It's been a rough week.
This past weekend Sierra started claiming that her head itched. This is a HUGE red flag in my mind, and probably some of yours too. So I started checking her head...and it took me until Sunday to spot the little suckers. Not that I knew what I was looking for. I didn't. But once I saw one, there was no mistake.
And I am sitting here crying while I admit to the world that my little girl has lice. Why? Oh, you know. Because now I am a social outcast. I'm dirty and unworthy of house-guests unless they reside in your hair. Because I wonder if her friends will be afraid of her when I send her back to school. Because I wonder if she got it from school in the first place and if I send her back she will get it again. Because I worked at Head Start for a couple of years and had constant nightmares about lice. It was one of my worst nightmares. So since I made this wonderful discovery I have been lost in this horrible nightmare.
Yeah, say it, I know you want to. Be comforting. Go ahead. "It's not that bad." You're right, Mom, it's not. And yet it is. My head itches all the time and I cringe when anyone else itches their head too. Even though we've all been checked and even treated (just in case)...I am still in this constant state of fear. My life has been turned up-side-down. I get up in the morning and start in on the laundry because I think that if I just keep going that I really can wash EVERYTHING. Anytime anyone wears anything it has to go down the chute...not in the drawer. We are living out of laundry baskets because I haven't washed everything in the drawers yet anyway. Use a towel? Put it down the chute! Wear a jacket? Put it down the chute! No you can't play with your toys, I put them away. And while you're at it, just stay in the kitchen because I have to clean that room 10 times a day anyway. And then I get to check and re-check Sierra's hair. And this little job takes me a minimum of 3.5 hours. And I don't sleep at night either because it makes me sick thinking about it and honestly I'm already sick because I'm pregnant.
Will our life ever be worry free again? I guess deep down inside I just knew that if it ever happened to me I would never be able to control it. Well, I am controlling it, but I don't feel like it's enough. I feel violated and betrayed and sick. Burn the house down and let's start over...maybe then I can go to sleep at night.
12 comments:
Oh Jeri Dawn! We have never been through it, but I always worry. I know I would be major OCD. I am so sorry! I can understand your fears. You must be on burnout! And this is your announcement that you are expecting!?!?! Exciting and exhausting!
I hope the kids are kind to Sierra at school and don't mention it. May this nightmare end very soon, so you can get some rest.
You know, this isn't the normal spooky celebration for Halloween. I hope you will be able to enjoy the holiday without a bonfire to burn the house down. They kind of frown on that. ;)
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
(But congrats on the new baby. I thought you were alluding to this fact the other day.)
You'll find your control soon.
Congrats on the pregnancy! My sister just found out she had lice last week and I had the same sick feeling. She was over at our house and I still worry that I might end up with it. Boys are easy though - just shave off the hair! Sounds like you are doing everything you need to..You will get through this!
Congrats on another little McKellar. I told BJ that I did not like that everyone was having babies that we will not get to know, and he said we would be back before they could ride a bike. Let's hope he is right.
As far as the lice thing goes I am sorry! I don't have any great advice for you. Just remember you and Jason are quite the amazing parents, with wonderful kids. Really who cares if a little bug put a cramp in your style for a brief moment??? Your still amazing to us! I am sure the rest of Logan sees you as we do, AMAZING!! Love you guys!
CONGRATS on a new little McKellar being added to the family♥
Lice-creeps me out. She got them from somewhere-and that is a hard thing as a parent...that as much as we try to control lives-there is no control when our children are out of our sight. Hope you get some sleep and start feeling better.
I know it doesn't mean much when you are in the midst, but I just read an article last week about lice. It said that it really isn't that contagious and requires quite direct contact to be passed along. I've never dealt with it, so I don't know. But I am sorry that you have been invaded. But, as a vote of confidence ... I would totally come to your house. You are definitely worthy of house-guests - you might have to reclean every room in your house after we leave, though ...
Congrats on the baby news! How fun!
I remember feeling so embarrassed when the school nurse came around to our classrooms on a head check because of a lice break out. Guess who had it? Yeah. Me. Did it mean I was dirty? Didn't shower often enough? Came from a rotten home? My Mom didn't care enough to take care of me?
Nope. It just happens. Kids bring home all sorts of things from lice, to a cold, to the flu. I guess this is one of the downsides of public schooling.
Did I get teased? Luckily not to my face. I guess it didn't hurt that there were others in the class that had it too.
Things will get better. And just think, you will have the cleanest house in the state as you get ready for the holidays!
Congrats on the coming of a new little one!
So sorry about the lice. There have been a couple of cases in Rachel's class, and I am dreading the day she brings it home. Just writing about it is making my head itch!
Congratulations on the new baby! I am thrilled for you guys. I can't wait to read more updates about him or her!
YAY!!!
Boooooo :(
I hope you get which is which.
My baby sister brought lice home from school just before Thanksgiving and managed to give them to my older sister who was in her first year of college... boy was she embarrassed when one of her roommates got 'em. It turned out ok in the end, and the roommate is still a friend more than a decade later.
Two birds with one stone. Efficient and effective post! You're amazing. Add to all this your morning runs and you're on an all time high for doing more than your share...
WHAT!!! I am so excited for you (not about the lice about the pregnancy!!) I obviously needed to bring more than cookies the other day!! Let me know if there is anything I can do.
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