From the category archives:

raising girls

Head Lice :: A True Story

by Michelle on August 9, 2010

Do you watch Arthur? Have you seen the one where the kids get head lice?

Well, about 3 years ago we watched that episode. A couple days after we went to Kohl’s, Emily scratched her head, and shouted out, I think I have lice. I promptly told her she did not it was all in her head from watching Arthur.

I can’t remember if it was that night, or the next night but we were visiting with my parents and Emily was still scratching her head. I told her to stop and to quit thinking about that episode. Finally, I looked and [i wanted to prove to her that she did not have head lice] I was wrong! Y’all I thought I was gonna die right then and there.

We left the lake. Stopped by Wal-Mart, picked up a couple boxes of the lice killing stuff, went home and I cried. I think I went through every emotion known to man in a short period of time. I was scared [what if i couldn’t get them all] I was completely and utterly grossed out. Seriously. The thought of bugs crawling around in my kids hair freaked me out. Big time. Then I got mad. I was determined to find out who they got head lice from and let them have it.

We started the whole ordeal of trying to get rid of the lice. It was torturous. I wanted to go through every strand of hair on their heads {at the time their hair was very long} but with 3 girls and myself needing treatment I did as the box said and did a section at a time.

The next day, I had to do the most horrid thing and call everyone that the girls had been around. One being my sister and her newborn baby. Yes, again, I freaked out. And cried some more.

I thought they would be gone the next day. They were not. I searched and searched the internet for how to kill lice. I read the most awful things about the stuff you buy in the store and swore I would not put that back on their little heads again. Finally, we found something that worked. And that is the main reason for this post. In case you ever need to know.

All you need is 2 ingredients, a small comb and a whole lotta patience.

Mayonnaise & vinegar quickly became my best friends.

Completely cover hair with mayo. Wrap head in plastic wrap [to keep from getting in eyes] let it sit for 3 or 4 hours. And yes, it will stink and you will forever more think of lice when you smell mayo.

Rinse hair to get as much of the mayo out as you can. Then pour vinegar on hair and let sit for a couple of minutes. With your fine tooth comb in hand, sit in front of the t.v. for hours as you go through each strand of hair.

The mayo kills the live lice. The vinegar makes it easier to get the eggs out. Ick! 

I think you only need to do this twice to make sure you get them all. But me being who I am, did it like 3 or 4 times.

We were lice free. At least for about 5 months. Yes, we got it again. Yes, I cried. And yes, we got rid of the nasty little creatures using this method again. Also, be sure to clean sheets, pillows and blankets. And, you can pack up stuffed animals for 24 hours in a trash bag. Lice will die within 24 hours if not roaming around in your hair. So, we just shut off the girls room for 24 hours instead of going through every single thing.

I am now scratching my head. I hate lice.

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Enjoy This Time

by Michelle on July 12, 2010

sarah big smile (1 of 1)

She’s full of energy. Energy that I wish she would share with me. Energy that allows her to run up and down the stairs a hundred times a day.

This third girl of mine never tires of changing clothes, dancing or twirling around the house.

She is our entertainment. Our joy. Our hearts.

Though she drives her sisters insanely crazy, they love her unconditionally. Some days more than others.

She has her own way of doing things. Her own very reason, things that make sense to her, yet, leave us shaking our heads wondering what she was thinking.

To her a television is not at its best unless it smells of perfume, and has a coat of lip gloss over it, just to make it pretty.

She is full of silliness. Of laughter. Of happiness.

She is my girl. My third. My baby.

As she goes about her day I find myself ignoring her little pleas for help, often times telling her to do it herself, she’s big enough and doesn’t need me.

And it hit me, hard, today when I wanted to help her, and she just repeated back to me what I always say.

I can do it mommy. I don’t need your help.

My advice to new parents, is always the same, enjoy this time, the newness, the gift of a child, it goes by way too fast.

Unfortunately, I’m finding that to be a very true statement today.

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Before & After

June 28, 2010

::before::

::after::

emily and audrey donated 10 inches of hair to locks of love week before last. they love having shorter hair.
more pictures to come as soon as i talk them into striking a pose

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Where I’m From

June 23, 2010

I am from dresses and patent leather shoes, from cornbread, glass coke bottles, and playing in the creek.
I am from the house behind Grandpa & Grandma, a pasture with roaming cows as my backyard, the smell of corn feed lingering in the air.
I am from touch-me-not flowers, stealing kisses from snapdragons, climbing up the [...]

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His Girl

May 27, 2010

A couple weeks ago I began working with the middle & high school girls at church. Over the summer we will be going through the His Girl bible study. We are loving it.

Last night we worked through the session self-worth. Lots to cover. We actually broke this one into two sessions, I just [...]

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Just Call Me Lola

May 25, 2010

The other night we were talking about what names we had picked out for the girls before they were born. I believe for Emily we had Jacob picked out for a boy ……….. and my nephew when asked what we should name her, said butterfly, and that’s what he called her until she was born.
I [...]

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