The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Since this is the only thing close to a baby book we'll have for Ruby and Ella, it seems only appropriate to write about the good, the bad and the ugly.  We're all good thankfully but Ruby got lice which was bad and ugly all wrapped in one.

Ruby was itching her head for a week or so but I didn't think much of it.  It was really warm so she'd been playing outside a lot, she goes swimming every week and we don't wash her hair that often (her curls look better as her hair gets dirtier).  Finally one day I looked at her scalp and totally saw a black bug.   Disgusting!

I asked Dr. Google about lice and one site said to have a school nurse or teacher check it out.  I was on Spring Break or I would've taken her to my school.  I felt like a loser but called Ruby's school figuring 1) they've seen lice before and 2) they should know she had lice.  Both of the teachers checked her head and said she was fine.  They did mention that someone had lice the week before but it was a MWF student and Ruby goes on TTh.  I'm no expert but I believe lice can live a day.  Anyway, I was still worried so I called the pediatrician.  They didn't even want to see her and said treat it ASAP.  They gave me specific instructions for a non toxic treatment that uses Cetaphil and heat to basically encase and suffocate the bugs.  It takes hours to do and then they have to keep it in their hair for 12 more hours.  Easy right?  Not when you're leaving for Disneyland the next morning at 5 AM.

I did the treatment as quickly as possible and rinsed her hair out before bedtime that night.  She wasn't itching as bad during our trip so I thought we were in the clear.  You're supposed to repeat the treatment every seven days for three weeks.  It's a huge pain in the behind but I did it anyway just to be safe (no small feat with a baby in the house as well).  I thought we were in the clear until I noticed Ruby itching again.  Seriously? 

This time I had no intention of spending hours treating her.  It was a Sunday but I booked the next available appointment at Lovebugs in Los Gatos.  They check everyone in the family for free and treat the lice for $90 an hour.  Adam and I were fine but Ruby still had bugs.  They treated her for an hour and we haven't seen it again.  Best $90 I've ever spent!

Ruby actually liked going to  Lovebugs.  They sit you in a big chair and put on a video.  First she watched a Scooby Doo movie and then The Little Mermaid 2 (we didn't even know there was a sequel).  After they are done they french braid your hair which Ruby thought made her look like a princess.  I thought it screamed "my kid was treated for lice" but she was happy and bug free so I didn't complain.































Knock on wood this will be our first and last experience with lice.  Haha.