Fun, Fun, Fun till the critters take our sanity away ...

I've been browsing over old posts and just re-read one on pets we used to have the privilege of ... errr ... housing. While I cannot say that I miss them, I can definitely boast a new appreciation for visitors of this nature.

Question: Would I rather have these adorable little pets, or would I rather keep the new pets that may still reside in our home?
Answer: I would gladly see a return of the loveable little guys from 3 years ago.

While it is true that that one must keep all counter tops, kitchen utensils, etc sterilized on a daily (and sometimes hourly) basis, when dealing with those critters I would prefer their obvious and in-plain-sight presence in my home. I find it easier to deal with bleaching a kitchen and plugging the drains than to constantly launder anything remotely dirty (or not), vacuum like a maniac, and spray multiple pesticides into cracks, corners, carpets, and crevices. I would much rather deal with keeping all food in sealed containers than wondering if I "got them" or will I wake up with itchy swollen bites sometime this week?

I can say, without hesitation, that I have had quite an education, these last 6-7 weeks. What am I speaking of? (you may be asking; if you're not then stop reading now because you surely do NOT want to know.) bedbugs. yes. you heard me. bedbugs. I'll forgo the picture. You don't want it. really. IF you've read this far, PLEASE, keep reading a few more sentences so that I may clear up a few common misconceptions about our newest pets.

BIGGEST Misconception -- you must live like pigs, if you have bedbugs in your home.
BIGGEST Truth -- Bedbugs could care less what the condition of your home is, clean or otherwise. All they care about is their proximity to YOU, their food. My home is nearly always clean; an especially difficult feat considering that I have 2 young children, 1 of which is still home full time. If you don't believe me, I can put you in touch with a friend who is over quite often.

BIGGEST FEAR (at least it was ours) -- what diseases have our children been exposed to?
FACT -- Tests have shown that bedbugs do not transmit disease to those they bite. Their bite is known to cause allergic reactions, which in some rare cases have been quite serious. They usually amount to an itchy red bump that is commonly mistaken for a mosquito bite. If you're sensitive, like me, you may experiences some serious swelling and want to claw off your skin in an attempt to ease the itch which will result in bruises, scarring, and other injury; the itching will still be present.

Now that we've settled that we can discuss what these adorable little mascots have meant to our lives ...

We think a few hitchhikers nabbed a ride on a friend that came over for a birthday party. We can't be sure because there were 10 little kids running everywhere but that is when everything first started happening ... we just didn't know that THAT was the cause for a few months. yes. months. 3 months, to be exact. 3 months of "mystery spots," doctor's appointments, creams, and medications. The "day of discovery" our attention was fully centered around the kid's bunk bed. Specifically the bottom bunk (aka: the "fun fort making bed"). That night the vacuum cleaner held many a critter's demise, and the dumpsters outside met mattresses, pillows, blankets, a bed frame, various toys, gorgeous baskets (that held toys), and a room's worth of baseboard. We were also introduced to our first bedbug pesticide. Within 2 days we had new carpeting in our entire condo. I'll fast forward this drama, now ... the kids now have a very lovely metal bunk bed, some new shelves, canvas baskets, new sheets and blankets, etc. My husband and I had to introduce the dumpster to our mattress and box spring, 2 weeks ago. We don't have new ones yet, which has particularly stunk these last few days. (I gotta tell you -- it really stinks to be ill and not have a bed.)

The good news is that we have been able to absorb a large bit of these expenses. (and, trust me, we realize how fortunate that factoid is in a healthy economy, let alone the one we are currently experiencing) The bad news is that we will be neither moving nor purchasing a 2nd car in the foreseeable future. (which is why we had a little extra $$ on hand)

The exterminator is impressed with our efforts and says there's nothing he can do that we aren't already doing, and no reason to make the association pay thousands of dollars for him to do it. It's no longer any sort of infestation, so nobody is worried about the spread of our cute little pets throughout the building. I just keep washing, spraying (I bought some great pesticides online!!), vacuuming,cursing, and crawling around the floor with a mirror and a flashlight wondering why I can't find those last few persistent buggers and where the H@#* they could possibly be hiding. I DARE you to suggest somewhere plausible that I have not already looked 10 times already. Never fear. I WILL prevail.

If anyone out there is going through this, too, know that you are not alone. Get educated. You CAN get rid of them. It IS possible.