Adapted Swim Time At Krepps

Schools out, schools out, teacher let the.....special needs kids have some special swim time at Krepps Pool!!  We are so fortunate in Mon. County that the special needs adapted PE teacher (aka. Coach Lorri) manages one of the public pools over the summer.  How does she show the kids some love??  Well, in the best way possible....opens the pool early on various dates throughout the summer so that people with special needs, their siblings and caregivers can come in and swim without the crowds of the general public.  Coach, YOU ROCK!!!

It was a little iffy that I was going to bring Bobby to the opening date, we both spent half of Monday in bed with horrible allergies.  Not only didn't we feel that great, but the temp dropped through the night we woke up to low 50 degree temps.  It would make it up to the low to mid 60's for pool time.  I still wasn't sure, but Bobby was so grouchy in the morning that I decided yes, I would take him.  I knew that cold water wouldn't be a problem for him, but most likely I would have to get into the water with him.  What we do for our kids!!!!  The newest person in Bobby's life, Cynthia his respite worker, was scheduled for the morning so that she could come along with us.  So we got ready and headed off to the pool.  The closer we got in the car the higher Bobby was bouncing in the backseat.  He was SUPER DUPER excited!!!

The Smith boys were the first ones to get into the water....

 Joey, Bobby and Sonny (Joey got out and never got back in....too cold!)

 Bobby was so happy to be where he could just touch....

 "Off of the rope!!"  I yelled this multiple times!

 Happy, happy Bobby...

  Bobby, if we ever win the big lottery jackpot, we will get you your own pool this size!!!

 Just about this time Wesley showed up and had his goggles on.  Well, poor Sonny didn't have his goggles with him and was a little disgruntled.  He got out and pouted a little.  So Cynthia kept her eye on Bobby and I talked with Sonny.  He decided that he wanted to go off of the diving board so I got into the water so that I could assist....he never jumped but we had him put on a life jacket so that he could without an adult to assist.

 Still never jumped....

Bobby got out of the pool and went to the water play area.  Poor Joey was freezing so he wrapped up in some towels to warm up...

 Wesley in the big pool with his goggles, lucky boy!!

 Bobby...

Sonny....

Sonny made a new friend.  He announced that he is now a "certified lifeguard!"  Pretty sure that the new title was going to his head.  We heard that whistle over and over.  Boy, was everyone getting in trouble by Lifeguard Sonny!!!!

 Joey warmed up enough to sit up...

 Here's how parents roll at a special needs event.  One parent at the top of the slide getting a kid in and another at the bottom to catch....

 Bobby moved over to the deep waters of the pool.  It's time to jump.  I was with him in the water for quite a while until I was sure that he could manage by himself.  But Cynthia, a lifeguard and I were right there to jump in if we needed...

 He waits for Mommy to call out:  "1....2....3....JUMP!"

 Coming back to the surface after going under into the 8 ft. water...

 Turns around and heads to the ladder...

 Sonny is there to give some moral support..."Jump Bobby!"

 After an hour of jumping over and over and over and over into the deep....

 Bobby finally went back to the water play area...

 This was the funniest moment of the morning!  Wesley kept arching his back over this pipe that shot water out and this made him laugh....that great child laugh...which in turn, made us all laugh!!!  Love these kids!!!!

What a wonderful morning!!!  Not sure if we are going to make it for the next date...it is the 2nd day of summer school.  I hate for him to miss the 2nd day of school.  But you never know, I just may keep him home for the fun of swimming at Krepps!!!