The wife adjusting......continue

[thekfc]

Her adjusting have been going fine - the only problem she have is the winter itch, which is off & on.

For the past 2 days we went some of the store & 2 of the supermarkets in my neighborhood (there 10 supermarkets  & 2 "fruit stands"). We bought some of the groceries & provisions. 
We also stop at a fish market close by where she bought some tilapia which she will cook tomorrow.

Today we went to Home Depot & then Target - I was looking for an Air Purifier (I didn't like the selections) and a humidity guage (was sold out).
The Humidifier that I ordered will be delivered on Friday & in the mean time I have a pot of boiling water running on the stove. We bought some more lotion & gel at Target, she also bought some other stuff including Lactaid Milk.

For the pass few days she was fine going out in the weather but today was cold and windy and we were both filling it ( we were in layers plus she had a goose down jacket on). We will skip going out tomorrow & maybe Friday as the weather will be the same or colder/windier. We will head into Manhattan on Saturday & maybe NJ on Sunday to do some browsing & shopping.

Today she wanted to wash some of the clothing that I had at home for her, I told her let us go to the laundromat which is right across the street - she said no, she want to wash them by hand which she did.

In a few minutes she will call her cousins Gerlie & Eden in Long Beach.

Also her sleep pattern is slowly getting "back to normal".
 

[robert angel]

Kfc,

After getting through this awful winter, as spring eases into a long, hot summer, she will think it's twice as hot as she ever experienced back home!!When my wife gets home later, I'll ask what's best when things get dry and itchy around here, like they have lately. 

I know she uses lotions and stuff--just not sure what is for what, but her skin's incredibly soft and she prefers unscented stuff (she does like a little Ralph Lauren Blue and D&G Light Blue perfume though), but you know Filipinas--even when they're wearing nothing--scent or otherwise--my oh my, do they still smell good!

[Jedironin]

Nothing on but the radio, eh?     

[subfocus]

I get that winter itching problem at times.

Some things I do which help.
I use vaseline jelly.
Had to switch bathing soap. Some really dry my skin.
I avoid having the vents from the heater face me.

[thekfc]

We went out for about 15 minutes today.
We went to the supermarket and bought Squash, eggplant, grapes, tomato, Okra, pinto beans, sunflower seeds, goat meat, chicken liver, chicken heart & beef cubes.

We also stopped at the Pharmacy and bought a tube of Aveeno Calamine & Pramoxine HCL anti-itch cream, she have not tried it yet (currently no itching).

Right now she is eating sunflower seeds and listening to music.

[Bob_S]

Right now she is eating sunflower seeds and listening to music.

Alone?  Why the hell are you on the computer?

[thekfc]

Alone?  Why the hell are you on the computer?

She was standing right next to me......even reading some of the post on P-L.

We just finished playing some games on the Wii. She wasn't too much into the PS3 or XBox 360 except the singing/music games.

[flipflop]

"lotion & gel"

everything else is noise

[z_k_g]

Kfc,

I would avoid any and all anti-itch creams!

The issue is not an itch, its her dry skin that causes the itch.  So if you apply anti-itch cream its like using a band aid to fix internal bleeding, you only fix the symptom not the problem.

Her skin is dry...So...resolve the dry skin problem.

First, increase the humidity in the room as much as possible.  Second, find some lotions that help retain moisture in her skin without blocking her pores, causing other skin problems.

She also may affected by a nosebleed because of her inner sinus drying up.  Increasing humidity in your living space will resolve this issue also. 

Over time her body will adjust to the very low humidity in NYC as compared to PI.

Zulu

[thekfc]

The Aveeno Calamine anti-itch cream do help with the itching (she have had minimal itch since she started using it) BUT her main uses are Johnson's Baby Oil Gel, Moisturizing Lotion & Jojoba Oil - she put on right after she showers & at various times during the day. The cream is to soothe the itch.

The humidifier will be delivered today. I also keep a boiling pot of water on the stove.

[Jedironin]

Oh- I only boil a pot of water about twice per day. You don't need to kill your electric bill! 

[thekfc]

I boil the water for about 2 hours at a time - it do seems to help. The humidifier will be here shortly.

She already know how to use the PS3, Wii, XBox 360, DVD player, Cable & TV and she is now getting the "hang" of my music system (I have everything attach to my ONKYO system). She is even using the Ipod dock.

[Bob_S]

her main uses are Johnson's Baby Oil Gel, Moisturizing Lotion & Jojoba Oil - she put on right after she showers & at various times during the day.

