COMPLETELY DISGUSTED!!

Ok...so I am posting this not for the purpose of broadcasting it...but for the purpose of documenting it.

Tuesday night, we were over at Jason's parent's for supper. While we were there, we asked Sherri if she would cut Ian's hair. (It's gotten a little wild and crazy!) Well...while I was holding him for his haircut, I noticed dark specs in his head. I was like, "Ooh Ian, you have dirt in your hair." Sherri was like, "yeah probably from the playground." I said, "yeah...you're probably right...we'll just have to scrub extra hard tonight in the bathtub."

So, we get home around 8:30PM and I put Ian in the bathtub. I scrubbed and scrubbed hard. Finally I rinsed him off and sat him in my lap on the towel and dried him off. Well, while I was drying his hair with the towel...I noticed that the "dirt" was still there. So, I proceeded to scratch at the specs to remove them...only to find that one of the specs moved. Yep, you guessed it, Ian had LICE! UGGGHHHH!!!

After freaking out, I immediately yelled for Jason to come into the bathroom. He sat Ian up on the counter and began to pick them out of his hair and put them in our sink. I was still freaking out. For those that know me well...know I have a BUG PHOBIA. I don't do bugs. I don't like them, and really don't like for any to be crawling on my child.

Ian seemed oblivious. I think we caught them early...because it was not like a huge infestation.

So, anyways...back to the story...Jason left to go get that special lice shampoo and I began to wash everything. When he got back, we put that shampoo on Ian's head and let it sit for 10 mins. per the instructions.

Then, we washed it out and put him to bed....WAAAAAY past his bedtime...and boy was he cranky.

I then asked Jason to check me. I probably asked Jason about 10 times before we went to bed. We even washed our sheets. I didn't want to take any chances.

Yesterday...we found a few more on Ian when he woke up and so the washing began again. Our washer and dryer has not stopped for two days now. I have stayed home with him the last two days since he can't return to daycare until there are no more lice or nits (eggs - just learned that term yesterday!) for 24 hours. I know more about lice now than I ever wanted to. Me being the "GOOGLE/DIAGNOSE myself" queen, I have been researching lice for the last 2 days...I know their life span, life cycle, etc.

Anyhow...the last 2 times we checked Ian today, we haven't found any more. So, I think they may be gone...but I am just hoping the source of them has been eliminated as well. I DO NOT want reinfestation!!!

At first, I was just beside myself...because I thought, people are going to think that we don't bathe our son regularly or something...but that is not true. In fact, during my research I found the following:

There are many misconceptions about head lice. They do not transmit
communicable diseases. They do not jump or fly; they can only crawl. Head lice
depend completely on their host for nourishment; their only source of food is
human blood. The prevalence of head lice infestation is no different in
individuals with long hair than in those with short hair. Head lice seldom occur
on eyebrows or eyelashes. They infest persons from all socioeconomic levels,
without regard for age, race, sex or standards of personal hygiene.

So, not really worried what others think. It happens to all kinds of folks!

Finally, on top of things, Ian had 5 shots yesterday (2 in the right leg, 1 in the left, and 1 in each arm)...and began to run a 103 fever last night. He cried off and on all night, about ever 2 hours. I am sure it hurt each time he rolled onto one of the shot sites. Jason and I took turns getting up and alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen.

Hopefully, tonight will be better and next week will be a better week for poor little Ian.

Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed BUGS (or lice) bite! ;)