So, my sitter cancelled on me this morning…that’s fine, I think…I’ll get a few small projects done and take a day with the kids that are home (3 out of 4). I was looking forward to all the possibilities! Oooo Maybe we’ll do some crafts!
How Ignorant of me…
School Nurse called me to let me know my oldest has Lice.
Perfect…
Loaded the kids up, got her, went to Walmart and got a lice kit, an extra comb, multiple shower caps, clips and shampoo. I only wish I had gotten tequila.
With four kids you can imagine the amount of laundry we already have but striping all the beds, washing all the pillows, stuffed animals, towels, clothes, hats, coats..ect well…it got intense. Like mountains in the garage – intense.
Treated myself and the two older girls (I think the twins are clear, their hair is too fine and there was no evidence but I bathed them with the shamoo anyway). While soaking with shower caps, we vacuumed all the rugs, beds and couches. Sprayed down mattresses, pillows, carseats and anything that couldn’t be washed in the washing machine. Got the twins down for a nap and started picking nits…Shit. Got. real.
Took me almost three hours to pick nits and bugs out of the girl’s hair. SO. MANY. BUGS. When I took the shower cap off Pipers head there were full size bugs just lining it! There were some on her ears, shoulders…it was so gross! Turns out it takes a couple weeks for lice to be full grown bugs…From eggs to nits (about 7 days) and from nits to lice (about 7 more days). Also, adults lay about 8 eggs per day. These eggs attach themselves with “glue” to a single strand of hair! Pretty sure SHE brought it home based on the progression.
Seriously…I’m so embarrassed. How does it get that bad!? I’d like to think we’re pretty clean people…the girls shower almost every night! WHERE DID IT COME FROM!?
I Finally get done with them and I leave the girls in charge so I can go wash my hair out…at this point the 10 minute treatment had been sitting on my hair for almost 3 hours…Probably not a good thing. After my second wash Piper comes in to inform me Venus has puked “all over the place”…
Perfect…
Meanwhile, the bald guy who can’t get lice (my husband) is on shift. Gone. For 24 hours.
Perfect.
I washed their hair again in the morning and in the end we made it through to the other side. The school nurse checked the girls hair the next day and told me I did a “really good job”. We’re all good at something I guess…I’ve been checking every day since and I think we really are in the clear. When my husband got home he checked my hair. Mostly dandruff and maybe 5 or less nits. I must say it was somewhat entertaining watching him fumble through my crazy long hair. Also, this post helped me a lot as a first timer looking for Lice and telling the difference from dandruff. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/112730796912421771/
*Side note, I DID wash the twins with the shampoo as well… I figured it can’t hurt!
Lice. I knew it would come around at some point. One of my best friends has become a bit of an expert on it since her kids have had multiple rounds. Thank goodness for friends like her who can give you honest advice! I’m MORE than happy to be that friend for you!
Below are some of the tricks I read about or was told about. I hope this helps! Don’t worry, don’t freak out…YOU GOT THIS!
- If you have multiple people being treated, get multiple kits / treatments
2. Get an extra comb (or two). I loved this one with the wide side. Many times the kits come with crappy plastic ones. You’ll want a good metal one to get these bad boys out!
3. Buy shower caps (get the cheap multipacks, you’re throwing them away!)
4. Get some Hair Clips. The kind they use in hair salons to section off what they’re working on…Huge help!
5. Buy extra spray. The kits come with a spray you can use to spray mattresses, couches, car seats, anything that can’t be thrown in the washer. I went a little crazy with the spray but we haven’t had any recurrence. DON’T MESS WITH LICE.
6. Gather all hair brushes and put them in a zip lock bag in the freezer for a couple days. Then take them out, clean out hair and wash with hot water and soap.
7. Consider Sleep Caps. I already own a handful. I had the girls wear them at night (as did I). My thought process was to lessen the “spread” to mattresses, bedding, ect.
8. Every night for almost a week I used tea tree oil on the girls (and my) hair. The first few nights I used A LOT! After that, just a little. I read they don’t like tea tree oil and it has great benefits for us so…why not!?
9. On the Tea Tree Note…get some shampoo with tea tree oil and rosemary in it. It’s considered a preventative. Doesn’t hurt to wash with this for a while.
10. Dogs. Turns out you can’t give your dogs lice and they can’t give it to you. It’s a species specific parasite. (Whew!)
11. Salons – There are specific salons that specialize in treating Lice with a guarantee. If I didn’t feel we had gotten them all I was going to bite the (expensive) bullet and get it done. Did I mention…you DON’T MESS WITH LICE!?
If I think of any more I’ll share…Please, share your experiences, tricks and tips!
