Another Child-Product Recall

I turned on the news this morning as I was getting ready for work and what did I see? Another child-product recall. And this time it is more than 2 million cribs.  I am really getting sick of all these recalls.  What has happened to the products we buy?  Are companies so focused on the bottom line that they have forgotten about safety?  Is it relly more important to save some money and use plastic parts instead of good-ole metal parts (like in the cribs) but put our children's lives at risk?  Yes, I am on my soapbox.  And thank God none of the cribs I have are in the recall.  But that was pure luck.  

Here is a portion from the article on FoxNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,595226,00.html?test=latestnews):

More than 2 million cribs from seven companies were recalled Thursday amid concerns that babies can suffocate, become trapped or fall from the cribs.

Most of the cribs were drop-sides, which have a side rail that moves up and down so parents can lift children from them more easily. That movable side, however, can malfunction or detach from the crib, creating a dangerous gap where babies' heads can become trapped, leading to suffocation or strangulation.

The companies involved in the recall were Evenflo, Delta Enterprises Corp., Child Craft, Jardine Enterprises, LaJobi, Million Dollar Baby and Simmons Juvenile Products Inc.

No deaths were associated with the cribs, but there were reports of at least 16 entrapments of infants. In one case, a child was found unconscious and later hospitalized.

In the announcement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, all seven companies recalled drop-side cribs. Delta and Child Craft also acknowledged problems with fixed-side cribs.

Drop-sides have increasingly come under scrutiny, with several warnings from the CPSC in the last year that the cribs can be deadly. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum has pledged to ban their manufacture and sale by year's end.

"This new recall announcement is part of a larger effort by CPSC to clean up the marketplace from many of these unsafe cribs," said Tenenbaum. "Most of these recalled cribs have dangerous drop-sides, while the Delta crib can pose a danger to babies if the mattress support is installed incorrectly."

CPSC urged parents to stop using the cribs and contact the manufacturers for repair kits to immobilize the drop-side or information to make the cribs more secure.

The recalls involved about:

— 750,000 Jenny Lind drop-side cribs distributed by Evenflo Inc.

— 747,000 Delta drop-side cribs. Delta is also urging parents to check all fixed and drop-side cribs that use wooden stabilizer bars to support the mattress. The company says the bars can be installed upside down, causing the mattress platform to collapse. CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said Delta "was not cooperative with providing the full number of units involved in the mattress support assembly problem."

— 306,000 Bonavita, Babi Italia and ISSI drop-side cribs manufactured by LaJobi Inc.

— 130,000 Jardine drop-side cribs imported by Toys R Us.

— 156,000 Million Dollar Baby drop-side cribs.

— 50,000 Simmons drop-side cribs.

— 40,000 to 50,000 Child Craft brand stationary-side cribs and an unknown number of Child Craft brand drop-sides. Child Craft ceased operations last summer and sold its name to Foundations Worldwide Inc., which did not manufacture or sell any of the recalled cribs but will offer rebates for some of them.

With Thursday's recall, 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the past five years. Drop-sides have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000. The cribs are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities during that time.

Congress is also concerned about the cribs. Legislation has been introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to outlaw the sale and manufacture of drop-sides. A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, also of New York.

Drop-side cribs have been around for decades, but consumer advocates say they are not as sturdy as those of the past. Older cribs had metal rods that guided the drop-side up and down. Many newer cribs have plastic tracking guides for the drop-side that critics say are more prone to breaking.

The Robot

I have been tring to get this video to upload for days. Literaly. But I learned a new trick - if you upload video to YouTube (which takes a ton less time and you can keep it private) it is simple to get into blogger! So sit back and get ready to laugh. This is from Memorial Day weekend. I know you all are jealous of these dance moves!

First Steps

Sam took his first steps yesterday!  I was so excited!  He has been pushing toys for about a month now and cruising around everything, but he has not found his center yet to steady himself without holding onto something.  But yesterday I was holding his hands, letting him walk towards me and I let go and he took about three steps into my arms.  He was so pleased with himself, he could not contain his laughter.  And I, of course, went crazy praising him.  I know that we still have a ways to go, but I wanted to document the first real steps.  I know that he is a late walker, but I just carry the boy everywhere, and who doesn't want to hang out on these big hips of mine?  I don't think I would walk either if I could be carried!!

