OK, it was another fine day in Charlotte…having worked 3rd shift, I was just getting up around noon and just poured my first cup of coffee.  Good thing I happened to decide to put on jeans and a grubby T-shirt before I came downstairs, as I was greeted by bright smiling faces of “M”, one of my wife’s childhood friends and her 4 children (just visiting from VA), and her Mom, from Fort Mill, all of whom popped by for a visit.  Unshaven, unshowered, hair looking not unlike Don King, I was slightly surprised, but not dismayed. The kids had just finished lunch and gone out to play in the back yard for about 5 minutes, and I was just warming up to my coffee, when my oldest boy #1 comes running in nearly hysterical, saying “Mom, {younger son #3} has got a big hole in his arm!!”

Now, being what I like to think of as a “cool-headed Dad”, I try to put all the kids’ “emergencies” into perspective…”OK, let me finish my coffee, and then I’ll come out and help him.”

Fortunately, my wife was a bit more on top of things at that moment, and realized his hysteria was not childish, but true terror. So she got up and triple-timed it out to the back yard, with me begrudgingly trailing to the edge of the patio (not having shoes, and still with my coffee in hand, I did not feel like experiencing the thrill of mud squishing between my toes as my first non-coffee feeling of the day). I then saw {younger son #3} slowly, half-dazedly kind of stagger out from the bushes with a blood-stained shirt as he was quickly scooped up by Mom and run back to the house. “Is it arterial?” I asked, coffee not tasting so important anymore. “I don’t know”, she replied hurriedly.

It turns out that the boys had been climbing some ‘trees’, or more like large bushes on the edge of the neighbor’s yard, and {younger son #3} had somehow fallen out of one. Not a long fall, but on the way down his arm got hung up on the 1 or 2″ collar left from a recently cut branch. “Hung up” is the working term, and older son #1 was truly the hero of the day as he had the sense to lift up and “unhook” his brother from the tree before running for help.

Thank God my wife was a nurse before she became a full-time Mom. After a quick check we saw he had a huge crescentic gash on the inside of his upper arm, that went deep beneath the skin, but looked pretty clean on the edges, and was no longer bleeding (much). It looked pretty bad, as it was kind of inverted and the fat that’s usually on the inside of the skin was all sticking out like a bad war movie. She gave it a quick wash, a patch-job with bandage and tape, and let me know one of us needed to take him to the Emergency Department. With the bleeding stopped, and the crying down to quiet sobbing, I realized that a visit to the ED would mean several hours of downtime so I had the presence of mind to grab some reading material and flash cards to keep us both entertained for the journey on which we were about to embark…

We got there a few minutes and a couple of lollipops later. If I had realized it, we would have skipped the lollipops since you have to wait 6 hours since the child’s last food intake if they are going to use any kind of sedation. It probably wouldn’t have made much difference since he had just eaten lunch before the fall.

So there we are in the ED, with nurses coming in to check on him, and him sitting there with his arm all wrapped up, and the two of us doing some flash cards and reading stories and both of us doing a poor job of pretending we’re not watching the TV we don’t usually get to watch at home. All the nurses coming in had the same comment: “You can tell a home-school family when they bring their books with them to the ED.” My response (jokingly): “That’s right, kiddo…bleeding or not, we’re going to finish lesson seven!”

One of the nurses knows my wife, and knows I work third shift. Since I am not looking quite like Gary Cooper (remember, I’ve still got the Don King thing working for me), she says “did you work last night?”
“Yep” I reply.
“Are you working again tonight?”
“Yep.”
“How’d you get stuck coming to the ED?”
After a moment of silence “I guess it was easier than staying home with the other five after they’d seen what happened”.
Remembering we’re not quite a small family she seemed to understand the picture and said “Got it.”

Regardless, the decision is made to try to wash out the wound and stitch it with local anesthesia, as examination shows that it is limited to the skin and fat of the arm, and the nerve and major blood vessels are intact (quite a blessing as I could clearly see them pulsing away with only air between me and them when they lifted the flap of skin to examine the wound).

