Memories from Hidden Hollow: swim

May 29, 2009

"swim said the momma fishy"

I was getting ready to post a swim video/collage I have yet to create and it started me thinking about years ago when I worked at the elementary school in a special ed class.

All the kids were pre-school to first grade age and had severe autism. They were unable to make eye contact, would grind their teeth, would refuse to speak, hit, bite you name it. We used to "teach" them buy offering fruit loops for tasks we would as them to do that they completed well. There was this little girl Ashley. I just loved her. I still remember her, it's hard to imagine she is a 20something young woman now. She was so cute, long curly brown hair and just a doll. During good moments she would sit in my lap and pet my face. During bad moments she made you wish you were somewhere else. She was the one that made me really want a daughter.
She loved this song:

down in the meadow in the itty bitty pool

lived three little fishies and a momma fishy too

swim said the momma fishy fast as you can

and they swam, and they swam, all over the dam.

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

and they swam, and they swam, all over the dam.

STOP! said the momma fishy or you will get lost

but the three little fishies didn't wanna be bossed

so the three little fishies went off on a spree

and they swam, and they swam, right into the sea!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

and they swam, and they swam, right into the sea!

WHEE! yelled the fishies this is lots of fun

we'll swim in the sea 'til the day is done

so they swam, and they swam, and it was a lark

'till all of a sudden here comes a shark!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

all of a sudden here comes a shark!

HELP! cried the fishies, look at the wales

quick as they could they turned on their tails

back to the pool in the meadow they swam

and they swam, and they swam, right back over the dam!

boop, boop, didm, dadm, watm, choo!

and they swam, and they swam, right back over the dam!

I used to sing this song to Katie when she was little. Maybe it had an influence on her with her love of all things related to water! All the time I have spent at the pool over the years between three kids learning to swim, high school swimming and water polo, watching Michael, Matthew and Katie, how strong and healthy they are made me think of that little girl I knew almost 20 years ago. I am so grateful to have healthy children! Funny how my brain works.

April 9, 2009

Accidents happen.....

Accidents DO happen, and usually when mom is not around!

At yet another swim meet @ the Army/Navy Academy in Carlsbad, Matthew (this is the story, and he's sticking to it) apparently was stepping around the starting block to get into the pool for warmup, tripped, caught his toe in a crack in the cement, didn't feel a thing, fell, happened to look down, noticed gushing blood,

&

realized that his whole toe nail had been ripped off along with a nice chunk of skin!

WARNING -

the following photos are not for the squeamish!