Today, we washed a load of Malachi's clothes/sheets in vinegar. We read this helps get out all the excess detergent that tends to stay in fabrics. I'm praying that he'll wake up with soft and smooth skin in the morning. Wouldn't that be a miracle! :)
As of now, his eczema is even worse than a few days ago. Little bumps all over his body along with the patches of alligator skin. When I happen to find a smooth patch of skin, I just like to rub it to remind myself that's what it will return to.
Eczema, you're goin' down.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Grannies That Never Cease to Amaze
Malachi and I went on a walk the other day and the grannies about had heart failure when they saw his cheeks. (Note: Chinese grannies love to fuss at anyone with a child. I'm still learning it's only because they care.) She started talking a mile a minute and all I could say to her was the Chiense word for eczema that I had prepared in advance, knowing this would happen. I assumed she was telling me to put some lotion or medicine on it. A few students walked by and apparently saw the blank "I don't understand" stare on my face and offered a translation. The kind boy said, "Maybe your baby is too hot." I about died.
A few things to take note of. First, yes, it was 75 and sunny that day. Hence, why we were enjoying our walk. Second, I thought I'd never hear a Chinese person saying that before May 1st. Let me explain. The Chinese like to follow their culture and their calendar instead of the present reality. That's not a dis--just several thousand years of traditions deeply rooted. Most Chinese wear long underwear from November 1st to May 1st. Even if it's hot and sunny, you'll still find most of them (especially the grannies) donning their extra layers. Are they hot? Yes. Do they admit it? Sometimes. Will the change? Unlikely. They have a few thousand years to unravel first.
In the moment the granny was trying to tell me what to do, I desperately wanted to tell her the laundry list of things we had tried. But I couldn't. Maybe I'll be able to next year, after learning some more of the language. I just had to simply say "thank you" and walk away.
A few things to take note of. First, yes, it was 75 and sunny that day. Hence, why we were enjoying our walk. Second, I thought I'd never hear a Chinese person saying that before May 1st. Let me explain. The Chinese like to follow their culture and their calendar instead of the present reality. That's not a dis--just several thousand years of traditions deeply rooted. Most Chinese wear long underwear from November 1st to May 1st. Even if it's hot and sunny, you'll still find most of them (especially the grannies) donning their extra layers. Are they hot? Yes. Do they admit it? Sometimes. Will the change? Unlikely. They have a few thousand years to unravel first.
In the moment the granny was trying to tell me what to do, I desperately wanted to tell her the laundry list of things we had tried. But I couldn't. Maybe I'll be able to next year, after learning some more of the language. I just had to simply say "thank you" and walk away.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Eczema, I despise you.
Malachi developed eczema soon after we arrived in China, when he was about 3 months old. We didn't get too worried, figuring it would go away quickly. Well, it hasn't. It has gotten worse and worse and worse. It started on his cheeks, but has spread to patches on his shoulders, elbows, tummy, side, thighs, knees, backs of knees, and ankles. My poor baby!
We took him to a dermatologist in Thailand. He gave some wimpy cream and an oral liquid to take for itching (wasn't about to give that to him!) I asked why he had it. He claimed it was the dry air. Thailand is just about the furthest thing from dry. The doc was about 80..so I shrugged him off as perhaps too old to think straight.
Then we got some special lotion "specially made" for eczema. Nope. Nothin. Well, it would get a little better, then flare up badly again.
We gave him an oatmeal facial.
We switched soap/shampoo. Still no improvement.
Then we thought..hmm...he didn't have it until he arrived here. Maybe it's the detergent! So I started using the natural detergent we use to wash his cloth diapers in to wash all of his clothes. It got worse. Seriously?
We stuck with the detergent thought. So we ordered the exact baby detergent I used in America. One thing after another has happened with that order. We're still waiting on it! It's been at least 2 weeks of detergent turmoil.
All the while, poor Malachi is in more distress than ever. He's scratching whenever he has the chance. We have to put gloves on his little hands because I've found him more than once with a bloody face (where he has it the worst--his cheeks) because he scratched and scratched. Talk about a scary discovery for a momma.
We just did a bit more research tonight on the whole detergent thing. Oh, man. We may have to have an overhaul in our household. We found some interesting sites that link all "soaps" (funny thing is, most things we use to wash are not actually soap--pure soap) to eczema. Laundry. Shampoo. Body wash. Dish soap. Cleaning supplies. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.
I thought it would be a simple solution of finding what he's allergic and sensitive to, and eliminating that. But, if he's really that sensitive, we have to eliminate it on everything he touches! We don't know this yet. We have to experiment to figure it out.
