Tuesday, June 12, 2018

It has been a bit chaotic around here the last few days. No, seriously our house has been hit by the plague of lice 😩😱. I understand that it is part of life. When your children go to school or are around other children there is always a chance that they will be affected. Knowing all of that, being an educator myself and knowing that it in no way reflects the cleanliness of a child afflicted by it, it still absolutely freaks me out and it makes me go into some crazy state of mind. The girls had their first case of lice within the first few months of us living in Chicago, but we have not have any issues since this weekend. I was aware that when we switched Chloe to public school the chances of getting lice were greatly increased, sure enough Saturday I discovered the nasty things and it has been extraction city going on in my house. I asked for prayer on FB. I was really vague because frankly I was not in a good place to tell the FB world the depths of my despair (okay maybe too dramatic), but the fact is that I need this lice situation completely gone by Sunday. I am taking the girls to church camp on Sunday. They check for lice. If you have lice you cannot stay and that makes me panic. I have washed everything three times and have treated the girls and myself. Emma has a really dry scalp and after combing through Chloe's hair for about six hours over the last few days I wasn't quite sure what I was seeing in Emma's hair. Also, have you seen my girl's hair lately? Long and thick and panic if I even mention giving them a trim. I treated Emma's hair on Sunday and we have been doing natural treatments/prevention every day since Saturday. Jeremy said you can smell the oils I have been using before you open the front door 😉. I still would like prayers that we will all be lice free today, but especially by Sunday. Chloe was checked at school today and was given a clean report, so I am thankful for that! Emma has had her heart set on going to camp for two years. She went two summers ago but last year the week of camp was the only week we had to take a family vacation. She would be crushed if we get there and there is a problem with her staying. There is also my anxiety because the camp is 5 hours away, I can't just go home and treat them and send them back. I had originally planned to just send Emma, but Jeremy and I decided that it would be good for Chloe to go as well. Because of some recent issues it was decided that I would also need to go and stay for the week. I am pretty excited. This camp is one of my favorite places in the entire world. It is where at six years old I gave my life to Jesus. It is were as a junior high student I surrendered all of my plans and dreams to Jesus. This place is Holy Ground. It is a place that has changed so many lives and I pray that my girls (and Sam since he is going to) will have their hearts stirred and that decisions will be made that will forever change their lives for the Kingdom.

I have been stressed about the lice thing, two other things that I cannot mention yet, and trying to get everything for the kids next year. They all need physicals, dental exams, and vision exams, and I know it is irrational, but it stresses me out. When I called to make the kids physical appointments the lady on the phone made me feel like a terrible mom. Apparently it has been three years since their last well check-up. Honestly, I didn't know they needed to go every year once they got older. She said the kids would need to be considered new patients. My kids are not sick very often, but Samuel was just there about 7 months ago to get his nose bleeds checked out. They have all been at least twice for other issues. I told the lady that I had been in several times and nobody told me they were due a well exam and nobody from their office had called to schedule anything. I am guessing the dentist will be the same story, ugh.  I also have a small window to get them done because I think that we will have a small lapse in insurance over the summer. Even with insurance three kids at three different appointments still runs up a bill and I have felt myself getting really worked up over everything. Will God work it out? Of course! But how do I settle my spirit? I am guessing a week in the woods will be good for me as well.

Emma's hair 😲. Even if she had lice, I am not quite sure how they managed to find her scalp (HA). So much hair! Going through each strand trying to keep it together. So many hours combing through both girls hair. My back was hurting and it was terrible. But then last night as I was putting Listerine (pictured above) in Emma's hair and then placed a shower cap on her head, the Lord reminded me of all the quality time I had spent with each girl over the last three days. Hours upon hours of just me and my girls. I am not sure the last time I washed their hair or spent that amount of uninterrupted time with them. Last night as we were letting Emma's hair dry under the shower cap we just hung out in the basement folding socks and laughing about the silliest things. Emma shared some of her fears about going to a new school and afraid that she will not make any friends because of her quirkiness. It was sweet few hours with just Emma and a reminder to not miss the beautiful moments even in the chaos.