Let me tell you, that little guy was some trooper. He hollered and cried when they gave him the numbing medicine (8-10 shots–could you blame the guy?), and then washed it out with cold sterile water. He was partly wrapped in a sheet to help keep him from jumping around. The nurse, a big Harley Davidson guy who was leaning over him to hold his injured hand, turned to me about half-way through and said “you’ve got one heck of a kid–he’s hollering, but he’s not moving…I am holding his hand, but I am not holding him down…he’s not moving: he’s LETTING the doc wash him out and sew him up”. I had to turn my head so {younger son #3} wouldn’t see the tears welling up in my eyes.
Funny thing is, he starts negotiating with the doc through his tears:
{younger son #3}: “OK, OK. No more, right? We’re done now, right?”
Doc says, “No we still need to do a few more.”
{younger son #3}: “How about just one more.”
Doc: “No, we need a few more than that.”
{younger son #3} (still crying, through tears): “OK, OK, how about just 2 more.”
Doc: “OK two more…after this one.”
{younger son #3}: “OK then, just two more…OK?”
Doc: “Yeah, just two more.”
{younger son #3}: “OK…good”

He got the unofficial “best patient of the day” award from the staff there.

Sixteen stitches, antibiotic ointment with bandage wrap, and one popsicle later he’s cool, calm and collected. Aside from a little redness around his eyes and a hospital gown you’d never know what he just went through.

After all this my little 4-1/2 year-old guy turns and says “thanks” to the doc. Fifteen minutes later, he’s talking calmly to Mom on the cellphone on the way home, and when she asks what he wants for dinner he says “Poppy’s steak!” excitedly. That’s the marinated flank steak on the grill that my Dad has perfected: “three minutes, (flip) three minutes, (flip) three minutes, (flip) three minutes.” The kids have got my Dad perfectly when they say this in imitation of him, with voice inflection and hand flip, to boot. Then he asks if he can have ice cream after dinner.

So we get home and I fire up the grill. The steak never tasted so good. The kids are playing around having dessert, and aside from favoring the arm a little, you’d never know what the little rascal just went through for the past 5 hours. I only wish I could shake it off as well as he could. My wife and I were just starting through the mental torture of thinking through all the horrible “what ifs” that you are thankful did not happen.

He’s still favoring the arm a few days later, but really being a trooper about it. The other kids call it his “shark bite”, and tell him he’s going to make a great pirate with that scar. He just told me the other day, “Daddy, maybe we shouldn’t climb that tree anymore.” We went up to Virginia for the weekend for a Kids Expo meeting for my wife and one of her businesses, and we were able to visit with both sets of grandparents and several cousins. My father-in-law, a big, burly gentle giant of a man rolled up his shirtsleeve at lunch the other day, exposing a long, thin, white scar with stitch marks along his huge bicep; same arm, almost exactly the same site as my little guy’s injury. Turns out he was cut by falling glass some years back, so now they’ve got twin scars. Pretty cool, to be a twin with Grandpa, huh?

Well, it’s never boring around here…

We have done some product reviews so far on the website, but we’d like to set product reviews apart and label them such so they are easier to index. We’ll try to categorize them by age when possible:
newborns (0-1 month), infants (2-6 months), babies (6-18 months), toddlers (18-24 months), cruisers (24-30 months), etc.

The first thing that comes to mind is perhaps one of the most critical things during the first year or so is medicated cream for diaper rash treatment. We have used everything from standard brands such as A&D Ointment to more basic approaches as Vaseline to alternative remedies such as Udder Cream. In our experience, nothing works like Xttrium Laboratories DRC (Diaper Rash Creme). It must have something to do with the Zinc-oxide (yes, the same thing lifeguards put on their lips and noses to prevent and treat sunburn), but it does the trick like nothing we know. It is not always available on the drugstore or supermarket shelves, so you may try ordering directly from the factory at the link above.

Note, we have not had great success with online ordering. On more than one occasion we have placed online orders, and they look like they go through, but we never get the shipment, and when we place a follow up call they did not have record of the transaction (although I always print out my web order invoice). So you wind up losing a couple of weeks waiting then order by phone. Nowadays I just order by phone. The people there are nice, much fewer phone snafu’s. Latest batch came within 7 days of ordering. Aside from the slight difficulty getting the product, the creme itself is outstanding and worth the effort of jumping the hurdles to get it. We keep a tube at each diaper station around the house (currently have two in diapers and one in pull-ups), one in the travel-diaper bag, and one or two to spare in stock.

Hope this review helps other parents. We lucked out by coming across some samples and a coupon at a baby fair when we lived in Miami back at the turn of the century. It was also easier to get locally there.

Regards,
Dave from Charlotte

It is strange, but now I know what Robyn means when she says “it’s almost like the doc doesn’t know you’re there”. From the other side of the blue drape, all I could really see and feel was the baby. I guess the “birthing process” is all about Mom, but (please don’t throw things at me, I didn’t make it that way) the actual delivery is all about the baby. Robyn could have been standing behind us with her finger on a little button labelled “PUSH” for all I could tell once she was draped. that baby had the complete spotlight. Again, I am sorry–I am just reporting it as it seemed. I did not make the process.

