Swim, Swim, Swim, Swim...

This week, we started swim lessons again at our backyard pool. Our wonderful swim teacher, Jodi, had taught swim lessons here last year and we were hoping she would do it again this year. So we got lucky...

I remember from last year that Ian wouldn't put his face in the water and was terrified of being in 'the deep' without any floaties. He really wanted to be on the swim team, just like Kaelyn, but I told him he has to learn to swim with his face in the water first. Then maybe next year he can do it. He is really trying this time. Watch:

On Monday evening, Kaelyn had her first 'real' swim meet. She was pretty nervous because it was real this time. The meet was at the community pool a few blocks away, so I put the kids in our bike trailer and biked over there. Kaelyn missed her first warm up practice because I was locking up the bike and she couldn't find anyone to give her T-shirt and sandals to. It was so crowded and we didn't get any chairs to sit on. Luckily, I had brought two tripod seats.
The relays were first, so she had to wait a while. Her first event was freestyle again and I think she swam slower than last time. Then she touched the bottom of the pool before she got to the other side and got disqualified. She would have been last anyway. Next was back stroke again and she actually improved in this event. She swam under a minute, a 10 second improvement from last time. She got a ribbon each time she finished and one for personal best time the next morning at practice.
At swim lessons, Jodi is working with her on diving. A few days ago during swim team practice, one of the coaches kind of pushed her into the deep end, trying to help her go in arms and head first. Unfortunately, Kaelyn hurt her leg and now she's afraid to do it again and whimpers every time. She's so afraid of the deep and thinks she will drown if she can't see the lines on the bottom of the pool. Another factor this week, I think, has been her nasty cold. Friday or Saturday night, I can't remember which, she woke up in the middle of the night, wheezing and coughing. I think she has a virus induced type of asthma. Anyway, I'm so proud of her. Her technique and endurance have improved a lot and I don't care if she's the slowest swimmer on the team. She's doing it and she's enjoying it, so I'm happy. I love that the team she's on lets anyone on the team. Most teams in the league have try-outs and Kaelyn would have never made it on that way. I'm so impressed with what the coaches can teach these kids in such a short time. Here's Kaelyn swimming back stroke at her last meet: