Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Feeling Louse-y



I stood in the shower and called to Tom, “Do you want to do it in here or somewhere else?” With a strange look on his face, he said, “How about the kitchen?”

I’d like to say we were having a romantic moment, and if I think about it, what we did was indeed intimate, but it is probably not what you’re thinking. However, I must say having a spouse de-louse your head definitely brings you closer together.

I was paranoid on our trip to NYC that we’d bring home bedbugs. I didn’t allow anyone to put luggage on the floor or beds, and I even pulled back the sheets to take a look—nothing.

I was completely unprepared, however, to pick up lice in my own home state. For the record, if anyone from the kids’ school is reading this: I am the one who had lice. Please do not treat my kids like pariahs when school starts. I did treat Molly for lice anyway, because she was in close contact w/ the vector like I was, but so far, so good.

It’s pretty funny that I’m the one who got it, b/c as an elementary kid I was obsessed w/ lice. When we’d all line up for our lice checks, I held my breath, knowing for sure that the school nurse would find something. When she didn’t, I wasn’t satisfied, and would make my mom check me again and again. After about 5 years of this, she refused to check me any more. “ANNA, YOU DO NOT HAVE LICE!”

I guess it was just my time. I have done 30 loads of laundry and wonder if my efforts have been successful. The entire louse count at our house thus far has been ONE and I pray that’s the way it stays. My hair is brittle and unbrushed. No conditioner for at least 7 days! I’ve thrown away my brushes and hesitate to buy new ones in case the pestilence returns.

Tom and I have grown closer as he conducts the nightly inspection. I mean, you can’t watch tv or read blogs while your hubby is checking you for lice. We’ve talked about the beginning of school, our crazy fall schedules and every few moments he comments on my flaky scalp. He keeps calling it dandruff, but for the record I’d like to state that my scalp has recently undergone harsh chemical treatment for de-lousing and what he is seeing might just be a sign of an eensy bit of stress.

6 comments:

Kate Coveny Hood said...

Oh I'm sorry - that's awful. I did pick up lice a couple of times as a child. And I'm always so grateful that I didn't realize just how horrifying that is!

Shana said...

You have made me itchy. When my big kids were little kids one of them came home with lice. It never made it to me, but that didn't stop me from being totally skeeved out by the whole thing. God bless your husband for delousing you. That's one good man.

Gretchen said...

How in the world did YOU get lice if your kids don't have it? Have you been wearing your BFF's headband??? Did you use the free comb at the photo studio??? hee-hee

Just kidding. Sorry to hear your bad luck. Glad to hear that you have it under control, though. The whole IDEA of getting lice and washing everything and getting it all clean... just the IDEA of it makes me woozy.

Rebecca said...

The only time in my life that I had really short hair was when I got lice in France at age 11. I was devestated that I had to cut my long hair (I had and still have a little bit of a Samson thing going on with my hair)!

I agree with shana, good man!

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

I got to help Tom out last night by de-lousing him! It was back to the washer and dryer all day today. He had kindly snuggled in bed with each of the kids at bedtime in their newly sanitized beds, so I had to start from scratch (no pun intended) The kids are still clear...

I appreciate the sympathy, ladies!

david_dvdson said...

for someone who has tried getting rid of head lice in their daughers head, this is really spot on.