Ummm...can I say lice?

Lice..such an ugly word and brings up such ugly thoughts of bugs crawling all over your head.  I know right now your head is starting to itch.  Sorry..........wasn't what I planned for my second blog to be about, but when you have kids you never know what the next day will hold...or for that matter....the next hour. 

So here's my long annoying story of our drama with these tiny bugs...thus far.  We were happily enjoying Easter weekend without a care in the world of what might be growing deep within.  Then I took Josie down to the bus stop on Monday morning after Easter and standing there in the bright morning light noticed she either had an extreme case of dandruff or we had bigger problems.  After working at a dermatology office, I had always started to worry about the possible infestation of lice into our home.  As I parted her hair to get a closer to look....something flew out of her hair.  I laugh now...because everything I have read online has said that lice do not "jump or fly"....well something flew out of her hair that morning and I have witnesses! 

Anyway...I immediately called my girls (LOVE THEM) at Dr. Cohen's office and they told me to just come in.  Unfortunately for all of us...it was confirmed as lice.  Def full blown on Josie...I had a couple of nits...couldn't really tell on Owen because of his fair skin/hair....and Dr. Smith didn't even bother to check Jason....why should she?  Everyone should be treated! 

So here is where the fun began..........I could write all the details of my new daily activities...but it would take a long time and I guarantee each of you would have either already moved onto the next blog or will be very soon!  Basically, I wash all bed linens and towels after every use...that means stripping each bed every morning....not my idea of fun.  I groom my daughter several times a day with shampoo/lice treatment/lice comb....etc.  I can't even explain on how much time I've spent on her hair in the last three days.  I've looked up videos on YouTube and YES they do have "how to" videos on how to remove lice...very helpful....I'm hoping it will work. 

The last 24 hours have been the BIG day of removing all the lice, nits, etc. We had to pour this nasty smelling alcohol based overnight treatment last night.  I had to wait till Owen was in bed at 7....then Jos and I doused each other with this terrible smelling liquid.  Then we had to wait till our hair was dry enough to go to bed....around 9...so, not too bad....but had to fall asleep with my head on a towel covered pillow.  My alarm was set for 6am so we could wash the solution out of our hair before Owen woke up.  So much fun waking up a 7 yr old who has finally learned to sleep in.....then we did the fun job of fine combing through our hair for the millionth time in 3 days. 

And now two more times today I have fine combed her hair with the lice comb to make sure I have gotten every last nit....which from the sounds of other moms in my situation...I may not be so lucky.  But I will keep trying......my daughter has not complained one bit.  Especially when I am picking and combing through her hair nonstop. And please realize when I say fine comb....I mean FINE COMB...strand by strand!

Tonight she watched "Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice" and was writing down facts about polar bears.  Wow!  She so loves school and never wants to stop learning.  Other things she has done the past 3 days.....organized and cleaned her playroom (she's been asking to clean her bedroom, but I'm still dealing with cleaning other things in her room so I haven't let her do it yet), mastered several wii games, made several food items out of Play-Doh, and watched countless movies. 

My husband has also had a huge part in dealing with our bug issue. He shampooed my hair on Monday and then this afternoon combed through my scalp hair by hair to find any nits. He did not enjoy it....but still did it.  I love him for it! 

We shaved little Owen's head hoping to rid him of this bug - first hair cut!!  He looks so cute....but I cried because I have lost my little baby's hair.  His first tooth finally broke through this week as well.  Very busy week for my little man.

Back to bugs...tonight consisted of spraying our hair with this eucalyptus spray I found that is supposedly safe to use after a chemical treatment...we will see. 

All in all.................my life right now is consumed with getting rid of BUGS!!!!

And I can't wait to get this new book about house cleaning...maybe it will help with my infestation!
http://31daystoclean.com/