Another Close Call

Last week at the beginning of Max's LAST swim class for Level II part A .... we were waiting for the class to begin and after the kids change and go through the shower, I let him sit and play on the stairs in the pool. I would wait there with Max until the teacher comes - fully dressed, holding the purse, towel, Max's change of clothes, shoes, etc. Well, as Max was playing and jumping on the stairs, he drifted off the stairs and was now to the point where he could not touch the bottom of the pool or the stairs. In less than 5 seconds, I watched him go under the water twice with wide eyes and the look of I can't reach, I can't breathe, HELP ME MOM! Me, scared to death, drop everything I am holding and jump in the pool fully clothed! I scooped him up and as he came up out of the water he was coughing, choking, spewing water everywhere. My heart at this point had stopped ... who would the life guard need to rescue? Then, I quickly realized ... oh my, I am now fully drenched, but who cares, my son is now breathing. The life guard is now over to the side of the pool to help me as I sit Max up on the side and tell him not to move until his teacher comes. The life guard talks to him for a few minutes and then decides to spend most of the lesson down by the little kids vs. watching the swim teams practice! I was a total mess. I came out of the pool and spent the entire lesson sitting along side the pool - called home to have dad bring me a new set of clothes but the remainder of that night along with the next few days, I must of said a hundred times... it was so close as tears came to my eyes. If I had turned my back or gone to put my things down with the other moms, I don't know what would have happened. I'm so thankful that Max is OK. The other good news is that he did continue to have the rest of the lesson and it did not scare him to the point where he did not want to go back in. We have decided to put swim off again until next spring when he can get more arm control. I am proud of our little fish and Max loves the water!