SHE puts it on?  Wait a minute.  That's your job. 
Seriously, this is critical bonding time (speaking from some experience).  You can reach corners she cannot.  You need to throw some towels across the bed, lay her down, and apply whatever appropriate lotions or oils you feel work best to every square inch.  For her own good, of course!  you'll probably need to repeat several times a day.   
If she objects, you might want to check her passport.  She might not be a real Pinay.  You may have accidentally married an American or European woman by mistake.

[thekfc]

You mean that I have been doing it all wrong?

She have been giving me the massages & body rubs 

All I do is just give her  "a little help" with her lotion & gel

[piglett]

You mean that I have been doing it all wrong?
She have been giving me the massages & body rubs 
All I do is just give her  "a little help" with her lotion & gel

 Hey as long as she doesn't ask you for something that only treats jock itch your good to go 

pig

[robert angel]

I asked what my wife uses to keep her skin so soft and pimple free and she said she uses different stuff at different times, but for now, she's using Bath & Body Work's Japanese cherry blossom cream and it works as well as anything. She usually shops that store for sale stuff and most of it, including their scented candles, is pretty good.

For dry, cracked lips, even I use the Neutrogena Lip Soother--I don't care if it comes from the ladies section--it beats Chapstick, Blistex, even Burt's Bees, hands down.

Yea, back home Johnson's Baby Oil and their baby powder was the gold standard for moisturizer, make up and even used as deodorant, but everything in the USA seems to require more and more.

When we have the heat or AC cranked up here, the average humidity indoors is usually lower than that of California's Death Valley, so no wonder we get a little 'scaly' sometimes.

Boiling a pot of water or even running a slow cooker with a pot roast or spaghetti sauce all day long helps in several departments. Sometimes, we'll wash a whole chicken (without the feathers, Piglet  ) stick it in the slow cooker over night, with some water, celery, onions and spices and in the morning, the bones have all dissolved and about half the waters gone--leaving soup. Maybe I should've tried that with my ex-wife?

Vaseline really works, but is kind of gross until it is well absorbed--too much trouble. A lot of dermatologists recommend Vanicream, which you can buy over the counter, but we didn't find it so great. I think with anything, you have to switch occasionally and Shea butter and oatmeal soaps are pretty good.

[Ray]

OK, while we are on the topic of Filipinas and their soft, sensitive skin, don’t forget their hair!

I think the most popular hair products over there are still Sunsilk & Cream Silk. I see that Sunsilk is sold here now and I guess it’s the same stuff they are used to. Cream Silk I haven’t seen here.

You can buy the original stuff here in the local Filipino supermarket, but most all of the stuff imported from the Philippines is right around 3-times the price as back home.

What ‘most’ Filipinas here in the States find to be a very suitable substitute are Pantene shampoo & conditioner. We even send those big Costco size Pantene bottles in the balikbayan boxes and the ladies back home really like it.

For the homeowners out there, you may want to seriously consider a water softener if you don’t already have one. If you have very hard water in your area, a water softener can really help her skin and hair tremendously. And because you will need much less soaps and shampoos, that will go a long ways to help pay for it. For example, we use half the amount of laundry detergent that we needed before we installed a water softener, and the clothes generally last longer too..

Ray

[thekfc]

My wife said that she like Clear & then Palmolive shampoo & conditioners. I will try to find those for her, I currently have Pantene, John Freida, Garnier & Dove at home - most of which I got as part of the Allure Beauty Box.

[Jedironin]

I know several ladies with long hair who like to use Mane and Tail Shampoo. Yes- the stuff for horses! 

[whitey]

I know several ladies with long hair who like to use Mane and Tail Shampoo. Yes- the stuff for horses! 

Ah, ok ... I was thinking Mane for the "curtains" and Tail for the "carpet" ...

[robert angel]

My wife thinks the Pantene here is not the same as what they sell in the Philippines, but maybe it's the water, as Ray notes. The  wife finds that cold water rinses make her hair look and feel better. I think a lot of products that look the same--that are the same brands and even packaging, are different here and there. The Mane and Tail shampoo we bought in the USA was made in the USA, while the Mane and Tail bought in the Philippines looked the same, but was made over there.  If was really made for horses, I think that was long ago (it'd come in a bigger bottle for starters) that maybe that's a marketing ploy, and if it cures baldness, I guess my case is incurable!

[tessbrittain]

After she had adjusted to the cold weather...it's time to sit down and show the bills every month and how much money you're making....

Let her know what's going on with your finances ( just an advice).....good luck on your new life together....

Tess