Adventures in new fatherhood

[CreamyGoodness]

Speaking of adventures, holy crap this weekend.

Thursday or Friday I made some homemade hummus. My wife gives him a taste, and he makes it very clear he wants more... not a moment from now, now. So that was dinner Friday.

I'm at hackathon on Saturday and I get a call. Mind you, my wife HATES talking on the phone, so its always something at least vaguely important when she calls. "Hi, I'm trying not to freak out but he has hives all over the backs of his arms and legs, can you come home?"

Ok, sure.

Get home, he has these angry looking hives but he's playing on his mat, smiling at me, and just being himself. I check the net, and its basically telling me to give him a cool bath and make sure he doesn't have trouble breathing, which he does not. No big deal.

My wife wisely calls our pediatrician. "Do you have a car? If not call 911, but if you do, get him to the urgent care pediatric facility in Bayside. Have someone in the backseat monitor his breathing" Holy crap. My wife is the only one that drives in this family, and she's also freaking out. Wait a second... CREAMYGOODNESS has to be the cooler head here?! This is bad. So we drive 30 minutes on the Grand Central to Bayside and park in front of this really pretty facility right next to a Tony Roma's Italian Eatery.

By the time we get him to the doctor, of course, the hives are gone. The phone pics we have were helpful to Doctor Su (by the way... Dr. Su was pretty cute. Don't look at me like that.) We've risked a distracted head-on collision to be told to take 5mg of baby Benadryl if it comes back, plus SG is not even a little bit thrilled to have his temperature taken. He does, however, seem to like flirting with all the nurses, and Dr. Su. That's my boy.

We breathe a sigh of relief and take advantage of the huge suburbs-style grocery store in that mini-mall complex and head home... only to find he has soiled his clothes completely. Which he will continue to do throughout the weekend.

I'm spent... can only imagine how my wife feels.

 

[1977Brewer]

Speaking of adventures, holy crap this weekend.

Thursday or Friday I made some homemade hummus. My wife gives him a taste, and he makes it very clear he wants more... not a moment from now, now. So that was dinner Friday.

I'm at hackathon on Saturday and I get a call. Mind you, my wife HATES talking on the phone, so its always something at least vaguely important when she calls. "Hi, I'm trying not to freak out but he has hives all over the backs of his arms and legs, can you come home?"

Ok, sure.

Get home, he has these angry looking hives but he's playing on his mat, smiling at me, and just being himself. I check the net, and its basically telling me to give him a cool bath and make sure he doesn't have trouble breathing, which he does not. No big deal.

My wife wisely calls our pediatrician. "Do you have a car? If not call 911, but if you do, get him to the urgent care pediatric facility in Bayside. Have someone in the backseat monitor his breathing" Holy crap. My wife is the only one that drives in this family, and she's also freaking out. Wait a second... CREAMYGOODNESS has to be the cooler head here?! This is bad. So we drive 30 minutes on the Grand Central to Bayside and park in front of this really pretty facility right next to a Tony Roma's Italian Eatery.

By the time we get him to the doctor, of course, the hives are gone. The phone pics we have were helpful to Doctor Su (by the way... Dr. Su was pretty cute. Don't look at me like that.) We've risked a distracted head-on collision to be told to take 5mg of baby Benadryl if it comes back, plus SG is not even a little bit thrilled to have his temperature taken. He does, however, seem to like flirting with all the nurses, and Dr. Su. That's my boy.

We breathe a sigh of relief and take advantage of the huge suburbs-style grocery store in that mini-mall complex and head home... only to find he has soiled his clothes completely. Which he will continue to do throughout the weekend.

I'm spent... can only imagine how my wife feels.

Benadryl first, ER/Urgent Care last. Babies are almost as resilent as beer. Almost. If he was having an aniphylactic (sp?) reaction, it would have been immediate and severe. He's just allergic to chikpeas, or anything else in the hummus. You'll get that narrowed down pretty quick. My daughter gets hives from food, all the time. She learned early that if she gets a rash, she needs Benadryl.

 

[NateLTB]

I have a four month old boy at home and I'm loving every second of it. He had his first trip on a plane last week and did great, no crying at all.

 

[SharonaZamboni]

Benadryl is a definite must-have item, as well as Benadryl skin cream.

