My heart slowed down too soon, as just seconds later he started screaming again. "It burns! It Hurts! My legs Hurt! Ow Ow Ow!" Great, just great. I tried to say goodbye to Mom, but she cut me off, told me to go take care of her grandson and hung up on me without a goodbye. Hmpf!
Colin made it to the living room, still screaming, about the same time Alonzo yelled though the window that it was green papaya sap. Good to know. Colin reacts to the sap from unripe papaya fruit the same way most people react to poison ivy. You would think he would learn to leave the stuff alone.
A few questions confirmed that it could be green papaya or possibly any number of other plants causing some sort of reaction. Every since the angel trumpet episode I am inclined to view the plants in the yard with a fair amount of suspicion. What ever it was, it seems as if fish poop and pond water didn't help much. The fish poop did gross me out. I guess from a kid's point of view that's something.
I threw the screaming kid into the shower and scrubbed down his legs several times, rinsing thoroughly between each scrubbing. This is a good initial treatment plan for poison ivy as well, except that every time I get into it I am in the middle of the woods with no soap or bathtub handy.
He continued to scream at the top of his lungs pretty much the entire time. It used up most of my store of patience so that when the next child (predictably) arrived also bearing red welts on his legs and whining pitifully, I just threw a bar of soap at him and told him to use my shower and scrub, rinse, repeat until I got around to checking on him.
Eventually all three boys were bathed, two were slathered down with Caladryl and told not to scratch. The youngest boys got a bath just because he didn't want to be left out. Things were peaceful again, but Mom was no longer on skype, and besides it was time to cook dinner if we were going to eat.
Dave got home from work while I was cooking. He started in on the lunch dishes (Don't I have the BEST husband?) while I related the events of the afternoon. He interrupted to say he would have jumped in the fish pond. I just stared at him. Finally I asked, "What is it about fish poop that makes you think it would make pain go away?"
"I don't know, that's just what I would do." answered my normally rational husband.
Must be genetic.
12 comments:
Never a dull moment at your house! That cracks me up that everyone's first thought is the fish pond.
Hope everyone is feeling better soon.
totally cracks me up. especially the "used up your store of patience." just when i think i've stored up plenty - something like this happens. ;o) i have missed blogs - especially yours. :o( up to my eyeballs in prints - hoping for a break in a few weeks. love ya - m.
(Try again, web ate the first response) I probably would have jumped in the pond too, not because I believe fish poop is healing, but because our showers have pressure that's barely better than an enthusiastic trickle. It might be instant relief... it works with fire ants...
you guys are too funny, glad all is well, ps i got rid of my angels trumpet. There was a kid at botanical gardens once she was rubbing the plant, i told he mom it was highly posionious and she just scoffed and stated that the would'nt have plants like that in the garden.
I agree that the pond would be a good choice for fire ants, I have certainly done the fire ant "strip the front yard" dance more than once, but there are no ants here and that pond is NASTY! There's a couple of inches of yucky stuff on the bottom.
CB - OMG you found Blogger! I am so impressed! Punctuation and even a capital letter. And proud of you when that you got rid of that stuff before the kids got hurt. Next time listen to your neighbor (is Lou still your neighbor?) and friends. See you this summer!
Connie I meant to say there are no FIRE ants here, cause goodness knows there are ants everyfreakinwhere but nothing that bites like fire ants.
Fire ants are awful, and that I grew up with them, well, that's why I could see myself heading to the water if I found myself covered in burning stings!
We have all sorts of ants here, but not the fire ants, and had them in Cairo too. I hate to use poisons in the house, so we are always battling them with cleansers. The kids were a bit freaked out over them when we first had to deal with them, but I told them about fire ants and their 'strip and run' effect. Now, even though they've never had to deal with them personally, when my kids see ants they'll say 'At least they're not fire ants!'
What will y'all do with yourselves when you are no longer on State Department Survival: Malawai? I am curious when bidding starts again for you and your next post. Until then, I must admit, I get a lot of giggles hearing about your adventures there! Stay safe!
I've seen angel trumpet around town, but am SO glad that we don't have them in our yard!
My little brother was highly sensitive to mango (when we lived on Gtmo, it was awful!), but also reacted to any weird things on his skin (would break out if he laid down on the carpet without a shirt to watch TV.)
It is never dull at your house!
Nomads - No idea where we will go next but at the moment I am rooting for NOT Africa, unless of course something comes available in Capetown. ;)
We are part way through the first year of a 3 year tour so we will be here awhile. Am I right in thinking y'all are from TX? I will be home in SA (that's San Anton, NOT S. Africa) most of July if you want to try for a meet up stateside.
Thanks for the laugh! I needed that today! It is wonderful to know there is a partner in . . . patience out there trying to raise these darn, crazy boys! :) I would not have jumped in the fish pond but every single one of my boys would have!
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