So sadly I come to post with not much information...
But I wanted to come and update all those who have shown their support. I called Ninja Jump and was told to email the details so it could get forwarded to management. I did and have still not heard anything. I will be following up tomorrow.
There have been reports put in with Health Canada by myself and the family of the birthday boy.
Today Angela also known as partymomma on twitter gave me the contact information to a really helpful man who gave me some great information. He told me that most likely the Aurora Sports Dome was operating this bounce house without a licence or insurance. That they should have had someone from their establishment supervising, that as a public facility it should never be left up to the parents. He told me that Ninja Jump will do nothing and to contact TSSA.
So I contacted TSSA who took all the information and is looking up the Aurora Sports Dome.
I will be stopping by there tomorrow afternoon in hopes of talking to someone in charge.
I have also talked about the birthday boy family about taking this to the local papers, as it seems that the sports dome was in the wrong here.
I will not stop until I get some real answers... I will not allow this to happen to another child.
On a side note I noticed someone shared my story on "the Bump" thank you very much for helping spread the word on this danger!
I tried to log in so that I could comment but for whatever reason I get logged in but the moment I go to the post I can't post and it logs me back out. So I wanted to add to some of the feedback here.
It is not known who did this to my son, or I would have dealt with him and his family. My son didn't know who he was and all he could remember about him was that he was wearing a black shirt. Half of the kids were wearing black shirts because they were on a certain team for the soccer game at the beginning of the party. Many kids gave their thoughts but every one was different so what and who do you believe. Him or his family have not come forward and I don't believe they ever will. No my son was not playing with any kids after this incident. Once we were both calmed down (enough so I could drive) we left.
This very well could have happened without another child wrapping it for him. That is probably the exact reason that Ninja Jump has removed the strap and replaced it with handles. The problem is they have done nothing to modify or remove the models out there that have the strap. You can not put a 5-6 foot long lose strap hanging inside of something and not have this risk - look at blind cords.
I also didn't leave my children unattended for a moment, I followed them around as they played, that is why I was standing 2 feet away from the backside talking with one of his classmates parents when this happened. That is how I heard him screaming. If I was not right there this story might not have ended in a happy ending.
The reason I will not allow my kids into a bounce house again is because of the many hidden dangers. I would have never expected that there would be a 5-6 foot long strap/rope inside that could get tangled around any child. Unless I go inside to make sure the unit is safe my kids will not play in it.
My son has said himself at 6 years old that he will never play in one again.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Today was one of those days that all parents fear...
One of those days that you pray will never happen and you feel sick to your stomach when you read some other persons story. Well today was one of those days for me.
It all started as a normal suburban Saturday, we had a birthday party to go to for one of my sons friends at a local sports dome. They had a big soccer game planned (amazingly organized by the birthday boys parents), followed by pizza and cake. After the kids enjoyed some food they were able to go back into the dome where the dome had set up a big bounce house very similar to this one from Ninja Jump (just a different theme) a company from California.
The boys were all playing and having fun in here. I started thinking that someone was going to get hurt, but never thought that there was a risk like what happened today. The house has black mesh sides and it is very hard to see inside.
I watched my kids playing inside and moved around checking on both and chatting with a fellow parent who's son is in my son's class. All of the sudden my son starts crying and then screaming and crying and screaming. I went over to him and started talking to him through the net, I thought other kids were just bugging him so I told him to come out. The opening was all the way on the other side. He starts really screaming at the same time that another boy is pulling on his leg, so I yell for him to stop and to my son to get out now. He screams even louder and one of the other kids tells me that he has this rope wrapped around his neck. I look above him and see this green rope, and I look at my son who is grabbing at his neck.
It was all in a split second. I didn't do anything but run. I threw down my water bottle, purse and kicked my shoes across the sports dome as I ran around this thing. I ran up the slide and immediately knew I could not pull him up so I jumped down beside him and tried pushing him up to get slack and free the rope. It wouldn't work, it was as tall as me. I start begging for this kid at the top of the slide to help me pull him up, what that poor boy must have been thinking... but he did nothing. The father of the birthday boy and his sister must have heard me because they both came running in and he grabbed my son and pushed him up, removed the cord and pulled him out.
See the red line, that is a rope that hangs down the part where they climb up to go down the slide. This rope just hangs there, it isn't fastened at the bottom or anything...
That is where I found my son hanging with a rope wrapped around his neck.
