My girls love to swim! They ask to go swimming every chance they get, and love taking trips just so they can swim in a hotel pool.
Reluctantly, we agree to take them swimming whenever we can. Our reluctance is not because we don't want to take the time or because we fear they will drown, but because public pools can be a cesspool of germs.
Miss E is immunosuppressed. By definition, this means that she is constantly in a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease is compromised. We are not germaphobic and
don't keep Miss E wrapped in a bubble, as much as we may prefer it. Normalcy is imperative and we are acutely aware of the risk of making her fearful of life. We are also realistic however, and take reasonable precautions to protect her.
We've looked into the possibility of putting in a pool, but it's expensive and not a feasible option yet. We had a family membership at the YMCA where the girls went swimming regularly last year. I held my breath for a few days after each time they went.
This summer Miss E will be swimming in water that we know is clean, which makes this mama breathe a sigh a relief. My parents surprised us with an above-ground pool for our backyard so Miss E can swim without the risk of exposure to germs from the masses. She is so excited she can hardly stand it, and is eager to help with every step of the process.
Heavy rains pushed back our timeline by about a week, but as of tonight, we are officially filling a pool. With a pump. That we can control.
Tomorrow I will hear the squeals of excited girls as they jump into what will undoubtedly be very cold water. It's the best of parent/child worlds colliding.