 

[Homercidal]

This reminds me I bought some chickpeas to make my own hummus. First time I had it I was not impressed. Very plain and boring. But I had some other stuff that was really good with the right junk mixed in.

And let me tell you, the fancy schmancy premixed stuff can be EXPENSIVE. Chickpeas are really cheap.

 

[andrewmaixner]

Yes, we keep benadryl in the diaper bag, car, and at home. I'd have an epinephrine injector (epi-pen) also just in case, if the government didn't massively over-regulate them. Haven't had any reactions yet fortunately.


For hummus, some good additions include (not all at once): frank's red hot sauce, garlic, tomato/basil, cored jalapenos.

 

[Homercidal]

Yes, we keep benadryl in the diaper bag, car, and at home. I'd have an epinephrine injector (epi-pen) also just in case, if the government didn't massively over-regulate them. Haven't had any reactions yet fortunately.


For hummus, some good additions include (not all at once): frank's red hot sauce, garlic, tomato/basil, cored jalapenos.

I had some with a bit of vinegar, and it really kicked the flavor up a notch. I'll be adding garlic and tomato and maybe some other things.

My kids have been allergy free so I'm thankful for that. Hay fever a bit which is normal for most people these days it seems.

 

[unionrdr]

I was just thinking roasted garlic might be good as well. Even though my kids are grown, they still act like children sometimes. So don't think you'll escape it eventually...you won't. That's when the fun really starts.

 

[jrgtr42]

my brother-in-law makes a pretty mean hummus - at home, from scratch. I think I have the base recipe around someplace. The good thing about hummus is that you can put whatever you want in and it'll be good. I've had garlic versions, lemon, roasted red pepper, chili pepper, spiced versions and who knows how many others.
With our little guy (or girl..) on the way any time now, we'll have to start watching out for allergies and reactions. Heaven forbid he/she is allergic to dairy or anything like that - we love our cheese around here.

 

[kleinstadt]

I remember, before I had kids, a friend telling me that he was extract stovetop brewing with his kid in a Moby or Ergo or something.

I thought to myself, "Damn, that's irresponsible. That kid could get hurt."

Two years later, I was doing the same thing, with the kid strapped to me, but 10 gal. all-grain outdoors on a NG burner (I was super careful, for the record, usually facing away from the kettle and reaching behind myself to add hops, etc).

Now, all that 2 year old kid wants to do is go into the basement and play "grain", which is scooping and shoveling base malts.

Mom actually wants me to have him around when I brew, so he can stir the mash, which he LOVES. "Jack, grain, yeah! Grain beer!" It's nerve-wracking, but 150F isn't too hot, and I spot him intensely.

The wife did a lot of reading on how to entertain/educate toddlers, and there's a concept called "sensory play", which involves playing with substances with different textures with hands, shovels, etc.

I never thought homebrewing would fit into that category, but here we are.

Aside, have you ever played with cornstarch mixed with water? It's crazy. Just don't dump it down the drain. Toddlers like it, too.

Can't wait to get the newborn into it, too.

 

[SharonaZamboni]

My two greatest fears with kids are choking and burns. Hot dogs, raw carrots, or- oh, God! balloons or marshmallows! Hot soup, macaroni wort, and the worst was even thinking about deep frying anything.

It's funny how some things can really put a fear into everyday life.

 

[andrewmaixner]

I remember, before I had kids, a friend telling me that he was extract stovetop brewing with his kid in a Moby or Ergo or something.
I thought to myself, "Damn, that's irresponsible. That kid could get hurt."
Two years later, I was doing the same thing, with the kid strapped to me, but 10 gal. all-grain outdoors on a NG burner (I was super careful, for the record, usually facing away from the kettle and reaching behind myself to add hops, etc).
Now, all that 2 year old kid wants to do is go into the basement and play "grain", which is scooping and shoveling base malts.

... I ended up doing the same thing a couple days ago, with the kid strapped on my back and sleeping. I don't think I could have done it on the front, as that's just too close to the process.
It went pretty well. Mommies appreciate quiet time to themselves on occasion.

 

[Gavin C]

My wife wisely calls our pediatrician. .

