Swimming Lessons

Carter started taking swimming lessons from Coach Andy (head coach of the swim team) on June 1st. At his first lesson, he refused to get his head wet, he didn't know anything about swimming (not even doggy paddle) and really hated to do much more than sit on the steps or get in a float and stay where he could reach the bottom. I had been trying for 2 years to get him to swim or float or do anything and he wouldn't even consider it. I signed him up for lessons from Coach Andy hoping he could do something I couldn't.......and he did.

Carter had two lessons a week, for the most part, between June first and his last lesson on August 5th. By his last lesson Carter could:

swim freestyle (they are practicing his arms here)

breathe to the side (again the drill of practicing so it is easier to see him do it)

Dive off the platform and swim

He was also floating and learning the backstroke. Although, about half of the lesson was spent discussing with Coach Andy what he had to do...
This would be a typical conversation during lessons:

Coach Andy: Carter--I want you to swim to me breathing to the side, rainbow arms, and not stopping.

Carter: What about I start right here and swim to you.

Coach Andy: Ok--stop where you are and start swimming--no stopping

Carter: But I have water in my goggles and I need to get it out. (fixes goggles)

Coach Andy: Ok--now start swimming--breathing to the side and not stopping

Carter: ok, then when I get to you can I stop?

Coach Andy: Just swim--ready set go

Carter: fixes goggles again. Puts his head under water, fixes goggles again.

Coach Andy: Ready Set Go!

Carter: swims.

But Carter now LOVES to swim. He will swim under water, he dives for fun, he is all over the pool. It is so great to see how much he has improved and how much fun it is for him now. He has decided to join swim team next summer.

As a side note....I took the kids to the pulmonologist for their quarterly visit to check on their Asthma. Each visit they take Caroline and Carter (Alex is too young) and test different aspects of their breathing. At Carter's last visit all of his results were about 80-85% of his baseline so the Doctor told me to really watch him for any signs of breathing problems and then increase his medicine. Over the last 3 months we actually decreased his medicines and when we saw the doctor his results had gone from 80-85% of baseline to 110-120% of baseline! The doctor was amazed that he had improved so much and on less medicine.

Doctor: Carter! This is amazing! How did you improve your breathing so much with less medicine?
Carter: Um...I stopped playing with transformers and now I mostly play with Legos.
Doctor: trying not to laugh Wow....I never would have thought that--I'm going to start recommending Legos to all my patients.

Although Carter attributes it to the legos--I think it was the swimming lessons. I am thrilled that he is healthier and a better swimmer! Thanks Coach Andy--you worked a miracle.

*Disclaimer: Carter has blue goggles that he normally wears--but he couldn't find them for this lesson (of course it is the one I take pictures of)--he was a little worried, but Coach Andy assured him that it was ok for him to wear the pink 0nes for lessons. He really does not normally wear pink goggles.