The eczema report of 2014

January 8, 2014 Karen Huber

It's that time of year again, the wintry mix of dry and itchy skin, red rashes, cracked hands and lotion experimentation. Blessedly, it's been one of the better years for the two of us, Ella and me. We're still using some of the meds and ointments she got last Spring and my hands haven't started bleeding yet. Bonus! But still we cope the uncomfortable scratchiness of nearly everything, do the moisturization dance twice a day, and I'm having to find creative ways to keep everything off my neck, where my outbreak is worst.

I can't really believe it's taken this long to come to the realisation that what E and I have is an actual chronic illness, having given up hope that it will ever really go away and trying to find ways to just deal with it. It's a never-ending quest to find products that keep us functioning and don't make it worse. Very few things ever really improve our symptoms, but there are a few lotions, moisturizers, soaps and such that make living with eczema slightly better.

Here's what's in our proverbial medicine cabinet (we actually don't have a medicine cabinet, but that sounds better than "littering our night-stands and every other bedroom surface").

My one word cop-out for 2014

January 3, 2014 Karen Huber

This is gonna be one great big cop-out, but here it is, anyway. My "one word" for 2014. Are you ready for it? Really? Ok.

Try.

Yep, that's it. Not create, not breathe, not peace, not joy, not give... just try. I like this little word. It's a hope word. But it's also an It's Totally OK to Fail at This word. It gives me permission to do something new and it allows me to mess it all up. It says that maybe this will be the thing, you know? The thing you were meant to do.

And it also says better luck next time.

It says stop not doing it, just start. And it requires just a little bit of effort. Not get up at 5am and write 500 words everyday before sunrise effort. Just, like, maybe try going to bed early tonight. Try more cumin in the chicken tacos. Try on this dress. Try something new, something forgotten, something hoped for, something impossible.

Just try.

Actually this year each member of our family has chosen a word. Asher chose tortellini, which is probably the most inspired of anyone's one word ever. Jack chose explore, Ella - love, and Matt is keeping the peace.

We'll see how the patchwork of family dynamics in these five big and small words work for us this year. No matter what the outcome, I foresee a little more pasta in our future. Or, at least, I'll try for it.

Do you do the one word thing? Or any other 2014 resolutions, hopes, dreams? You can totally steal my word if you want. Check out OneWord365 for more details. (Also linking up with Velvet Ashes)

What I'm Into {December 2013? What?!}

December 31, 2013 Karen Huber

Welp, here we go. Last post of 2013. December was fantastic, exhausting, lovely, windy, sunny, beautiful, wet... and filled with friends, family, parties and lie-ins. Let's get right down to business, shall we?

Give me your blah

December 30, 2013 Karen Huber

I don't feel like I'm standing on holy ground. It feels more like I'm standing on three day old remnants of shredded wheat. I don't feel like I'm giving my kids the greatest gift of love and therefore receiving their love and overflowing with God-love. It feels more like...

On goodbyes and Christmas and life at home

December 29, 2013 Karen Huber

Sunday morning is quiet and dark.

It's the last one of the year and church is taking a day off. There was one major dog-related casualty in the night, the guts of a Buzz Lightyear pillow spilled out over the whole of the office. And the house is empty, minus two.

I think I'm fairly good at goodbyes now, and when they depart two hours before sunrise, I give long hugs and trade I love yous, stand at the door and wave through steamed glass. Then Christmas is over, I get back in bed with the children. We go back to real life and spend the afternoon by the sea. After 9 days with them, I'm full and contented. But a day or two after I miss everyone all over again, all the people who did not come. I long for my sisters, miss the company of my nephews, wish I could send the kids with their aunts and uncles into the snow.

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