But I do thank God, our Creator, for such and incredible wife, incredible children, and a safe, wonderful delivery of an incredible baby. I was thankful to be there and to be a part of it. I can say I was present for all our other childrens’ births, and I have held Robyn’s hands (sometimes at the cost of a finger or two, especially those without epidurals), and I have cut all the cords to date, but this is the first one of ours I actually delivered. It was like she came from God’s hands to mine. What a blessing. She is doing pretty well sleeping and eating, too.

Anyway, I’ve got to go. Remind me to write next time about “goldfish and Naval burial at sea”.

Signing off,
Dave from Charlotte

Haven’t slept all night. Robyn is scheduled for induction this AM. This is our sixth baby, but it is still exciting. If we don’t get bumped, we should be holding a new baby girl in our arms within the next 12 hours.

Will have to write more when things settle down.

Regards,
Dave from Charlotte

P.S. Our web site finally was indexed by Google, but does not appear to be indexed by DMOZ.com yet. Visit our website, (click colored text link here –>) Mother’s Mobile Advertising: we bring family friendly mobile outdoor advertising to Charlotte, NC for all your marketing needs

Then I installed the HP 970CSE printer on both computers via parallel port, removed the printer, and hooked up the Linksys EFSP42 print server. So now both machines can print to the HP via LAN (had to set up via parallel connection since the EFSP42 drives the printer via parallel).

Last issue will be to d/c the printserver and computers from the larger LAN (and web), just keeping a very local LAN b/w the two computers. That way there is no internet access to the machines unless we physically re-establish a hard connection (no wireless in these machines). Talk about parental controls.

The only drawback is now that the printer is hooked up, the children want to port all their old preschool programs over and print out all their certificates, artwork, etc. One step at a time.

Allora…
Ciao,
Dave from Charlotte

P.S. Don’t forget to visit our Mother’s Mobile Advertising website, providing family-friendly outdoor mobile marketing and advertising on our tastefully visible extended conversion van in Charlotte, NC.

It makes such a big difference to take notes right after classes when it is still fresh in your head, and then to go home and practice a day or two later. You won’t remember everything perfectly, but the notes definitely help refresh your memory. I have developed my own ‘engineering style’ short-hand to diagram the steps, and I can usually understand my chickenscratch later on.

Regards,
Dave from Charlotte

Was able to piece together two workable computers from mostly spare parts this week. There were two ‘old’ clones at work getting ready to go to the dumpster, so I asked IT if I could salvage them. The results: two 650 MHz machines. For around $20 I got them both at or above 256 Mb RAM (PC 133). They were business models without soundcards, and I wanted to use them for educational programs for the kids, so I purchased a Turtle Beach Riviera 5.1 Soundcard fro $29 via Amazon.com, and a $22 CompUSA 5.1 soundcard. While there, I notice CompUSA had aluminum hard drive drawers on special, so I picked up six at $10 each and put two in each computer so I can hot-swap hard drives (very useful in case of a crash or if you want to run Linux, etc.).

I am running these both on Win98SE, since I buy most software for the kids when it is “old” and less expensive. Had a little trouble getting the second machine up and running, until I scrapped the old 4 Gb hard drive (had a physical fault in FAT sector), and threw an old 8Gb drive in. Then had to reformat and scrounge the web for CD-ROM drivers and fake an MSCDEX file. But now it’s whirring along.

Note: hard drive drawers are best bought in large batches, as they do not swap easily between brands, or even between different models of the same brand (I have some StarTech ones that will not swap with CompUSA brand). Too bad they don’t have one uniform standard.

So I will connect these two computers via the printserver, but d/c the printserver physically from the web and the LAN unless I need access (the kids have no need to be on it). Looking forward to getting going with these and reviewing the childrens’ software programs.