I was in shock... I followed his sister out of this death trap and immediately went to my son who was crying. I felt like I was going to vomit, I was shaking and wanted to freak out and yell. I wanted to know how this happened. Kids start telling me that some boy wrapped it around his neck and pushed him,they are pointing at all these different kids. I just sat there and hugged my boy. His little sister even came over and started rubbing his back to make sure he was okay.
I just wanted to leave, but I knew that there was no way I could drive these two kids home. I was so shaken up and all I could do was stop myself from vomiting all over the ground. Some other parents distracted my son and got him to go off and kick around the soccer ball. By the time I was a little calmer I asked him if he wanted to leave and he said no, so we stayed for a little while longer.
I just needed to stop shaking...
My 6 year old son was able to tell me exactly what happened and describe how scary it was. He is upstairs with my hubby at 10:30pm because he is too scared to sleep. Totally understandable after the day he had.
If I had decided to go sit down on one of the chairs 10 feet away I might have not heard him, I would not have checked to see what was going on... and who knows if another kid would have. Since instead of yelling for help they pulled on his leg to just pull the rope even tighter.
He is okay, his neck has rope burn. My shoulder has gotten so sore that I can barely move my arm, but that doesn't matter. He is alive, at this time that is all that matters.
I am so thankful for Brian who rescued him, because no matter how hard I tried I didn't have the strength. The poor guy is still shaking himself.
It all started as a normal suburban Saturday, we had a birthday party to go to for one of my sons friends at a local sports dome. They had a big soccer game planned (amazingly organized by the birthday boys parents), followed by pizza and cake. After the kids enjoyed some food they were able to go back into the dome where the dome had set up a big bounce house very similar to this one from Ninja Jump (just a different theme) a company from California.
The boys were all playing and having fun in here. I started thinking that someone was going to get hurt, but never thought that there was a risk like what happened today. The house has black mesh sides and it is very hard to see inside.
I watched my kids playing inside and moved around checking on both and chatting with a fellow parent who's son is in my son's class. All of the sudden my son starts crying and then screaming and crying and screaming. I went over to him and started talking to him through the net, I thought other kids were just bugging him so I told him to come out. The opening was all the way on the other side. He starts really screaming at the same time that another boy is pulling on his leg, so I yell for him to stop and to my son to get out now. He screams even louder and one of the other kids tells me that he has this rope wrapped around his neck. I look above him and see this green rope, and I look at my son who is grabbing at his neck.
It was all in a split second. I didn't do anything but run. I threw down my water bottle, purse and kicked my shoes across the sports dome as I ran around this thing. I ran up the slide and immediately knew I could not pull him up so I jumped down beside him and tried pushing him up to get slack and free the rope. It wouldn't work, it was as tall as me. I start begging for this kid at the top of the slide to help me pull him up, what that poor boy must have been thinking... but he did nothing. The father of the birthday boy and his sister must have heard me because they both came running in and he grabbed my son and pushed him up, removed the cord and pulled him out.
See the red line, that is a rope that hangs down the part where they climb up to go down the slide. This rope just hangs there, it isn't fastened at the bottom or anything...
That is where I found my son hanging with a rope wrapped around his neck.
I was in shock... I followed his sister out of this death trap and immediately went to my son who was crying. I felt like I was going to vomit, I was shaking and wanted to freak out and yell. I wanted to know how this happened. Kids start telling me that some boy wrapped it around his neck and pushed him,they are pointing at all these different kids. I just sat there and hugged my boy. His little sister even came over and started rubbing his back to make sure he was okay.
I just wanted to leave, but I knew that there was no way I could drive these two kids home. I was so shaken up and all I could do was stop myself from vomiting all over the ground. Some other parents distracted my son and got him to go off and kick around the soccer ball. By the time I was a little calmer I asked him if he wanted to leave and he said no, so we stayed for a little while longer.
I just needed to stop shaking...
My 6 year old son was able to tell me exactly what happened and describe how scary it was. He is upstairs with my hubby at 10:30pm because he is too scared to sleep. Totally understandable after the day he had.
If I had decided to go sit down on one of the chairs 10 feet away I might have not heard him, I would not have checked to see what was going on... and who knows if another kid would have. Since instead of yelling for help they pulled on his leg to just pull the rope even tighter.
He is okay, his neck has rope burn. My shoulder has gotten so sore that I can barely move my arm, but that doesn't matter. He is alive, at this time that is all that matters.
