Nit-Pik

verb (used without object)

1. to be excessively concerned with or critical of inconsequential details

verb (used with object)

2. to criticize by focusing on inconsequential details

noun

3. a carping, petty criticism

adjective

4. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a nitpicker or nitpicking

Today I experienced another definition of nit-pik.  As in, I am picking nits.  Out of hair.  A lot of them.  And they are not inconsequential. I criticized (aka swore) as I nit-picked (definition 3). So really, how did this nit-pik NOT make the list....like 5.  verb the act of picking nits...a lot of them...out of hair.  At one point in time, I wished for a pet monkey.  They love picking bugs.  Why don't I have a monkey?  Before today I never even knew what a nit, egg, louse...looked like.  Um at this exact moment in time their characteristics are etched into my brain.  So anyway, 1st little Nitty....Max! Who is DE-LIGHTED to have lice.  He announces it to everyone who passes the nurse's office.  In fact, we may get a bill board.  Nitty #2....Mommy- who as soon as Max was "diagnosed" knew with 100% certainty that she had it.  I mean, I could feel them crawling (ok so you can't really feel them, but I DID).  #3...Ella who came to the nurse's office in tears...more from stigma than anything else...because really, what 5th grade girl wants to deal with that?! She was cleared.  Woohoo....So we end up going home..Ella included just to do a treatment - safe than sorry.  I called Josh- demanded he come home.  I was not dealing with the joy of lice by myself...why should I have all the fun?  Plus he is bald...so will never experience the true gift.  Keelin, by the way, was cleared at school.  

Another teacher at my school gave me a brochure for a company called the Lice Ladies.  Sold...as it was difficult for me to treat myself and I am pretty sure I am little bald myself after Josh just started to pull hair out.  We get busy....vacuuming, bagging up stuffed animals, and did about 10 laundry loads of hot water wash (hello hot water bill).  Ella, Max, and I head to the LL.  They were pretty cool...it was a neat adventure and unfortunately when you have a moderate case, you need another treatment so it will not be the last time I see the LL :( Oh and they did find some on Ella.  Who took it a little better and received her treatment.  

I picked up an OTC treatment at the drug store to treat Kee.  I found a dead one (woo hoo) and some casings so I hope she is in the clear.  Anyway she was treated.  And here I sit.  

Did you know....At least 60% of the US population will have the critters at least once in their life time....that it is as rampant as the common cold....oh and about 20 kids from my school got sent home today.  So at least the Ungersquad is not alone in this lovely infestation.  

Totally hate that Ella cried so bad about it.  I did not have Max's enthusiasm, but I really felt the stigma attached...I think I will try to be more enthusiastic, like Max, like today was an adventure (that I never want to go on again.)

Post treatment - still loving the adventure

My new BFFs

Ouch....but a nitless head is kinda priceless

Bye Bye Tonsils

So my little Maxer has GINORMOUS, I mean BIG tonsils.  Ever since he was little.  He has a rough, raspy little voice that I love.  He had tubes put in when he was about a year old.  The ENT commented on his tonsils being so big but since they were not continually infected and he could breathe (uh yeah...I sure hope so) - they were not causing a problem.  He is 6 now.  Strep a few times last year...but not typical strep when you have the white spots on the back of your throat.  His tonsils have little pockets in them and they hemorrhage when he gets strep.  So before winter and sicky season rears its ugly head again, we go back to the ENT.  I am armed with all my SLP knowledge, a pleading letter from Max's SLP, and a fighting spirit!  Fortunately, the new ENT who took over the practice, looks into Max's mouth and says, "They are HUGE!  They are almost touching and he's NOT even SICK." Thank you and scene....
2 weeks later finds us in the surgical center.  Max is super excited that he will go to sleep with parts of his body intact and wake up missing both tonsils and adenoids (which were also huge...jeez).  It is awful to watch your kiddo be put out.  Max insisted on knowing how he was going to sleep. He says,"Laughing gas?  No really....what's it called." So he likes to tell ALL his friends about the magic of nitrice oxide now.
We are three days post-op.  Josh and I are switching staying at home.  Today is my day.  Milkshake for breakfast, a little hydrocodone snack, and lots of tv and iPad.  He is not my spunky little Maxer yet, but he is getting there.

xo~M

Right before we left for the hospital-I promised he could have bedhead !

Having fun playing basketball while waiting for the surgeon

Watching Regular Show post-op

Hanging out with his Zoey-dog on the couch