Will try to blog later,
Dave from Charlotte

1) SchoolHouse Rock! DVD–thirty year collection: This is the collection of “all” of the SchoolHouse Rock videos made throughout the 70s and 80s. I think it is great from a nostalgic and educational point of view. Although, looking back on it I never realized in my innocent days there was a touch of Marlo Thomas boy-bashing in it. Dr. James Dobson wrote an excellent book called “Bringing Up Boys”, which I would recommend to any Mom or Dad. Read this book, and you will see subtle colorations in SchoolHouse Rock! that put boys down. Nonetheless, I do like it for the basic education components, and I remember many of those songs (how else does anyone under the age of 50 remember the preamble to our Constitution?). Rating: 4.5/5

2) Best of SchoolHouse Rock! Audio CD: Original titles from orignial recordings. Also recommended for those car rides where you can sing along with your kids. My oldest has not been exposed for a week yet, but already can sing several in parts. Rating: 4.5/5

3) SchoolHouse Rock! Rocks Audio CD: Songs from the series are sung by professional recording artists, mostly from Generation-X (or is it Generation-Y now?):Blind Melon, Lemonheads, Better than Ezra, Pavement, Ween, Biz Markie, Chavez, Moby, etc. ***If you were not born after 1980, I do not recommend this album. I would not encourage my kids to listen to this, and I have a hard time appreciating the twists on the original songs. If you normally listen to these bands you may enjoy it, but the bands really seem stretching to take these context songs and re-create them in the bands’ elements. It is rare these days to find musicians who can do this successfully. There are only so many Tom Jones’s and Joe Cockers out there. Rating: 2/5

4) SchoolHouse Rock! Deluxe 1st and 2nd Grade teaching software–the jury is still out. We just started this one today. The way they incorporated the schoolhouse rock characters and ideas is cute, but I am not sure it works. I will review this after more time spent with it, when I review Childrens’ Educational Software (keep your eye out for this review).

Regards,
Dave from Charlotte

Charlotte-NC-blog on Blogger.com

These include:
Potty training
Maternity hoseiry-a love-hate relationship

And Dave has a story about rental real-estate escapades on there

Well, we have an exercise machine in the bonus room, and the kids will hear me on it and come in to inspect my agonizing plight. The older ones are probably OK, but there are some moving parts that look like they’d be horrific finger-chewers if the younger tykes got too close. So I’ve been thinking of a way to create a non-permanent barrier to give me just a foot or two clearance from the machine. I finally pulled out the old baby gate and measured it off…UGH! (an interjection) it was about 5-6′ too short. So I examined it for clues to its model and manufacture and hopped on the web. I wound up buying a second 6′ G80 gate, plus a 24″ extension (which I wasn’t positive I needed, but did not want to go drilling holes in the wall and then coming up short–it was a worth guess, I needed it.). It’s a pretty easy thing to use and connect (although I think I remember being a little confused as to which way to hang the wall-connectors last time), and it works well. I had the think up in under 45′, despite having to tinker a bit and realize I needed to remove a section to make it all work. Anyway, I am much more content knowing the little ones will not be getting at any flywheels or shredders while I am working out. Here’s the manufacturer’s information link, if you are interested:

KidCo Products

You can purchase it through Amazon.com or other vendors. I think their other products look pretty solid as well. I’ve seen other makers’ baby gates, and they look pretty flimsy. KidCo’s have been good and solid with attention to detail in design.

So, we installed the gate, and danced with abandon (after the kiddies were down for bed, mind you). We’ve been working on Rumba and Cha-Cha tonight, but worked on Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, and Rumba on Monday with Lorenzo from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Sharon Amity Road near Independence. He’s an outstanding instructor, although we do miss our regular instructor, Mickie, as she recovers from foot surgery.

I will say one thing: I mentioned in an earlier blog that the “triple dance practice” (we play the same song three times in a row) may be too long to practice one type of dance–this is not true when the children are in the room. We are trying to train them to sit and read or play quietly while we practice dancing. It did not work too well tonight, so three songs was about what it took to practice a few moves for each style. It also did not work too well a couple of weeks ago when our babysitter got a flat tire and we had to take the kids with us for a lesson. After that, we determined we’d train them to put up with us practicing for 30 minutes. Progress is slow, but sometimes you can only expect small miracles from day to day.

I know it can be done. I have trained #5 (at one year old) to be able to sit on my lap while I work on the keyboard and not touch it. It takes about 3 days, with a 1-hour session each day. I sat her on my lap without worrying how much typing I actually got done. I was more focused on watching her, and gently putting her hands in her lap and saying “no” each time she reached for the keyboard or mouse, and giving her a “good girl” praise each time she controlled herself and did not touch the keyboard (placing her hands on the desk, or just plain whiffing). She really responded rapidly and well, although she still needs one or two rounds of “no” and “good girl” each new time I put her on my lap in front of the computer. I didn’t think it was going to work at first, but then Robyn challenged me by telling me how her girlfriend did it in 3 days–she knows I am a sucker for a challenge.

So I just hope I am up to the challenge of training 5 at once to restrain themselves from wreaking total havoc for 30 minutes while we dance…

Dancing from Charlotte