Does anyone know the life expectancy of a cricket?

I'm curious because it's a matter of life or death around here. Okay, not really, but it is a matter of getting sleep.

Saturday night we heard the sound of a cricket in Squirts closet. He started freaking out, but I couldn't find it for the life of me. I tore the closet apart with no luck. I told him to pretend that he was camping and to go to sleep. 4am brought him into my room crying because he could hear the cricket again. I told him to lay with me and go back to sleep. 4:05 started the "Mom I'm So Hungry" plea that lasted until 5:25. That was exactly 5 minutes before his Dad would walk in the door and could get him food without me having to get out of bed. I looked over and he was fast asleep. Little Booger.

Sunday night there were no sounds of crickets. He went to bed happily. When I was checking on everyone at about 10pm, I realized the cricket was back. I grabbed a flash light and started tearing apart the closet again. I found the little thing, but I didn't have my glasses on and he kindof blended with the carpet and I lost him again. But, he did jump out of the closet, so I thought well maybe he'll go away. Yeah right. 3:30 am brought Squirt back to my bed and started the "Mom, I'm Hungry" plea again. I told him to be quiet and go back to sleep, which Thankfully he did.

Monday night we could hear the cricket again, and again I tore the closet apart looking for him. But no luck. Dad was home this night and basically told Squirt to stop being a Pansie and to go to bed. At exactly 3:57am (Little Man informed me of this fact later) I was awoken by the most gut-wrenching, blood curdeling scream that I've ever heard. I hear a door slam against the wall as it's thrown open and hear feet pounding down the hall. I caught Squirt as he was nearly kicking my door down. I had about 1.2 seconds to wake up, orient myself and respond. It was heart stopping. I bend down and just hold Squirt and all I can hear in between his crying and gasping for breath is "Cricket... back... Cricket... back..." It was one of those "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME MOMENTS" but I had to hold my tongue because he was literally trembling. Another 2 seconds later and I hear "Mom?" coming from the other room. Even the dog was staggering out from under my bed like "What the heck?" So I lay Squirt down on the couch with some cartoons and try to lay back down, but then I heard Little Man get up and the fighting started. Squirt came in my room probably 12 times telling me Little Man was being mean. Then at 5:30am he asks to go play out side. It's really going to be a long day. Dad slept peacefully thru the whole thing thanks to ear plugs although he said he heard it all, which I don't believe but whatever, that's a whole 'nother post for another day.

And I WILL find that cricket today.