Does anyone have a clever tip for extremely dry skin? BJ's hands are already cracking, and it's only December. He's cursed with terribly dry skin that plagues him all year, but especially in the winter. My plan is to try olive oil, applied liberally after a thorough hand washing. I just hope he doesn't drop either of the kids! His skin gets so dry that regular lotion burns. I'm hoping that olive oil will be inert enough (no alcohol, no scent...) that it won't hurt. Poor baby!
He's been working a ton lately. Hooray for Grandpa Bob who has been coming over to keep me sane on his nights off. On Thursday he took us out for supper, then we went to Battleground to see the light show I mentioned earlier this week. The kids LOVED it. I was pretty impressed, too. I wonder what the guy's neighbors think!
We have done very little Christmas shopping or decorating - the tree is up, but there are no ornaments on it - mainly because BJ has been working like a crazy person. Unfortunately, he'll probably continue to work like a crazy person until Christmas. We're going to try to squeeze some shopping in today. I was supposed to go to a baby shower, but with this virus I have, I don't want to run the risk of getting the mom-to-be sick. Nothing's worse than being sick when you're pregnant, because you can't take anything! The grandma-to-be had a kidney transplant several years ago, so she has immune system issues too. It just seemed wise to skip it, which is unfortunate because I really wanted to celebrate with the baby's family. She's the first grandchild, and they're SO excited. Before I quit my job to work for BJ full time, I worked for the company where the mom-to-be works, and that her parents own. They're the best bosses I ever had. Such a wonderful, loving family. It was a tough job (I was a staffing supervisor for a temp agency - so I was the one who sent temps out on assignments), but I really loved working for them.
I'm headed up to Grammaland for Mimi's Christmas party tonight. I don't care if I get them sick. Ha ha! I have to be there to advocate for having Christmas at my house this year. It looks like that's how things are going to turn out, but I don't want Uncle Chuck and Mimi and Uncle Trey and Gramma and Pops to get any bright ideas when I'm not there to talk them out of it. Of course, there will be no point to doing Christmas if I don't get some shopping and decorating done. And baking. Lord, do I have baking to do!
This cold/virus/plague thing has come at a really inconvenient time! Couldn't I have gotten it in January?? We're not sick all the time, by the way. I just complain a lot. If I kept my house cleaner, we'd probably be healthier. I need to bust out the Lysol more often, I guess.
I've been getting a lot of questions about sizes, so I thought I'd put the info here. Mary Grace is in a 4T - she's so tall that 3Ts look like flood pants already! Adjustable waists are always good, because she's skinny and I'm not handy with the sewing machine. She could really use warm play clothes - sweatshirts and stretchy pants, etc. Claire is wearing a 12 - 18 month size currently. She also needs warm playclothes. She has a lot more in terms of clothes than MG does, because she can wear all the hand-me-downs. We could use a bunch of hats and gloves, too, because they keep disappearing. I'm searching for at least two hats and three pairs of gloves that I know must be around here somewhere...
Mary Grace loves princesses, ballet and gymnastics, and Dora. Claire loves Charlie and Lola, Mickey Mouse, and cats. They both love books and music. Claire especially likes board books with animals in them (especially cats).
Claire has really achieved maximum cuteness lately. She's learning her animal sounds, and will tell you what a cow says, etc. She has perfected the phrase, "I want some more!" She is also beginning to say "I love you," which just melts my heart. It seems like she comes up with a new word or phrase twice a day. She also loves to sing, and will sing along with the soundtrack to Wicked, which has been playing in my car for the better part of a year. I tried to get them to switch to Les Mis, but they weren't interested. Maybe I'll try Phantom next. No surprise that my little hams would love Broadway musicals...
I've been trying to teach Mary Grace to say, "John, get a close up of this!" for the benefit of people who knew me when I was little. Some kids have imaginary friends, I had an imaginary camera man.
Mary Grace slept over and Uncle Brandon and Aunt Heather's house last night. Reports are that she was very good. It was odd to wake up without her today. The house is so quiet when she's gone.
I think that's all the news that's fit to print.
10 comments:
Pure, unrefined shea butter, or cocoa butter. It's much better than the chemical-laden moisturizers out there and very heavy duty. I use olive oil regularly as well, but when my skin gets super dry (like cracking skin-dry), I go for the butters.
My husband is on chemotherapy and his skin was so incredibly dry it was painful. We used Eucerin as soon as he bathed and was still damp (not dripping wet, but damp). It is wonderful. He should lather his hands with the lotion at night before bed and then wear cotton gloves while he sleeps. I do believe you will see a big difference very quickly. Each morning he can use some as well before he starts his day. Good luck and I hope he gets some relief. Lynette @don-n-lynette.blogspot.com
My hubby has really dry, cracked skin on his feet, and he likes to use Bag Balm. I think it's really for cow udders, but it's WONDERFUL for humans too! He puts it on his feet, puts on socks, and then goes to bed. I bet your hubs could find some cheap gloves to wear to bed, or he could just put the cream on throughout the day. It's a little greasy, but it's great.
Any type of edible oil: olive, avocado, almond, sesame, etc. Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme made by Burt's Bees -- use it anywhere on the body. Un-Petroleum Jelly (www.unpetroleum.com). Any product made by Aubrey Organics (www.aubrey-organics.com).
Don't use anti-bacterial or deodorant soap; don't use hand sanitizers. Do increase the humidity in your home and the office.
I agree with the comment about Eucerin -- also, he should put a little on every time he washes his hands.
I have horribly dry skin and swear by Aveda Hand Relief. It's not cheap, but it is so worth it. I get some for Christmas every year because my husband knows it's fail-safe!
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Fragrance-Free. My hands were so dry the skin was starting to split and crack. Nothing was helping, until I tried the Neutrogena cream. This stuff works--you can use it just a few times a day, it's expensive but a little dab goes a long way. I think it's glycerin based, so it sucks moisture into your skin!
From BJ's Mom:
I agree with all suggested remedies. I have tried most of them.
What helped me the Most was a humidifier--I know for sure because when teaching at school in the dry air, using chalk, continually handling papers, books, etc., my fingers would ALWAYS crack every fall-winter. Now that i'm retired and in the moisture at home--my fingers rarely crack. If i do get small cuts it's due to not wearing gloves when outside and not using enough of the creams.
Humidifier at office would undoubtedly help a lot.
FOR LIPS: I use Vegetable Glycerin. Got to the place where chap stick didn't work and a salon beautician told me of this. It works!
PS. Love the shea butter and know you have some at home.
Love
Mom
My fave hand cream is Silicone Glove. It's made by Avon. They recommended it for anyone who has to wash their hands frequently, because it doesn't wash off very easily. I love it!
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