Keepin it real

Kate's got some nasty eczema. She's had it since she was just tiny thing. I'm not all that surprised, Jeremiah and I both are a couple of dry, dry people. I'd never been afflicted with this dreaded skin condition though, until I conceived Sarah. It's how I knew I was pregnant, actually. I noticed a small spot on my left shin had starting itching like a hardcore gambler on the way to Vegas. As soon as I subconsciously started to scratch it I thought "this is it, I'm knocked up again." I figured it would go away when I delivered but, much like the pregnancy fat, it's not only stuck around but gotten worse.

So, as I've been trying various treatments on Kate, I've tried them on myself, too. That's how I discovered that the reason Kate started crying and refusing to let me touch her with plain old lotion was that the spots she'd scratched with exceptional vigor burned when I put lotion on them.

During the past 2 years I have used the following products and behaviors in an attempt to get rid of this affliction that makes my baby itch and hurt and look a little funny:

Bathe kid only every 3rd day or so (sticky kid)
Aveeno oatmeal lotion (no noticeable results)
Aveeno lotion for dry skin and eczema (no noticeable results)
Alba Very Emollient Body Lotion (nada)
Oatmeal & Chamomile bath (home made, nice effects for a couple hours)
The first level of steroid cream (nope)
Elidel (still itchy...)
The second level of steroid cream (no difference)
Aquaphor (puleeze)
Eucerin (so greasy!)
Cetaphil (nice, but that's the stuff that started burning)
The third level of steroid cream (still afraid to put it on my kid)
Scour the internet for solutions to this problem, in response -
Wash bedsheets nearly every day (nice smelling sheets)
Put air purifier in Kate's bedroom (who knows, the white noise makes me sleepy, though)

But check this out - a few months ago I made a belly balm for my pregnant next door neighbor - the same one Sybil made for me when I was pregnant with Kate that I enjoyed so much. When I made Catherine's (my neighbor), I had some left over so I put it in a small tin and had been using it on my super dry hands until Lola got a hold of it and ate nearly all of it because she's a very bad dog! Anyhoo...I came across the nearly empty tin of it about 3 days ago and, in desperation, started applying it to Kate's arms and legs twice a day. I tried it on myself first and it didn't burn so that boded well. Three days. Her skin is nearly completely cleared up. All those lotions and potions carefully crafted (and sometimes pricey) in high tech labs by super smart (and if the CSI techs are any indication, totally hot) scientists and a combination of some oils at home and she's looking great. Well, how about that?

Here's the balm, in case you're itchy:

2oz. jojoba oil

2oz. coconut oil

2oz. shea butter

1 oz bee's wax

3 T olive oil

Melt it all together (I like to measure it all out in a Pyrex liquid measuring cup then slowly melt it in a hot water bath on the stovetop) then dump it in a container and it let it cool. Voila!