Bugs in the night

...or why my kids room smells like salad dressing!

Cal has been getting strange bug bites once a week or so. He gets them in patches (such as in a line on his back, in a clump on his shoulders, leg, etc). They itch him like crazy. This has been going on for 2 months. The final straw was when he woke up screaming on Thanksgiving night and his whole body was literally errupting into a rash (allergic reaction to the bug bites???).

We literally spent the entire last 3 days washing and steam cleaning EVERYTHING in the house. We sprayed and scrubbed the kids' entire bunkbed with a scouring brush and vinegar spray. I'm surprised our washing machine and dryer still work after all the pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals that we've washed. We also have every leg of the bunkbed and ladder sitting in a container of oil since that will prevent any bugs from climbing onto or off of the bed (can't swim in oil). This is all quite involved considering that we have no idea what is going on. No new bites yet, but they've been coming about once a week in the past. We're all pretty paranoid now. I spent "Black Friday" at Ikea buying Cal a new mattress and a vinyl cover for my bed (please don't spread!!!). So much for "Buy Nothing Day"....