Infant Swimming Resourse Videos- Season 1

Here are videos from when Julian was about 16-17 months old during his first 6 week course through the Safe Start Program.

In this first clip, Julian and his daddy are practicing swimming to the wall, one of the skills ISR teaches their young students.  This is after about 5 lessons into the program.  (*Keep in mind that each lesson is no more than 10 minutes long. )

Practicing with Daddy

In the next clips, Julian is going through his winter clothes test.  He has on a long sleeve shirt, a lined wind breaker jacket, denim jeans, socks, shoes and a regular diaper (yes, it soaks up ALL the water).  This is a test they use to simulate if your child does fall into the pool during the winter, they are still able to use the skills they were taught with all the weight they are carrying.  Before the winter clothes test, they also do a summer clothes test (which I did not record).

Winter Clothes Test- Swimming to the wall 

This scene looks horrific for mommies and daddies to watch because no one wants to watch a baby be flipped backwards into a pool.  But I am use to it.  It's really amazing.

Winter Clothes Test- Flip backwards into the pool

This last clip Julian floats, and floats, and floats.

During Julian's first 6 weeks in the Safe Start Program, he didn't learn the swim-float-swim sequence.  Just like in school, kids learn at different paces.  However he still graduated because he learn the survival skill of floating.

ISR lessons at work

This evening Julian and I headed out to the Chris Lyle Aquatic Center in St. Cloud to practice since his lessons are postponed this week.  He had such a blast!  You will notice in the video that I had fun as well.  I did observe that he preferred to float vs. swim so we practiced swimming shorter distances.  Enjoy the video!

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 9

Lesson 10- Saturday, July 23


I knew it was too good to last.  Due to inclement weather on Friday afternoon, swim was postponed until this morning.  Julian noticed that Mommy was in her swimsuit when we arrived at the pool and was pretty excited when I got in too.  Next week Julian's swim teacher is going on vacation so I requested to come in the pool to  learn some things to do with him while we are on break.  5 lessons left and he graduates his refresher course.  How exciting does that sounds.  It really does take a lot of dedication to put your children through these lessons.  Talk about scheduling (especially with this crazy weather), monitoring diet, activity level, urine and bowel output, and of course cost.  But it is rewarding.

Today Julian's swim teacher re-taught me how to use hand targets with him in the pool, the correct way to release him in the water, and the importance of me and him counting to 3 (one thousand).  He appeared to be flipping back on his own more with only the verbal counting cue which I was excited to see.  This week, since there will be no swim, look out for some video(s) of Julian practicing his swim skills with me.

1 week break then 5 more lessons and counting!

Julian in his Barong

Julian sporting his barong before school.

This week Julian is celebrating International Week at his school and today they were asked to dress up in clothes that represent their culture.  Julian is lucky enough to choose between 3 different cultures- Filipino, Polish, and Cajun/French.  Now what do we have that would be culturally fitting?  Josh said, "Dress him up in a torn tank top and pants."  I'm guessing he was trying to go for the Swamp People look.  Thank goodness Auntie Michele got him his first barong on her recent trip to the Philippines. For those of you who are unfamiliar with a "barong", it is the formal men's wear in the Philippines.  Growing up I always thought of it as the Filipino suit.  My dad would wear it to Filipino weddings and Filipino association dances.
Now check out my little man wearing his first barong.  Isn't he so 'pogi'?

Celebrating International Week at StarChild Academy

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 8

Julian had a double dose of swim today- AM make-up session and PM session.


Lesson 8- Thursday, July 21 at 9AM
The trouble with morning sessions is that they can't eat/drink anything when they wake up.  So I tried to avoid the kitchen as much as possible this morning.  Went potty, brushed his teeth, changed him into his swim gear & Crocs and out the door we went.  I packed the car prior to getting him up because the quicker we're outta the house, the less time he has to ask me for some milk.  We arrive there without complaint.  As we waited for our turn, Julian rested his head and took in some rays.

Julian needed a little calming down before our session began.  Why he does this every day, I don't know.  But after a while of swimming to the wall, floating, working on flipbacks, he was smiling.  Yay, he's smiling!  His teacher worked on his floating, rollbacks and flipbacks.  For some reason he was flipping vertically versus horizontally.  And he still needed the cue to flipback and reach the wall.  Julian was really enjoying the interactive counting the teacher incorporated in the session that after his last turn HE told the teacher, "One last time!"  I couldn't believe it.  And on that last time, after counting "1, 2, 3", Julian flipped over on his own.  I'm so proud of my boy!

Lesson 9- Thursday, July 21 at 5:50PM


This afternoon Jules was smiling and laughing for 90% of the lesson.  Talk about improvement.  His teacher continued to work on his rollbacks and continued to need little to no cues for his flipbacks.  She stated today that she finally figured out that if Julian was too far from the edge, he won't even attempt to swim; he'll just float.  My son is a lazy bum!  Can't wait till tomorrow's lesson because I can go in the pool with him.

After 2 lessons, 6 hours of school, 1 hour shopping,
1 hour socializing at the bowling alley and NO nap!

