The girls entered the West Chester University swim lessons for a third time this year. The program is intense and successful. Making sure each girl is very important to me. We spend a great deal of time in water throughout the year and having to keep a constant eye on all three is impossible. Savannah is a good swimmer and joined a local swim team this past winter. I no longer worry about her. The twins have been taking lessons all year but neither one got to the point where I was comfortable watching them from afar.
I am proud to say that Lila Grace recently changed her status. She is a proficient lap swimmer using both backstroke and freestyle. During her lessons over the past four weeks (Monday through Friday - 20 lessons in all), Lila built her endurance and was able to fully swim laps for the entire lesson. Unfortunately, I don't have great video of her doing so becuase the last week of her lessons, she was running a temp of 101. She sat out a couple days and attended the last two on a heavy dose of ibuprofen (crazy, I know). Here is a video of a sick and tired Lila slugging through the water. On a typical day she looks much better. I am thrilled that she earned "lap swimmer" status.
Adeline lags behind Lila in the pool. Her strength and motor movements still suffer from prematurity. She is much more determined and willing than her twin sister which leads me to believe that she will conquer swimming regardless of her deficits. Her stroke is coming along nicely but Adeline can't turn her head and "freeze" for a breath. She still lifts it up which immediately causes her to sink. She will get it eventually. I am pleased that she can jump into a deep end and make it back to the wall. I still keep a constant eye on her in the pool.
The reward for all their hard work is jumping off the diving board. Adeline was disappointed that she forgot to say, "Cannonball."
