New Year's Polar Plunge 2014

Today was the 10th annual Polar Bear Club's polar plunge in Connellsville, PA.

For the past 10 years, on New Years day, the Polar Bear club takes the Polar plunge.

 

This year was Nate's first year taking the plunge. I really hate being cold so I definitely did not do it!!!

 

A bunch of people show up to participate in our little town.

 

There's my hubs!

People rushing in the water.

 

N coming out of the water.

 

Does your town do anything like this? Or have you ever taken a nice winter plunge? Tell me about it!

My Winter Skin Routine

Oh winter, why must you be so harsh to my skin?

 

I can't stand for my skin to feel dry and itchy, so I try to keep it as moisturized as possible. This year I have managed to keep myself into a routine.

 

Here are the products that I use regularly:

 



 

-Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Salts

-Calgon Mineral Scrub and Soak

-Calgon Milk Bath with Serum Beads

-Neutrogena Body Oil

-Johnson's Baby Oil Gel

-Olay body Lotion

 

On cold nights I love to either use the lavender Epsom salts, or the Milk bath.  When I am achy, I tend to use the Epsom salts.  Otherwise, I use the milk bath. I use the mineral scrub once a week with a bath glove to exfoliate the dead skin. After the bath, before I towel off,  I use either the Body oil, or the baby oil gel.  I love how soft they make my skin feel.  I use the body lotion through out the day.

 

Have you used any of these?

What do you think?

 

Casey Jo Update: Feeding Tube Change

Casey Jo had her follow up appointment in Cleveland on Dec. 10th. Her lung function was up a little to 27%! (Last time it was 24%) They went ahead and pulled her PICC line out!! After being on IV's for almost 5 weeks her lung function should've been a little better but they decided to give her a break from the IV's for now. She lost 7lbs since her last appointment!!! Not good at all!!! And they finally got her Mickey-Button (feeding tube) changed!! I'll post a couple videos of them changing out her tube as they had a little bit of trouble hehe. They had 3 people try to pull it out and finally the last person got it! It shouldn't have been a big deal but they figured out that the balloon in her stomach did not deflate as it was suppose to. 

Here is the new Mickey-Button. The bottom of the stem they fill with water so it's like a balloon in side her.

Here are the videos! 

Thank you all for the continued thoughts and prayers!!! Casey Jo loves when I read her the comments! :)

P.S. Now that she is done with her IV antibiotics, she has contacted UPMC to get an appointment with transplant testing again. They will notify her of an appointment soon. :)