This week didn’t really go as I had intended. We made two unexpected trips to the doctor’s office, canceled the orthodontist appointment and didn’t really get to the cleaning and organizing jobs I had planned.
We did however give haircuts to all the boys in our house, vacuum all upholstered surfaces, vacuum all floors, and vacuumed all mattresses. We washed every towel, sheet, blanket, comforter, and pillow in the house, and then started all over again. We also packed away all of the stuffed toys. So much for going through the kids’ toys this week!
I decided this would not be a good time to go through our winter clothes. I am sure that can wait until next week until we are lice free.
Sometimes it is discouraging to have a plan and then get derailed. When I realized my week was going to change dramatically on Tuesday it was hard not to get into a funk and want to withdrawal. The thought of decontaminating my house was overwhelming. All I could think about was six kids, I have six kids and they are all going to pass it to each other, and pass it to each other, and pass it to each other. We will have lice until Christmas!
As each additional person was found to have lice, instead of being overwhelmed, I was relieved. I began to realize my task was completely overwhelming and that I couldn’t do it all. Over the past few days I have received numerous emails and calls from people letting me know they would be praying for our family.
I think sometimes as moms and wives we set a high standard for ourselves. As I have read many other bloggers’ goals this week I have been impressed with all the things they want to accomplish. I just hope we all remember to keep our eyes on the main goal, which is to do all things to His glory, not our own.
I hate the fact that most of my family has lice, but I love the fact that we have all worked together to solve this problem. It has been nice to have to stay home and hang out with each other. Although I am sad most of our plans were canceled, I know we can schedule them for another time. I have even enjoyed the quality “talk time” I have had with my kids as I picked through their hair each morning.
Even though we are all sleeping with one sheet and one blanket (less laundry to decontaminate), I truly feel like my home as become our haven this week.
For more havens visit The Homespun Heart. <!–
Sherry says
Praise God for your wonderful attitude and for the family being able to help! That makes it so much easier!
Breanne says
oh no – I am so sorry. How great yall al came togather to get it done.
50s Housewife says
Oh bless you! I know how hard that is. One of my girls came home from a slumber party with them one time. Thankfully (maybe because we caught them early) no one but the girls got them. I did go ahead and wash EVRYTHING and shampooed all of us just in case. I took several go rounds of combing and shampooing to totally get rid of them.
Shilah says
Wow I am so sorry about your crazy week. I always hate it when I have goals to accomplish and something changes everything like that. Thanks for letting me know about the rolling cart. I’m planning on going to Target next week. I’ll have to see if they still have it. 🙂
Lawanda says
(that would be Strawberry *scent*!! Sorry!!!)
Lawanda says
I FEEL your PAIN! We got the stupid things last year, and they made my life miserable. My nieces got them in March of this year and since their mommy is blind, they fell to me too. Not that I am complaining, I didn’t mind, but it was hard not to feel depressed even when it wasn’t my kids (cuz I was praying mine wouldn’t get them back again of course… which they didn’t)
This is one of the things I hope never happens to me again, seriously. I felt HORRIBLE and so depressed when I was going through what you are now.
I will tell you what made my life a little easier… When I stopped trying to wash everything!
Because the fact is, lice cannot survive without being in hair.
Therefore, if you just do a conditioner treatment (I will tell ya what I mean in a sec) every day, or twice a day until the heads are clear, and then keep them up every week for a while… they WILL be gone!
What I am trying to say is there is no need for constant decontamination. That will kill ya.
The conditioner treatment is just that. Swathe their heads in conditioner (I used the cheapest I could find, and in Strawberry sent, because they hate strawberry sent I have read) and then run the nit comb through, and wipe on a napkin… you get them much easier than by picking!
You do that twice a day at first, on EVERY head.
Then you keep it up every night before bed for a while, and no worries: they’ll be gone.
Trust me, It is a lot easier than freakin out about it. I freaked out about it, and did what you said: decontaminated everything. I could not keep it up, however. I used the chemicals. It didn’t work. The stupid things came back. 🙁
But when I did the conditioner, it was so easy. Just do it before bed, let your worries go…
(Of course, I did try to keep my kids away from other kids, so at church they sat with me instead of their friends. They got them from some of the kids at church anyway.)
My prayers are with you, dear. It stinks, but “This too, shall pass.” I promise!!!
Live.Love.Eat says
Well, you’re definitely seeing the good through the bad. Good for you having a great attitude about a less than stellar week!
Anne A says
I feel for you! We had lice come home from my ex-mother-in-law’s one weekend, decontaminated, it came home another weekend, decontaminated… this went on every-other weekend for 3 months. No matter what I told their father, their grandmother, they still came home with it. I had spend hundreds of dollars and weeks worth of hours trying to get rid of it. I was very frustrated. Finally I just shaved everyone’s heads, threw out all the blankets, sheets, pillows and pillow cases. I laundered the jackets, steam cleaned the furniture and told my ex that he COULD NOT have them visit if it happened again. It was an extreme solution, but it worked! TG, cause I would NOT want to do it again!
Wendy says
Gosh! You have had a time this week! I’m so sorry and sending up prayers for you guys!
Sounds like you have handled the situation like a champ though…which doesn’t surprise me! Lol! I hope things get back to normal soon! God Bless!
momstheword says
Hey, I totally understand. You have done a ton of stuff this week, just not what you thought you’d be doing. BTW, I have not managed to finish my daily chore list even once this week…so don’t feel bad!
I don’t know if this is true or not, but a hairstylist once told me that the moms don’t usually get lice because they blow dry their hair and the heat kills the lice. That may be only her opinion, I don’t know. But none of my mom friends ever got lice when their kids did (the dads didn’t get it either).
Amy says
I have been out of pocket for a few days and came by and found your week has been a crazy one. I will certainly be praying for you. We had the same problem about 5 years ago. They are such a mess to try to deal with and get rid of. I hope the next few days are better for you. Our plans often change unexpectedly. We do however have a God who is faithful and we can take to Him all our troubles and needs. Blessings.