Yellow Jackets

We Floridians are learning some hard lessons about Kentucky mountain Yellow Jackets. Poor Emma seems to be the one with the least amount of luck. Yesterday (July 30th) she got stung twice while out on the playground. But today she happened to run and jump right across the nest in the side of the hill and while me and Alex were still unpacking we heard screaming (the kind where you KNOW as a parent that something is wrong). Somehow they had gotten into her shirt and stung her back 4 times and then on the arm 2 times. The dang things were in her hair so as I tried to help her undress and get into the tub with some cool water they were flying around the bathroom. She was freaking out and I turned all ninja mommy on those suckers! We got the ones in the house killed and got Emma into a cold bath and then used ice and sting remover the rest of the afternoon.

Alex and our neighbor, Stephen, went out to the playground to find the nest and took care of it. Emma was thankful that Daddy had killed the rest of those mean bugs.

The poor girl is terrified of going outside now though, and I can't say I blame her. Every time she hears buzzing (even a fly!) she starts crying. So we are praying that the yellow jackets will go away and that her fears will subside so that she can enjoy the rest of the summer with her friends playing outside.