Floating for Survival

In the photo above, Rudy is in about 4 feet of water -- floating -- yes, with all of his clothes on. This is one of his swimming lessons -- the photo was taken last summer and he will be 2 on May 3rd. In Florida, one of the leading causes of death in children (if not the main one) around the age of 2 is drowning. So, Rudy has been taking survival swimming lessons. He first learned how to float and 'swim' underwater with just his swimming 'trunks' on. But, clothing was added since obviously a child wouldn't usually fall into a pool unnoticed with most of his clothes off. I was quite intrigued and still am as I watch the teacher in action. Now he knows how to float to get his breath and then he flips over onto his stomach and swims until he wants another breath and flips back over -- looks quite a bit like how he is floating above except not with all his clothes on.

When I watched one of his first lessons when he was about 7 or 8 months, it was pretty scary as I saw the teacher put him under water. Yet, I knew he was learning to swim and "float for survival' .. so I'm glad she did. I've taken him three days this week to his lessons. While he is still not real thrilled about the lesson part of it, he hasn't been too overly upset and seems quite happy when his teacher, Michelle, commends him highly!

Michelle sent me the photo above as well as the two below which she took during Bailey and Regan's lessons last year.

I am 'child' sitting this week for Teri while she and Jeff are gone on a business trip. The girls are no problem (except for keeping up with their schedules) as they are 10, 12 and 13. However, Rudy is another story -- he will be 2 in about two weeks and keeps me on my toes -- on my feet, rather. You see the basketball goal above? Rudy loves to play ball -- any kind from football to basketball to baseball. Yesterday, he thought it would be fun to throw the football up into his basketball hoop and he's a good shot -- but then he just picked up the basketball and gave it a heave and this is where it landed! So, since the football wouldn't go through the hoop obviously, it was "Nana!!" (Or pronounced "Nunuh!") Then, "Baa-ball" . his rendition of basketball, I'm sure! I'm not sure who got more exercise -- him or me? (Not that I don't need it!!)

And the schedule -- Rudy has swim lessons everyday, there are soccer games, homework to be done, kids to be fed, and "Did you get your lunch ticket?" as we walk out the door at 7:15am!! Whew!

And now I hear Rudy calling -- or rather, I see him jumping on the couch so it's 'Nunuh' time again!!! He's laughing thinking that what he did is quite hysterical -- and it looks like he is losing his pants ... why have I lost the knack for changing diapers -- maybe because my baby is almost 33???

(Oh, by the way, while I was writing this, I heard Rudy say, "Nunuh! Football" and a green and black rubber football came flying at me! I caught it -- sort of -- threw it back to him and he caught it!)