Time to don our detective hats. And loads of patience. And even more time on our knees for healing. It breaks my heart to see him so miserable every day. It has truly affected him. He sleeps terribly and isn't as happy as I think he could be if he wasn't so uncomfortable. But, I'm thankful we serve a big Father that can heal it all in an instant!
We took him to a dermatologist in Thailand. He gave some wimpy cream and an oral liquid to take for itching (wasn't about to give that to him!) I asked why he had it. He claimed it was the dry air. Thailand is just about the furthest thing from dry. The doc was about 80..so I shrugged him off as perhaps too old to think straight.
Then we got some special lotion "specially made" for eczema. Nope. Nothin. Well, it would get a little better, then flare up badly again.
We gave him an oatmeal facial.
We switched soap/shampoo. Still no improvement.
Then we thought..hmm...he didn't have it until he arrived here. Maybe it's the detergent! So I started using the natural detergent we use to wash his cloth diapers in to wash all of his clothes. It got worse. Seriously?
We stuck with the detergent thought. So we ordered the exact baby detergent I used in America. One thing after another has happened with that order. We're still waiting on it! It's been at least 2 weeks of detergent turmoil.
All the while, poor Malachi is in more distress than ever. He's scratching whenever he has the chance. We have to put gloves on his little hands because I've found him more than once with a bloody face (where he has it the worst--his cheeks) because he scratched and scratched. Talk about a scary discovery for a momma.
We just did a bit more research tonight on the whole detergent thing. Oh, man. We may have to have an overhaul in our household. We found some interesting sites that link all "soaps" (funny thing is, most things we use to wash are not actually soap--pure soap) to eczema. Laundry. Shampoo. Body wash. Dish soap. Cleaning supplies. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.
I thought it would be a simple solution of finding what he's allergic and sensitive to, and eliminating that. But, if he's really that sensitive, we have to eliminate it on everything he touches! We don't know this yet. We have to experiment to figure it out.
Time to don our detective hats. And loads of patience. And even more time on our knees for healing. It breaks my heart to see him so miserable every day. It has truly affected him. He sleeps terribly and isn't as happy as I think he could be if he wasn't so uncomfortable. But, I'm thankful we serve a big Father that can heal it all in an instant!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
In the Kitchen
Last year, I was a hot mess in the kitchen. I failed more than I'd like to admit. I felt like I had to start all the way over. Not that I had too many great dishes under my belt; when we first got married and I was forced to cook meals with actual flavor, I was clueless. But I also had to start over with learning the basics in my new kitchen...without a large oven (I have something more like a glorified toaster oven that can barely fit a 9x13 pan), only 2 burners (last year, they were the light-with-a-match-and-try-not-to-catch-yourself-on-fire kind and this year they are flat tops, which I've learned to not completely hate), avoiding the faucet water, only having hot water in the evening, and working in a space that only 1 person can fit in at at time.
It has been quite a learning experience! Last year, I hated most of it. This year, I've really grown to love it! All props to the Man upstairs..I had many tears and whine sessions He graciously listened to.
I've tried so many new things this year. Most of them from scratch. I now love making things from scratch. Yes, it takes more time and effort, but after seeing and reading all the things about what's in processed foods, I'm on the make-it-yourself bandwagon. Don't get me wrong; I have a long way to go. I just ate some Oeros. It's all about balance, right?! :) Here are some things I've had success with. Not to boast, but to encourage myself and perhaps someone reading. I would hope that if we ever make it back to the US for an extended amount of time, I would make the effort to whip these things up from scratch. I'd be happy to share recipes if you're interested.
- sour cream
- ricotta cheese
- salad dressings
- apple butter
- ice cream (without an ice cream maker)
- crescent rolls
- chicken nuggets (similar to chik-fil-a...but not quite there)
- pita bread
- sausage (SOO easy!)
- tortillas (may never buy packaged again...)
- croutons
- granola
- granola bars
- peppermint patties
- naan
- veggies (this is still tough for me..I was so used to popping open a can)
- chai (still not perfect, but it satisfies my daily obsession)
Things I still want to try:
- cream cheese
- bagels
- pretzels
- crackers
- so many other breads...
- butter
- yogurt
- magic shell ice cream sauce
- fruit snacks
I'm thankful being here has pushed me in this area. I needed to be pushed. I definitely still have failures, but for the most part, my attitude is much better. I'm sure Michael is thankful for that, too. :)
It has been quite a learning experience! Last year, I hated most of it. This year, I've really grown to love it! All props to the Man upstairs..I had many tears and whine sessions He graciously listened to.
