April 14, 2008

Bugs Bugs Bugs...Which are good...which are bad?

So...I've made my peace with the flies and the ladybugs. I can even squish a small spider and not squirm...too much.

However, I experienced my first WOOD TICK today.

(shiver, squirm)

I don't know what I would have done if it was on ME!!

I ran to grab the tweezers to tug and rotate that ugly, squirmy tick burrowing itself in my husbands leg, with all it's legs kicking about....all the while trying not to scream and run, and freak him out.

YUCK!!!!!! BLECK! BLAHHHH!

Oh yes...the Country....how I love The.

(Oh I feel itchy)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wood ticks - eww-w-w-w - so gross - - and so difficult to remove. They are even more gross when they get full of blood and start to expand. . . (have seen 'em on dogs).

Anonymous said...

P.S.
Bravo for taking it off!

Anonymous said...

HOW TO REMOVE A TICK

The goal of tick removal is to get rid of the live insect in one piece. While the squeamish at heart may be tempted to give the little bugger a quick yank and be done with it, leaving parts of the tick embedded in your flesh will most likely cause an infection. With patience in mind, follow these simple steps:


1. Wash your hands.


2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers. This can be done with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab or by running a lit match beneath them.


3. Grab the tick as close to your skin's surface as possible and pull slowly. Do not jerk! You want the tick to help you, by backing out as you're pulling. If the tick does not back out on its own, stop pulling, and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, cooking oil, or petroleum jelly to the surface of the skin. The added moisture will begin to drown the tick, causing him to back out.


4. Wait. Within five to ten minutes, the tick should begin to loosen its hold.


5. Pull again. Using the tweezers again, gently pull the tick from your skin.


6. Examine the tick. Make sure you both remove the head and body of the tick. If you suspect the tick is a disease carrier, preserve the tick in a ziplock bag for examination by your physician.


7. Cleansing. Once the tick is out, wash the skin area with antibacterial soap or swab affected area with an antiseptic. Any itching, rash or irritation can be treated with hydrocortisone or antiseptic creams.


EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!I think I just passed out.
Kirsten

Anonymous said...

Ya, we have a lot of them on the farm too. Love sitting watching TV and feeling them crawl in your shirt.

Dad

Katy said...

Ewwww.....ticks freak me OUT!!! My inlaws own a meat market and in the late fall...they start skinning and cutting deer...my hubby comes home and i have to check him to make sure he doesn't have any ticks on him...ewww....eebie jeebies!!!!

How is your family doing?? I am thinking about them!!

tammi said...

Ahhhh, the joys of spring. I can hardly wait. We've got about another month yet before they show up.

Erin said...

ughghghghh.....i forgot about those nasty creatures...talk about the heeby geebies.

Anonymous said...

Blech, blech! I went to Oklahoma once for a week and got two small ones. Ick!