Yucky Head Lice!

Yep, we've been battling head lice. It pains me to even talk about it – I’m itching my head as I type, just thinking about it! With me never having even seen it before, I probably let it go unchecked for a week or so. When we found it, the week after Labor day, it was a huge infestation. I spent a couple hours picking eggs out of her hair, sent her to bed with clean sheets, and then spend the next day attempting to rid it from my house. We continued to change/wash sheets and clothing in hot water, wash hair brushes/combs and pony tail holders in the shampoo and hot water - then spray them, spray down/vacuum the furniture and her backpack, etc.

I thought we’d been rid of it since mid-September, but two weeks ago they were back! I then was checking her head every couple of days, and would find one or two of those little buggers each time, but no eggs - so I knew she was still getting them from somewhere/someone. Ugh!!! I’d also been careful to have Kaylen’s hair pulled back tightly each day, which takes time, but we just get up a few minutes earlier, or I do it when it’s wet on shower nights and it stays well overnight if done when wet. She used to have her hair down all the time because I didn’t want to fight the complaining, but it’s not worth the risk anymore and she’s getting better at not complaining. Problem is, you can’t stand over a 6-year-old nonstop and tell them not to lean their head on something, don’t let someone/something touch their head, don’t hang your coat next to that kid’s coat, etc.

We notified school and daycare twice – Sept 11th, and again two weeks ago. The school nurse’s reaction, on September 11th, was, “Uh-oh… We’ve sent notes home to the kindergarteners, but if we get too many more in first grade, we’ll have to send home letters to them too.” Too many more?!? WHY didn’t they send notes home the first time they heard of it!!! We received a note home Tuesday of LAST week – almost 5 weeks after we first found it. Sheesh! I just wanted go in that classroom, armed with several cans of permethrin spray, and douse all the surfaces and her locker & contents - and also throw out those reading pillows - that Kaylen had been instructed by me not to use any longer! I didn't though.

However, after a VERY LONG 6 weeks, I think we've finally conquered the lice. I've checked twice this week - Monday and today - and I haven't found a thing, other than dry flaky skin - typical for the colder weather we've been having. I can't tell you how tired I am of spraying, vacuuming, laundering, and picking every other day! Luckily Jock and I, and any houseguests we’ve had, were spared. We're hoping those nasty creatures are gone for good, and that they NEVER return!