From my own experience, (quite a few years since I checked) wood runners are quite expensive. They may have come down in price though.
Check with Heath Flooring, they do both carpet and wood and could give you all of your options and are just all around GREAT folks. For the record, I didn't get my previous quote from them.
You'll need to be watching Thurs. morning, and we'll need to know before 7 am.
Btw, Subby, I thought I had heard of every saying and old wives tale, but I don't think I've heard about the ants. Gotta ask my Dad about that one.
I feel bad for the mother, but the best interests of the child should prevail. That doesn't declare her "unfit". However, this is an infant that she can't even hold. The judge has real room to be creative and opt for a 50/50 arrangement with the mom's time coinciding with times when caretakers are available to her.