When the rash area moves towards the body, with that kind of streak delineation, this means your insect bite has gotten infected. The antibiotics should have taken care of it, but sometimes they just don't quite work, so another kind should be tried. Hydrogen peroxide poured on a cold damp wad of tissue can be wiped over just the place where you were bitten, then wash the whole area with soap and water, then put lotion over the whole area, do this daily. But antibiotics are needed since I do believe your bite(s) have gotten rather infected, which also explains how come that lymph node is staying swollen, it's a sign your body is fighting infection. So, go back to the doc and since he may not realize your symptoms are is a sign your bite has become infected, you can tell him that it's your understanding that when a rash moves towards the body like yours is, that it means infection. Yah, I'd be freaking out, too. By the way, the little spasm you have at the corner of your mouth, only you know this, but if you haven't been sleeping all that great and you are quite stressed about this whole thing, that can cause this nervous tic sort of thing, altho spreading infection is an irritant, too.
Thanks much for your reply. I'm pretty sure my ear is not infected since it is not constantly red/itchy- more in cycles. I'm going to a different doc in 2 weeks and hope to get some relief. This just reaffirms my belief that I should hire someone to do the yard work for me!