I've tried so many new things this year. Most of them from scratch. I now love making things from scratch. Yes, it takes more time and effort, but after seeing and reading all the things about what's in processed foods, I'm on the make-it-yourself bandwagon. Don't get me wrong; I have a long way to go. I just ate some Oeros. It's all about balance, right?! :) Here are some things I've had success with. Not to boast, but to encourage myself and perhaps someone reading. I would hope that if we ever make it back to the US for an extended amount of time, I would make the effort to whip these things up from scratch. I'd be happy to share recipes if you're interested.
- sour cream
- ricotta cheese
- salad dressings
- apple butter
- ice cream (without an ice cream maker)
- crescent rolls
- chicken nuggets (similar to chik-fil-a...but not quite there)
- pita bread
- sausage (SOO easy!)
- tortillas (may never buy packaged again...)
- croutons
- granola
- granola bars
- peppermint patties
- naan
- veggies (this is still tough for me..I was so used to popping open a can)
- chai (still not perfect, but it satisfies my daily obsession)
Things I still want to try:
- cream cheese
- bagels
- pretzels
- crackers
- so many other breads...
- butter
- yogurt
- magic shell ice cream sauce
- fruit snacks
I'm thankful being here has pushed me in this area. I needed to be pushed. I definitely still have failures, but for the most part, my attitude is much better. I'm sure Michael is thankful for that, too. :)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Culture Exchange
As a mom/non-teaching spouse here, I have to initiate any and all contact I have with students. This can be frustrating and draining. Last year, I didn't do much all year besides hold an office hour (where any student can come and "free talk"). Let's just chalk that lack of involvement to transitioning. It was a rough year.
This year has been much better in terms of transition, but I'm also much busier with 2 youngsters. Last semester, I was just trying to find a routine. Michael and I brainstormed an idea of me holding a sort of culture/home ec class at our home, but I just couldn't seem to get things organized.
This semester, I feel like I have at least 1 foot under me, so I started the class! I chose Michael's sophomore English major class because I have met several of them before. Bonus: their English is pretty dang good. He presented the idea to the class a few weeks ago. 30/35 students signed up. HA! I can only handle 5 at a time, so sadly, I won't get to them all. But I'm excited for the enthusiasm!
Last week, I taught them how to cook an American meal. I chose the classic breakfast. I wanted it to be food they could make themselves. This makes ideas limited! No baking in the oven, cheese, noodles, etc. So breakfast it was. It was tough to teach in our tiny kitchen. They basically lined up like sardines as I tried to show them what to do. They all got to flip a few pancakes, which they thought was cool.
I then showed them how to set the table and shared a few etiquette rules. I also showed them how to cut their pancakes with a knife; they had never used one before. They did great!
It was a fun night, but wow, these girls are QUIET. Michael warned me they are the 5 quietest girls in his class. I had to work really hard to keep a conversation going. Often, I'd ask a question, get a few one-word answers, then silence would take over. Hopefully this week will go better since they know what to expect.
This week, we're going to craft! Of course, Pinterest as been my inspiration. But I also want to allow them to just be creative. Their entire lives to this point, they have to study so hard, so long. They usually take breaks by watching American TV (yikes) or playing computer games. This should be a fun outlet for them!
Next week, I'll challenge them to teach me something about their culture. We'll see what they come up with!
Of course, the end goal of all of this is to build relationships with these students. I want to show them a picture of my life...and all that includes. Feel free to lift up this weekly time I'll have with these students. I'm hoping for some seed planting!!
This year has been much better in terms of transition, but I'm also much busier with 2 youngsters. Last semester, I was just trying to find a routine. Michael and I brainstormed an idea of me holding a sort of culture/home ec class at our home, but I just couldn't seem to get things organized.
This semester, I feel like I have at least 1 foot under me, so I started the class! I chose Michael's sophomore English major class because I have met several of them before. Bonus: their English is pretty dang good. He presented the idea to the class a few weeks ago. 30/35 students signed up. HA! I can only handle 5 at a time, so sadly, I won't get to them all. But I'm excited for the enthusiasm!
Last week, I taught them how to cook an American meal. I chose the classic breakfast. I wanted it to be food they could make themselves. This makes ideas limited! No baking in the oven, cheese, noodles, etc. So breakfast it was. It was tough to teach in our tiny kitchen. They basically lined up like sardines as I tried to show them what to do. They all got to flip a few pancakes, which they thought was cool.
 |
| Prepping! This is actually at my teammate's place...to avoid my kids stealing the show. :) |
 |
| "Can you see?" "No, can you?" |
I then showed them how to set the table and shared a few etiquette rules. I also showed them how to cut their pancakes with a knife; they had never used one before. They did great!
