def update_node_count(self, node, add_to_count):
        """\
        stores how many decent nodes are under a parent node
        """
        current_score = 0
        count_string = self.parser.getAttribute(node, 'gravityNodes')
        if count_string:
            current_score = int(count_string)

        new_score = current_score + add_to_count
        self.parser.setAttribute(node, "gravityNodes", str(new_score))
\
        stores how many decent nodes are under a parent node