Should we cancel?

We have gone to the beach the last couple of years with our great friends, and Ted's first cousin, who live in Tuscaloosa with their 4 kids. We found a great house for this year in Rosemary and booked for the last weekend in July. And then the oil came. We decided not to cancel - I mean, you never know what might happen. But the worst has happened. I am not sure what Rosemary is like now, but surely in a month the kids will not be able to swim in the water and the beaches will be brown with oil.

I guess I know that we need to cancel, but I feel so terrible for all those people who live down there and survive on tourism. I though that maybe if it didn't smell awful we could corral the kids at the pool and still have a great time. And the recent news article talking about how the IRS is probably going to tax the payments given to the victims makes me sick. (see http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/22/gulf-coast-residents-confused-frustrated-claims-payouts-taxed/?test=latestnewsfor one of the many articles I have seen today online.)

Thoughts?  I know cancelling is really the only option.  It just makes me so sad.  But at least we have the lake as some place to go with the Tuscaloosa Holts.  Keep the Gulf in your prayers.  It gives me a stomach ache.

First Lake weekend of the summer

Hard to believe that it is already mid-June and we just now made it to the lake.  We have had so much going on and been out of town so much - but we had a great time, just us Holts.  Mom and dad didn't come because Martin and Jeanne were in Bham.  But we will be there with them next weekend so that will be great.

The kids had so much fun.  Ann Park and Ward were little fish and we had a had time getting them out of the water.  Of course, we had a really bad storm on Saturday afternoon, so that helped with naps.  And Ann Park put on a "show" for me which was hysterical - especially since I used to do the same thing for mom and dad as a little girl down there.  Ward fished a bunch, but didn't have any luck.  We need to get him some smaller, brim hooks so he can get one.  But Ted caught a huge bass off the dock on Saturday night about 10:30 after dinner.  First one ever at the lake!

My two fisherman about to hit it

Ann Park on her first boat ride of the summer

And Ward as daddy is going "really super fast!"

Sam discovers the walking cane (nice redneck baby look he sported most of the weekend)

Sam with is favorite person

Ann Park doing her "show."  The spoon was her microphone.

Ted's bass

Sam loving his first boat ride (especially since he was "driving")

My two boys on a boat ride.

All it takes is a little confidence

I am usually not one of those moms who brags about their kids.  Well, at least I try not to be.  But today I was really proud of Ward.  As most of you know, he is my cautious child.  He needs a little peer pressure.  He has been able to swim for the past two summers, but his confidence is well, let's just say he needs to work on his confidence ans he screams "you're too far, get closer mommy" when I am 5 steps away from the steps (and he can touch).  But not today.  After Ward's gold lesson (yes, golf!  It is called the "Tiny Tour" and it is ages 5-6) I braved the heat and my three kids and took them all to the pool ALONE.  It all started out as I thought it would - hectic, chaotic, you know, a pain in my @ss.

I am trying to get Sam into his swim diaper, he is rolling over, almost falling off the pool chair, etc. and I hear:

ANN PARK:  Mommy, I want to swim to you . . .  mommy I want to swim to you . . . mommy I want to swim ot you . . . (you get the point)
ME:  I have to get your brother in his bathingsuit baby girl.  I will be there as soon as I can.
ANN PARK:  But mommy, hurry up . . . I want to swim to you.
ME:  Why don't you get in and practice swimming to the wall? (as Sam manages to get his hand on my bathing suit and I flash at least two teenage boys)
ANN PARK: Noooooooo . . .
(And then I realize that I haven't heard a word from Ward since we applied sunscreen)
ME:  Ann Park, where is Ward?
ANN PARK: I dunno
(I look around to see him on the diving board)
WARD:  Watch me mommy!
ME:  Okay!
(And Ward jumps in and swims to the side - somewhat of a panic swim by the end, but he makes it).
ME:  That was great Ward!
(Ward continues to jump off the divind board for the next 10-15 minutes as Ann Park gets her way and swims to me as I hold Sam and try not to let him crawl out of my arms and drown).

Oh yeah, later he did the twisty slide about 20 times all by himself too.  Proud mama.

