handling the twin situation.

Next was the first time the boys met their pediatrician and her staff.  Again, all went very well, and the third appointment of the day was given the green light.

The final appointment was of the more religious nature, with a very nice MD who is also a mohel (someone who performs circumcisions).  The ceremony was small (but not quiet) and involved family and one couple who are very observant.

For each boy there are two great honors: to hold him down while the circumcision is being done and to offer a drop of wine on his lips.  To those who have an urge to turn me in right now to Child Services I say: the wine was a drop off a finger, given for religious reasons, and does not constitute offering alcohol to a minor.  Also, their first wine being Manishevitz, it probably served to reduce probability the boys will ever like alcohol.  The honors were offered to the grandfathers, who rather declined, being a bit short on hutzpah when it comes to cutting bits off their grandchildren.  I did not see Alla's dad, but mine conquered his anxiety by watching over the procedure and managing not to clobber the mohel.  Hutzpah in general being in somewhat short supply that day, Misha (Victoria's husband and my long time friend) reluctantly accepted the honor (i.e. was bullied into doing it), mainly because Alla and I held Rafi and Misha felt obliged to reciprocate.  Benjamin was held by Rebecca and Joseph, our dear friends who a) actualyl know the rules and prayers and b) have a valid right to look at us and laugh, because they have four wonderful children, three of whom arrived at the same time.  But that is a subject for another blog.

From now, my gentle reader, things get a bit more ... descriptive, so if you are of a particularly delicate nature, please avert your gaze from the text.  The images will be kept mild.

The procedure begins by administering local anesthetic in private.  Now, normally words "local anesthetic" do not conjure up anything particularly bad.  But do consider the locale.  Four shots (very small needle), exactly where you think.  After that everything else is gravy.  As the boys received their shots I was alone with the mohel and my personal achievement for the day was holding their legs and not passing out.  Yes, I am that tough.

First up was Zev.  As always, he disapproved of being undressed.  I do choose to believe that his crying throughout the ceremony was due to that, and not due to being in constant agony in spite of pain killers and sweet wine on his lips.

Here is Zev on the 'chair of Ellijah', the beautiful tallit (prayer shawl) given by aunty Victoria.  Poor guy has no idea what is coming next...

Misha and Vika performed admirably: Misha held Zev and Vika administered the wine.  They both did great. Pale, but conscious, Misha said to his wife: "Vika, we are taking this baby on vacation wherever he wants to go!"

Then the boy's official naming (Zev be Daniel ben Aliyah) took place and everyone yelled 'Mazal Tov!'

And then we did it all again for Benjamin.
Benjamin, true to form, made hardly a sound.  He complained at the first shot and at having his legs restrained, but after that he rode that ride without a whimper.

Here he is on the chair, the tallit again given to him by aunt Victoria.

Ben, being held by Joseph while Rebecca offers him his first proper drink.  Foreskin for a drop of Manishavitz?  A questionable bargain, if you ask me.  Through in the attention, however, and just maybe...

Ben being introduced as "Benyamin ben Daniel ben Aliyah", while dad receives much needed anesthetic of his own.

The ceremony was followed by a bit of eating and drinking.  Final analysis: a mohel who is a cut above the rest, two proper new Jews, zero events of passing out.  Awesome!