Critter Invasion

I have had a fear, actually a full out phobia, of mice for as long as I can remember. It actually started in the 7th grade when Mrs. A made us read The Pit and The Pendulum by Edgar Allen Poe. In the story a man is held prisoner and and puts food on the leather straps holding him so the rats will eat through it and he can escape. I read that and fear went right through me, the thought of rats being all over that man. UGHHHHH!!! The phobia became worse over the years. To the point where if I knew someone had mice in their house I couldn't visit. And at one point in my teen years we had mice in our attic one winter and I would sleep on the floor in my parent's room because I was so freaked out!!

So that gets me to my point that I am back to sleeping at my parent's because of fear of mice!! Yesterday the boys had their physical therapist come to the house and we went down to the playroom. I noticed what I thought was dirt tracked from our shoes. Then panic set in when the thought went through my mind that it may be mouse poop. We have lived in our house for 5 years and have never had a mouse. I diligently and obsessively y check for signs and always worry about the possibility. So I know for sure that this is a recent development. Luckily the evidence of the invasion was in our finished basement. So I quickly grabbed the boys and ran upstairs and barricaded the basement door. Honestly, I am thankful Gigi the therapist was there so I didn't go off the deep end with the boys there. After Gigi left I called my dad who left work to come over to inspect. Once he confirmed it was indeed mouse poop, I called an exterminator.

I called 7 exterminators and finally selected one that would get to my house within the hour. Luckily the guy was nice and although he probably thinks I am a "bit" loony, he reassured me that he would take care of the problem. Although he did say if there is one there is more and also that it can take a while to get rid of them. He didn't seen any signs of them upstairs and thinks its contained to the basement, but couldn't't guarantee that they wouldn't come upstairs. Although he said he is about 90% sure they won't.

90% isn't reassuring enough for me so the minute the exterminator left, I packed everything I could fit into my minivan and took the boys to my parents house. Hubby is going to be in a production this week at work so he is working late every night. The thought of sleeping alone in a house that may have a mouse or many mice is beyond what my brain can handle, especially pregnant. I need rest to say the least.

So we invaded Stregga and Papa's house last night!! We set up camp and had a sleepover. It's wonderful! The boys are having a ball. We stayed outside until 7 and Stregga cooked dinner and gave the boys their baths. When I got up this morning, Papa had french toast ready to serve us on the deck. Nice!!!!!! Like a real vacation!!!

In the meantime at home, the extermination process is happening and I have Hubby working on finding and plugging every possible hole into our house!!!

Since I don't know the time frame for how long this will take, I am thinking I will stay at Stregga and Papa's at least a few days until Hubby can be home with us. I will break the news to them day by day that we aren't leaving, I don't want to overwhelm them all at once!!!