Man Down

Another one bites the dust. But he took a prisoner this time. The first time ever in the history of the Brown house.

Yes, it's official and Afton is $50 richer. Over five years ago when we moved into our house at 2047 N. Hall and discovered that we were going to be co-existing with the bane of the earth (yes, I am talking about the dreaded scorpions), Ryan declared that whomever was the first to fall victim to the scorpion in our house would get $50 bucks. It might have even been $100, but we can't remember for sure now so we're going with $50.

Amazingly, after all that we've slain since 2004, no one has ever gotten stung. Until last night, that is. Afton came back downstairs just after 9:00 to take her allergy pills, and lingered in the kitchen for a minute too long apparently. Ryan, Barrett & I were talking and all of a sudden Afton lets out a scream and starts crying. She grabbed her foot and declared that something just "shocked her." Then it got worse and the out of control cry kicked up a notch. Ryan and I were pouring over the wood floor, searching for the cause of her anguish. We pulled away kitchen chairs and searched frantically, completely suspecting a scorpion to blame.

Ryan started to doubt that it was a scorpion and asked her if maybe she just stepped on something, but now she was fiercely clutching her foot and saying that it was throbbing. A few seconds later, Ryan spotted the vicious creature, perched on the baseboard under the counter, about two feet from where Afton had been standing.

He only lived another second.

Thankfully, Afty had been wearing socks, which I am sure slightly reduced the sting. But he got her good. The welt and swelling were instantaneous and then the tingling and throbbing quickly crept up to her thigh. A quick call to poison control for some advice, a little Benadryl, and a wonderful Grandma Cindy came to the rescue with her essential oils. Afty was calmed down pretty quick and was actually grinning ear to ear when we declared her the winner of the $50 bucks. Barrett was even jealous and said that she'd intentionally get stung for $50! Yah, right...

It took her about an hour to fall asleep because of the pain, but she finally gave it up and slept through the worst of it. The poison control guy said the pain would peak in about six hours, so she was lucky she was so dang tired.

So, we're no longer undefeated against our sworn enemies. They took one down, and sadly, it likely won't be the last time. It's only May 4th (by the way, Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad), but we've already killed three inside our kitchen/hall in the past couple of weeks. Not a good sign. Usually, it's not till June or so before they start making their way inside for the summer.

I guess it's time for the nightly black light hunts to resume. Hint, hint, husband.