On the phone docs are on high alert to avoid a lawsuit.

They will invariably err on the side of avoiding disaster in these type of cases. The mere mention of a rash relating to a food allergy and it's a potential code in their minds. (Justifiably so given the high cost of professional liability insurance in the USA)

My wife is from a country with near free urgent care medicine. I've fielded many a frantic phone call from her over the last 3 years with our little ones. Lots of personal experience with asthma and allergies over the years forms a bit of perspective.

With an anaphylactic reaction things get serious and do so fast, real fast. Thankfully they are rare. Common things are common. Most kids get the common reactions to foods, insects, plants, dust, chemicals etc. Too many potential causes to count.

No one wants to be that test case though, so individual's fear, worry and readily available online misinformation, perpetuate the doom and gloom medical scenarios unfortunately.

 

[Gavin C]

Now, all that 2 year old kid wants to do is go into the basement and play "grain", which is scooping and shoveling base malts.

.

My 2 year old loves to eat my bulk base malts. Maris Oter. is her fave. It really is delicious, so I can't complain (I gave her her first sample after all). The pilsner malt is not so enticing. Love showing them (1 and 2) all the brewing stuff. Trying to develop a couple of brewing assistants as soon as possible.

 

[nutty_gnome]

He looks just like my father-in-law. I love the guy, but do you know how weird it is to kiss a baby who looks just like your father-in-law?

I agree with this sentiment. It is very creepy. I just try to ignore it with my kid.

 

[mwjtennis]

little brewers

 

[Roadliner]

lol and here I am worried about her being a picky eater. most dangers haven't really hit me yet i guess. A few more weeks and I'm sure it'll come rushing to me.

 

[1977Brewer]

lol and here I am worried about her being a picky eater. most dangers haven't really hit me yet i guess. A few more weeks and I'm sure it'll come rushing to me.

You don't know danger until you raise a boy. Everything is a weapon, all things can be climbed. If it looks or sounds dangerous in the least, of course it's going to be a ton of fun.

 

[Psylocide]

You don't know danger until you raise a boy. Everything is a weapon, all things can be climbed. If it looks or sounds dangerous in the least, of course it's going to be a ton of fun.

Sexist, reported.

My girl has sword training.

 

[1977Brewer]

Sexist, reported.

My girl has sword training.

Good. Mine know where to punch a rapist.

 

[Roadliner]

You don't know danger until you raise a boy. Everything is a weapon, all things can be climbed. If it looks or sounds dangerous in the least, of course it's going to be a ton of fun.

lol well of course! who doesn't like dangerous things???

 

[1977Brewer]

lol well of course! who doesn't like dangerous things???

Moms. He's going to give her a coronary some day.

 

[Roadliner]

Moms. He's going to give her a coronary some day.

I guess it's a good thing Mom will be at work.

 

[Psylocide]

I guess it's a good thing Mom will be at work.

Dude, we get it, you're living the dream.

Gawd.

 

[kleinstadt]

Mommies appreciate quiet time to themselves on occasion.

More than on occasion. I never thought homebrewing would be a way to give her that.

But I'm happy to oblige.

 

[kleinstadt]

little brewers

These? These are two little kiddos engaged in sensory play.

Other than that whole "the medium is 150F" bull****, occupational therapists will laud this as an educational modality.

 

[Kampenken]

I used to play with shaving cream with my daughter. The cheap Barbasol stuff!😃 she loved it and at 21yrs now she has quite fond memories, as do I!

 

[Kampenken]

..
The wife did a lot of reading on how to entertain/educate toddlers, and there's a concept called "sensory play", which involves playing with substances with different textures with hands, shovels, etc.

I never thought homebrewing would fit into that category, but here we are.

Aside, have you ever played with cornstarch mixed with water? It's crazy. Just don't dump it down the drain. Toddlers like it, too.

Can't wait to get the newborn into it, too.

My previous post in reply to that one. Sheesh my phone email must be seriously delayed!

 

[Roadliner]

2 days from getting home for my little one being born. Wife is starting to feel sick and nauseous... hoping the kid holds out. I don't think i've ever been so nervous about missing something.

 

[chisena]

I am working on an eBIAB system instead of my 3-vessel since I will have far less brew time after August 24th...