Catalogues

I get a ton of catalogues every week.  The vast majority I do not read. It is one of my pet peeves. I have been trying to get off the lists for months now, to no avail.  So I continue to fill my recycling bin with unread catalogues from places like Oriental Trading, J. Jill and Victoria's Secret.  But there are two catalogues that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.  And I get a little bounce in my step when I get them.

One is Serena and Lily (www.serenaAndlily.com).  I culd redo every bedroom in my house every time I get that catalogue.  I love the way they style the rooms and the bedding is just ot die for.  Ward ruined his bedspread with some silly puddy (don't ask - he slept with it and it was everywhere) so I am thinking about getting him something . . . and my room will be jealous.

The other one is Wisteria (www.wisteria.com).  Again, it is a home decor magazine but it has the best accessories.  It also has some of my favorite furniture.  I have never bought anything from there, but parts of my home have the same feel and look.  I love looking through it and getting decoraing ideas.

I know, I know . . . I am a total decorator-wanna-be.  A girl can dream, right?

Way OVERDUE!

So I am so overdue on a post as well as posting pictures from Ward's graduation, the Upchurch family trip to Palmetto Bluff and Memorial day, just to name a few.  So I decided to start backwards.  We spent most of Memorial Day recovering from our fantastic trip to SC with my family and trying not to be too depressed.  It was a HOT HOT HOT day and we were in the pool most of it.  The club also had a fun party and the kids had a blast . . . . AND I have pictures to prove it!

Daddy and Sam when we got there

Ward as a tiger (his favorite face-painting!)

Ann Park with her princess face-painting

Ann Park on the bouncy slide

and Ward getting some air

Ann Park's Little Mermaid balloon (I was impressed)!

Another shot of daddy and Sam

Mommy and her tiger

Mommy and her princess  (I feel like I am NEVER in any pictures with the kids.  Wish I could get one with me and all three but I think that this is wishful thinking!)

Face In Space

Have you heard about the "Face in Space" thing that NASA is doing?  Here is a blurb that describes it:

Fly Your Face in Space


NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps:
First...Select the Participate button at the bottom of this page and upload your image/name, which will be flown aboard the space shuttle. Don't have a picture to upload? No problem, just skip the image upload and we will fly your name only on your selected mission!
Next...Print and save the confirmation page with your flight information.
Later...Return to this site after the landing to print your Flight Certificate - a commemorative certificate signed by the Mission Commander. You can also check on mission status, view mission photographs, link to various NASA educational resources and follow the commander and crew on Twitter or Facebook.

http://faceinspace.nasa.gov/

I saw it on the news last night and stated talking to Ward about it this morning and he wants his face in space!  He is really into anything that has to do with science (particularly animals), but was fascinated by the prospect of putting his picture in space.  He didn't totally understand the concept (he thought that I personally knew someone going up in space and wanted to meet them), but I think that it is a good learning tool.  I am going to use it to talk about hte planet, etc. with him and Ann Park.  I am always looking for fun ways to teach them things and get them interested in topics other than Spongebob and Alvin and the Chipmunks!

Blogger Boycot is Over

No offense to my hundreds of readers (Ha!  2 maybe?), but I have kinda been boycotting Blogger, if you haven't noticed.  It is not that I don't like posting, I do, really.  But it just takes SO LONG.  I am sick of inefficiencies and it just puts me in the worst mood to have to wait for things to load, etc.  So I had a little tantrum and said I was through with it.

What brought this on, you ask?  Well, I sat down one afternoon on the Upchurch family vacation to write all about Ward's precious graduation that happened right before we left.  I had many a witty comment (it was a good day a/k/a I had some "me time") and even sat through loading all the pictures while listening to the playlist Ted made for the trip.  I get up to go to the bathroom and I come back and Blogger will not work.  It is frozen in place and refuses to do anything for me.  And that was after close to an hour of work.  And I knew that it wasn't my beloved MacBookPro because nothing else was frozen on it - I could search in internet, check my mail, see my pictures, listen to my music, etc. 

So I shut my computer, had a little scream, grabbed a beer and decided to protest.  For a while.  But I missed you.  I missed heading to my Dashboard each day to see what my friends had posted on their blogs.  Some of you (Shay) provide much needed laughter.  I thought about coming back last week but Ted was out of town, I had my big party, and I had no help with the kids.  So that didn't happen.  But I am back, until I throw another tantrum, that is.