I am so thankful for Brian who rescued him, because no matter how hard I tried I didn't have the strength. The poor guy is still shaking himself.
My kids will never set foot inside another bounce house again, and I urge everyone reading this to take a long hard look before they let there kids in one.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Mixed Feelings
It is September 6th, Labour Day, the day before kids go back to school. I should be sitting here with a smile on my face, celebrating like the millions of other parents out there, but instead I sit here with a tear in my eye.
You see I started a business 5 years ago when my first baby was 1 so that I could do something with my mind, so that I could be creative, and to stay home with my son but still contribute to the family financially. I was not one of those people who could just be a stay at home mom, I did it for the year and I loved being home but I also needed more for me.
In the mix of getting my business off the ground and raising my son I received a wonderful surprise, I was pregnant again with a little girl. I would have 2 kids, 2.5years apart, one boy and one girl - the million dollar family. What could be better? Nothing! Only I am running my own business, so there is no 1 year maternity leave, there is as much time as I want to take off and not have my business running. If I didn't work then there was no business. I was home from the hospital less then 24 hours after having Miss E, and I think I was on my computer working 2 hours after getting home. I took a break for a few days during March break but other then that I was working while raising this baby and 2.5 year old.
When Kal turned 3 he started preschool 5 mornings a week, and stayed at the same school for his JK year because I didn't believe in the alternate day kindergarten that all of our schools have here. Last year which would have been SK he went full time for the 5 days. As many readers know my kids go to a Montessori school.
Well where do the tears come from? Miss E is starting her first year at the school tomorrow and I signed her up for full time. She went for a few months at the end of last year part time mornings and loved it. She was always learning, unlike her brother who did more play/practical life for the first 2 years.
I have real mixed feelings about her being full time....
I need it for the business, I am too busy to work and take care of her at the same time. She needs it for the stimulation, she is bored at home and needs to socialize with more then her brother.
But I feel like I should not be rushing this. I feel like I should be enjoying this time with her. I question why I allowed my business to get to this point where both kids needed to be gone all day. One of the main reasons for my business was to stay home with my kids.... and that is not what I am doing here. Could I not work part time and have her in school part time? I question myself all day long on this.
I know in the back of my mind that this is not something that I can do. It wasn't working for either of us, and unless I put her in programs every day during the afternoon she would not be stimulated enough. That is not an option because most programs for preschool kids run in the morning when she is in school. I also need to work more then 2 or 3 hours a day and since she doesn't nap this wouldn't work.
So tomorrow morning I will be weeping as my son goes off to grade 1 and my daughter starts her first year of preschool and is gone all day.
Check back with me in a month (or Wednesday) to see if I am celebrating and loving it!
You see I started a business 5 years ago when my first baby was 1 so that I could do something with my mind, so that I could be creative, and to stay home with my son but still contribute to the family financially. I was not one of those people who could just be a stay at home mom, I did it for the year and I loved being home but I also needed more for me.
In the mix of getting my business off the ground and raising my son I received a wonderful surprise, I was pregnant again with a little girl. I would have 2 kids, 2.5years apart, one boy and one girl - the million dollar family. What could be better? Nothing! Only I am running my own business, so there is no 1 year maternity leave, there is as much time as I want to take off and not have my business running. If I didn't work then there was no business. I was home from the hospital less then 24 hours after having Miss E, and I think I was on my computer working 2 hours after getting home. I took a break for a few days during March break but other then that I was working while raising this baby and 2.5 year old.
When Kal turned 3 he started preschool 5 mornings a week, and stayed at the same school for his JK year because I didn't believe in the alternate day kindergarten that all of our schools have here. Last year which would have been SK he went full time for the 5 days. As many readers know my kids go to a Montessori school.
Well where do the tears come from? Miss E is starting her first year at the school tomorrow and I signed her up for full time. She went for a few months at the end of last year part time mornings and loved it. She was always learning, unlike her brother who did more play/practical life for the first 2 years.
I have real mixed feelings about her being full time....
I need it for the business, I am too busy to work and take care of her at the same time. She needs it for the stimulation, she is bored at home and needs to socialize with more then her brother.
But I feel like I should not be rushing this. I feel like I should be enjoying this time with her. I question why I allowed my business to get to this point where both kids needed to be gone all day. One of the main reasons for my business was to stay home with my kids.... and that is not what I am doing here. Could I not work part time and have her in school part time? I question myself all day long on this.
