not what i had in mind this weekend

one word that can and will change your plans at a moment's notice. 

lice. 

things one learned this weekend... but never-ever desired to:

1. when doused in listerine, a louse will die within 2-3 seconds. apparently, they don't like alcohol.  wimps.
2. lice don't like hot curling irons, either.  it will send a big-girl louse running.  this would be how one might discover this pesky critter existed in your baby's hair.
3. it really doesn't matter how clean your hair is.  you won't be immune. {repeat to self}
4. in a hurried pinch, you may have to buy a rid kit, just for the comb.  the comb will be worth every penny.
5. it's only recommended to keep listerine on hair for two hours.
6. you might decide to sleep in it.  with shower-caps.  even if that will be your hubby's last impression of you before he takes a trip to nyc.

7. following a listerine treatment, vinegar will help loosen the nits. 
8. using the special comb repeatedly will become your new obsession.  
9. finding a dead louse is less creepy than finding a live louse. {that, alone, sounds creepy.}  oh, and 11 lice total is 11 too many.

10. it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between dry skin or eggs. if it blows off dry hair, it is not an egg.  nits will be the color of your child's hair. brown. fun.
11. ipad + earphones + weetwoo app = sanity. for all.
12. the hardest part for little ones is having their stuffed animals washed. they have souls.  little people might cry and not buy your story of them having a fun bubble bath.  you probably could have just tossed them in the dryer.
13. you should check the inside of the shower-cap for dead louse.
14. comb and re-comb. {repeat}

15. swish comb in solution of listerine/water. toothpicks help clean the comb, too.
16. regardless of what you read, you will feel lower than an ant when having to contact anyone your child has been near.  but they will be thankful you informed them.
17. store tools in listerine.  or you should boil things.  but you may decide not to.

18. louse cannot jump, but they are fast crawlers.
19. when you had no symptoms prior to diagnosis, you will now feel phantom louse.  and pray they are only phantom. and run for the comb.
20. your daughter my decide to camp out in the loft to escape her room, till it's 'safe'. *giggle*

21. long hair doesn't leave you more vulnerable for louse... just an opportunity to exercise more patience when combing.
22. your pets cannot give you lice.
23. christmas decorations can wait.  again.

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guess what mama is doing today?
taking a homeschool inservice.
cleaning and combing, again.
repeat. 
we'll be surprised if we have any hair left.

this... and toilet cleaning,
not in my 'happily ever after.'

on the positive side, my house will be the cleanest its ever been!  can you tell stuff like this brings out a lil' type a personality in me?  rhetorical question, of course.

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websites that might prove helpful should you ever need them:

mercola

ask dr. sears

home remedies
virtual haircare 

disease control & prevention 

ehow: treating with listerine 
medicinenet.com (pictures)