Licefreeeeeeee

This is a delicate subject and one you don't go broadcasting to everyone but here I am writing about it in my blog.  It's mainly for posterity and happened about a month ago.

The Deaton house was infected with LICE.  The most hygienic teenage girl EVER was the victim.  Karson got a sunburn on her face one weekend at the lake and around the same time, her head started itching. I simply assumed she'd got a sunburn on her head as well because she was scratching a lot.  Although I didn't see a burn or any red/peeling on her scalp,  it never occurred to me to inspect for lice.  She made it through her entire elementary school career without ever getting lice.  I mean those are the times when you WOULD get lice - there was always some sort of outbreak at Plano. In fact, one random day last year Miles broadcasted loudly in the car - well, we had a lice check today at school, and I didn't have any.  It's common in elementary school but high school?  Come on!  We tried dry scalp shampoo, essential oils, and my mom purchased a special shampoo - it seemed like she couldn't get any relief.  One day at school, she texted me that a friend saw some bugs in her hair.  I texted back and said I was 100% sure she didn't have bugs in her hair especially since I fix it for her most days.  I decided to do some major inspecting that night (week 2 at this point).  She had a game and didn't get home until close to 8:30 PM. I moved the hair back from behind her ear and saw bugs scrambling.  OH NOOOOOO!  I immediately facetimed my friend who's daughter had lice the year before and was an expert.  She told me that she had tried lots of products and Licefreee! was the only thing that worked for her daughter.  It was chaos in the house.  I started stripping beds, bagging pillows, boiling water for hairbrushes and hairbands while Matt rushed into town to Walgreen's to get the Lice kit. 

Matt didn't get back home until 9:30, and I immediately applied the gel treatment - dead bugs all over the combs as I clawed through her hair with it.  Gross.  She slipped on the shower cap and waited for an entire hour (the minimum amount of time) before washing it out.  The instructions suggested using the nit comb to get everything out  before rinsing but there was no way that comb was getting through her thick head of hair with all of that gloppy gel on there.  I was laundering her towel so I grabbed mine and took her to bathroom for rinsing (10:30 PM on a school night people).  All sorts of bugs were falling out and running down the drain.  It was a SIGHT (one I hope to never see again).  She wrapped my white towel around her head and when she started drying it off, there were bugs all over the towel. There was no way I would be able to get all of the nits out of her hair, and she needed to go to bed because it was getting late (and by bed, it was the couch because I was washing her sheets and comforter).  Plus, she wanted to get up early and shampoo with the (included) Lice Shampoo because her hair was nasty and smelled.  I knew the next day would be brutal - she had basketball, a big Chem exam, volleyball practice after school but fortunately, she was touched by an angel.  I hate to say that because it was at the expense of Hurricane Harvey.  We had an enormous amount of rain and school was called off that Friday.

I had to go to work but texted my mom and asked if she would come over and work on Karson's hair.  It was a daunting task and mom spent a few hours combing and removing nits.  I literally spent about four days on her hair.  It was grueling.  We went to the lake for Labor Day and my cousin gave me some tips (she's a social worker and has dealt with lice quite a bit).  She showed me exactly what to look for and suggested flat ironing which I had never thought about but it a brillant idea. It not only fries the bugs but gets the hair nice and straight for sectioning and combing.  She's had two treatments to date and appears to be free of the critters.  I'm happy that I was infected because she and I share a lot of hair products - brushes, rubber bands.  A common misconception with lice is that they fly and jump.  They don't.  The primary way they are transferred is from head to head contact.  You can get them from wearing a hat of an infected person or laying on their pillow.  It's still a mystery to me (and her) how/when she got them.  I'm an expert now, call me with any questions. 

The fun never stops!  

I don't want this entire post to be about lice so let's make it better and highlight some other events of the month....like the Titans game.  Matt's uncle David gave us some great tickets to see them play the Raiders.  It was my first NFL game and was a blast.  I watched some of the game but my favorite part of any football game is watching the people and all the fans.  It's a SHOW not just a football game.

Volleyball is about to wrap up next month, but basketball practice, weightlifting and conditioning already started at the first of school so Karson has been pulling doubletime.  I am grateful for friends like Michael McSween who brings his nice camera to all of the games and captures some of the best action shots.  What a kind thing to do!  I love having them!

 Grandparents Day at Plano was a hit for Miles who is now our only Panther.  It's hard to believe that he's already at 5th grader and growing up quickly.  Nana, Pap, Pops and Miles enjoyed breakfast together.  We have an incredible PTO and staff at Plano who coordinate this special event.  I don't know what we would do without our "grandparents" - they are our lifeline in so many ways.  I'm thankful our kids have so much love in their lives!

Matt's cousin Allie got married this month, and we attempted to grab a family photo at the church.  Yep, we don't match.  Yep, it's tricky getting a nice smile and pose.  Yep, I'm working on getting a family picture organized during Fall Break.  We need a redo which might involve a bottle of wine for me before the session.