It was a fun night, but wow, these girls are QUIET. Michael warned me they are the 5 quietest girls in his class. I had to work really hard to keep a conversation going. Often, I'd ask a question, get a few one-word answers, then silence would take over. Hopefully this week will go better since they know what to expect.
This week, we're going to craft! Of course, Pinterest as been my inspiration. But I also want to allow them to just be creative. Their entire lives to this point, they have to study so hard, so long. They usually take breaks by watching American TV (yikes) or playing computer games. This should be a fun outlet for them!
Next week, I'll challenge them to teach me something about their culture. We'll see what they come up with!
Of course, the end goal of all of this is to build relationships with these students. I want to show them a picture of my life...and all that includes. Feel free to lift up this weekly time I'll have with these students. I'm hoping for some seed planting!!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Malachi is free!
This is more for my own sake, to look back on. But, if you care to read my ramblings..please do.
We finally took the plunge to wean Malachi of the swaddle. He's been a HUGE fan of it. So much so that every time we put him down, he didn't even wimper. If he was fussy and ready to go to bed, as I swaddled him, he would calm down. He loved being wrapped up. But, it needed to come to an end. We have a few, but something is wrong with each one. Too small, too big, or the velcro is too weak to hold him in. Plus, he is rolling over and I suppose it's not so safe if he rolled over while tucked in, forcing him to face plant.
We started with one arm out for 2 days/nights. He was fussy the first day through naps, but not bad at all. After that, I took both arms out, but still wrapped his middle. And socks on his hands. The poor kid still has eczema, and I suppose it's itchy. The other day, I got him up from a nap and he had blood all over his face. Talk about scary! But, I realized it was just because he was scratching at the pesky dryness. Anyway.. The wailing began with both arms out. He did NOT like having both hands free. Mostly because he kept knocking out is pacifier. After trying to calm him a few times, I decided to try putting him on his belly. He was out within a minute. And he's been peaceful ever since.
For now, I'm still wrapping his middle. The heater doesn't work in his room, so we only have a space heater. The swaddle is now acting as a blanket. I hope to ditch it soon when the weather warms up.
Next up: wean from the 3am feeding! (Please, if you've read this far, don't scold me for still feeding him in the middle of the night. I KNOW he's too old for this. I can give you a list of reasons why I haven't yet. Ok, I'm done defending myself.)
EDIT {1 week later}: Well, swaddle-free hasn't been all that glorious. He slept well and normally for the 1st two days. Then he turned into a mess. Of course, it could be something else. Do we ever really know what the issue is the entire first year of a baby's life?! His naps were shorter and he woke up much more during them--like every 20 minutes! Nighttime has been about the same as before. He is currently on hour 2 of his nap. He hasn't done this in a week. Maybe he has figured it out again!
We finally took the plunge to wean Malachi of the swaddle. He's been a HUGE fan of it. So much so that every time we put him down, he didn't even wimper. If he was fussy and ready to go to bed, as I swaddled him, he would calm down. He loved being wrapped up. But, it needed to come to an end. We have a few, but something is wrong with each one. Too small, too big, or the velcro is too weak to hold him in. Plus, he is rolling over and I suppose it's not so safe if he rolled over while tucked in, forcing him to face plant.
We started with one arm out for 2 days/nights. He was fussy the first day through naps, but not bad at all. After that, I took both arms out, but still wrapped his middle. And socks on his hands. The poor kid still has eczema, and I suppose it's itchy. The other day, I got him up from a nap and he had blood all over his face. Talk about scary! But, I realized it was just because he was scratching at the pesky dryness. Anyway.. The wailing began with both arms out. He did NOT like having both hands free. Mostly because he kept knocking out is pacifier. After trying to calm him a few times, I decided to try putting him on his belly. He was out within a minute. And he's been peaceful ever since.
For now, I'm still wrapping his middle. The heater doesn't work in his room, so we only have a space heater. The swaddle is now acting as a blanket. I hope to ditch it soon when the weather warms up.
Next up: wean from the 3am feeding! (Please, if you've read this far, don't scold me for still feeding him in the middle of the night. I KNOW he's too old for this. I can give you a list of reasons why I haven't yet. Ok, I'm done defending myself.)
EDIT {1 week later}: Well, swaddle-free hasn't been all that glorious. He slept well and normally for the 1st two days. Then he turned into a mess. Of course, it could be something else. Do we ever really know what the issue is the entire first year of a baby's life?! His naps were shorter and he woke up much more during them--like every 20 minutes! Nighttime has been about the same as before. He is currently on hour 2 of his nap. He hasn't done this in a week. Maybe he has figured it out again!
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