Lice: Chapter 2

Things I would rather be doing besides picking through hair and looking for nits:

reading a book

taking a nap

knitting my poncho, baby hats, blanket

crocheting my baby sweater

eating

vaccuuming

going to Disney World

But alas, I have found myself focused on the hair of my, not one, but two  children this week. Lolly’s hair: WHY SO MUCH? WHY SO BROWN?

After a lot of research and trial and error, here is what I do NOT recommend:

Panicking.  Absolutely do not panic.  You will be able to figure this out.  It’s going to be ok.

Cetaphil treatment. It takes hours and hours and hours, and guess what, the only live bug I missed while applying the cetaphil, was still alive after it was all over.  This technique also removes no nits, so you have to wait for them to hatch and do it all again.  Sounds fun? I think not.

Nix alone. I only use nix as a final step precaution.  I learned this time through that the live lice are fast and climb side to side, not just up and down the hair shaft.  I took a break from Phoebe’s hair and when I got back, the live lice had crawled into the section I had already finished checking!  Just for kicks I give them the shampoo treatment after I think I have extracted all the live bugs, so that no more new eggs are being laid.  I’ve heard our lice are immune to it though, so it probably does nothing. Also, it doesn’t kill eggs.

Here is what TO DO:

I usually don my headlamp (see Chapter 1) and comb through the entire scalp piece by piece (I have found it is more effective when the hair is wet), and extract each bug and nit manually.  This is the only way to rest at night.  This was manageable with one kid, and that kid being Phoebe.  However, when BOTH came down with it during the school year (we have VERY LIMITED hours to nit pick), I needed a new strategy.

Night 1: Pick through both, do the best I could . 4.5 hours.
Night 2: Pick through both, this time recruit a friend for simultaneous nit-picking. 2 hours.
3 days later: Nisska/Conditioner Technique:

This technique only took 1 hour and 15 minutes per kid. I could handle doing this as my first resort next time.  I was a bit skeptical at first, but sure enough, you can totally see the nit in that conditioner when the comb gets one…and it seems more painless and less time-consuming.  A week after combing through both kids heads twice, I found a small amount of nits on each girl.

Sources: Nisska Comb (superior. worth every penny)

Conditioner Concoction.  I don’t know that I needed the baking soda this time because I was pretty sure no nits had hatched, but I used it anyway.

I know this will not be the last time I do this.  They have been washing minimally with tea tree shampoo and using the lice shield spray (NOT very vigilantly).  I think I may start blow-drying their hair because the lice appear in the heat, and then maybe it will force me to check in with their heads more often…I have been doing it about once a month since Chapter 1.

One thing’s for sure, I will be checking a few weeks before my due date, so that that is not welcoming us home from the hospital too.

Midwives: Part 1

I realized the other day that I have never had a blog while pregnant.  I have posted about mommy stuff over at Tales from the Crib, (feel free to browse), but not had a blog during this delicate time.

I thought it might be a good time to write a post advocating for The Midwife.

When I first became pregnant 11 years ago, the only thing I knew is that I wanted to have a baby.  I was 22 years old, and I did not have enough life experience to have any preconceived ideas on anything about pregnancy and childbirth.  None of my close friends had been through it, none of my siblings had done it, my only point of reference was my mom’s last two children, and their c-section deliveries.

It is perhaps for that reason that c-sections and doctors and hospital stays was on my radar.  All I remember is that as soon as I knew I was pregnant, I started spending a lot of time on baby websites trying to learn about what had just happened to me.  I soon found myself reading up on Midwives vs. Doctors.  Every time I read there was one thing that stood out to me:  Doctors have an alarmingly higher cesarean rate than midwives.  If my chances of not having a c-section went down with a midwife–sign me up!

Unfortunately, the HMO insurance I was on had many grey areas and I received some misinformation early on in my care, that led me to believe I would have to switch to a midwife late in the game of my pregnancy.  At 34 weeks I saw my midwife practice for the first time, and that was not enough time!  I did the best I could to get to know each of them (only 2 still stand out in my mind–the two that were there for the delivery), and get into the midwife groove.

At this practice the birthing center was free-standing, and unless I had complications of some sort, I had to commit to giving birth there. I had some fear about that, but I decided to trust in the midwives. In the end, I had to be admitted to the hospital from the start because I was induced a few weeks past my original due date, but thankfully my midwives had privileges there and still delivered me.

I wanted to give birth without the epidural, but since not having pain medication was not my main reason for choosing a midwife (remember, I did NOT want to be cut open), I ended up with the epidural for my first birth.  Now that I am 10 years past that experience and have since read Ina May’s Childbirth, I know exactly what went wrong in that room that caused me to get that epidural, and I wish I could do it over again.  However, I do think that having a midwife prevented a c-section for me, because my baby’s heart rate was dipping for every contraction by the time we got to the pushing, and the midwife worked with me to find (a ridiculous I might add) position to push in, and get that baby out the way she was meant to come out!  For that, I am so grateful.

My Loves

Lolly:

You wanted to join chess club, so I let you, and after one session you knew how to play pretty well.  And now you always want to play, so your Dad decided to get you a chess board.  Your obsession is pretty cute.