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 7

Lesson 7- Wednesday, July 20

Before the lesson

Yesterday was meant to be lesson 7 however it wasn't the weather or illness that cancelled our lesson.  Code Brown.  Hmm, I wonder what that could mean.  But today was Summer Clothes #1.  Julian wore a gray "HOT STUFF" tee, red cotton shorts, a regular diaper, a diaper cover and his Crocs.  Julian was able to swim to the wall with a smile.  He floated without flailing and kicking.  He needed a cue to flip over and reach the wall.  Then was to "fun" part... flipping him backwards.  The look on his face appeared to be full on terror.  But I kept myself composed, bit my tongue and he easily floated up to the surface. Crying, yes. But he was breathing.  That's one thing you have to remember when you take your child to these lessons.  Its about survival, plain and simple.  I hope he will begin to understand the swim-float-swim sequence soon.  I am so eager for him to start doing it since he wasn't able to learn it at 1 year old.  Eight more lessons to go!

After the lesson with his banana sticker
and banana lollipop!  Good Job!

My Wiggles Junkie

Everyone knows that kids go through phases. I remember back at Mayport Middle School I went through different music phases- punk, rap, r&b, alternative rock then "repeat". And now I see my son with his own little phases. When he was an infant, he loved the character Moose & Zee off of Nick Jr (previously Noggin) television station. Then he phased out and started to like Handy Manny from Disney Jr. (previously Playhouse Disney). Now when it came to movies, he was all about the Shrek series and then made a turn for Toy Story. But right around his 2nd Birthday, he was introduced to the Wiggles. OM to the G. My boy has turned into a Wiggle. He sings and dances while watching their DVDs and listening to their CD. You know you are a parent of a toddler when you start singing kid songs without thinking twice. When I'd use to belt out lyrics in the shower to Alicia Keys or Faith Hill, now I'm singing the theme song to Dora the Explorer, the Wiggle's song "Hot Potato", and even Laurie Berkner's "I Know a Chicken". What's even better is when I autofill my iPOD shuffle prior to jogging and one of his tunes gets on there.  I can't help but laugh out loud (and yes, of course I change the song). So here I have included some good entertainment performed by my little stinker- Julian "Wiggle".

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 6

Lesson 6- Monday, July 18

What a day in the pool!

It's an unbelievable sunny day.  Sky is blue with beautiful white clouds in the sky and 5:50 rolls around with no drop of rain to be seen.  Julian, again, is eager to jump in the water.  Of course, when the instructor is ready, he decides to run away.  Oh well, I chase him down and in the pool he goes with a HUGE smile.  Yes it was a good session for the most part.  He floated without kicking.  He swam to the wall.  Now I think his whole attitude changed when she started putting him in different situations- sitting on ledge and flipping him into the water.  Still he floated nicely.  Now is he going to start sequencing to flipover and swim to the wall?  I'm not sure.  But tomorrow is his 1st day with summer clothes test.  His teacher must think he's ready for something!

Julian showing me his "banana" sticker he choose after swim lesson
from his teacher.

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 5

Lesson 5- Saturday, July 16
So far cancellations have become habitual due to the "beautiful weather" we have here in Florida during our 5:50 PM swim time in addition to Julian getting sick with his 4th case (I think) of an ear infection.  Don't get me started on all the illnesses we have gotten since we started his new school this past March.  (That should be another blog post all on its own.)  I'm contemplating on calling Safe Start to see if there is an indoor location that we can be transferred to because I don't like how the weather may be impeding on Julian's learning.
We arrive at the YMCA Saturday morning for a make-up session and Julian has a different attitude.  He keeps giving me hints that he is ready to get in the pool, something not usual.  When it is finally his turn, he gets in smiling.  His teacher is adamant at teaching him to swim toward the wall since his new thing is swimming and/or clinging to the adult in the pool with him vs. swimming to the wall.  And I think after several trials, he's getting use to it.  There was a little bit of moaning and raspberry making during the floating portion but overall I think he had a great time in the pool.  Maybe we are finally at a turning point!

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 4

Lesson 4- Monday, July 11

In the beginning of the session, Julian appeared to have regressed a bit.  Over the weekend, Julian went swimming in the pool for my niece's 3rd birthday.  I did tell her that we were going to be in the water over the weekend and I followed what she told me to do, "Keep him on the wall."  Thankfully he didn't scream his head off the whole time and he actually choose between wanting to "swim" and "float".  When Julian was asked to swim to the wall, he attempted to swim to the teacher.  Of course, I got the lecture from his teacher on what happened over the weekend and of course I told her, when he tried it with me, I pushed his reach toward the wall.  Apparently I did the correct thing. The lesson today consisted of learning to rest while floating and to swim toward the wall. Again in the beginning of the session, Julian wailed and kept wanting to get out of the water but something miraculous happened. The teacher started counting.  Julian started counting.  The teacher praised him.  Julian smiled.  Even though Julian still wanted to get out of the water at the end of the session, he wasn't crying about it.  Progress, slowly but surely.

Doing a happy dance
(probably because his lesson is over for the day.)

1..., 2..., 3!