I know in the back of my mind that this is not something that I can do. It wasn't working for either of us, and unless I put her in programs every day during the afternoon she would not be stimulated enough. That is not an option because most programs for preschool kids run in the morning when she is in school. I also need to work more then 2 or 3 hours a day and since she doesn't nap this wouldn't work.
So tomorrow morning I will be weeping as my son goes off to grade 1 and my daughter starts her first year of preschool and is gone all day.
Check back with me in a month (or Wednesday) to see if I am celebrating and loving it!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
So not fair...
I think it is really not fair that there are people out there who lose weight when they are stressed... yes I know some of you are like that and right now I am not sure if we can still be friends!!
My husband is one of those people... he is unhappy with it. He works very hard at the gym to keep a certain physical look. We both way back when could eat whatever we want and not gain a pound. He had to work out at the gym hard core, I had to have kids... JERK!!!
I will be in the bathroom getting ready, looking at myself in the mirror and feeling horrible about myself when he comes in and starts complaining about how much weight he has lost and how hard it will be for him to put it back on.... blab... I start to tune him out because if not I worry I might punch him in the face. It is so not fair...
So as many of you know our life has been dealt its fair share of crap over the last 6 months. Life has been stressful is putting it mildly. I have been working my ass off (too bad not physically) and while I am sitting in front of my computer for 18+hours a day making money I am not being physically active. I am not riding my bike with the kids, I am not using my treadmill, I am certainly not at the gym since I cancelled that membership when things went to shit.
What has all of this done to me??? I have gained a freaking extra 10 to 15 pounds since last winter... I am back at my just delivered weight and I feel horrible. I look horrible...
My Lulu's cut my waist so much that by the end of the day I am hurting.
CRAP, #&%!, $@#%... how did I let this happen?
Why can't I be the person who loses weight when I am stressed? SO NOT FAIR!
So with a closet full of clothes that barely fit, a refusal to buy new ones, and Blissdom Canada in less then 2 months I am going to do something about this.
I am going to get my ass off this chair.
I am going to take a break from working during my day and get on my treadmill.
I am going to eat healthy.
I am going to try to avoid chocolate. (keyword being "TRY"!)
I am going to take care of myself for once in a long long time.
I am going to do all of this and NOT feel guilty about doing it.
Oh and to all of you "WTF Lindsay you look great" haters out there - I was 105lbs before I had kids. I don't ever aspire to get back there but I am certainly not happy here. So please don't hate me, instead help me, please!
My husband is one of those people... he is unhappy with it. He works very hard at the gym to keep a certain physical look. We both way back when could eat whatever we want and not gain a pound. He had to work out at the gym hard core, I had to have kids... JERK!!!
I will be in the bathroom getting ready, looking at myself in the mirror and feeling horrible about myself when he comes in and starts complaining about how much weight he has lost and how hard it will be for him to put it back on.... blab... I start to tune him out because if not I worry I might punch him in the face. It is so not fair...
So as many of you know our life has been dealt its fair share of crap over the last 6 months. Life has been stressful is putting it mildly. I have been working my ass off (too bad not physically) and while I am sitting in front of my computer for 18+hours a day making money I am not being physically active. I am not riding my bike with the kids, I am not using my treadmill, I am certainly not at the gym since I cancelled that membership when things went to shit.
What has all of this done to me??? I have gained a freaking extra 10 to 15 pounds since last winter... I am back at my just delivered weight and I feel horrible. I look horrible...
My Lulu's cut my waist so much that by the end of the day I am hurting.
CRAP, #&%!, $@#%... how did I let this happen?
Why can't I be the person who loses weight when I am stressed? SO NOT FAIR!
So with a closet full of clothes that barely fit, a refusal to buy new ones, and Blissdom Canada in less then 2 months I am going to do something about this.
I am going to get my ass off this chair.
I am going to take a break from working during my day and get on my treadmill.
I am going to eat healthy.
I am going to try to avoid chocolate. (keyword being "TRY"!)
I am going to take care of myself for once in a long long time.
I am going to do all of this and NOT feel guilty about doing it.
Oh and to all of you "WTF Lindsay you look great" haters out there - I was 105lbs before I had kids. I don't ever aspire to get back there but I am certainly not happy here. So please don't hate me, instead help me, please!
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