It was parents day at gymnastics, and just before the coach arrived, Lolly pulled me aside and asked that I NOT correct the coach when she called her a name that was not hers. Apparently she has been going by a different name the entire semester, by choice, and is just fine with it. Hilario.

Announcing to the whole school that your Mom is having a baby and the names that are on the table for a boy or girl.

We had a sleepover when Phoebe was at her own, and then spent the next day together. You declared it the BEST DAY EVER because it was just you and your parents, but when we finally returned home and Phoebe was gone, you had a little fit cause you missed her so much.

Defending Phoebe when I hurt her feelings.

Declaring days the BEST day ever or the WORST day ever or both in the same day (5 minute period, afternoon.)

As we were looking at the ultrasond, every time you saw a straight line (there are lots of those–bones in arms, legs etc.), you said: Is that the penis? Is THAT the penis? (wishful thinking)

Almost being separated on the subway, but when I jammed my arms in the doors and made it in, you knew the “family plan for if we get separated on the subway” very well.

Phoebe:

You and your sister spent quite a few minutes examining every person that is illustrated on our everyday china and declared the designer racist because there was only one person who maybe could have been something other than white, but it was a stretch.

Getting better at recognizing your weaknesses and working on turning them to strengths.

When you found dried pigeon poop on your scarf, you went and cleaned it up. I love that about you–you don’t freak out about gross stuff, you take care of it!

We were discussing politics on the train and you expressed interested in wearing a Romney t-shirt. I cautioned you that a lot of your classmates may be rooting for Obama and so that might require some conversation. She pointed to her giant furry cat hat and said: “If I have the courage to wear this, I can handle a Romney t shirt.”

Texting me how to make frozen vegetables while I was running. It was only 2 miles! Can I PLEASE just have 2 miles to myself?  Without having to text what a tablespoon is and where the pampered chef microwave bowl is????

Learning to knit lickety-split…it took me forever.

After finding out the baby is a girl, you asked with a little horror in your voice: “what if she’s a tomboy?”

BOTH:

You girls wrote us apology valentines cards after you were just plain BAD one afternoon….so manipulative–it totally worked.

Baby:

You have already become a part of the family. Lolly insists on counting us as 5.

In the morning sometimes you wake me up with your nudges, and right now (anyway) I find it sweet.

Everywhere I go everyone is asking who you are–what gender are you?  There are a lot of loving people excited to welcome you into the world.  You will be born into many arms of love.

You are a girl!  The doc thinks you are measuring small (big surprise! same story with every pregnancy) and wanted to send me to get some genetic testing done to make sure everything is ok. I said: I’m keeping whoever comes out of me, so let’s just skip it!

Trying out your name here and there….I think it’s gonna stick.

Jason:

When your life turned into stuff that movies are made of, you took a moment and then played your role beautifully.  So proud of you.

Love that you are so proud of Lolly’s new chess hobby and try to squeeze in short games whenever you can.

Listening to you practice with and play chess with Lolly while I nit-picked in the bathroom = hilarious.

Being excited for the growing belly and continuing to be outnumbered, as if one Kristy wasn’t enough.

Working so very many hours now a days but carving out time for the girls’ important events.

Me:

Since it’s leap year, does that mean my due date is even later?

Frogging my poncho–so glad I did because I figured out my mistake and I feel so happy with what I am making now.

Slice of Life

Did you hear picnik is closing? How will I update my blog with collages? Google+ better not mess this up. I heart Picnik!

Little Gymnast

My baby is going to be tall. It’s a fact.  She is not very coordinated or flexible, but the girl wanted to do gymnastics, so I let her.  I’m not saying I am gymnast material, but at around 5 years of age I was doing aerials.  And I can still do the splits and touch the ground when standing on a step.  I am flexible. Lolly has not my genes in this area.

When I was waiting to watch her for parent-share day, she came over to me and whispered in my ear: “Mom, don’t say anything if everyone calls me (insert a name that is not hers).”  Apparently she decided to be a different girl for the past several months. I found it hilarious to hear the coach and kids call her this name over and over again. She kept looking at me with her mischievous smile whenever this happened, and once didn’t respond at all–because that’s NOT her name!

It makes sense then that one day when I told her I might be 5 minutes late, I found her with coat and backpack on, waiting for me outside on Amsterdam Avenue in the middle of Manhattan. If you trust a 6-year-old to call her a name that isn’t on the books, I guess you wouldn’t know if she took it upon herself to leave the building without a guardian.

What a great kid.

Hiding

I’ve been getting a lot of comments lately about how people didn’t even notice I was pregnant before the girls told them, and I was past my 4-month mark. That is exactly what I want to hear because I was TRYING TO HIDE it!

For my first I was anxious to be in maternity clothes (stupid), and my second I can’t remember how I felt or how I dressed.  This time, I was hiding it from everyone because of my Christmas surprise, but now, hiding it is still not a bad thing.

