Not one more child drowns-ISR

Here is that exciting new post!!!!

Major started a swimming class today. It's not really a swimming lesson, per se, it's more a self rescue class. It's called ISR; Infant Swimming Resource and it is awesome! Babies as young as 6 months are taught to go from face down in the water to rolling over and floating so that they can rest and breath for the precious moments that it would take for someone to find them should they fall into the water. The babies are basically taught to roll over in the water and stay in the resting position. At age one and all the way to age 6 they are taught swim-float-swim. Kids are put into the water on their bellies. (This is the nutshell version) They are face down in the water and are taught to swim underwater, rollover to rest and breath, then to continue to swim face down. This sequence is repeated for as many times as necessary until they reach the steps or the side of the pool. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be face down for no more than 14 seconds at a time. With ISR they limit that time to 4-7 seconds. They use stimulus control to teach the child to know how long that is. The reasoning behind 4-7 seconds is they don't want the child to wait 14 seconds and be desperate for air. Rolling over and resting to breath is supposed to be peaceful and calming. Never do they want the child to panic or "search" for air. It is the most amazing thing in the world to watch itty bitties in the water swimming and surviving.

Here's how we came to know about ISR.
Josh and I were swimming with Major at JFFC about 2 weeks ago and their was a woman in the pool with her 2 sons. We got to talking with her and she described ISR to us, gave us her card and we went on our way. The next day, we were at the pool again, but this time Kelly was there for a lesson. Just so happens that I knew the girl and her son who were taking from Kelly. The little boy is 2 and I was in awe as I sat and watched him get into the pool swim-float-swim. He was so happy and confident in the water. That night Josh and I signed Major up. We were set to start in June. Well at the pool 4 days ago, again Kelly was there giving a lesson, and Josh, Major and I were in the shallow end of the pool. All the sudden guess who is swimming???? Josh said OMGosh! He is swimming! Major loves the water anyway, but still I was so surprised to see him swim on his own with so much confidence. Kelly noticed and after her lesson spoke with us. She agreed to go ahead and start Major bc she felt that he would progress very quickly!!! His lesson this morning was great. He listened and did awesome. He isn't afraid of the water, which is in part why we wanted to do a rescue type of class. I am so so so proud. She said that she is very confident that by the time his lessons are over he will be fully skilled and will be able to swim-float-swim all on his own!!! I am really happy and very, very glad that we stumbled upon her and ISR.

I don't have any pictures or videos of him yet. They only allow that on Friday classes, but here are some general pics and a link to the website.

Check out this video

Here is the website for tons more info, pics and video! http://www.infantswim.com/

I am sold! I want everyone with small children to know about this. There is no reason any baby or child has to drown.

Stay tuned

I have a very fun and exciting blog post coming up!!!! Gotta find time to write it completely and get the pics too, but YAY! I'm very excited!

Remembering not to ask why

I had to pull out our adoption stuff tonight to get the appropriate paperwork for our taxes. (I know, we are pushing it). This is how I feel........................................................... I have so many feelings when I look at this stuff. I am overwhelmed. I want to say that I wouldn't take one single minute, not one tear, shot, negative doctor's report, not one dollar or struggle back. I wouldn't take any of it because one single thing would have lead me to someone or something other than Major, but I still don't understand. I really have healed and feel ok with not being pregnant or whatever, but I'd be lying if I said that I don't struggle and today is a struggle. I hate that I look through a file of his "prenatal" life and know that we didn't create him. I hate that he has a "birthmother".  I hate that his adoption is filed with legal documents. I hate that that damn file sits next to the Nashville Fertility Center file. I hate the feelings that I have when I look at them both. I hate that "Adoption File #2" is in there but we can't have another baby because the process is too costly. It's unfair.

I want more than anything to have a baby with my husband, with the person that I love more than anything in the world. I want to feel my baby move and have the experience of growing him/her inside of me. I want to just decide, oh Major is 3 1/2 now, let's give him a brother or sister. I have to take comfort in that God made me this way for a reason. He provided this struggle in my life so that I could be Major's mama. He puts me through days like this so that I always remember to hold my baby closer. I don't ever think that I will be 100% ok with not being able to be pregnant though. I think I am at peace with it because I have to be. Regardless, I look at Major can't help but to see God's amazing grace. I know that He is faithful and that if we are meant to be a family of 4, he will help provide a way for us. I know that without a lot of prayers and guidance from Him we wouldn't have been lead to Maj. The same prayers are being said that were said the first time except this time I am giving thanks for Major, for my infertility, and for the struggles before me. I know they make me stronger, they make me a better mom, they make me into the person that God is meaning for me to be.

When my mother-in-law got sick, she told me to never ask why. She told me that in asking that, you wouldn't get an answer, so don't worry with that. Instead fight through the struggle. Every single time I begin to cry about this and start to ask that question, I think about her. She did everything with grace and was genuinely the best person I have ever known. I hope in dealing with my infertility I can do it with half as much grace as she handled anything in her life.

The truth is, deep down I know why. I know that I was meant to be Major's mom and Josh was meant to be his dad. I know that he is an angel and he was created so perfectly for us. I know that I would feel the same about any baby that was ours but he is special because God chose Major for us. He placed us together and made us a family. I am grateful for that, thankful, and happy. No matter where this life leads us, whether it is to raise Major as an only or to give him a sibling one day, I find peace in our situation and in the fact that I serve a God that knows my heart better than me, even when it is sad and feels broken.

How did he grow up so fast?

I am officially a soccer mom.....what......??? Haha! 1. How in the world do I have a kid old enough to play sports? And 2. Never in a million years did I think that kid would play soccer! Josh told Major it is a gateway sport; one just to play til he is old enough for baseball and more specifically football. Ahhhh a dad's dream for his kid. I really don't care what Major chooses to play. He can stay with soccer, go with baseball, basketball, football, or choose a different one. I don't care really as long as he is playing something that he loves. I don't think being athletic will be a challenge for him. He seems to love all things sports. :) 

So on to soccer. He has only had 4 practices I think. His first game is Saturday and he is very, very excited! He is the youngest on his team but he keeps up with everyone and does well. His suggestion for the team name was taken and now they are the....Dragons!!!! None of the kids on the team really have a clue about what they are doing or how to kick the ball. They all just run around aimlessly, some tackle, some try to find the goal,  and some (Major) score a goal for the wrong team. It is so much fun to watch them play. The most important thing is he is learning fundamentals that will hopefully lay the foundation for his future in athletics. He is learning to listen to his coach, be a team player, sportsmanship, taking turns and patience. Already, in just a few short weeks, I have seen a big difference in him. He seems to love it and is very excited!

 Being a good little listener

Thumbs up!