LICE.

I thought we just might get away without experiencing this little rite of passage, but no. Last Thursday as I was braiding Tess's hair I found lice on her head.

Erlack.

I tried to make sure she didn't feel ashamed or scared, but also sternly explained that she was NOT to sit on any beds or couches or roll on the floor. She was NOT to rub her head on me or on anything else. She had to sit at the kitchen table and watch cartoons while I checked her brothers and got them off to school.

She was fine with all of this except the her not going to school part. Miss a day of Kindergarten? Travesty!!

Thank goodness both Josh and Cole were lice free. Josh tried to convince me he needed to stay home as well, but I would have none of it. (That boy cries wolf trying to get out of school a good 2-3 times per week. It's a lovely phase...)

We all talked about what lice is and how it can't hurt you and it doesn't mean you're dirty, but that it is hard to get rid of and can be pretty contagious. Then I called the school to let them know what was going on. What a fun phone call that was.

After the boys left for school, Tess and I went down to CVS to get supplies. The checkout lady was so nice in helping us find what we needed, and even offered to sell me a bag of clearance Halloween candy for 75% off (Instead of the 50% it was marked). Sold.

Unfortunately, the lice kit we bought was pretty worthless. The lice killing shampoo slowed the little critters down but definitely did not kill them. And the little plastic comb? Worse than worthless. So on the advice of a friend who has had to deal with lice several times (lucky girl!), I went off in search of a metal comb. We went to Sally Beauty Supply, which had kind of a judgey checkout girl but an amazing metal lice comb for only $4, so that was a win. Then we walked next door to Nature's Pharms, the local naturalist store, and bought some tea tree oil because it was time to try some alternative lice-ridding methods.

I used a combo of coconut and tea tree oil on Tess's head and have spent literal hours (at least 7) over the past few days combing through her hair. She had been just so so good about it all. She sits and watches cartoons while I try my best not to pull the hair out of her head. I section her hair, comb through a small part, wipe the comb each time on a paper towel, and then start again. The paper towels go into a Ziploc bag for safety, and the combs, brushes, and bobby pins soak in boiling soapy water after. I've been using a flashlight and a bright lamp to help find the nits. I've used oils and apple cider vinegar, and both seem to do a great job. In 9 days I'll comb again to make sure we've gotten everything - by then any nits that might be left behind will have hatched but won't be old enough to lay eggs.

I've also done a bit of cleaning, vacuuming of floors and furniture, and washing of clothes in the sanitize cycle. But from all that I've read, lice can't live for long when not on a human. Still, better safe than sorry!

We've spent the last few days with sympathy itching on our heads, checking each other's scalps like a family of primates. Good times.

Tess is treating this like a badge of courage. "I'm the only kid who has had Scarlet Fever AND lice! Did you have Scarlett Fever, Mommy?" Nope. And nope to the lice, too. Which makes her even prouder.

Fingers crossed and lots of prayers said that this is the worst of it and we won't have a rebound episode. This whole experience hasn't been awful, but it sure hasn't been fun, either.