a parent's nightmare

ok, it's not a parent's WORST nightmare, but it's up there on the list.

LICE.

Something I always dreaded, happened.  Lily complained of an itchy head keeping her awake one night, and the next morning while doing her hair, I saw a little black bug and I knew right away what it was.  Enter sinking feeling in my stomach thinking of what lay ahead.  Needless to say, she didn't go to school that day, and I sort of took my time going to the pharmacy for lice treatment, as well as Starbucks, and a quick stop at the grocery store.

I won't go on and on about it like I could, but will say these things:

-I am now an official nitpicker, and pretty good at it!

-turned out 4 of us had it, minus Troy, although he had the itchiest scalp ;)

-my lovely friend came over to help me with Lily and get me started on this fun adventure, being a recent nitpicker herself. Thanks R!!

-we did lots and lots of washing, vacuuming, and putting things in the freezer.

-lots and lots of nitpicking under bright lights for hours every day.

- the kids were SO patient and good through all of this.  Ruby spent hours entertaining herself while I worked on her sister's head.

-Lily was incredibly good, having the most nits, and therefore requiring the most picking.  I have to say it was actually special bonding time with her!  On a couple of nights we didn't get started until bedtime, so we'd be alone, chatting, laughing, listening to the radio and singing, and having a really nice time! Those hours and hours of physical closeness for a week was lovely.

-a few cousins in Kelowna had it too, so we sisters shared our advice and ideas and groanings with each other!

-all in all, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it was incredibly time consuming, but our calendar was clear and we were able to focus on it for as long as we needed to each time.  The cooperation of the kids made all the difference in the world. So thanks to our little troupers, and adios lice.

see the fear in my eyes as I begin 

Ruby's hair being treated 

 a different day, hair saturated with olive oil and tea tree oil

 kids all with different household treatment - listerine, vinegar, and oil with tea tree oil.

yup, me too.

good times in the bathroom!