pine sol and clear finger nail polish

chig·ger (chgr)

n.

1. Any of various small, six-legged larvae of mites of the family Trombiculidae, parasitic on insects, humans, and other vertebrates. The chigger's bite produces a wheal that is usually accompanied by severe itching. Also called chigoe, harvest bug, harvest mite, jigger, red bug.

hows that for a start to your monday afternoon...

well, just thought all of you needed to share in the itch that i currently am in. i havent even thought of the term "chigger" since the late 90's. at Camp Saddle Rock to be exact {RIP dear Saddle Rock}. during ropes course it was common to get little itchy red bumps on your ankles, which were cured by covering them in clear finger nail polish. to apparently suffocate whatever microscopic thing burrowed its way under your skin. ewww. but relatively painless.

um...ok try FORTY {no lie} of those itchy red bumps all over your body, and thats where i am. we went to the hunting camp this weekend so stephen and his dad {and bennett and i...} could get some work done. the weather was perfect...plenty of cool breezes, good times, relaxation, auburn football {war eagle!!!}, family bliss.

apparently it was also perfect conditions for an insane number of red bugs {aka chiggers} to reek havoc on my poor allergic body. chiggers like to make their home in tight places. like wherever elastic would be on your body. you get it.

thankfully bennett and stephen dont have but a couple between the two of them. i can deal with them, but i would NOT be able to deal with them all over my little boy. or my husband :)

remedies such as hot baths and lots of scrubbing, baths in pine sol, smothering the bumps with clear finger nail polish, and covering them in a paste of water and baking soda have all been administered. i think the patient is doing well, just highly annoyed.

as a reward for making it through my self-pitied rant, i present to you what happens to be the most effective remedy for keeping my mind off this uncomfortable state:

have i ever told you that this boy loves to be outside?

and playing in forts?

eating lunch on the swing

be still my heart

when did my son turn seven??

{note: he apparently has no problem looking at the camera as long as my face isnt behind it. i was holding my arm out for this one and he looked straight at it. at least i have a new tactic now...}