As I started popping a bit, I realized, that I wear many form-fitting clothes.  This makes sense because of my profession and because I accentuate my thinnest, most flattering part, which happens to be my waist. Unfortunately with pregnancy, the waist becomes obsolete!

My plan of action was to internet shop for tops that were not form fitting, and guess what? there are a lot out there!  I found most success on Urban Outfitters.  They dress these skinny models in baggy, empire-waisted, tunic tops! Bingo!  I bought 4 items in my normal size, and they hid my belly perfectly.  I also bought a baggy blouse from H and M and wore a dress of mine where the natural waist was not quite empire, but up just enough to still button closed!

I also find that some of my true-waisted skirts that used to be a little big and then became more of a relaxed waist skirt on non-pregnant me, are now fitting as true-waisted, sitting right there on my now-a-bit-thicker waist.  That photo of me in the skirt is at 19 weeks! Pretty good!  It only works because it is a full skirt.  I had a fitting for a pencil skirt at 18 weeks and the bump was definitely a bump!

My point is not to brag, because I am a regular old pregnant girl…my point is that we should FIGHT the blah maternity clothes as long as possible!

I tried this sweatshirt with the pockets on and compared it to a maternity shirt of a similar style, and the maternity shirt ACCENTUATED the belly, and this shirt did not…the pockets conceal a ton (I thought the opposite might be true).

My main problem now, going into the next part of my pregnancy is less the belly and more the love handles.  I can wear a few pairs of normal pants still, but the muffin top is out of control.  I now prefer sweaters and longer tops with tights/leggings and boots to conceal the yucky back.  But I like the challenge of fitting into non-maternity clothes–then I will have more options when I am transitioning (hopefully) back to normal me.

I have some warm-climate trips coming up and I will be my biggest in a warm climate, so I have bought a few maternity pieces… I am curious to see how I will like them!  I feel so out of the loop with wear to get the best maternity stuff!

Next challenge: nursing without “nursing” tops.

3 for 3

When I met Jason’s mom Tina, over a decade ago, whenever I visited I sensed some sadness from her about losing her baby girl 20 years earlier.  I don’t think the baby even made it into their home, but she was born all the same, the last of 3 children, the only girl.  When Tina was near death, she began speaking of her daughter to Jason and the thought of their reunion after her death brought us much comfort.

Jason and his brother are the only Glass grandchildren of 4 Glass sons the generation before them.  His Dad has 3 brothers and Jason has 1 brother.  I know that Tina is hard at work lining up baby girls to send to us to see that we are not without a female influence.  She’s done it again:

Third Person Thursday

She went to bed on Sunday with dread in her soul. She just knew Monday was going to be a bad day.

When the alarm went off she verbally groaned and was absolutely ticked off to be awake.  She got the kids ready, one left early, she took the other to school and then stayed for the pta meeting and violin lesson. She realized then that there was a 100 percent chance of rain for the rest of the day so she schlepped all the way home to get the umbrellas.  She then attended the flute lesson and ran a few errands.  Throughout all activities that required sitting, she struggled to stay awake.

At pick up, one daughter wanted to go with a friend to get some pinkberry and the other threw a fit about it, and this drove her nearly to tears (because she is pregnant and underrested.), so she said absolutely not and made them stick to the original plan: do homework and hang out until Mother/Daughter hip hop.  She laid her head on the lunchroom table and finally took her nap.

Hip hop was fun, but by the time the kids had eaten, practiced and got in their pajamas, she was ready to go to bed too. She fell in and out of sleep during reading time, and they all had lights out at 8:30.

Tuesday was a much better day. She had 10 hours of sleep, ran a few miles, walked with a spring in her step.  There was no rain.  She had lunch with a few friends, one who had been gone to France for some time and was back to visit.  After school they went to pinkberry and then rushed home.  She was hosting book club that night so as she was just about to get the hot chocolate bar ready, when both girls almost simultaneously complained of an itchy scalp.

She knew they both suffered from itchy scalps in the winter, but ever since lice, she takes all complaints of an itchy scalp seriously.  She checked Lolly-clear. She checked Phoebe-nit! She cursed. Phoebe heard.  She kept checking- nit!  She went back and checked Lolly more closely-nit! nit! nit!

She thanked the heavens that this did not happen on Monday night, because she knew she would have melted into a puddle of grief.  She was still not exactly happy, especially 4 hours later when she had missed the book club happening in the next room and extracted a lot of nits and lice from BOTH of her daughters hair.  The next morning was picture day. (maniacal laughter).

Crochet: Afghan

My goal is to finish all my unfinished yarn projects before June. On the list: bullseye afghan (check), poncho, baby hats, baby sweater, baby afghan (not all for my baby btw), cowl of many colors (2 I hope), turkey hat (maybe), ipod covers, a few scarves, and knitted chevron baby blanket. I have a lot to do.

But! I finished my first one:

This is the second bullseye afghan I have made, this time for my sister!  I like how it turned out. This is really fun and fast to make.

Snow

This past weekend we had our first official snowfall. (Halloween does NOT count).  Lolly simply cannot resist it.

I can’t resist taking her photo. I eventually hid behind a glass door though-much warmer and dryer there.