(By the way, this will probably be the last you will see of Julian with his instructor.  At the end of the session I found out that I wasn't allowed to photograph or take video during instruction.  Whoops!)

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 3

Lesson 3- Friday, July 8

Lessons were resumed after a day of cancellation due to incliment weather (who would've thought it would rain in the late afternoon in the sunshine state?) and day 3 is underway. Another day of wailing and cries, but today he floats and relearns the basic swim-float-swim sequence. By the end of the lesson, the groaning subsides.

Mr. Determined or Mr. Intimidated?

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 2

Lesson 2- Wednesday, July 6

As we entered the Y on the second day of lessons, Julian blatantly pointed and demanded, "No, go that way!"  which of course was the exit.  He definitely knew where we were headed.  I eventually got him poolside and in the water with his instructor.  Julian practiced swimming to a target/wall, floating more independently and flipping over. I am definitely Julian's #1 cheerleader but I'm crossing my fingers that the crying and moaning will diminish quicker than his initial lessons.

Floating during second lesson.

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Day 1

Lesson 1- Tuesday, July 5

So Julian began his refresher lessons today at the Osceola County YMCA Family Center . Today, he surprised me.  He grabbed the wall, he reached for the wall, he floated on his back with assistance.  Yes, he did cry and moan the whole time but he did it.  I was proud of what he accomplished.  

After first refresher lesson

"Safe Start" ISR Refresher lessons- Introduction

Drowning. One of many fears I had as a child. Living in Florida, we have pools, ponds, lakes, and the ocean around us. Last July, after research and recommendations, I decided to enroll Julian with the drowning prevention program "Safe Start" which teaches the Infant Swimming Resource system to young children. 7 weeks later, Julian graduated and passed the "test" in his street clothes.
It's been 11 months since his last lesson and unfortunately I felt like he didn't retain anything. He went a few months without getting in a pool however last December I tried to get him to swim in a pool with me and he just held on to me with his dear life. I knew he needed refresher courses, but I wanted to wait until I had time to dedicate to the program.

Cuardony Vacation- Edisto Island

From June 25- July 2, my whole family (minus my hubby) rented a 12 passenger van and drove four hours to South Carolina for our annual family trip.  We usually travel to our timeshare in Orlando, but this year we wanted to travel somewhere different.  Since we can never seem to exchange our timeshare into Myrtle Beach, we researched different locations and decided on renting a 4 bedroom home at the affordable, uncommercialized vacation destination, Edisto Island.

23 Rice Lane

If we weren't lounging at our vacation home or watching the kids dance and sing to The Laurie Berkner Band, you would find us spending time at the pool, catching rays on the beach, or traveling along bumpy, winding roads for over an hour to civilization in Charleston.  

Day 1- Explore and unpack.  Injuries are inevitable when toddlers get together to new places so of course the corner didn't see my son's forehead bee-lining towards it so boo-boo #1 occurs.  

Day 2- Edisto Beach.  A couple hours at the beach on our first full day was the plan on our minds.  Too bad I forgot our beach umbrella, it would've been nice in the heat.  At least we had our "bootleg" beach tent.  

Lunch, Nap, & Relax.  Subway is the only "fast food" restaurant so you can imagine what we ate for lunch.  That evening we enjoyed some good ol' fashion Wii Glee Karaoke after our hearty dinner prepared by my Pops. 

Day 3- Playground and Pool.  At $10/day per adult we enjoyed our afternoon at the Wyndham Ocean Ridge playground and pool.

Shopping.  Later that afternoon, we visited the very small strip mall consisting of a boutique, a souvenir shop, pizza place, ice cream shop and video rental place. 

Day 4- Charleston and North Charleston.  We ate at Barbara Jean's restaurant on Market St. which was nothing spectacular and then walked down through the Market downtown.  

Because we are a shopping kind of family (we got it from our mother), we drove up to North Charleston and spent the rest of the day at the Tanger Outlets.  My mom enjoyed feeding the kiddie rides quarters for her grandkids.

Day 5- Edisto Beach State Park.  When I searched this park via the internet, it appeared to be a large place with activities including walking trails, a playground, and the beach.  Unfortunately, it appeared the only access we had was the beach since we were not "campers".  The kids of course enjoyed themselves jumping and splashing in the ocean (and eating while sleeping).  That is all that mattered!

Day 6- Charleston.  Unfortunately because we didn't plan well (again) we ended up picking up fast food and headed to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry.  The kids enjoyed this place.  They were able to play with hundreds of golf balls in a variety of ways, splash in a huge water table, dress-up and play make-believe.  

 

Day 7- Playground and Pool.  We wanted to end our vacation on a good note and the pool seemed like the perfect place.  My nieces began to learn to swim under water which was pretty cool.  

Our vacation to Edisto was filled with lots of fun in the sun and most importantly, good ol' quality family time.  Don't get me wrong, I did however enjoyed my daily morning run around the neighborhood and beach.  But cooking together, going to Piggly Wiggly every day together, laughing together and sharing memories together is what family vacations are about.  Vacations are great and I love spending time with my family.  Next Cuardony adventure- Royal Caribbean Cruise, September 2011!