Sometimes making a house a home is all about fun decorating, and sometimes it about doing things that are no fun for anyone!. I’m all about keeping it real on this blog (no perfection here- not even close!). Let’s just say this weekend, I learned how to treat lice. 🙂 Fun, fun.
My cousin came in to visit me over the weekend and we were getting ready for church Sunday morning. Ben had already left with Landon so it was just us, the two girls and Canaan. Allie had been saying she was itching for a few days and I had checked her once but saw nothing, so I checked her again. Sigh. Evie had it too, unfortunately.
I immediately went into action. I knew treating everything was going to be overwhelming. We have a fairly large house with 5 beds, plus a crib and lots of carpet. Of course, this week, the girls had drug out every.single.blanket we owned to build forts. The sleeping bags had been used because Ben camped outside with the older 2 on Friday night. So I spent all day Sunday doing laundry and treating heads.
Definitely not how I planned on spending my Sabbath, but there is always something good in every situation. Here are somethings that went right:
2.) My other best friend, who was visiting, helped me by stripping all the beds, vacuuming, helping Allie gather up stuffed animals, dolls etc. that have to be treated, and entertaining the kids while I worked. She also stayed with the kids while I ran to the store to get the necessary supplies.
3.) The girls were SO good while I treated their heads. It takes over an hour to comb through each one’s hair and Evie didn’t say one negative word the whole time!
4.) I had been wanting to purge some stuff anyway, and since I was having to go through most items in our home, I was able to purge as I went.
5.) Evie got her first hair cut. Although this makes me want to cry, she just turned 3 and was in need of a good trim. I also cut off even more of Allie’s hair- she’s been wanting it short but I couldn’t bear to cut it!
[caption id="attachment_1116" align="aligncenter" width="420"]
The pile of laundry I “got” to do- and this was after I’d already done 3![/caption]
Here are a few things I learned about treating lice:
1.) First of all, this does not mean a child is dirty or anything like that. Any child who is exposed to another child with lice has a VERY good chance of contacting it, especially little girls who a) have long hair and b) like to touch each other’s hair.
2.) Be VERY thorough when doing the second part of the lice treatment (nit removal). The bugs themselves die easily with the shampoo (the first part of treatment) but the nits are sticky and will stick on the hair strand unless you physically remove them. If they don’t get removed, they’ll hatch in a few days and your child will be re-infected. In my opinion, this comb (or one like it) is a necessity. Even if you buy the medicinal kit at the store, the comb is plastic and very flimsy and will end up breaking if your child has long or thick hair.
3.) Gather up all your child’s stuffed animals, dolls, blankets. Anything that can be washed, wash it. If it can’t be washed, spray with the the spray that will come in your lice removal kit. Then, bag up those items that couldn’t be washed .
4.) Don’t forget to spray areas such as couches, the child’s car seat or the actual seat of the car if he/she is no longer in a car seat, and pillows. Vacuum any carpet you have in your home.
5.) Re-treat in 7-10 days to kill any nits that may be remaining.
6.) Reward yourself for working super hard! Peanut butter cups worked for me! 🙂
(Here’s another post that gives natural remedies for lice that I may try if there’s a next time.)
Hopefully you’ll never need reason to know how to treat lice, but in case you do, I’m can sympathize with you!
{Don’t forget! You have until 11:59 PM tonight (Monday 11/18) to enter the $250 Gallery Furniture GiftCard +Giveaway!}
About Kelli Hays
