You see, that one tiny penny was laying on the bottom floor of our pool last week in the evening; and I watched Ellie dive down to get it.
A penny, a small, tiny penny.
Immediately, I scooped her up and hugged her tight and we all cheered and told her how proud if her we were.
After she and Mac were asleep that night, I had a chance to really process it all. The confidence she has gained in the pool has been incredible. And I can see the self-confidence she's gaining written all over her face. To witness it and really see it in her eyes is humbling, year-old, and beautiful. I think back to a year ago, and she absolutely would not put her face under the water and didn't ever want to go swimming. When she did go under water, it was a horrible experience and now I know why. Structurally, she couldn't close off her airway well and water rushed in. And her overall breath support was super duper weak.
Imagine, water rushing in and not being able to maintain holding your breath....it's a disaster for swimming, and I most certainly wouldn't want to do it either.
Fear had set in big time for Ellie. And fear elicits anxiety...something already present with PWS. No way do we want to ramp that up. She spent her time in the pool floating. After VPI surgery (that helped to correct her hypernasal speech and tighten her airway) in February, I was eager and anxious to get her in the pool. Once we had our follow-up in June and heard from the doctor that everything healed nicely, I decided to capitalize on the opportunity. I told her after the appointment that the surgery has helped her with swimming and she would be able to go under water way better now.
That night at the hotel pool, I saw the sparkle of self-confience start. And there's been absolutely no stopping her. Ellie has such a beautiful way of reminding me to slow down, embrace the process, and celebrate the small victories.
First, it was just her mouth and nose in the water, and goggles on her face. Celebration. Then, she dipped down and got her ears wet. Celebration. Next, her whole head went under the water. Celebration. Then, she remained under water longer. Celebration. Next, she got the diving rings off the step. Celebration. Then, rings on the bottom of the pool holding on to the steps. Celebration. Next, she let go of the steps and got the diving trolls on the bottom of the pool. Celebration. Then, she spent literally hours diving for the trolls and gems. And finally, she dove down and brought up that tiny, tiny penny. Huge Celebration. And JUST tonight she jumped in the pool all.by.herself and went under. I just stood in amazement, after we all cheered, yelled and hugged her.
There's several common threads to all of this....perserverance, precision, and bravery. Ellie has from day 1, taught me to trust the journey and let her do things on her time. I think, as parents, we all put such pressure on our children to do this, and then this, and it should be done this way, or by this time, and it better be the best. But, I couldn't be MORE grateful for having that "taken away" in a sense. You see, if I think way back, I didn't know if Ellie would ever swim, much less be diving for pennies or jumping off the side if the pool all by herself. And now, it is THAT much sweeter, and it's helped me to continue to realize that Ellie will do things in her time, and Mac will do things in his. Both are just as equally wonderful, perfect and "right."
I'm so incredibly proud of our brave little girl, and so grateful so had a brother that yells, "Yaaaay!" and claps for her as she jumps in or resurfaces with a penny in hand. And I couldn't help but chuckle as she stood ready to jump in, and looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'm like the Sara Bareilles song, Be Brave!" Yes, my sweet girl...you so are, on so many levels.
A penny, a small, tiny penny.
Immediately, I scooped her up and hugged her tight and we all cheered and told her how proud if her we were.
After she and Mac were asleep that night, I had a chance to really process it all. The confidence she has gained in the pool has been incredible. And I can see the self-confidence she's gaining written all over her face. To witness it and really see it in her eyes is humbling, year-old, and beautiful. I think back to a year ago, and she absolutely would not put her face under the water and didn't ever want to go swimming. When she did go under water, it was a horrible experience and now I know why. Structurally, she couldn't close off her airway well and water rushed in. And her overall breath support was super duper weak.
Imagine, water rushing in and not being able to maintain holding your breath....it's a disaster for swimming, and I most certainly wouldn't want to do it either.
Fear had set in big time for Ellie. And fear elicits anxiety...something already present with PWS. No way do we want to ramp that up. She spent her time in the pool floating. After VPI surgery (that helped to correct her hypernasal speech and tighten her airway) in February, I was eager and anxious to get her in the pool. Once we had our follow-up in June and heard from the doctor that everything healed nicely, I decided to capitalize on the opportunity. I told her after the appointment that the surgery has helped her with swimming and she would be able to go under water way better now.
That night at the hotel pool, I saw the sparkle of self-confience start. And there's been absolutely no stopping her. Ellie has such a beautiful way of reminding me to slow down, embrace the process, and celebrate the small victories.
First, it was just her mouth and nose in the water, and goggles on her face. Celebration. Then, she dipped down and got her ears wet. Celebration. Next, her whole head went under the water. Celebration. Then, she remained under water longer. Celebration. Next, she got the diving rings off the step. Celebration. Then, rings on the bottom of the pool holding on to the steps. Celebration. Next, she let go of the steps and got the diving trolls on the bottom of the pool. Celebration. Then, she spent literally hours diving for the trolls and gems. And finally, she dove down and brought up that tiny, tiny penny. Huge Celebration. And JUST tonight she jumped in the pool all.by.herself and went under. I just stood in amazement, after we all cheered, yelled and hugged her.
There's several common threads to all of this....perserverance, precision, and bravery. Ellie has from day 1, taught me to trust the journey and let her do things on her time. I think, as parents, we all put such pressure on our children to do this, and then this, and it should be done this way, or by this time, and it better be the best. But, I couldn't be MORE grateful for having that "taken away" in a sense. You see, if I think way back, I didn't know if Ellie would ever swim, much less be diving for pennies or jumping off the side if the pool all by herself. And now, it is THAT much sweeter, and it's helped me to continue to realize that Ellie will do things in her time, and Mac will do things in his. Both are just as equally wonderful, perfect and "right."
I'm so incredibly proud of our brave little girl, and so grateful so had a brother that yells, "Yaaaay!" and claps for her as she jumps in or resurfaces with a penny in hand. And I couldn't help but chuckle as she stood ready to jump in, and looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'm like the Sara Bareilles song, Be Brave!" Yes, my sweet girl...you so are, on so many levels.
