Wednesday, December 2, 2009

A Lousy Situation

On Monday evening, I was washing Sissy's hair in the tub. She has very light hair, what I would call strawberry blonde-ish. And I saw something dark on her head. I picked it off, looked at it, put it on the sink and then saw another dark thing. Same deal, only this thing was squirming.

AAAAAUUGGHHHHH!!!

I went to the Evil Twin and said, "I think I pulled a bug off Sissy's hair." He went into the bathroom to observe my 2 specimens and said, "That's lice." "How do you know?" I asked. He said he just knew.

I have never had lice in my life, he has never had lice in his life....Sissy and I only go out to the grocery store once a week, it's not like she's in a preschool environment or trying on random hats, using other people's combs, etc.

I checked Buddy. He has VERY short dark hair. I didn't see anything on him at all. The Evil Twin is bald. I don't try on hats or use other's combs, etc. either.

At any rate, I washed both kids' bedding, sprayed their mattresses with lice spray. Used the shampoo and nit comb on Sissy last night, and I'm doing my own hair this morning, just in case. And keep washing linens, spraying the house down, etc.

What is most mysterious is where it came from. Could Buddy or The Evil Twin have brought one home on their clothing? Sometimes she lays her head on the shopping cart bar - could one be riding on that bar, still alive, and hopped into her beautiful long hair? I just don't know....

I'm off to strip.... my bedding and use the special shampoo. I'll keep an eye on Buddy and we have to re-treat Sissy in 7 to 10 days. I'll probably re-wash everything then, too.

I've never had to deal with such an icky situation - wish me luck! GROSS!

26 comments:

  1. Yeah, good luck to you on this one. Fortunately you caught it quick! I think everything will turn out OK....

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  2. I think everyone goes through this at least once in their lives - we did it with the Things a few years back when their school got infested.

    Yeah, it's icky, but not terminal. Feels like it at the time though, don't it?

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  3. I thought lice were light colored? I may be wrong. I don't know. Never had lice but when the whole lice epidemic happened when I was little, my mom treated me just in case.

    Good luck on that one.

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  4. When my sister was in elementary school she caught the lice and they were tough to get rid of... I am sure you will clean everything well and it will probably be a mystery where they came from. Good Luck!

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  5. I never had lice as a child, but wound up with them THREE times while stationed in Korea and staying in Korean hotels. Go figure! Although common, they are still creepy, and your head will randomly itch for years :)

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  6. It's happened to my niece a few times. It's not the end of the world, but it sure makes my skin crawl to think of it. Sounds like you caught it early so should be an easy fix.

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  7. Joker - I hope so...

    Tiff - Yep. I just want it to be OVER! GONE!

    Josh - My mom did the same thing to me when my best friend got it. The nits (eggs) are white, but the live bug (ick!) is grey-tannish.

    Doc - I am pulling out all the stops and will try *anything* to be rid of it!

    Dana - My whole body itches just thinking about it! LOL.

    Ron - Keep your fingers crossed. :-)

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  8. Oh no! Good luck and don't forget couches, brushes and stuffed animals.

    We had it a few times as kids and it was always a pain, but treatable.

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  9. Oh no! Sounds like you have it under control though. I recall getting my whole head dunked in lice shampoo as a child because the neighbor kids had it. I guess it was a precautionary measure. But lord, I hope you are more gentle than my mother was. I remember that stuff just dripping down my face and screaming "I'm gonna go blind, Mom!" Hahaha.

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  10. Good luck with this. Of all the things I fear my kid will come home with from school is lice..only because the nurse checks the kids and then its made known to everyone that YOUR kid has lice and has to stay home...AND I have also heard they are hard to get rid of.
    Wash, wash, wash and clean, clean, clean is about all you can do!

    Dang those grocery carts!

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  11. I did have lice once as a kid, and my mom made the other 4 kids think they had it, too - even though they did not - just so they would not tease me! She was cool like that. Hope Sissy's beautiful locks are restored to their natural state.

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  12. Oh ick! I never had lice either. Good luck to you! I hope you get rid of the icky bugs!

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  13. Keep up the battle. You will win. It isn't fun, but necessary.

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  14. My daughter had it happen twice last year, those were my first experiences with these things. Grosses me out, my wife and I were itching our own heads and continuously checking each other for weeks after. And of course speculating on which of her friends did this to her.

    GiGi - your mom rocks.

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  15. Oh No - the evil of all evils!!!

    You and The Evil Twin are extremely lucky to have gotten this far without experiencing it. I had it twice myself growing up but *knock on wood* Lady H has never had it.

    Just keep washing and spraying and combing!

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  16. yucky! i hope it goes away fast.

    i always had lice in school, that makes us sound dirty, but if there was an epidemic at school i was ALWAYS the first kid to get it. my mom had that drill down pat. just talking about it makes my whole fucking body itch.

    lice suck ass!

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  17. And now I am TOTALLY itchy! Thanks! But seriously, I hope the problem goes away quickly.

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  18. Oh goodness! I was wondering where you were today, guess that solves the mystery! Oh, you poor thing...ick. Hope you are very successful getting rid of those things! 8-)

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  19. OMG I can't imagine your horror at finding lice on your little one and, therefore, in your home! You have my deepest sympathies. The pharmacist at Loop Pharmacy would be able to tell you if there's anything else you should do and what to expect. They're great like that.

    Now my head itchs. This is why I don't watch hospital shows. I hear it; I think it; I wonder if I feel it.

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  20. Yeah, as soon as I started reading this my head started itching. Poor you and poor Sissy! I hope they go away and pronto.

    I had them once in elementary school. Brutal. I am still scratching my head about where she could have gotten them, though. Get it, scratching my head. Ha, ha! I crack myself up. ;)

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  21. Everyone's head itches now. Why is it that my balls are itching?

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  22. I had lice when I was in 6th grade, "compliments" of a classmate that spent the night. I had LONG (1/2 way down my back), THICK blond hair. It was AWFUL.

    Poor Sissy has my sympathies. May this pass quickly for all of you!

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  23. Why did I always think lice were white?

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  24. oh no! hopefully you got them buggers early! ick. Sounds like you are doing everything right!

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