I am very embarrassed to share this...

...but I called my husband at work this morning because there was a BUG in our apartment. I have an unimaginable fear of BIG BUGS. I don't like any bugs, big or small, but I can handle the little ones okay. Now, living in South Carolina, I realize there are big bugs here. I've seen them outside, but I've never seen anything too scary in our apartment. We've had pretty warm weather for a while now, so I figured if we were going to have bugs, we would have seen one already. So, I'm feeling pretty safe in our apartment up to this point.

Well, this morning as I'm leaving the bedroom with Bailey, I notice a huge COCKROACH up on our wall outside our bedroom door.

As soon as I see it, I SPRINT passed it down the hall. You would have thought I was trying to save my baby from a burning room. My heart was racing so fast. I went into instant SURVIVAL MODE. I put Bailey down and immediately started forming a plan. I knew there was no way I could kill that thing. I remember getting one in our family room at home growing up, and my mom hit it over and over with a book, and it WOULD NOT DIE. They are indestructible. I decided I needed to get any supplies that I would need from our bedroom, so I wouldn't have to go back in there for the rest of the day. I sprinted back into the room, grabbed extra diapers, hand sanitizer, chap stick, pillow, books, cell phone...anything I could think of that I would need throughout the day. It takes two trips of sprinting back and forth, keeping my eye on the cockroach at all times, to get everything out. Once I'm back in the living room, my heart is still racing, and I know I won't be able to relax until the bug is taken care of. I don't have any idea what to do. We had a spider problem in our last apartment, and I would get hairspray or a cleaning product and just spray and spray and spray until they died or were paralyzed. I knew I couldn't use that plan on a cockroach. So, I called Skigh. YES, I called my husband to see what I should do. I know my mom will be very disappointed to find out that I called him to help with a BUG, but oh well. It's embarrassing to admit it, but it's the truth. So, he begins to formulate plans with me...none of which I like...hitting the bug with a book, trapping the bug, putting a cup over it and carrying it to the ground.... Uh...I am literally feeling LIGHT-HEADED right now just thinking of it. That's how bad this is. So, he's not helping at all. The conversation continues...

Skigh: Do you want me to come home?

Me: NO. You're not coming home because of a bug. That's ridiculous. I can take care of it myself.

Skigh: What are you going to do?

Me: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. But I can take care of it. I DO NOT need you to come home and save me from a BUG. How embarrassing.

Skigh: Well, I think you should do something. I don't want you to be wondering where it is all day.

Me: I'll think of something.

I was hoping I could wait until he just got home, so he could deal with it. But he was right. I didn't want to be wondering where it was all day. So, I decide to try to make it fall to the ground and trap it.

First plan:
1. Use piece of paper to knock down.
2. Trap in glass.

Then I realized there was no way this plan would work. I would have to get way too close to it to use the paper, and the glass was too small.

Second plan:
1. Use broom to knock down.
2. Trap in the largest Tupperware container we own.
3. Have heavy books to put on top.

I gathered the supplies as quickly as I could. Then I began...the cockroach was so disgusting...moving its long tentacles. I knew it was laughing at me....thinking...I DARE you to try to trap me. Do it.... You can't, can you? You can't even bare the thought of touching me with a broom.

Well, I'm thinking to myself...you are an adult and a MOTHER now. Moms need to be able to do this kind of thing. What happens in a few years when you're in a similar situation, and Bailey is looking to you to take care of it? I can't show this kind of fear. I need to be mentally stronger. I'm also thinking of the people from Survivor or Fear Factor who EAT cockroaches.... I can do this.... Well, I force myself to stop imagining the cockroach jumping on me or running up my leg. I make a couple of attempts at touching it with the broom. I was hoping I could just hit the area above it on the wall, and it would run down, but it didn't budge. I finally touched it, it moved a little, but then stopped. So, I knew I was going to have to REALLY touch it. So, I did. It fell down and landed on its back. PERFECT. I go to capture it in the Tupperware.... Just as I'm about to trap it, it flips back over and runs into the bathroom!!! I was SO upset. I had failed. It was just too fast.

At this point, I am very surprised at how scared I am. I've always known I hate big bugs like this, but I never knew the extent of my fear. I actually started CRYING. Yes, real tears. I couldn't believe it. Again, very embarrassing. Skigh calls again...I tell him the story through my TEARS. SO humiliating.

Skigh: Are you okay?

Me: (Crying.) No. I just tried to get it, and it ran into the bathroom!

Skigh: Okay. I have a meeting right now, but I can come home as soon as it's over.

Me: (At this point, I realize there's no point in trying to save face. I just want this bug gone.) Okay.

Skigh: Just remember, it can't hurt you. It's just a big bug.

I know it can't hurt me, but it DOESN'T MATTER. I can't explain it. Skigh doesn't understand this kind of fear. I'm not thinking it's going to KILL me. I know it can't hurt me. But that doesn't matter.

I still can't relax knowing the bug is in the bathroom. I try to go in and see if I can see it. I can't see it anywhere. I accidentally move the rug a little, and I see a little part of it, and it scurries back UNDER THE RUG! SO, disgusting. Well, at least I know where it is.... Skigh suggests putting books around the edge of the rug, so I know it can't get out. I like this idea. Then he suggests just shutting the door, sticking a towel in the crack below the door, and just leaving it there until he gets home. I like this idea even better. But then I realize if I shut the door, it will move the rug a little bit. Well, I decide I need to move the rug back out of the way so I can shut the door. I slowly move the rug (with the broom, not my hand, of course), and it runs out towards me back into the hallway. I think, this is your chance. BE STRONG. THINK FAST. I grab the Tupperware, and successfully TRAP THE COCKROACH.

Here's proof:

As soon as I stuck the Tupperware over it, it started running around the edge, trying to get out. I could hear its shell hitting the sides. SO GROSS.

So, anyway, that's what I've done so far today. I've lost my appetite and still feel a little light-headed. And now that I've seen one, I'm convinced that there's another one around every corner I turn. And I can't wait until Skigh gets home because for some reason, I think this cockroach is going to find a way to escape. I keep checking. So far, we're still safe.

I know some of you are thinking, HOW PATHETIC. Well, I'm actually pretty proud of myself for capturing it and protecting our small child. Please don't judge me.